Dear Parents, 

Our school theme for the 2023 - 2024 school year is “Come To The Table: Serving God and Community.”  Our theme encourages us to think about the symbolism of coming together at a table, in particular the Eucharistic table.  Many of you may be aware that the USCCB is inviting all of us to join together in a three year National Eucharisitc revival.  We are currently in year two of the initiative which is the year of the parish. In this year of the Parish Eucharistic Revival, our parish and school will have many opportunities to foster Eucharistic devotion, and to strengthen our spiritual life through the faithful celebration of the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, resources, prayer and homilies.  

The imagery of the table brings forth many wonderful memories and events in our lives.  

Sitting at a table often brings great joy…..the joy of family gathering for game night, holidays, and healthy meals.  Most importantly there is the Eucharistic table that is a part of our faith. Our First Communion class each year eagerly prepares to receive Christ in the Eucharist for the first time and in which we are able to partake in each time we attend Mass.

Tables allow us to share our experiences, create memories, receive spiritual and physical nourishment, serve others and spend time listening and learning from one another.  Sharing our gifts by helping others to have food on their table and to know  kindness is also a part of showing others that the table of Christ is for all. All of these opportunities are crucial steps toward cultivating a culture of kindness and community where everyone has the opportunity to flourish, belong and feel connected as brothers and sisters in Christ. 

As our new school year begins, we can be proud of the spiritual and academic excellence nurtured at Saint Brigid of Kildare School and in knowing that we are truly making a difference in the lives of our children.  On behalf of the faculty and staff, we look forward to working with all of our students and with you in the new school year. 

Please look next Wednesday for a Wolfhound Wednesday with more news and updates for the 2023-24 school year.

Blessings,

Kathy O’Reilly 

Meet the Teacher: Tues, Aug 22, 4-6 PM

We begin this year with a “Meet The Teacher” on Tuesday, August 22nd from 4:00 - 6:00 pm hosted by our Home and School and our School Advisory Committee. This event will be outdoors behind the school. Families will be invited to visit classrooms to “Meet The Teacher” and then spend time outdoors visiting information tables and enjoying treats. Come in the front doors, stop by the Home and School table, pick up your treat tickets, and proceed to meet your teacher. Then go outside for the welcome back party. Preschool students will have a separate meet the teacher playdate. Information about this event will be sent to preschool parents via email.

PE Uniform Clarification for 23-24 & 24-25

We understand that the new gym uniform policy has caused a bit of confusion for some. Below is a clarification of the new policy that will hopefully help. The reason for the changes is that we have had a high number of students over the past few years not in compliance with the perimeters of the all-black, no logos policy. We are hopeful that moving forward these changes will make it easier for all to comply with the uniform policy and that the options and choices will be beneficial for all.

Next school year (2023-24): If you currently have an all-black gym uniform (jacket/pants) and green gym t-shirt, you will still be allowed to wear those for the upcoming school year. We realize some children can wear their gym uniforms for more than one year so there will be no need to purchase a new one if your current one will fit next school year. Remember: no logos please! If you need to purchase a new gym uniform, please refer to the new gym uniform policy for the 2024-2025 school year at the button below.

School year 2024-2025: Refer to the updates in the parent/student handbook revised 3/22/23 for specifics on materials and styles accepted. Gym pants and jackets will be all-black with no logos and must be purchased at the uniform store. The green gym t-shirt will still be part of the gym uniform. NEW: The black gym uniform jackets will now be required to have the crest embroidered on it and will also be an accepted layering piece to wear with your school uniform. There will also be green layering pieces available that will have an embroidered crest as well. ANY OF THESE LAYERING PIECES (GREEN OR BLACK) CAN BE WORN WITH BOTH THE GYM UNIFORM AND THE SCHOOL UNIFORM.  There will be no need to have both a green and a black layering piece unless you chose to purchase both.  There will be several options available in green or black and both will be acceptable to wear everyday with either uniform.

As a reminder, gym uniforms are required for grades 5-8 only. All of the green and black layering pieces available can be worn for grades P-8.

If you have any questions about the gym uniform, please feel free to contact Stacy Austin (317-694-6202) or Jaime Schiavone (614-595-5677) of the School Advisory Committee. 

EdChoice Expansion

Ohio's Educational Choice (EdChoice) Scholarship Program is now accessible to ALL Ohioans! Thanks to sweeping changes outlined in HB 33 and signed into law on July 3, 2023 by Governor DeWine, EVERY student now has the opportunity to attend a participating Catholic school for little or no cost.

Families at 450% or below of the Federal Poverty Guideline will receive the maximum scholarship allowed by law. Those at 451% or more will receive a portion of the full scholarship amount, dependent on their household income and family size.

St. Brigid of Kildare School is now certified as an EdChoice provider for the 2023-24 school year. We are asking that all families desiring any tuition assistance apply for EdChoice. This will allow us to reallocate our scholarship, grant, and aid dollars to ensure families receive maximum support.

More details on the application process will be sent soon. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about the EdChoice Expansion, view the fact sheet below.

Summer Learning Packets

Summer reading and activities are an important way to ensure children are ready for the next school year and don't experience the "summer slide" loss of learning. Teachers have prepared information packets that include activities for each grade level to work on over the summer months. These activities are all strongly encouraged to ensure readiness for the next school year. Check the packet instructions for any required components.

Click the link below for the summer learning packet for the grade your child is currently in.

This is also posted on our school website on the "Current Families" page.

Links:

Preschool

Kindergarten

1st & 2nd Grades

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

6th Grade

7th Grade

Parent Account Instructions:

Clever Access

Google Account Access

Register for Bus Transportation 23-24

The transportation departments from Dublin, Hilliard and Olentangy schools require all new and returning families to register your students for busing this fall. If you are a new family moving to the area, and don't know your new address yet, please contact them as soon as you have this information.

Olentangy Schools Requests:

All Non-Public parents (new or returning) must fill out this online form by June 19, 2023.

Dublin Schools Requests:

All Non-Public parents (new or returning) please complete this form.

Hilliard School Requests:

All Non-Public parents (new or returning) please complete this form by July 28, 2023.

Back to School Uniform & Spirit Wear Exchange

August 13, 2023 10 am-1 pm;

Collect Lost and Found Items by June 9 from School Cafeteria

To everyone who donates, volunteers, and uses the uniform and spirit wear exchange—thank you so much! Your donations help other families and reduce waste! 

In the coming months, please gather gently used items your children no longer need and donate them to the school office by June 9 or during the week of Aug 7-11, when the school office will again be open to donations.  If you can’t donate during daytime hours, a collection bin will be placed outside my residence at 6588 Wynwright Dr. Aug 5-10 only. Items accepted include all gently-used logo and non-logo uniform items AND spirit wear. Non-logo articles that are not claimed at the exchange will be donated to other local schools in need! And remember, you don’t need to donate to “shop” the exchange!

So that you don’t forget about this important event, please use these Signup Genius links below to attend and/or volunteer as you’ll receive reminders. Friday night volunteers can shop while they work!

Sign Up to Attend: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B44A8A929AB9-summer3

Sign Up to Volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B44A8A929AB9-summer2

Items remaining in the Lost and Found after June 9 will be donated or discarded, so come check the collection in the school cafeteria.

Questions? Contact Erin Heise [email protected] or Gracie Dziewiatkowski [email protected].

School Supplies

The deadline for online ordering of EduKit School Supply Kits has passed.

To view the list of school supplies needed for your child's grade, click the link below. Supplies can be dropped off on Tuesday, August 22 during Meet the Teacher night.

For questions, please contact Jennifer Musser, [email protected]

Summer Tutoring

Summer tutoring is available from many Saint Brigid of Kildare staff members. Staff can be contacted via email or by calling the school office and leaving a message.

Click below for the list of teachers, subjects and contact information.

Keep earning money for our school by submitting Box Tops this Summer!

For over 25 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn for schools with products they already buy. Today, you can find thousands of participating products throughout the store — and all you need is the Box Tops app

ONLINE SHOPPERS CAN EARN WITH BOX TOPS, TOO! Whether you order groceries for delivery or pickup, shop through your store’s app, or request an email receipt at checkout, you can earn for your school no matter where you shop.

For more information and to download the Box Tops App visit: https://www.boxtops4education.com/

Earn Rewards for Our School by Registering your Kroger Shopper’s Card

Our school earns thousands of dollars each year through loyalty reward programs! Please remember to register your Kroger Shopper’s Card, and use it every time you shop to help our school! For instructions on how to register, click the link below.

Rewards Sign Up 

New Family Mentors Needed

Home and School is currently looking for parents to sign up to be on the New Family Welcome Committee. This entails being a mentor to a new family for the

next school year. Mentor families will attend the New Family Welcome Breakfast (Sunday, August 20th). They will need to be available to check in with their new family monthly and answer any questions to assist with their transition. Mentors

will be paired up with new families with children in the same grade.

We need more mentor families than usual because we have many new families this year. If you are interested in being a new family mentor, please fill out the short survey below. Thank you!!

Family First Summer Dates

Mass Meetups

Enjoy daily mass and then head over to the playground to play with friends!  

• August 15th- 9:00 am mass, followed by 9:30 am playgroup meetup up at Avery Park

Summer Playground Meetups 

Please join us for the St. Brigid summer playgroup meetups. We will meet Wednesdays at 9:30 am. All ages are welcome to join! If the weather conditions are not in our favor, we will skip and catch you the following week! 

Feel free to sign up via the sign-up genius and add it to your calendar or join when your schedule allows! We look forward to seeing you soon! Any questions please feel free to email Laura Campbell, [email protected]. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094cadaf22abfd0-summer?useFullSite=true#

Stay and Play after Mass

Join us for popsicles on the Playground after 9 am Mass. Come for Mass, stay and play!

• August 13th- following the 9:00 am mass

Service Opportunities

Join us for various service opportunities this summer.

• August 3rd- Road Trip to Do Good Restaurant, optional trip to Maria Stein Shrine afterwards

(https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094EA8A82BA7FF2-family1)

Requirements to Volunteer with our Children

If you are 18 years or older and interested in volunteering with youth activities at SBK, attending PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN is required before you can volunteer. Register under the Diocese of Columbus at 

www.virtus.org

The Diocesan Safe Environment Department will be offering Virtus Protecting God's Children (PGC) sessions: 

• 8/12/2023 St Brendan (Hilliard) 9:00am
• 8/12/2023 St Peter (Columbus) 10:00am
• 8/21/2023 St Joan of Arc (Powell) 6:00pm
• 8/22/2023 ZOOM PGC (Columbus) 6:00pm
• 8/28/2023 St Joan of Arc (Powell) 6:00pm

All volunteers with our children and youth must complete PGC, a St. Brigid volunteer application, submit the signed code of conduct, copy of photo ID, and complete a criminal background check prior to volunteering.

Full details and forms can be found at https://stbrigidofkildare.org/safe-environment/ 

Shop BWHS Spiritwear

Shop and purchase online for your Bishop Watterson High School Eagles!

View the new site at the link below.