Class of 2026 Spring Events

The go-to source for all things 8th grade as we celebrate this final chapter together. Here you'll find: 

Questions
- Each event has a designated staff or parent coordinator; you'll find their contact information in each event's description, detailed further below. Feel free to reach out to the school's Main Office at any time, and Mrs. Shannon Griffin at [email protected] or Mrs. Sue Connolly at [email protected] can get you a quick answer!

Details
- Specifics for all 8th Grade April and May events are detailed below...
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PictureClass Picture
Wednesday, April 15
school day event (8:15am - 9:15am)
student only
Contact Shannon Griffin at [email protected]


100% attendance day - please!
Attire - Class of 2026 shirt, paired with uniform skirt or navy pants.
A professional photographer will capture group pictures to be used in Class of 2026 media promotions and school keepsakes. Students should arrive at the regular morning time, dressed neatly.  We're aiming for 100% attendance, as retakes are not available. Note: this is separate from the formal Van Gogh graduation composite that was photographed at the beginning of the year. The Van Gogh group composite photo will be distributed to all families at the end of May.

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ConfirmationConfirmation
Friday, April 17 (rehearsal April 14 @ 7pm)
Students arrive by 6:25pm, Liturgy begins at 7pm at the Church
families welcome
Contact Patrick McGowan at [email protected]


Sacrament of Confirmation
Attire - Dressy Church ~ modest dress for girls, sport coat for boys
Students and sponsors should arrive in the Church Hall at 6:25pm. Families may proceed to their reserved seats within the Church. After the liturgy, families will have the opportunity for pictures with Bishop Bartosic. Details on the Confirmation banners, seating requests, and the April 14 rehearsal may be found on the Faith Formation Confirmation page

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Sister ActPack the Theater
Saturday, April 25
5:30pm at the Gym
families welcome
Contact Molly McGowan at [email protected] 
 

Sister Act, Jr. Final Performance
Let's support the arts with the final theater performance of our St. Barnabas 8th graders. The musical runs from April 23 - 25. Please be sure to catch their final bows at the Saturday night performance. Tickets available at the door.
 View the Sister Act, Jr. details

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FFGirls Flag Football
Sunday, April 26
4:30pm at Marist HS
families welcome
Contact: tbd - volunteers wanted!


Pack the Field for Girls Flag Football
Attire - SB Spirit Wear
Let's support our 8th-grade flag football athletes as we pack the field at Marist HS. The team takes on St. Linus at 4:30pm, followed by game two vs. St Germaine at 6:30pm. Flag football parents, we are looking for a few parents to help coordinate the Pack the Field efforts. If you're interested in helping out, please contact Shannon Griffin at [email protected].

 

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MensClubMen's Club Essay Contest
Thursday, April 30 (register by April 28)
3pm in the Media Center
student only
Contact Kathleen Davies at [email protected]

Kevin G. Barron Continuing Catholic Education Scholarship, sponsored by The Men's Club. Attire - school day uniform
The essay contest is open to all 8th-grade students at St. Barnabas School or St. Barnabas Parish Religious Education who plan to attend a Catholic high school next school year. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their parish, school, community, and/or athletic activities and their faith life. Students' responses will be reviewed by a panel, and winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 27, at the 8th Grade Honors Celebration. Recipients will receive a one-year, partial high school scholarship. All students must pre-register for the contest by Tuesday, April 28; late registration will not be accepted. Register for the essay contest

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RibbonMassRibbon Mass
Sunday, May 3
10am at the Church
families welcome
Contact Patrick McGowan at [email protected]

8th Grade Ribbon Mass Attire - church attire ~ collared shirts, simple dress/nice pants preferred
Students will receive a blessing on the altar and a commemorative ribbon for classmates to sign. 

 

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MayCrowningMay Crowning
Friday, May 8
1:30pm Procession. 1:45pm Service at the Church
families welcome
Contact Mr. Patrick McGowan - [email protected]

School May Crowning Attire - for girls, a knee-length (or longer) dress or jumpsuit with a modest neckline in keeping with the reverence of the occasion. Wearing a white dress for girls is preferred but not required. For boys, a suit or sport coat with a dress shirt and tie.
Prayer service honoring the Blessed Mother. The 2nd-grade and 8th-grade students participate in the all-school service, and the 8th-grade Student Council Commissioner of Religious Affairs will crown Mother Mary. The procession (weather permitting) from the school’s Main Entry to Church begins shortly after 1:30pm. Please line the sidewalks surrounding the school grounds beginning at 1:30pm to view the student procession, then proceed into the Church for the 1:45 pm prayer service. 

 

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SoccerSoccer
Date and Time - coming soon!
The Prairie Park (116 & Oakley)
families welcome
Contact: Kevin and Katie O'Kelley at [email protected]


Pack the Field for Soccer
Attire - SB Spirit Wear
Let's support our 8th-grade soccer athletes as the St. Barnabas soccer season draws to a close. We are still waiting for the league schedule, but we plan to have a Pack the Field event in May - stay tuned for more details.

 

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DinnerDanceDinner Dance
Saturday, May 16
6:30pm - 10pm at The Vineyard
students + chaperones
Contact Lisa Barraco at [email protected] or Kerri Collado [email protected]


Dinner Dance
Attire - semi-formal ~ dress for girls and sport coat for boys
An off-campus evening of dinner and dancing for students, held at The Vineyard - Barraco’s on 95th. Students should arrive at 6:30pm, and a group photo will be taken at 6:45pm - please don't be late! More details to come, including ways you can help and a permission form & rsvp.

 

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ClassTripClass Trip
event tbd, will be one day during the week of May 18
estimate 7:45am ~ 4pm
students + chaperones
Contact John & Sheri Chatz at [email protected]


Class Trip
Attire - SB spirit wear
An off-campus day trip for the students. Details coming soon!

 

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ClapOutLast Full Day
Tuesday, May 26
7:45am - 3pm at School
families welcome to Mass and Clap-Out
Contact Mrs. Sue Connolly at [email protected]


Final School Mass & Clap Out
Attire - Class of 2026 shirt, paired with uniform skirt or navy pants.
Last full day of school for 8th-grade students. Parents/Guardians are invited to join us for 8:45am school mass. Parents/Guardians are also encouraged to join us at the Main Entrance of the school at 2:45pm, as we clap and cheer the students out of the building.

 

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RetreatRetreat
Wednesday, May 27
7:45am - 1:30pm at School
student only
Contact Molly McGowan at [email protected] 


Student School Day Retreat
Attire - high school t-shirt, paired with comfortable bottoms.
Students will spend a day in prayer, reflection, community building, and fun. The goal of the retreat is to strengthen their relationships with God, themselves, and one another as they prepare for this important transition in their lives. 

 

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HonorsHonors Celebration
Wednesday, May 27
6pm - 9pm at the Gym
students and parents only
Contact Grace Sadowski at [email protected]


Honors Celebration -
Attire - dress casual ~ collared shirts, sundresses.
New event honoring
our students for their achievements in academics, athletics, and the arts. Students and parents/guardians are invited to gather in the gym. We will spend time celebrating and honoring each student for the impact they have made at St. Barnabas School. After the ceremony, we invite students and parents to have fun and mingle at a casual celebratory dinner in the gym. Please help us properly acknowledge students' activities. Complete this form by Friday, April 17

 

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HorseThiefGrad Practice & Luncheon
Thursday, May 28
9am - 1pm at School
student only
Contact Grace Sadowski at [email protected]


Graduation Practice in the Church, followed by lunch at Horse Thief
Attire - SB Spirit Wear.
It's a tradition at St. Barnabas School that each 2nd-grade class celebrates its First Communion with a lunch at Horse Thief Hollow. Due to COVID restrictions, this is the only class that did not have the opportunity for lunch with their teachers at Horse Thief. Ms. Sadowski and St. Barnabas School would love to treat the Class of 2026 to a long-overdue lunch. The students will walk with their 2nd-grade buddies (and teachers) to Horse Thief for lunch after their morning graduation practice. 

 

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GradGraduation Liturgy
Friday, May 29
6pm Legacy Photo, 6:30pm student arrival, 7pm Liturgy begins
families welcome
Contact Mrs. Sue Connolly at [email protected]


Class of 2026 Graduation Liturgy
Attire - Dressy church attire ~ dress/jumpsuit for girls and suit/sport coat for boys paired with their graduation cap and gown.
The graduation is a liturgy and ceremony. Extended family members are welcome, and there is no guest limit. Seating is open throughout the Church and is not assigned or reserved in advance. Church doors open for seating beginning at 6:30pm. Due to the reverence of the church setting, balloons and large gift displays are not permitted inside the church. Alumni parents/or and grandparents are invited to join their 8th graders for a legacy photo on the Rectory porch. Please arrive promptly at 6pm for the group photo.

 

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PostGradPost Grad Party
Friday, May 29
after the grad ceremony ~ 9:30pm, The Kreiter's house
students and parents only
Contact Meg and Matt Kreiter at [email protected]


Post Grad Party 

Post-graduation party for students and parents. This event is not coordinated through the school and is an off-campus event. Additional details coming soon from the Kreiters.
Please note: this event is not part of the 8th-grade graduation fee paid earlier this year; an additional event fee will be collected by the host committee.

 

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