Wow - what a year it has been! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to our amazing students, dedicated teachers and staff, and wonderful families for coming together to make this an extraordinary year. It is hard to believe that the year has come to an end.  

Today is a day of gratitude and celebration. This year has been filled with growth, learning, faith, fun, and memories. Each day, we've witnessed the power of kindness, the joy of discovery, and the strength of our faith guiding us through challenges and successes. 

As we bid farewell to another school year, let us carry the memories we have created, the lessons we have learned, and the bonds we have formed. May the spirit of love, compassion, and community that defines our school shine brightly this summer and always. 

We wish you all a blessed and restful summer break. Thank you for making this year so incredible. We truly are so proud to be Buckeyes. See you all in August!

June Summer Hours

Visitor office hours during June are Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to 12pm by appointment. To schedule a meeting with a member of our Administrative team, please call the Main Office at 773-445-7711. 

Academic Assessments

iReady Results - Yesterday, all parents/guardians received their child's end-of-year iReady Diagnostics results via email from Mrs. Kathleen Davies. As a school, we again showed positive growth for the fourth year in a row! We thank our students, teachers, and parents for their continued dedication to achieving (and surpassing) their academic goals. CLICK HERE for an overview of St. Barnabas student academic proficiency compared to the state of Illinois average profiency.

Summer Enrichment 

Our students have worked incredibly hard this year and have demonstrated tremendous academic growth. We hope they enjoy plenty of summer relaxation, rest, and outdoor play. To avoid the “summer slide,” be thoughtful in your academic summer goals and keep learning low-stress. We invite all students to experience the joy of getting lost in a book and have fun with math this summer! Linked here, we share enrichment suggestions for reading and math that students may work on over the summer.

Scrip Tuition Savings 

There is still time to place gift card orders through Scrip! The last week to order for the summer is June 24. June orders may be picked up at the home of school parent and Scrip Coordinator Julie McGrath. Orders are due by 9am Monday mornings and will be ready to be picked up on Thursdays. For questions about Scrip please contact Julie at scrip@stbarnabasparish.org.

Summer Camp at St. Barnabas 

Our summer camps begin next week with Art Camp and Summer Bridge! We are looking forward to welcoming students throughout the month of June. There are still a few slots open for Art Camp with Mrs. Bachler (Grades 1 - 8), Loving Literature with Mrs. Aleman (Grades 1 -3), Math + Card Tricks with Dr. O’Keefe (Grades 6 - 8), and Read to Lead with Mrs. McGowan (Grades 5 - 8). Register HERE.

Yearbook Pictures Needed

As we close out the year, please remember to share your photos with the School Yearbook Committee. Email photos to stbyearbook2324@gmail.com. Please include the category, team, event, or grade in the subject line. If you have photos from multiple events, please send them in separate emails.

100th Anniversary Block Party

Tomorrow, June 8, is the St. Barnabas Block Party for ages 21+, celebrating our parish's 100th anniversary. We look forward to seeing many of you there! This event is sold out, and day-of tickets will not be available for purchase. We encourage all families to attend the Saturday 4pm mass before the start of the party; it will be a true celebration of our faith and a testament to an incredible 100 years as a church community.

Pat Mac Ride 

On Saturday, June 21, Pat Mac’s Pack will enjoy its annual 100K bike ride from St. Barnabas to Michigan City, Indiana! This year is the 10th anniversary of the Pat Mac Ride, and the goal is to have 300 riders committed to collectively raise over $300,000! Learn more HERE on how you can join in as a rider, a sponsor, or a supporter of the mission to fight against pediatric cancer.

Info Sunday 

Information Sunday is August 18. Please mark your calendar for this exciting kickoff to the school year! Join us for 10am mass, and then visit the school for all the 2024-25 school year details - receive homeroom teacher assignments, pick up Big Bucks tickets, turn in all medical forms, drop off school supplies, and enjoy a teacher meet and greet. Information Sunday is a required attendance day for families. Additional Key Dates for 2024-25 that have already been shared may be found HERE.

Tuition

If you still need to complete your tuition commitment for the 2024-25 school year, please do so HERE. Tuition and incidental billings are paid online through FACTS beginning in July; all invoices need to be paid in full by April 30, 2025. Enrolling in a FACTS tuition payment plan allows you to select a payment option that best suits your financial needs. Families will receive an invite from the school with information on setting up their payment plan in early July. Any questions regarding tuition may be sent to Mrs. Reilly at reilly@stbarnabasparish.org.

Uniforms

Attached, please find the UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS for next school year. They are largely the same as this year, with the exception that all students will be permitted to wear St. Barnabas Spirit Wear tops paired with uniform buttons every Friday! Keep in mind when shopping for quantities of regular and gym uniforms that students in Kindergarten-Grade 5 have PE class twice per week, and Preschool and Grades 6 - 8 have PE once per week. All students are permitted to wear gym shorts and t-shirts OR navy uniform-style shorts when the expected temperature is 75 degrees or greater.

Please consider donating uniforms you have outgrown (gym and regular). Items in clean and good condition may be dropped off in the Main Hallway during the month of June (Tuesdays - Thursdays between 9am - 12pm). All families will have the chance to "shop" the Uniform Exchange for free items on Sunday, August 18, at Information Sunday.

School Supplies

School supply lists for the upcoming school year are linked HERE. All supplies should be brought to school on Information Sunday - August 18, 2024. 

As always, you are welcome to buy your supplies at any retailer. As a convenience, supplies are available for purchase through EPI School Supplies. If utilizing EPI, orders must be placed by June 30, with anticipated delivery to your home on August 12. Use School ID Code: STB019 to access the St. Barnabas shopping lists through EPI.

Medical Forms

Remember to schedule the necessary medical appointments for your child! Students who do not have proper medical documentation on file may be excluded from school. MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS are linked here.

Student Support Plans

Throughout the summer, please email any new or updated neuropsychiatric/academic evaluations to Mrs. O'Donnell at modonnell@stbarnabasparish.org and CC Mr. Stack at jstack@stbarnabasparish.org and Ms. Sadowski at gsadowski@stbarnabasparish.org. Students with a Student Support Plan should expect a family email from Mrs. Maureen O'Donnell in early August to schedule your child's beginning of the year Student Support meeting. All meetings will be held in August, prior to the start of the school year. 

Staff

We’re Hiring - Working at a Catholic school is a calling, and we feel grateful to be surrounded by kind and engaging students, dedicated families, and an incredible teaching and administrative team. If you (or someone you know) are interested in joining the St. Barnabas team, please email Mr. Stack - jstack@stbarnabasparish.org and Ms. Sadowski - gsadowski@stbarnabasparish.org.

Staff Departures - We say farewell to Ms. Abby Notter. We thank her for the dedication she has shown to her students. Please join us in wishing her all the best in her future endeavors.

Have a wonderful summer Buckeyes. We can't wait to welcome you back in August.