The O'Reilly Minute

Dear Parents,

Our students enjoyed a fun Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day party yesterday with a dress down day, party games planned by our room parents, and a delicious  cookie treat sponsored by our Annual Fund!  To see pictures from our parties, see our  school Instagram account. 

Yesterday’s celebrations marked the last day of ordinary time before the start of Lent, a time of fasting and repentance.  Today we attended Ash Wednesday Mass as a community (no school Mass on Thursday) in order to prepare our hearts for the liturgical season of Lent. As a school community we will be attending Stations of the Cross on the following dates: 

Wednesday, February 21st, 2:00 pm

Wednesday, February 28, 2:00 pm

Thursday, March 7, 2:00 pm

Friday, March 22, 2:00 pm

Please feel free to join as your schedule allows.  

A reminder to consider applying for any type of tuition assistance for the 2024-2025 school year.  (This assistance would be in addition to the funds you will receive from the EdChoice Scholarship program).  We have additional funds available for distribution due to the generosity of our donors through the Emmaus Road Scholarship program. If you are in any need of tuition assistance beyond your EdChoice scholarship amount, please apply through FACTS for tuition assistance. We also encourage all families receiving Jon Peterson scholarships to apply for tuition assistance since families are not eligible to receive both Peterson and EdChoice Scholarships.

The deadline for applying for assistance will be March 15th.  Please see details in the article below.  

Lenten blessings,

Kathy O'Reilly

Photo Newsletters: Kindergarten

Congrats Power of the Pen Team - Second Place!

Our middle school Power of the Pen team competed at its district tournament on Saturday against 19 other public, private, and Catholic schools in the Columbus area. We are excited to share that our team won second place for the eighth grade and first place for the seventh grade.

Special congratulations go to our individual winners as well: Evelyn Heise, Colin Huttsell, Arina Banks, Charlie Malerich, Charlie Ferrara, and Andrew Doll. We will be going to Regionals in three weeks. Go Wolfhound Writers!

Crucial Conversations Follow Up: Jesse Weinberger Event

Thank you for the continued support of Jesse Weinberger's speaking event on digital safety. We will continue to keep the conversation going by sharing pieces of information and data from Jesse over the coming weeks.

• Jesse's New Podcast for Teens - Jesse's season 2 podcast, now directed at teens is now available for listening.
• Digital Family Contract for parents and children to sign

At the link below you can access all student survey data that was anonymously collected from our 4th-8th grade students. Note on the last few pages are comments from students directed toward parents.

Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest Results

The Knights of Columbus free throw contest continued last weekend. Congrats to the children who won their age group and advanced onto regionals at Bishop Ready:

• Adelyn Tolson
• Nicholas Lyons
• Luciana Reinbolt
• Jacob Tolson
• Charlie Mazza

Congrats Wolfhound Basketball Team

The 6th grade boys Tolson basketball team ended their regular season this past Sunday undefeated 11-0 winning their league.

The team will start tournament play on Saturday.

Congrats Wolfhounds!

SPiCE Awareness: Rare Disease Day February Service Project

Rare Disease Day is an observance held on the last day of February to raise awareness for rare diseases and improve access to treatment and medical representation for individuals with rare diseases and their families.     

We will be doing a February service project to support the Hematology/Oncology Team at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

The Hematology/Oncology psychosocial services team helps children understand what they are going through; assists them in coping, minimizing stress and fear about medical procedures, and help siblings understand what is happening to their brother or sister. One family member’s illness impacts every family member and we strive to create an environment where children can achieve their best health and families can receive the support to positively cope with their child’s treatment and care.

Consider donating:

• Matchbox cars
• Coloring or activity books
• $10 gift cards ONLY to: 1. Door Dash 2. Amazon 3. Starbucks 4. CVS 5. Walmart
• View Amazon Wish List

Donations will be collected through the month of February.

We will be talking about rare diseases in class in honor of Rare Disease Day on February 29. Click here to see a slideshow, and here to see a flyer to learn more about rare diseases and the information shared with children.

Semi-Annual Uniform and Spiritwear Exchange - Feb 25 10 AM - 1 PM

Shoppers, sign up here: Winter 2024 Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange. This sign up contains more information about the exchange and signing up ensures you’ll receive a reminder to attend. Everything is FREE and you don’t need to donate to attend. Prospective families are also welcome to come to start their wardrobes and seek answers to uniform questions. If you need items, but can’t attend, let a friend shop for you!

Have items to donate? If you have gently used items for the uniform and spirit wear exchange you have a few options for drop-off:

1.       At the school office beginning Feb 1 during school hours

2.      At a bin outside Erin Heise’s home at 6588 Wynwright Dr Dublin OH Feb 17-23

3.       Bring them with you to the exchange if the other options don't work for you.

4.       If you have a ripped up jumper or logoed item, please still donate it as we can use it for spare parts (buttons, crest, etc.)!

5.       Leftovers will be given to the Bishop Griffin Center.

Volunteer. Volunteers are needed to organize the exchange, help others find items, and to clean up and pack items for donation at the end of the exchange. If you are free, please sign up here:  Winter 2024 Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange Volunteer Sign Up

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

Vote for Our School at Tiny Saints

Our school has been nominated to receive free Tiny Saints charms of our patron for all the students and free custom t-shirts for all the staff! Take a moment to vote and try to help us win! The more votes we get the better our chances of winning. Voting closes the evening of February 22nd.

Lost & Found Items Will Be Donated Feb 23

A reminder that the lost and found will be cleaned out on Feb 23^rd in conjunction with the uniform exchange, so please reclaim your item(s)! Click here to view a photo album of what is currently in the lost in found.

Tips to keep items out of the lost and found:

• Label all sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, etc. with your child’s name (or even last name if it won’t fit!), not initials. There are customizable labels out there but using Sharpie on Avery non-iron tags is an inexpensive and easy way to protect your investment! Labelled items are more likely to be returned to your family rather than heading to the lost and found.
• If you’ve obtained an item from the Uniform Exchange check to see if it has already been labelled and do your best to re-label so the item isn’t “returned” to the prior family if it is misplaced.
• Label water bottles, lunch boxes, etc. Many look the same!

When an item becomes lost:

• Ask your child to search for the item in the lost and found during his/her lunchtime. Parents are welcome to come into school cafeteria to search also.
• Items of value (cash, phones, etc.) will be taken to the office receptionist for safekeeping.

The Emmaus Road SGO and Diocesan Tuition Assistance Application is Now Open: Deadline March 15, 2024

Applications for The Emmaus Road SGO Scholarship, Diocesan Tuition Assistance, St. Brigid Parish Tuition Assistance, and TACT Teacher Assistance for the 2024-25 school year must be submitted through the FACTS Grant and Aid portal by March 15, 2024.

In order to receive funds through any of these tuition assistance programs, you must apply for tuition assistance through FACTS.

To be considered for 2024-25 Tuition Assistance Programs:

• You must be registered for the 2024-25 school year by March 15, 2024.
• The application, tax return, and W-2 must be submitted by March 15, 2024. (No exceptions will be made for any late applications, so please apply early in case additional documentation is requested by FACTS.)
• If 2023 taxes are not finished for submission by March 15, 2024, the 2022 tax return with 2022 W2 is acceptable.
• You need only submit one application per family.
• There is no tuition assistance available for preschool.
• All K-8 families, Catholic and non-Catholic are eligible to apply.
• Assistance amounts given vary by family and will be based on family income and number of children in a household.
• All applications and materials submitted are confidential.
• Applicants are expected to be notified of award status in May.

For full instructions on applying for tuition assistance, click here.

Spring Sports Registration is Open Through Feb 23

Registration for Spring Baseball, Softball, and Track & Field - for grades 4th - 8th - has been opened and available at https://www.gowolfhounds.com/register (note updated site address)

Baseball

Registration Fee: $160 - includes game jersey and hat.

Practices will begin around March 1, and games will go from April 1 until May 12 (exact schedule released end of March)

Softball

Registration Fee: $160 - includes game jersey and hat/visor.

Practices will begin around March 1, and games will go from April 1 until May 12 (exact schedule released end of March)

Track & Field

Registration Fee: $85 

Practices will begin around March 1, and meets will go from April 1 until May 12 (exact meet schedule released in March)

Want to help out with the teams this spring?  All 3 sports are in need of coaches (head coaches and assistant coaches) - please consider volunteering.  When you sign up your child you can provide details if you are interested in helping out. Our programs are driven by parents volunteering - so please consider giving some of your time to help out.

Have any questions about the spring season?

Baseball/Softball Commissioner - Will Malerich ([email protected])

Track & Field Commissioner - Dan Workman ([email protected])

Registration Questions - Shawn Steinbrunner ([email protected])

Registration will run until Feb 23rd.

Corks for a Cause 2024 - Tickets Going Fast!

We are excited to hold our 17th annual Corks for a Cause Silent Auction and Wine Tasting for SPiCE on Saturday, March 2, 2024. We can't wait to celebrate Music City with our Nashville Nights theme!

There are several ways to help support this event, through volunteering, becoming an event sponsor, donating auction items, or donating wine or bourbon bottles.

If you are able to help in any of these ways, please reach out to Sarah Moore at [email protected].

Wine, Bourbon & Champagne Bottles Needed

We are looking for donations of bottles of wine or champagne valued at $20 or higher and bottle of bourbon valued at $30 or higher for our Wine Grab! If you can donate, please fill out the Sign Up below.

Featured Auction Item: Entire Cabin in Sevierville, TN

Welcome to the Sweet Mimosa Lodge! This brand new, gorgeous 5-bedroom lodge (sleeps 20) offers incredible amenities, modern luxuries, and amazing views of the Smokies! And, with a short drive to both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Sweet Mimosa Lodge is the perfect Smoky Mountain headquarters for your family vacation! With spacious bedrooms, an indoor pool, large game room, arcade room, fire pit, an outdoor hot tub (and SO much more!), the fun and relaxation begin the moment you arrive!

The mountain lodge is ideal for families and small groups alike and is perfect for any getaway - so pack your bags -- the mountains are calling!!

Booking Details: The winner of this auction item will get five nights to choose anytime between Jan 6 through March 16, 2025. These dates would include St. Brigid spring break as well as Presidents Day Weekend and MLK weekend for school families. The five-day booking must include a Sat or Sun (or both).

Dates must be submitted by June 30, 2024.

Thank You 2024 Sponsors!

Thank you to our gracious 2024 Corks for a Cause sponsors!

There is still time to become a sponsor, if you are interested please reach out to Sarah Moore at [email protected].

Sandwich Saturday - Feb 17

At Sandwich Saturday 1000 bologna sandwiches are made to support various food pantries in downtown Columbus. This is a great way to start off your weekend with an act of service and it only takes 30 minutes! It is perfect for all ages (including those in need of service hours) and no registration is needed.

The sandwich making starts promptly at 9:00am in the school cafeteria so come a little early to get settled. We also accept donations of individually packaged snacks. Sandwich Saturday is a project of the Social Action committee.

Women's Retreat April 12-14

Save the date for the Women's Retreat April 12-14!

Registration is now open at this link.

A Lent to Remember

Join us for this four-week Lenten study!

A Lent to Remember explores the ways God reaches out to each of us with his mercy. This four-week series makes a step-by-step examination of the Rite of Confession and communicates God's invitation to each one of us to come experience his indescribable love this Lent. Through Christ's suffering on the cross in the Paschal Mystery and his perpetual reception of his people in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God makes his love, his very self, present to us in the world.

Feb 14/Feb 15 Augustine Institute Forgiven — Where Are You?

Feb 21/Feb 22 Augustine Institute Forgiven — An Encounter with Mercy

Feb 28/Feb 29 Augustine Institute Forgiven — Embraced in Mercy: The Rite Explained

Mar 6/Mar 7    Augustine Institute Symbolon — The Paschal Mystery: Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

There are three ways to participate:

1. Wednesday Evening Group: Join other parishioners in this study/small groups on Wednesdays, 7-8:30 PM in the Berry Room.
2.  Thursday Morning Group: Join other parishioners in this study/small groups on Thursdays, 10—11:30 AM in the Berry Room.
3. Individual Small Groups: Create your own small group in your home and receive study materials free of charge from the parish!

Use the link below to sign up. For more information, contact Kim VanHuffel at [email protected].

Tickets on Sale: Father/Daughter Dance

Save the date for the parish's annual Father/Daughter Dance, coming up on Saturday, April 6 from 6:30 - 9:30 PM.

Tickets went on sale February 12 at 10 AM at www.stbrigidofkildare.org.

Mom to Mom Lent Study

Prepare for Easter this Lent with Mom to Mom! They will be listening to Father Mike Schmitz's homily series Learning to Lose.

Learn more about this study and other Lenten activities at our parish at stbrigidofkildare.com/lent.

A Good & Growing Need: Support Our Seminarian

The Diocese of Columbus has a GOOD AND 

GROWING NEED by virtue of 16 ADDITIONAL young men interested in the priesthood. A contribution from you will support this immediate need to fund future priests throughout our Diocese!

There will be a second collection throughout the Diocese at the end of February dedicated to supporting these seminarians in their discernment process. 

You can give then or donate now to the Seminary Support Fund by visiting

 https://www.columbuscatholicgiving.org/seminarian-support-fund!

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: 



 3/21/2024 Zoom PGC (Columbus) 6pm

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/ 

St. Charles Father/Son Mass and Breakfast

St. Charles is pleased to be hosting the 15th Annual Father/Son Mass and Breakfast on Saturday, March 2. Invited to attend are all alumni and alumni fathers with their sons, current and incoming students and their fathers, and any young man in grade school (with his father) who is interested in learning more about the school. We will start with Mass at 9:30 a.m. followed by a buffet breakfast in the Robert C. Walter Student Commons. Our guest presenter is SC father, Mr. Adam Johnson, the Chairman and CEO of NetJets Inc. The breakfast is free, but you are still asked to RSVP HERE by Monday, February 26.  Questions? Contact the school's Alumni Affairs and Communications Director, Louis J. Fabro '83, by EMAIL or phone at 380-209-2233.