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In 1953 Rev. George Keyes, the pastor of St. Barnabas Church, was approached by the parents of the parish. They asked for his assistance in arranging for their children to be taught at St. Thomas. Father was able to make the necessary arrangements with the Daughters of Charity. St. Barnabas School was born and at the same time so was the PTA. Mrs. Roselle O’Donnell was the first president. Rev. Daniel O’Reilly became pastor in 1954. One of his first concerns was how to bring St. Barnabas School home to the Church. Ground was broken in 1957 for the present day St. Barnabas school building. With much work and determination, the men of the parish, under Fr. O’Reilly’s direction, completed two classrooms for the new facility. On January 17, 1958, the Catholic Week announced the opening of the new campus. The school had come home to its parish. Anew era was beginning. The lower grades would continue to attend St. Thomas, and the new school would serve grades six through eight. Sister Gertrude assumed the responsibly of first principal. Sister Petronella and Mrs. Trudy Hogan were the first teachers. The graduating class of 1959 had twelve members. Sr. Mary Rose, Sr. Helen, Sr. Mary Charles, Sr. Agnes, Sr. Marguerite, and Sr. Mary Carol---all Daughters of Charity, succeeded Sister Gertrude. Additional classrooms were gradually added and the dream of being able to serve all eight grades was realized fully in 1968. In April of the following year, a separate library was built for the school. In 1973 Rev. Charles Bordenca became pastor, and Mrs. Trudy Hogan was appointed the first lay principal. In 1978 the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur assumed administrative responsibilities. Sr. Marguerite Gannon became principal and brought Sr. Catherine with her. Sr. Marian followed in 1983 and Sr. Marilyn in 1985. Rev. Eugene O’Connor became pastor of St. Barnabas Church in September 1981. During their years at St. Barnabas, a dream for the children began to emerge. It included expanding the classrooms and library, incorporating the cafeteria into the school building, and having a gymnasium that could also serve as an auditorium for such events as the Christmas program. With great enthusiasm, plans were made for the largest building project since the construction of the church itself. In the spring of 1985, the parish building committee finalized plans for a 21,000 square foot building. The building would include a new computer room, a new library, gym, additional offices, and a meeting room for church and school. In 1987, the library was completed and furnished in memory of Michael Sahawneh by his parents. The completion of the science and computer lab occurred in the spring of 1991. The computer lab was dedicated to Kamal and Mary Sahawneh in appreciation for the generous gifts of time, talent and equipment. Sister Marguerite retired in the summer of 1985. A lay principal, Mrs. Lisa Corona, followed and remained through the 1990-91 school year. In 1990 a kindergarten class and “After School Care” was added. Dr. Ann Carr succeeded Mrs. Corona as principal and added “Before School Care” for working parents. Dr. Carr resigned soon after the beginning of the 1993/94 school year. Mrs. Ruth Miller acted as principal until Mr. Robert Hand was hired in 1994. Mr. Hand remained at St. Barnabas until the summer of 1996. Mrs. Olga Veit served the school during the 1996-97 school year. Our school continues with Tillie Barnhill as Principal, since 1997. Renovations were made to the older section of the school in 1998. Each classroom is now linked to the Internet. The school has a website. In 2001 the computer lab was equipped with new computers. The library system was automated through the efforts of the PTA. In August of 2001 the first 4 year-old class was opened.
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