PRINCIPAL NOTES: Anyone submitting articles or fliers to the tidbit for school related activities can contact Mrs. Julie Skokna for her to put on our school website. Be sure to visit our school website at www.stbarbaraschool.com You’ll be surprised at all the information that is readily available to you.

We at St. Barbara encourage all of our families to participate in Sunday Masses and other prayerful activities that our parish is offering to you.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM REMINDERS: The Christmas Program begins at 7:00 p.m. The students are asked to be in their seats by 6:30. Band students should also be at church by 6:30. Kindergarten students should sit with their parents until called by their teacher. Preschoolers should meet in the children's room in the back of the church at 6:40. As always, we would appreciate all picture taking and/or videotaping to take place from the back of the church or from the pew in which you are seated. Aisles need to remain clear at all times.

Also, please try to refrain from talking. In the past we have had some complaints from people who were trying to videotape their child’s performance and all that was picked up on the tape were the conversations of those people sitting around them. Please remember this is a performance and we should respect that. Thank you for your cooperation!

GOD’S WORDS GUIDE US: For the weeks of November 21st through December 2nd the following students have shown through their actions that God’s words have guided them: Alex Gamboa, Luis Espin, Daniel Curtin, Laura Nell,and Frank Nosek

TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT UPDATE: The Funding and Disbursement Section for Illinois Transportation Reimbursement will hopefully have the checks mailed out to qualifying parents for the 2004-2005 school year by the end of December or January. This is not an exact date. Two years ago the checks were mailed in March. Remember the deadline is February 1st for filing for a serious safety hazard for this school year.

KRISPY KREME FUNDRAISER has been postponed until late January.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM: Next week is the last week you can purchase certificates before Christmas break, so make sure you get your order placed! Orders cannot be placed over Christmas break because Manna is closed. Orders will resume the week of January 9th. If you need certificates while we're on break, please contact Dawn at 485-6645 to check availability. Certificates for Quiznos Sub are now available in $5 denominations.

FSA NEWS: Family School Association is having our annual Christmas party/meeting on Monday, Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Windemere Room. Please bring an appetizer or snack and join us for a fun and informative evening. We are also doing an ornament exchange. Be sure to bring a wrapped Christmas ornament valued at around $10.00 to exchange. Contact Steffanie Woywod with any questions.

YEARBOOK RAFFLE WINNER: Congratulations to the Troesch family, the winners of a free yearbook! Orders are still being taken. The cost of each book is $24.00, checks payable to St. Barbara School. If you have any questions, please call Dawn at 485-6645.

8TH GRADE PARENTS: Have you seen the Bake Sale sign-up sheet? It was sent home last week. Please call Liz at (708) 447-5345 to sign yourself and your 8th grader up for a time to work. Thanks!

MARKET DAY - THANK YOU to everyone who ordered pies for Sr. Margaret. We exceeded our goal and was able to give over 200 pies! Also a great BIG thank you to our volunteers for the pick-up day. The sale were the largest we have ever had and you all made it run so smoothly. This month’s pick-up is on Saturday December 17th in the PARISH CENTER. Our volunteers are 4th graders (not 6th as previously stated). Please meet us at the Parish Center at 8:30am and bring your parents! Merry Christmas to all!

BOX TOPS & TYSON LABELS RAFFLE UPDATE: There’s less than 2 weeks left to earn entries into the Box Tops & Tyson Labels raffle. Make sure to put your name, grade and teacher’s name on both the collection sheet and the back of any Tyson label. Also, don’t forget to send in those Whole Grain symbols where each symbol gives our school another chance at winning 10,000 bonus box tops. The Whole Grain Challenge ends 12/31/05, so all whole grain symbols need to be turned in to school before Christmas break. Keep on clipping!

ATTENTION PACK #59 CUB SCOUTS: The December Pack Night is this Friday, December 9th at 7 p.m. in the Windemere Room. (Please note that we moved pack night to 1 week earlier).

HOLIDAY TREATS: The 8th grade class will hold its annual bake sale in the Windemere Room after all the masses the weekend of December 17-18. Come and support 8th grade and enjoy the holiday baking! Thanks for your support.

RESPECT LIFE, MARCH FOR LIFE PILGRIMAGE: March for Life Pilgrimage, Hosted by Archdiocesan Respect Life Office and Office for Catechesis, is Open for Registration for Just a Few More Weeks! Where else can you get comfortable round-trip coach transportation to Washington DC, TWO nights at the Hyatt Regency-Crystal City, a tour of the John Paul II Cultural Center, a Rally for Life with 20,000 young people and young-at-hearts, several meals, q-and-a with one of the most renowned advocates for life in our country, and the largest celebration of life in the world, all for only $250? The Archdiocese of Chicago's March for Life Pilgrimage is around the corner, and you won't want to miss it! This pilgrimage is open to all ages, with a special emphasis on teens. The Archdiocese will also host its first-ever intercollegiate pilgrimage this year, with separate activities and accommodations for college students. Call the school office for more information