Shining Stars for the Future
February 18, 2010
PRINCIPAL NOTES: Congratulations to Sam K, one of our 8th graders, on being accepted into St. Laurence High School in Burbank and for receiving the O'Toole Scholarship. This monetary, renewable scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen who achieve academic excellence on the entrance exam. Way to go Sam!
Please plan on attending the Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent in church at 6:45 p.m. Enjoy a night off from cooking and take advantage of the Fish Fry in our Parish Center on Friday, February 19th, March 5th, and March 19th from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Thank you to Mr. Phil Enns, our Band Director, and to our Cadet and Concert Band members for the wonderful performances on Tuesday. Our band students work hard and it's apparent by the talent shown. Thanks to the parents for encouraging their children to participate in our school band and for helping with hospitality. It would be nice to see more students take advantage of the opportunity of learning a musical instrument under the direction of Mr. Enns.
Sr. Kathy Brazda from the Sisters of St. Joseph visited our children yesterday and talked with them about her ministry with Taller de Jose. Taller de Jose is a resource center for women, men, and children seeking assistance with problematic situations in their lives. The children decorated boxes which are equivalent to mission banks. Kindly be generous in helping your child to fill these banks so we can support her ministry. Boxes are due back next Thursday, February 25th.
Remember that there is no school next Monday, February 22nd. Enjoy the long weekend!
Congratulations to our first Early Bird raffle winners, the M Family of Oak Lawn!
We are so happy that one of our kindergartners and our Superman, is doing great after his surgery!
All of our students, faculty and staff want to thank Carol C., grandmother to two of our St. Barb children, for the delicious paczkis they provided us on Paczki Day! They were yummy! Mrs. C. is so kind to remember us each year.
SHINING STARS FOR THE FUTURE: For the weeks of February 1st - February 12th, these students have set a good example to others by demonstrating good behavior and showing respect: [see paper/email tidbit] These students may be out of uniform on Friday, February 26th!
READ TO SUCCEED: All reading logs are due tomorrow, February 19th. If you have any questions, please call Alicia.
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART / HOOPS FOR HEART: Next Thursday is the Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart event. Today your child will receive a Jump Rope for Heart envelope. Either this envelope or the Hoops for Heart envelope that was already sent home can be used. The only difference in the two envelopes are the prizes. Donations will be accepted from all school families. There are extra collection envelopes in the school office.
VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 6205-The Reproductive Health and Access Act: HB 6205 represents a RADICAL departure from current Illinois law. It would call for no State or local "interference" to access to abortion, require public funding for abortion and emergency contraception, would undermine the Health Care Right of Conscience and Parental Notification Acts, and would mandate "comprehensive" sex education, grades K thru 12, deleting any references to abstinence "until marriage". This program applies to public and private schools. Last year, this bill was named HB 2354, Illinois FOCA, and was defeated. Contact your Illinois Representative to the House and urge him or her to vote “NO” on HB 6205. In our area, many voters live in the 21st District. Contact State Representative Michael Zalewski at 708-354-2121. See www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org for more information including legislator lookup.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU FROM A SCHOOL FAMILY: Thank you to everyone who has helped one of our school families these past couple of weeks during their child's tests and surgery. It has meant more than you all will ever know and we feel so fortunate to have the St. Barbara community behind us during this challenging time. He slept with his poster card last night and was incredibly grateful to have all the kids, teachers, parents, and staff "having his back." We look forward to celebrating his recovery with all of you and making many more fun memories with our dear friends at St. Barbara.
OUR DAY IN SPRINGFIELD WAS AMAZING! The 7th and 8th graders went on a field trip to Springfield, Illinois last week and had such a blast! We visited the Old State Capitol Building, The Governor's Mansion, The New State Capitol Building, and The Lincoln Presidential Museum. We learned so much about our state government and about our amazing 16th president! What an educational and fun day! Thank you to everyone that helped us get there through our raffle at the Multi-Cultural Fair and the Bake Sale! Thanks to your contributions, we were able to have the most memorable field trip ever!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to the seventh graders who competed in the Scholastic Bowl at Nazareth Academy! They did an amazing job of representing Saint Barbara School! Way to go you guys!
"A NIGHT IN HOLLYWOOD" Student Council and FSA are proud to announce they will be hosting another dance on Saturday, March 6th. The theme is Hollywood and movie stars! Please join us for a night of food, dancing, and good times. Preschool through fourth grade can walk the red carpet at 5:00 and dance until 7:00! Fifth through eighth graders will push past the paparazzi for a night of fun from 8:00-10:30! Hope to see all of you there! Don't forget to bring your movie star glasses and get ready to show us your cool moves on the dance floor!
42" FLAT SCREEN HDTV RAFFLE: We have a bunch of raffle tickets still available for the 42" TV. They will be available in the school office. The raffle is to raise money for the carpet in the school library. The drawing will be held on March 19, 2010. Each ticket is only $1.00. Winner need not be present at time of drawing. If you have any questions, please contact Linda or Dennis Tischler.
NEW INDOOR RECESS GAMES: New games were purchased for all the students for some indoor recess fun from FSA. A special thank you to Mrs. Anne B. for doing all the shopping.
YEARBOOK INFO: Yearbook volunteers- PLEASE take note that there are only 36 days left until the yearbook pages are due (Friday, March 26th). I will be outside of school to accept those that morning. Those of you with class pages, please double check with Mrs. Carone for the class list; we don't want anyone missing from the yearbook. Those of you with sports pages- those team pictures will be back the middle of March. I realize the turn around time for those is short, but please make it happen. Any pages that are of events that are happening after the March 26th deadline, you have been given your deadlines. Our next yearbook night is tomorrow, Friday, February 19th 5-10p in the Prairie Rooms. Please plan to come out. You can conquer those pages in 1 day so long as you have the pictures you need. Keep snapping those pictures; I am sure this yearbook will be beautiful. Any questions, call Cathy K