ST. BARBARA SCHOOL
THURSDAY TIDBIT
Surprise Someone With a Random Act of Kindness October 19, 2006

PRINCIPAL NOTES: If you have not already done so, please take the time this weekend to complete and return the Archdiocesan Parent Survey that was sent home on Monday, October 16th. All surveys should be returned to school no later than Monday, October 23rd. It is very important that we get all of these back as our school is being evaluated by the State of Illinois and the Archdiocese of Chicago on March, 12th, 13th & 14th. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated!

Please watch for the letter coming home today under separate cover with your scheduled time for your parent-teacher conference.

The week of October 23rd is Red Ribbon Week. Please see the enclosed flier regarding special activities the FSA has planned for that week.

I look forward to seeing our 8th graders and their parents tonight at the Confirmation meeting at 7:30.

Congratulations to the Paloucek family, this month’s cash raffle winner!

LIFETOUCH CLASS PICTURES: This is a reminder that class pictures will be taken tomorrow. If you wish to order pictures, you must send the order form and payment with your child tomorrow. Checks should be made payable to Lifetouch. All students will have their picture taken even if pictures are not ordered, so they can be included in the classroom picture. If you have any questions, please call Dawn at 485-6645.

NEW DEALER TRAINING: New dealer training is scheduled for Monday, October 30, 2006 from 7pm till 9pm in Prairie Room A and on Thursday, November 2, 2006 in the gym from 7pm till 9pm. Please come and learn, refresh yourself or teach other people how to deal blackjack, poker or hold’em poker. If you are a new dealer for Fall Casino Nights, it is recommended that you join us one of the nights if have any questions about dealing any of the games you will be working that weekend. Contact Steff Woywod with any questions.

CALLING ALL DECORATORS!!! The gym needs to be transformed into our Casino during the day on Friday November 3rd. If you are available to help us decorate, please come to the gym anytime after drop off. We have all of the supplies, we just need the extra hands to help us transform the gym into the wonderful Casino it can be. Remember, If you build the Casino, they will come…………Hope to see you there.

CAR RAFFLE: Win a car and help raise money for St. Barbara School. Please see the attached flier on the car we are raffling off. Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100. Only 300 tickets will be sold. For more information contact Kevin Paloucek.

FOOD DRIVE: The holidays are coming and the cupboards are bare! Please help to replenish the St. Barbara Pastoral Care Center. We suggest the following:

PS-3 & PS-4: Kleenex and/or napkins Gr. K - Pancake & waffle mixes and/or cereal
Gr. 1 - Muffin mixes and/or cake mixes Gr. 2 - Boxed cookies and/or crackers
Gr. 3 - Soups, canned meats or tuna Gr. 4 - Spaghetti sauce and/or canned vegetables
Gr. 5 - Canned fruit and/or juices Gr.6 - Instant potatoes, boxed rice, noodles/pasta
Gr. 7 - Sugar and/or flour (please wrap the flour or sugar bags in a plastic bag before bringing)
Gr. 8 - Coffee, tea, cocoa, hot chocolate mixes, etc.

Please have the children bring these items to class the week beginning November 5th. The Food Drive will conclude on Thursday, November 9th. If you have any empty boxes, please bring those too. Thank you!!!

OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH
The Ethics of Stem Cell Research: Advocates are quick to point out that stem cell research is about helping the living. Only ADULT stem cell research is about helping the living. EMBRYONIC stem cell research is about destructively harming some of the living, in the name of helping others who may be struggling with diseases. Although it is a fundamental embryological truth that each of us was once an embryo, advocates of embryonic stem cell research are eager to portray human embryos as different than the rest of us and fair game for destruction. We dissociate ourselves from our own embryonic origins. There are morally acceptable alternatives. All the human stem cell therapies developed to date have actually come from adult or umbilical cord stem cells—not embryonic. NO therapies in humans have ever been successfully carried out using embryonic stem cells.

We stand at a critical moment in our national discussion about stem cells and biotechnology. We must chart a path towards a future in which the power of science is carefully ordered to serve and safeguard human life and human dignity. With God’s help we can benefit from the remarkable advances opened up by science if we face the moral concerns raised by these emerging technologies today, and choose to walk courageously and uncompromisingly along the right path, the path of ethical science.
Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D., Director of Education of the National Catholic Bioethics Center (see www.ncbcenter.org , www.stemcellresearch.org, and www.usccb.org/prolife)

MARKET DAY: This month is PIE MONTH! There are 13 different pies to choose from, including a New Double Chocolate Cheesecake, and a No Sugar Added New York Style Cheesecake!
We are having a classroom contest for the most pies sold in the school. Please see attached flyer for more information!

Pies for Sister Margaret: We have received over 20 pie orders just this past week! Pie order forms are attached to today’s tidbit.

BOX TOPS/CAMPBELL LABELS/TYSON LABELS & MILK CAPS UPDATE: After five weeks of collecting, the top three classes in the Apple race are: 1st place is 7th grade (331 items), 2nd place is 6th grade (277 items) and 3rd place is Kindergarten (247 items). The race ends Friday, October 27th! Keep sending in your items and thanks again for your support of these programs! Any questions, please call Patricia @ 485-0252.

FSA COOKBOOKS: Do you have any favorite recipes that you'd like to share with others? If so, send them in so they can be included in the FSA Cookbook. Submission forms are available in the school office or you may type or write your recipes and send them in. The more recipes we receive, the better the book will be! Also, don't forget to pre-order your cookbooks (no payment is due at this time). They will be available early May. If you have any questions, please call Dawn at 485-6645 or Debbie at 387-7367.

CALLING ALL BAKERS: Have you missed that sweet smell of fresh baked goods in your kitchen? Want to get warmed up for the holiday? Bingo needs you! The month of November we are offering sweets at bingo. If you would like to donate, please call or email Cathy Kaz at (708)485-5746. Thanks for your talents and goodies!

SPORT NEWS: Enclosed is a copy of the girl’s basketball schedule.

FOOTBALL MANIA: Last chance to get in on the fun! Tickets are due tomorrow.