The O'Reilly Minute

Dear Parents,

During the season of Lent it is important not only to engage our children in conversations, rites and rituals, but to demonstrate how the season can help families focus on spiritual growth together. Often we focus on what to "give up" for Lent, which is a great practice to teach the concept of sacrifice.  We can also think about what spiritual goals can be set as a family during this time. It can be something simple like praying together on the way to school or cleaning out your closets and donating all of the things you don't need to charity or perhaps using the Catholic Relief Services rice bowls. Each family received a Rice Bowl last week in the Friday folder.  If you choose to participate you may return your donations to the school/parish during Holy Week. 

As a part of the Rice Bowl Program the parish is offering Lenten Soup Suppers on Tuesdays during Lent at 6:00 PM in Hendricks Hall (February 27, March 5,12,19). Families gather for a simple supper of soup and bread, allowing the family to make a donation to the Rice Bowl.  This simple meal combined with a short video about people in other parts of our world will help remind us of the simplicity of life. This is a wonderful Lenten practice for families to do together (from grandparents to the youngest grandchild).  The suppers begin at 6:00 PM and finish in time for those who wish to attend Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM. 

The Rice Bowl program and soup suppers can also be a great springboard for table talk about the Corporal Works of Mercy (The Corporal Works of Mercy | USCCB) and how we can help other families have food on their table.   

Next week we will be raising our awareness of rare diseases.  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. See more information in the story below.    

Since rare diseases are genetically related, we will be wearing jeans for genes to support rare diseases. This dress down day will be on Wednesday, February 28th (February 29th is a Mass day). You may wear any type of jeans (or denim):  pants, skirts, shirts, jackets, hair bows…just do your best to wear something that is jean material…if you don’t have anything school appropriate in a jean material, please wear something blue.  

The Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund has $570,000 in tuition assistance available for St. Brigid of Kildare K-8 school families for the 2024-25 school year! This money is only accessible if you apply through FACTS Grant and Aid by March 15, 2024. Priority is given to those most in need, but the goal is to distribute all $570,000 available to St. Brigid school families for 2024-25. Do not miss out on this opportunity! Apply today! 

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. Please see the instructions below. To see a flier from the Office of Catholic Schools with more information about tuition assistance, click here.

We will be sending out more information soon with instructions on re-applying for EdChoice for the 2024-25 school year. 

Lenten blessings,

Kathy O'Reilly

Photo Newsletters: 1st Grade

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.

Parental Monitoring Apps

Below are some helpful parental monitoring apps that have been suggested by parents.

• Life360 -  the #1 family locator app & safety membership, including advanced driving, location, & digital safety features
• Bark - parental monitoring app that can scan your child’s text messages, 30+ social media apps, web browsers, emails, and other online activity, keeping you informed and your child protected
• Apple Parental Controls - Apple has great parent controls to not allow your child to add contacts or apps, set time limits, and much more

If you have digital safety apps or similar helpful information to share, or if you are a digital media professional willing to share your expertise for the benefit of our school community, please contact Allie Wing at [email protected].

Yearbooks for Sale

Yearbooks are on sale ($25.68) NOW thru April 2, 2024! Don’t miss out on your chance to order your 2023 – 2024 school yearbook that is packed full of fun memories! Online ordering is simple and easy! Simply click on the direct link below, fill in your information and pay by credit card.

http://diane-spagnuolo-photography.hhimagehost.com/20232024StBrigidofKildareYEARBOOK

If you have questions regarding ordering – please email Diane Spagnuolo Photography

[email protected] or call the studio at 614-873-6867

ORDER DEADLINE – Midnight – Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Wolfhound Basketball Championships This Weekend

Congratulations to our many Wolfhound basketball teams competing in the championships! Come out to support your Wolfhounds at the following games this weekend:

8th Grade Boys:

Green Team - Division 1 Championship

Sunday Feb 25 at 2:00 PM at Bishop Watterson

White Team Division 4 Championship

St. Brigid of Kildare White vs  St. Michael

Saturday, Feb 24 - 3:30 PM - at Bishop Watterson High School 

7th Grade Girls:

Sat Feb 24 - 10:15 am - Division 1 Championship 

St. Brigid of Kildare Green vs  St. Pius X - at St. Brigid

7th Grade Boys:

Green Team - Sat, Feb 24- 2:30 pm - Division 1 Championship

St. Brigid of Kildare Green vs St. Paul - at St. Charles

White Team - Sat, Feb 24 - 1:00 PM - Division 4 Championship

St. Brigid of Kildare White vs  I.C. - at The Armory



Thank you to Father Lynch and Deacon Paul for cheering on our 8th grade girls team vs. St. Cecilia last week (pictured)!

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 Scholarship and Diocesan Tuition Assistance Application 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 Closes Friday

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 - Featured Auction Items

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!

You don't have to attend the event to bid on items. Online silent auction bidding will open a few days prior to the event. Watch your email for more details, but in the meantime check out some featured auction items below.

If you have not purchased your tickets yet please do so at the link below, we are nearing capacity for the event.

Not sure what to wear? Click here for a few ideas!

Featured Auction Items: Rare Bourbons & Experiences

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].

Lenten Taize

Thursday, February 29, 7 PM, Church

Spend a quiet hour together as a family with prayer, reflection and music. 

Women's Retreat April 12-14

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

Registration is now open at this link.

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.

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 Columbus Diocese at www.virtus.org

Upcoming Virtus Protecting God's Children (PGC) session: 

3/5/2024 St Pius X (Reynoldsburg) 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, registration with Fastrax and complete a criminal background check prior to volunteering.

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

St. Charles Drama: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

The St. Charles Preparatory School Drama Department is proud to announce its winter musical, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.  The Lightning Thief will be presented February 29, March 1 & 2 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 3 at 3:00 p.m. in the St. Charles Campus Theatre, 2010 E. Broad St. Reservations may be placed by visiting the St. Charles website homepage at scprep.org – Buy Tickets button.