The O'Reilly Minute

Dear Parents,

This past Sunday we began a new liturgical year with a special time of prayer and preparation during the season of Advent. Advent is a time to ready our hearts and souls to celebrate the birthday of the Messiah. One way to spend time in prayer and preparation as a family is to light a family Advent wreath each evening before dinner. As a school community we start each school day by praying and lighting a candle on the school Advent wreath. Another way to observe Advent is to attend the Taize prayer service on December 17th at 6:30 pm. I hope that you will come with your children to this one-hour prayer service held in the church. The church is transformed for this service with lighting, candles and creating a welcoming and meditative environment. Please come as a family and spend a restful and prayerful hour in the presence of the Lord with our parish family. Our parish is also offering many other ways to celebrate this liturgical season.  They can be found at this link.

This coming Friday we will celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas. This December 6th feast day provides a teachable moment to share the story of St. Nicholas, who is known for generosity and secretly gifting those in need. We also will be on the lookout to see if St. Nicholas will stop by our school and deliver candy canes for all of our students!

Please keep in your prayers this weekend our parish 2nd graders as they make their 1st Reconciliation on Saturday, December 7th at 10:00 am.

Advent Blessings,

Kathy O’Reilly

Photo Newsletters: Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade

Click the images below to view this week's photo newsletters and see what the classes have been up to.

Our Teachers' Continuing Professional Development: Reading & Writing Methods Course

This year, our kindergarten through 4th grade homeroom teachers and all literacy teachers have been taking an online reading instruction course called Strategies in Action: Reading and Writing Methods and Content K-8. This is an online course taught by Jennifer Serravallo through Heinemann and facilitated by Jill Carfagna, our director of student learning.

This course helps teachers understand how to find goals for our readers and writers and how to support them over time in individual, small group, and whole class lessons as they work toward those goals. Throughout this school year, our teachers are learning both content and methods, so they can bring strategies to life in their classrooms.

Some of the topics covered include conversations and collaboration, narrative and nonfiction reading and writing, print work and spelling, engaging readers and writers, and developing reading and writing strategies to utilize with students.

Having all teachers K-4 as well as literacy teachers take this course ensures that common language is used throughout the classroom as children progress from early to middle childhood at St. Brigid. All teachers are using similar strategies, which helps our students develop better fluency, comprehension and vocabulary skills and they continue to build their literacy skills.

Recess Update

Home & School funded a recess update for our students. We were able to obtain a new cart and lots of new equipment! There will be some new additions in the spring too.

Thank you Home and School and also thank you to Jake, Mr. Rich and Mrs. Collins for all your help to complete!

Save the Date for Hounds Hoopla (formerly Pizza Bingo)

Save the date for Friday, January 24 from 6-8:30 for Hounds Hoopla!

This is a great family event at Saint Brigid of Kildare School! There will be many new items this year, including:

Along with many of the previous activities, including pizza and bingo of course!

Watch for registration and volunteer information coming in the next few weeks.

Educational Apparel Holiday Sale

Educational Apparel's holiday sale is now - December 20, 2019.

20% off entire store and free shipping on orders over $100.

Spiritwear Order Pick Up

If you ordered Spiritwear during the last sale, pickup will be December 15 after the 9 AM and 10:45 AM Masses during the Sunday Social. 

Anything not picked up that Sunday will have to be picked up at the Premiere Sports store in Powell during store hours. 

Save the Date - Father/Daughter Dance

The annual St. Brigid Knights of Columbus Father/Daughter Dance will be held on Friday, February 7th, 2020 in Hendricks Hall from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Registration will open at noon on Sunday, December 15th. Please see the December 15th bulletin advertisement for additional details on how to register. Space is limited, so please register early. Email [email protected] if you have any questions.

STABLE Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities

 STABLE Accounts are like 529 accounts with one important difference. They allow individuals with disabilities to save money and remain eligible for needs-based government benefits, like Medicaid or SSI. In the not too distant past, people with disabilities could only save a total of 2,000 dollars before they had to “spend it down.” Now they can save $15,000 each year, and more if they are working.

Many, if not all, St. Brigid students with disabilities would be eligible for this program.

Help Earn Rewards for St. Brigid this Christmas Season!

Pope Francis Issues Apostolic Letter on the Meaning, Importance of Nativity Scenes

Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter Dec. 1 on the meaning and importance of Nativity scenes, calling for this “wonderful sign” to be more widely displayed in family homes and public places throughout the world.

“The enchanting image of the Christmas crèche, so dear to the Christian people, never ceases to arouse amazement and wonder. The depiction of Jesus’ birth is itself a simple and joyful proclamation of the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God,” Pope Francis wrote in Admirabile Signum, meaning “A Wonderful Sign” in Latin. 

Advent Family Prayer

Dear God, thank you for giving us

these four weeks to prepare to celebrate

the birth of your Son.

We are so thankful for all the people

that help us along this path we're traveling

to welcome Jesus.

God, bless our family and prepare our home

and hearts to welcome your Son,

Jesus Christ, into the world.

AMEN.

Gifts of Gratitude

Gifts of gratitude was established by the Home and School Association as a united effort to provide a generous monetary gift to every school and parish teacher and staff member at Christmas and the end of the year to thank them for all they do for our children.

Will my family be recognized for participating?

Yes — the teachers and staff will receive a list of families who participate in this program. You may also let the teachers and staff know that you participated in the program by marking “G.O.G” inside your Christmas card.

How much do I give?

The suggested annual gift amount is $25 per child once a year, however any given amount is graciously accepted!

Can't remember if you already contributed?

No worries -- just contact Amy Creekmur ([email protected]) or Nancy Davis ([email protected]) and they will let you know!

St. Brigid of Kildare Blood Drive

St. Brigid School, Religious Education, and Parish are sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive on December 9, 2019. 

Many donors are needed at the busy holiday season! 

Make an appointment now to Give the Gift of Life. Details below!

St. Brigid Ski & Board Club - Forms Due Dec 10

Is your child interested in joining St. Brigid Ski and Board? No experience needed!

Date:   Tuesdays January 7, 14, 21, 28 and February 4 and 11.  

Who:  Students in grades 4th - 8th 

Where: Mad River Mountain

Time:   3:30pm - 7:30pm (return to St. Brigid parking lot by 8:15pm)

Cost:   $145 per child ( pay online here)