Dear Parents,

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of Saint Nicholas by focusing on Saint Nicholas’ generosity and his love for children.  Following the arrival of Saint Nicholas on horseback, our entire school worked together to make stockings for the families who will be spending the holidays at Nationwide Children’s Ronald McDonald House.  Thank you to our many school families for your generosity in participating in the many collections, donations and volunteering opportunities in the past month.  In the spirit of Saint Nicholas, your never-ending kindness and working Together As One to support our children, teachers, staff and the community is much appreciated.

On Friday there will be a large parish funeral at 2:00 pm with a Celebration of Life luncheon following in Hendricks Hall.  Please keep this in mind for our 2:50 pm dismissal,  as the traffic patterns may be different than usual. (You may want to consider having your child ride the bus home on Friday if that is possible).

May the blessings of Saint Nicholas and Saint Brigid be with you and your family during this holy season,

Kathy O’Reilly

Loving and gracious God

the bold faith of your gentle servant Nicholas

       Teaches us generosity

How to care for others

And to share what we have.

Give us strength and courage

   To be faithful to Jesus

By following Nicholas’s example

So our lives like his, will reflect your love,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Photo Newsletters: 5th & 6th Grade

Click the photo albums below to see what the classes have been up to.

Feast of St. Nicholas Day

St. Nicholas arrived on horseback yesterday to surprise the students for the Feast of St. Nicholas Day! Students also received candy canes in their shoes which were left out in the hall. Following the arrival of St. Nicholas everyone in the school worked with a buddy to create stockings for the Stuff the Stocking Project. See details in the story below and for more photos click the button below.

Stuff the Stocking Project

Parents, as you may know, Christmas is steadily approaching. The 8th grade service committee has a fun project for the kids to do. We are working to help the families at the Ronald McDonald house, in order for them to have a more delightful Christmas. The kindergarten through 8th grade will buddy up on Saint Nicholas Day to craft stockings filled with treats and toys for the families! The toys will go to kids of all ages. We are asking for donations of goodies to put in the stockings. Here is a link to the Amazon Wish List (please have items shipped to your home and then your student can bring the items to school) ***Deadline to send in donations is Dec 15th (new deadline).

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/U0J6U0ILY1MK?ref_=wl_share

God bless you all, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

~ Michael Baumel and Luke Bennison (Members of the 8th grade Service Committee)

Questions? Please email Nancy Davis at nd43065@icloud.com

SPiCE News & Notes: Counselor's Corner

The holidays are here! During this season, it is important to acknowledge that

there are many stressors, increased expectations, and embracing a new routine while school is not in session. It is also good to evaluate our expectations and our focus during this time of year. Below are a few resources to help you manage the holidays for you and your families.

Click the link below to continue reading the December newsletter from our counselor, Maegan Flannery at Spirit of Peace.

Bishop Watterson Area Band Concert

The Bishop Watterson Area Band Concert will be held tonight, Wednesday December 7 at 7 PM at Bishop Watterson. Band students in our 5th - 8th grades will participate, as well as other feeder school bands. Good luck to our many band students participating!

Christmas Choir Concert

Our 5th - 8th grade choir students will be performing a Christmas Concert on Tuesday, December 13th at 7:00 pm in the church. All families are welcome to attend. Good luck to our many choir students participating!

Lost & Found - Come Get It!

Parents, this Christmas give yourself the gift of . . . your child’s items returning home to you! While you’re dropping off, picking up, volunteering, or attending a child’s performance during December, please check out the lost and found items that are organized in the cafeteria beneath the trophy case. Photos will be posted next week!

Prospective Families Open House

Sunday, January 22 from 3-5 PM

This is the perfect time for interested friends, family or neighbors to explore our three-time Blue Ribbon School. Prospective families can tour our school and see first-hand how Saint Brigid of Kildare School provides a quality Catholic education in a warm environment. There will be representatives from Saint Brigid of Kildare School’s many programs available to answer questions.

Click here to RSVP.

Spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested in applying to Saint Brigid of Kildare School for the 2023-2024 school year! And remember, families who refer families can receive tuition credits. Learn more about this program here.

New Student Application Open

The application for new students is now open. The deadline to apply on time is Monday, January 23, 2023 at midnight. Applications are not processed until January 24.

(If you have a currently enrolled St. Brigid preschool student wishing to move on to Kindergarten, you will fill out a re-enrollment packet beginning January 13th. Completing this re-enrollment packet for Kindergarten will place you in the general queue for review/acceptance along with all other Kindergarten applicants. As a reminder, you will be notified via email of acceptance/wait list status on or before January 31, 2023.)

Save the Date: Free Bi-Annual Uniform & Spiritwear Exchange Feb 12, 10 AM - 1 PM

For the first time since 2020, there will not be a sign up to attend, so please add it to your calendar so you don’t forget to come! All items are free and you don’t need to donate to “shop”!

While you’re decluttering in January, please gather up the gently used uniforms that your children no longer need to donate to the Uniform and Spiritwear Exchange! Items accepted include all logo and non-logo uniform items AND spirit wear and PE uniforms. Donations can be brought into the main office after January 3rd during school hours or placed in a bin in the Hendricks Hall collection closet.

Educational Apparel Holiday Sale

Educational Apparel is offering customers a 15% discount on their purchase through the end of December.

Click here for more details.

OWjL Camp

The 42nd annual OWjL Camp is approaching.  OWjL Camp is a week long summer camp for gifted and talented students currently enrolled in 6th, 7th and 8th grade.  The camp is held in June on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.  

OWjL Camp provides enrichment and challenge experiences in a variety of areas including but not limited to, science, math, computing, creative development, humanities and arts.  Some sample course titles are:  39 Clues, Baking Basics, Model Rocket Madness, Survivor Skills, You’re on Trial, and many more.  

Rather than the school submitting potential applications to OWU as we have done in the past, if your child is interested in applying, we are encouraging your child to fill out an application online at owjl.owu.edu.  After the application is complete, two teachers of choice as well as Ms. Williams, the school counselor, will receive a request to complete forms.  Please be sure to let the teachers you have chosen know they will be receiving an email with the request.

One of the qualification requirements is to “...meet the state definition of giftedness: score in the 95th percentile on any one area on the most recent ability or achievement test; above average proficiency test scores; or otherwise demonstrate talent or creativity.”  For our purposes, St. Brigid would submit STAR scores for math and/or reading.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Stacie Williams, school counselor, ms.williams@stbrigid-school.org or to Eve Helenberger, OWjL Camp office manager, owjl@owu.edu, 1-740-368-3939.

Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund: Donate by Dec 31

This weekend at Mass, we spoke about a new state program that allows donors to receive a tax credit on their Ohio tax return up to $750 ($1,500 if married and filing jointly).

In 2021 the State of Ohio created a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) Program. This program allows Ohio taxpayers to donate to a K-12 SGO for that school to use for scholarships for tuition based on financial need. The donor then receives a dollar-for-dollar non-refundable tax credit on their Ohio state tax return up to $750 ($1,500 if married and filing jointly). This is in addition to a federal tax deduction you are always able to take.

The Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund (under the Diocesan Education Corporation) is certified as an SGO by the Ohio Attorney General. This fund solely benefits students in the Diocese of Columbus Catholic Schools.

Parishioners, family, and friends of St. Brigid of Kildare can donate and directly designate St. Brigid of Kildare School as the recipient of their donation. If you choose not to designate a school, the money will be used in a general fund for financial aid for diocesan students based on need.

All donations will be managed through the Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund.

100% of those funds will be available to our school the following tax year to be used for scholarships for our students.

To donate online, click the Donate link below (type St. Brigid of Kildare School in the text box if you would like your donation to go to St. Brigid School).

December Gifts of Gratitude - Popcorn & Candy Donations

Contribute to Gifts of Gratitude

If you still would like to contribute to the Gifts of Gratitude program, you can do so at the link below. Choose your donation amount and that's it. It's that easy! It's such a simple way to show appreciation to your child/children's teachers and the staff at St Brigid of Kildare.  

Below are some photos of just a few of the things we've been able to do with Gifts of Gratitude contributions so far this year!

Popcorn & Candy Donations

As part of the December Gifts of Gratitude events, we would like to provide all students and staff with a candy treat and a bag of popcorn. We are seeking donations of Skinnypop Popcorn (28-pack boxes, available at Costco) and Caramel Apple Pops (48-count boxes, available at Target and Amazon). Please use the SignUp Genius link below if you're interested in signing up! We kindly ask that all Caramel Apple Pop donations are dropped off outside the school office by 8:30AM on Friday, December 9th, and that all popcorn donations are dropped off outside the school office by 8:30AM on Tuesday, December 13th.

St. Brigid Ski & Board Club - Deadline to Sign Up Dec 9

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

Date:  Tuesdays January 10, 17, 24, 31 and February 7 and 14.  February 28, 2023 - Tubing trip 

Who: Students currently in grades 4th - 8th 

Where: Mad River Mountain

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

Cost:  $175 per child (this covers the bus fee)

To Register:

Print and complete the following forms and return to the school, attention Stacie Williams:

• Emergency Medical
• Permission and waiver
• Sign Up Form
• 
  

Make payment ($175 per child) online here:

https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/812bf1fc-24f2-4215-bc6f-b31e5b2de9ed

This fee will cover transportation and is non-refundable even if sessions are canceled due to weather.

 All forms are DUE...DECEMBER 9, 2022

To obtain a ski pass log on to Mad River Mountains website:

There are many different passes to choose from. Some of the best we’ve found are:

• Skiing 7 days a week (includes multiple options)

Again there are many, many options including military discounts

If you have any questions, feel free to contact:

Stacie Williams ms.williams@stbrigid-school.org 614-718-8025

Aileen Hoffman, aileenph@gmail.com 614-204-3302  

Jessica Hoffman, jh@barringtonschool.com 614-296-9000

*Please note the dates and forms on the athletics website are not current.

Knights of Columbus Youth Free Throw Competition

Save the date for the Knights of Columbus Youth Free Throw Competition which will be held February 5, 2023 at 2:30 in the St. Brigid School Gym.

The registration link and details will be sent out in January.

St. Brigid Women's Retreat: Into a Garden of Virtue

Women of the Parish are invited to attend the annual St. Brigid of Kildare Women’s Retreat. This year's retreat starts at 5PM, Friday, March 3rd and runs until midday Sunday, March 3, 2023. The retreat will be held at The Spiritual Center at Maria Stein. Meals will be provided and all women will have a private room with bath. The total cost is $200.

Registration will be available on the parish website on January 9, 2023 at 9AM. If you have questions, please contact Jackie Pervan at abba414@gmail.com or visit our website: https://stbrigidofkildare.org/womens-retreat-2023/

Syntero Winter Wellness Workshops

Below is a flyer for Syntero’s Winter Wellness Workshops, which will be available to students in grades K-12, free of charge, over winter break. 

Registration for the Winter Wellness Workshops will remain open through Monday, December 12^th. 

Join St. Brigid Families in Praying the Joyful Rosary

December 11

Family First and the Knights of Columbus would like to invite you and your family to join us for a Virtual Family Rosary Sunday, December 11^th at 7:00pm via zoom. 

Signing up below will allow this event to sync to your calendar (and you will receive and email reminder) OR please volunteer your family to lead a decade! Prayers and reflections will be screen-shared live over Zoom and we will follow up with additional details several days before the event. It is OK to lead while still learning these prayers!

Log on at 6:50 to put your intentions in the chat, work through any technical details that may arise and say hello to other families! Rosary will begin at 7pm. We look forward to “seeing” you there. Kiddos in pajamas are expected and celebrated!

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B44A8A929AB9-virtual3

Log on here: Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81339398625?pwd=T2Vwcm14b3lJK1pBeU9JVEl1cFRqdz09

Meeting ID: 813 3939 8625

Passcode: pray

Alumni Signing Day

Three Bishop Watterson seniors committed to play college sports on November 10, 2022. Two of them are St. Brigid of Kildare alumni:

• Amarian Hegenberger-Ellars, baseball, University of Michigan-Dearborn
• Ava Hoying, volleyball, Northern Kentucky University

Congrats Amarian and Ava!