The O'Reilly Minute

Dear Parents,

Holy Week Masses & Services

St. Brigid of Kildare Parish has prepared many Masses and Lenten services for viewing online. In addition, the diocese will be offering Holy Week Masses and events from St. Joseph Cathedral.

All of these links and information are available on our parish website here. This page will be continually updated throughout the closing of our parish to list the latest resources available.

A Note About Emails

We have had reports of parents not receiving emails or receiving emails to spam. We believe that because of the overall increase in email volume due to COVID-19, and our additional increase in emails being sent, the spam filters and email servers are having a tough time filtering things as well as they normally do.

Please check your spam folders for any important school emails, and continue to mark them not spam and move to your inbox if found there. School emails will always come from one of my email addresses: [email protected] or [email protected], so anything from these addresses is safe. Adding these addresses to your contact list or safe sender list will further help deliverability rates. You can also add your teacher's email addresses found here to your contact list to ensure deliverability. Thank you for your patience during this time.

Do Not Record

In order to fulfill Safe Environment guidelines, our teachers will be recording Zoom meetings and Google Meets. These recordings will only be available to other members of the class and are not available for public access. I you would like to opt out of your child being recorded in any Zoom conferences that will be used for classroom use only, please fill out this form by this Friday, April 10.

A Few Project Highlights

Mrs. Schwab, our middle school aide and latchkey staff member, has made a video about how to sew masks. Check it out in the story below as well as a link for “no sew” masks.

 

As we prepare to celebrate Easter this weekend, it might be fun to work as a family on a Resurrection Garden. See the video at this link.  Since we are not currently able to plant and enjoy our school garden, Papa Jack and the wellness committee will be sharing some gardening ideas over the next several weeks.  

 

In closing, may you find many blessings celebrating Easter at home with your families. Easter is not cancelled….Easter is about the love Jesus has for all of us. When we stay home on Easter Sunday - and every Sunday for the time being, we are responding to the call to love one another and the world as Jesus loves us.  

Easter Blessings,

Kathy O'Reilly

Teacher Office Hours

Please see the link below for a list of teachers' office hours and availability for quick response to emails from parents or students. Also included are all teachers' email addresses.

At Home Learning Parent Survey

Thank you to so many of you for taking our parent survey! We are analyzing results and plan to reach out to families requesting additional support.

If you have not taken the survey yet please click the link below to take it. We want to check in to see how everyone is adapting and any obstacles or challenges you may be facing.

Please take one survey for each of your children currently enrolled at Saint Brigid of Kildare School.

SPiCE Skillbuilding Scoop: Organization, Prioritization, Flexibility, Working Memory, Self-Monitoring, OH MY!

Summary by: Erin Russell, CCC-SLP   

Those are intimidating words that define the five major areas of executive function. Children are supposed to develop these skills throughout their academic career, starting in their Preschool years! These skills are largely linked to academic confidence and success in our 21st-century learners. Below, I will provide quick tips on how you can help your child strengthen their executive functioning skills in the home environment. All of my information comes from an e-book titled Executive Function 101, in which I will cite at the end of the article with its link (it’s a free recommended must read).

Let's Stay Connected: Share Your Learning!

During this complicated time when we can't be together physically, let's lift each other's spirits and stay connected virtually!

We would love to see your photos of your children continuing their learning and creativity while social distancing.

Please share your photos and a short description via emailing them to Allie Wing at [email protected] and they will be featured in the Wolfhound Wednesday as well as on our Facebook page. Feel free to also upload to social media and tag our Facebook page at facebook.com/stbrigidschool!

8th Grade Confirmation Cards

Thank you to all who created heartfelt Confirmation cards for our 8th grade students! We know that the 8th graders have worked hard for a long time preparing for what was supposed to be a special day to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation last Friday. We wanted to make the time special by showing that the students of their CARE family and teachers and staff are thinking of them and praying for them during this time.

Below is an album of cards and messages.

The 8th graders also got together via Zoom for a virtual prayer service last Friday (their originally scheduled Confirmation date). It was a great service and way to honor their preparation for Confirmation. Confirmation will be reschedule for a date TBD.

Mass Viewing Photos

We hope you enjoyed our first Virtual School Mass last Thursday at noon! Thursdays at noon will continue to be school Masses (with the exception of this week since it is Holy Thursday).

See below for photos of our students viewing Mass.

How to Make a Mask

Thank you to 7th & 8th Grade Teacher's Aide Yvonne Schwab for creating this informative video on how to make your own mask! Click the video image to view.

In addition, here is a link to make a No-Sew Mask.

Rice Bowl Contributions

Thank you for your participation in CRS Rice Bowl.

 

Our St. Brigid of Kildare community does something amazing each Lent. We come together to practice prayer, fasting and almsgiving—and by doing so we help lift families and communities out of poverty.

We must always remember that as Holy Week gives way to Easter; the fast turns into a feast. God wins the day. As we celebrate Easter joy, it is our responsibility as members of God’s one human family to share that joy with everyone, near and far.

With the closing of our buildings and cancellations of masses and programs due to COVID-19, we will not be collecting Rice Bowl donations at St. Brigid. Please give your CRS Rice Bowl donations directly to Catholic Relief Services and make a difference in the lives of people in your local community and around the world.

To give online:

Visit www.crsricebowl.org and select Donate

To give by phone:

1-877-435-7277 

To give by mail:

Catholic Relief Services

CRS Rice Bowl

P.O. Box 17090

Baltimore, Maryland 21297-0303

A Project for the Diocese

Make a Positive Impact On Our School: SAC Applications Due April 30

Take an active part in making our already amazing school even better. Apply for a position (3-year term) on St. Brigid's School Advisory Committee (SAC). The purpose of the School Advisory Committee is to provide the pastor of Saint Brigid of Kildare Parish and the principal of Saint Brigid of Kildare School with advice and to make recommendations regarding issues affecting the school.

The mission of the School Advisory Committee is to promote and support a distinctive religious learning environment that provides for the propagation of the Catholic faith and values, fosters academic excellence, and develops fully the intellectual, social, physical, and emotional capabilities unique to each student. SAC meets once a month during the school months on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 PM. Prior to applying, please consider if you can commit to this time commitment for a three-year period.

The deadline for applications has been extended to April 30, 2020 and they can be submitted via the link below. Please contact Ann Sage ([email protected]) with any questions.

Yearbook Deadline Extended to April 10 - Must Order Via Mail

Yearbooks MUST be ordered via mail due to school not resuming until May 1. The price is $19.00 and the deadline has been extended to April 10.

 Please mail your payment and order envelope to Diane Spagnuolo at her address below, and please also email her at [email protected] to let her know you have mailed an order.

Diane Spagnuolo Photography

8900 Wells Rd.

Plain City, OH 43064

614-873-6867