Wolfhound Wednesday
November 12, 2014
In This Issue
Dear Parents,

 

I am writing this week's note from Washington DC where Msgr. Hendricks, Cindy Lombardo and I are proudly representing our school at the Blue Ribbon School Award Ceremony.  What an awesome experience and opportunity to be spending time with some of the top educators representing the most high performing schools in our country.  Arne Duncan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, when addressing us today stated that "All students, no matter their name or zip code, can flourish when schools provide safe, creative, and challenging learning environments." He went on to say "National Blue Ribbon Schools are models of consistent excellence and a resource for other schools and districts. We celebrate them for their tireless effort and boundless creativity in reaching and teaching every student."

We will celebrate with our students on Friday with several special surprises and the students are invited to participate in a blue dress down day. On Sunday we will have our formal community celebration beginning with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 12:15 pm on Sunday.  Msgr. Hendricks has asked for our students to show their pride by wearing their best dress uniforms on Sunday for the 12:15 Mass or any of the other Masses they attend over the week-end.  If your schedule allows please come celebrate with us on Sunday by attending the Mass and/or the Open House which will follow at 1:30 PM in the school.

 

The 1st quarter report cards will be sent out electronically later this afternoon via SchoolSpeak.  If you do not receive an email inviting you to open the report card, please contact Allie Wing at awing@cdeducation.org or 718-5825 and she can help you with your account. The report card is available for you to print at home or to view electronically.  Please make sure that you e-sign so that the teacher knows that you have received the report card.   

 

Just a reminder that this month's family assignment on respect (bumper sticker assignment) is due Friday, November 21.


 

Have a great week,

 

Kathleen O'Reilly

Principal

Upcoming Events:

Thurs, Nov 13

SPiCE Speaker Laura Lewis (7 pm)

Sun, Nov 16

Blue Ribbon School Mass & Reception (12:15 pm Mass)

8th Grade Dance Club (7 pm)

Mon, Nov 17

MyScrip Order/Payment Date

SAC Meeting (6:30 pm)

Thurs, Nov 20

Early Release (1:30 pm)

Sun, Nov 23

MyScrip Delivery Date

Open House at Watterson
(1 pm)

Wed - Fri, Nov 26-28

No School - Thanksgiving

Mon, Dec 1

MyScrip Order/Payment Date

Tues, Dec 2

Parent Like a Champion Today Training (6 pm)

Wed, Dec 3

Home & School Meeting (8:15 am)

Sun, Dec 7

MyScrip Delivery Date

Mon, Dec 8

Holy Day Mass (9 am)

Tues, Dec 9

Area Band Concert at Watterson

Mr. Scrooge Live Theatre

First Reconciliation (7 pm)

Wed, Dec 10

Interims Go Home

Thurs, Dec 12

Lessons and Carols (7 pm)

Sat, Dec 13

Cookies with Santa

Sun, Dec 14

Christmas in Dublin


 



Blue Ribbon Corner
 
Did you know?

Saint Brigid of Kildare School is the ONLY school in the state of Ohio to earn the Blue Ribbon School award two times between 2003-2014.
October Photo Newsletters: 2nd, 3rd and 4th Grades

This week, we have photo newsletters from 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades (click the images below to view).  Next week look for newsletters from 5th, 6th grades and specials.

2nd Grade Newsletter:3rd Grade Newsletter:4th Grade Newsletter:

Community Speaker Event at St. Brigid
St. Brigid SPiCE will be hosting speaker Laura Lewis, M.A., L.P.C.C.

When7 p.m. on Thursday, November 13
Where: Hendricks Hall

Conflict & Adversity: The Parent's Role
Conflict and adversity are sure to confront all students at some point in their educational experience. So how does a parent respond?

Do you ever wonder:
  • When and how much should you intervene and how much should you let your children solve on their own?
  • What limits and boundaries should you set for your children?
  • When and how do you voice your concerns to the school?
  • How can you help enhance the school climate for your children?

Parents will learn how to model and develop conflict management, critical thinking and analytic skills and behaviors for their children. The presentation will delve into how parents can use their children's adversity to role model problem-solving and assertive communication skills that will improve their relationship with their children.


 

Join Us November 16 for a Blue Ribbon Mass of Thanksgiving and Reception
To celebrate Saint Brigid of Kildare School being named a 2014 Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education, we will be holding a Mass of Thanksgiving and short program on Sunday, November 16 at the 12:15 p.m. Mass. We will then have a celebratory reception
 with refreshments at Saint Brigid of Kildare School in the cafeteria and Enke Hall. 

The school will be open to tour our new learning spaces and to see what makes St. Brigid a second-time blue ribbon school. 

All family and friends are welcome. Please join us to help celebrate. 

Students are asked to wear their school uniforms to the 12:15 p.m. Mass on Sunday, November 16.
Family Directory Updated

The Family Directory was updated on November 7 on SchoolSpeak.

 

Click here to access the newest version.  (You'll have to enter your SchoolSpeak user name and password).

 

November Home and School Minutes Posted

The minutes from the November 5 Home and School meeting are now posted on our website, on the Home and School page.


 

You can access that page by clicking here. 


 

 

School Sponsored Blood Drive

St. Brigid School is the sponsor of the December Blood Drive at our parish. There is always an urgent need for additional blood over the holiday season, so our drive is an important one for the Red Cross!


 
Here are the details: 

Monday, Dec. 8  from 1:30 - 7:30 pm in Hendricks Hall.


 
Appointments can be made at www.redcrossblood.org (sponsor code: stbrigid) or by phone 1-800-RED CROSS. Walk-in donors will be welcomed, but priority will be given to those with an appointment. 


 
Please consider this life-saving opportunity!!

Field Trips Sponsored by Annual Fund

Did you know that the Annual Fund pays for all the field trips that your children enjoy throughout the year?  The Annual Fund covers the bus rental fees and any entry or facility charges.  Prior the Annual Fund parents were asked to pay for each of their children's trips.  The field trips are selected to complement what the children are studying throughout the year.  Some examples are:  the apple orchard, the pumpkin patch, the Santa Maria, COSI, the Columbus Clippers Education Day, the Columbus Zoo, Highbanks Park, Columbus Museum of Art, and the Furniture Bank of Ohio, JOIN, and the State House. 


 

Please consider supporting the Annual Fund. To access the 2014-2015 Annual Fund Pledge Card, click hereTo learn more about the Annual Fund, click here.


 

For questions, contact Sarah Moore at sarahmoore00@hotmail.com.

Gifts of Gratitude

The Home and School Association established Gifts of Gratitude as a united effort by families to provide generous gifts for all teachers and staff to thank them for sharing their talents with our children on a daily basis. 


Each family's $20 contribution per child provides for each teacher and staff member:

  • A Christmas monetary gift card
  • A special Christmas gift item
  • A special end-of-year gift item and monetary gift card

Your family's participation in this program is optional. The suggested annual gift amount is $20 per child; however, any amount given is graciously accepted. There are two payment options:


 

1)      Quick and easy: pay securely through PayPal! Log on to www.paypal.com, choose the "send money to friends and family" option, enter the email address sbkgiftsofgratitude@gmail.com and the total amount your family would like to contribute, and complete the transaction.


 2)      Send a check to school with your child payable to St. Brigid Home and School. Please mark the outside of the envelope with "Home and School Gifts of Gratitude."


                     Please send your contribution by Friday, December 5.


 Questions regarding the Gifts of Gratitude program may be directed to Home & School Association Vice Co-Chairs: Mary Moore at mary.moore@live.com and Theresa Vivona atvivona1012@gmail.com.

 

Thank you for your generosity!

Advent Reflections with Father Barron
Father Robert Barron is again offering his Advent reflections that you can sign up to receive at  AdventReflections.com.
 
Each day, from November 30 until Christmas Eve (December 24), he will email you a short reflection on an Advent theme. In addition, you will receive exclusive videos not found anywhere else, special discount codes for new products, and several giveaways throughout Advent including DVDs, CDs, signed books, and more.
Head Coaches Training Offered

The Diocesan Recreation department will offer Play Like a Champion training on December 3rd at 6:00 pm at St. Mary Magdalene. This training is required of all head coaches in any Diocesan sports program. 


 

Sign up is online at:  this link.

 

Girl Scouts Hold STEM Event
Girl Scout Troop 2097, made up of 6-8th grade girls, put together an amazing STEM evening for the younger Daisy and Brownie troops. They were also joined by a group of girls with Down Syndrome that have quickly become friends with many of our Girl Scouts over the last few months. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The girls learned about kitchen math and chemistry, wind energy, tried out circuits, and engineered structures using mini marshmallows, to name just a few of the activities. They also learned what it is like to be an Engineer from the guest speaker, Dr. Carol Clinton. Thank you to Troop 2097 for their hard work and positive influence on our younger troops. Pictures are of the Daisy Troop 1069 enjoying the activities.

They also recently collected 43 Jackets for the Jackets for Jackets Salvation Army collection. Thank you to all that donated.

Girl Scout Pilgrimage

Girl Scout Troop 2097, a middle school troop, went on a pilgrimage to the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio.  They attended Mass at the original church built in 1875 where they served as readers, alter servers and brought up the gifts for Offertory.  They prayed and led the Stations of the Cross in the Upper Basilica and asked for the intercession of Saints in the Lower Basilica.  The girls were given a special tour by Bro. Randy Kin who told them the history of the Basilica as well as little known facts about the statues and relics found throughout the Shrine.
 

classroom-children.jpg New: The Responsibility Center

Ms. Williams has a new opportunity for students in grades five through eight!  On Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week, students are going to be able to sign up in their homeroom for The Responsibility Center.  The center is going to be available during recess time. The RC is a place for students to take responsibility for their learning.  They may come in and clean out their binders, receive help organizing long term assignments/projects, and/or get additional help in subject areas.  


The goal is to encourage and teach students how to organize and take control of their own learning, and to teach them that it is valuable to look for help.  These are signs of maturity and responsibility.  Problem solving may also occur with students that are looking for specific help in an additional area.


Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, students may sign up and note what they are going to be working on that day.  During recess, they will come down to the upper hall literacy room and get to work!  Over the next few weeks, we are going to see what the response is, and if we need to add on other days, we will adjust accordingly.  


Thanks for your encouragement!  Contact Ms. Williams if you have questions about The RC.
Alumni News: St. Charles Honor Roll and BWHS Homecoming

Congrats to our St. Brigid alumni who have made first quarter honor and merit roll at St. Charles!


Bishop Watterson Homecoming Court
Joseph Myers and John Pirrman are members of the 2014 homecoming court at Bishop Watterson High School. At Bishop Watterson this is a recognition of character--students fill out a nomination form explaining why they believe someone merits this honor and a faculty committee makes the selection. Criteria include how a student has consistently demonstrated friendliness, care for others, compassion, a helpful spirit and good character. While these virtues were first emphasized by their parent and nurtured at St. Brigid, they have continued to stress them at Bishop Watterson. 

Submit Materials for Wolfhound Wednesday
If you have information you'd like included in the next Wolfhound Wednesday, email it to Allie Wing at awing@cdeducation.org. 
 
To view past issues of the Wolfhound Wednesday, find them archived on our website here. 
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