Dear Parents,

This coming Sunday marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week!  This is our annual celebration of what makes Saint Brigid of Kildare School outstanding: Faith. Excellence. Service.   Starting with Mass on the weekend of January 28/29, we have a whole week of activities planned to show what our students are accomplishing and to celebrate the community we have built to educate tomorrow’s citizens and church leaders. See daily details and events below.  There are several “To Do” items to mark on your family calendar.  

Today you will be receiving 2nd quarter report cards and discipleship rubrics.  You will be receiving an email around noon with directions for accessing the report cards through your FACTS family portal.   Please note that there is not a place to sign off that you have read the report card.  FACTS is still working on this feature and we hope to have it available in the future.  

Our students and teachers have worked very hard this first half of the year and there is much to celebrate!  Please keep in mind that both parents and teachers are encouraged to initiate communication any time during the year if there is a student concern or a question.  We believe that it is better to address a student concern or clarify a situation in a timely manner rather than wait for a scheduled conference time. You may contact teachers via email or leave a phone message in the school office at 718-5825.  Faculty emails can be found using the quick link in the Wolfhound Wednesday or on our website at http://stbrigidofkildare.com/staff/ 

Student-led conferences will take place over the next two weeks.  Please use the Sign Up Genius located in the story below.  

May the blessings of Saint Brigid be with you,

Kathy O'Reilly

Catholic Schools Week: Jan 28 - Feb 3

The theme of our celebration is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” This theme encompasses the core experiences and values that can be found in Catholic schools across the country. Not only are we teaching students to become future servant leaders, faith-filled disciples, and enriched citizens in our communities, educators are growing with them. In Catholic schools, we are all learners, servants and leaders. These shared qualities are what make Catholic schools work. They are what make Catholic schools succeed. The theme also focuses on key elements of Catholic education: faith development, academic excellence, and dedication to service. These elements set Catholic schools apart from other educational options. They are why families make sacrifices to provide their children with a Catholic education. 

Saturday/Sunday, January 28/29 - Celebrating the Parish

Catholic schools benefit all year long from the religious guidance, prayers and support of our parish.  

• Students are asked to wear uniforms or church-appropriate spiritwear to all weekend Masses.

Monday, January 30 - Celebrating Community

Our students learn the value of working together as one as a community serving and taking care of each other. 

• Our school community will gather together for morning prayer
• Celebrate our larger community by distributing thank you cards to parents/volunteers
• Make “Love Tokens” for buddies to wear to St. Brigid Feast Day Mass on February 1st. St. Brigid was known for her love of others, many people in Ireland long ago would exchange love tokens to remember each other. Students will create a love token to send a message of love, friendship, and care for their school buddy.

Tuesday, January 31 - Celebrating Teachers and Staff

Teachers and staff are the backbone of Catholic schools. Today we honor and thank teachers/staff who support our school in its important work.

• Appreciation luncheon for teachers and staff organized by Home and School Annual Fund
• Teachers and staff will wear college alumni shirts and share with students their educational journey and vocation
• Students and families are encouraged to write thank you notes 

Wednesday, February 1 - Celebrating Our Faith

By focusing on the themes of learning, serving and leading, Catholic schools prepare children to succeed by using their God-given talents to the fullest throughout their lives. Our patroness, Saint Brigid, dedicated her life to education and to the poor, sick, and elderly. Today we celebrate her feast day by looking to her as a role model of learning, serving, and leadership in our faith. 

• Feast of Saint Brigid Mass at 9:00 AM. Parents are welcome to attend as your schedule allows. (Please note we will not have a Thursday school Mass this week)
• Buddies will meet at 8:30 AM to exchange Love Tokens to wear to Mass
• Read Saint Brigid stories, legends or watch videos of her life/stories
• Green and Yellow Lunch

Thursday, February 2 - Celebrating our Families

Parents, Guardians, and other family members play a vital role in Catholic education. Not only do they choose to send their children to Catholic schools, they instill values and expectations for academic excellence and living a life of discipleship. Today we celebrate 100 days of academic excellence and share our successes and goals with our families during student-led conferences.

• 100 Reasons Why We Love Our School! Students will work together as a homeroom to make a display of 100 Reasons.
• Student-Led Conferences for Grades K - 2 and 5 - 6. Students will share thank you cards with their families.
• 8th grade will be holding a bake sale to provide a post-conference celebration treat! Proceeds will benefit the Honor Flight Organization and the 8th grade trip to Washington DC
• The Book Fair will be open in the library until 7:00 PM for families to select books for their home libraries. 

Friday, February 3 - Celebrating Students

We celebrate students today with fun activities to celebrate their accomplishments of learning, serving, and leading!

• Homeroom Vote - Theme Dress Down Day: Each class worked together to decide on a theme for their dress down day!  
• Favorite School Lunch - Students voted for rotini and cake with sprinkles!
• Hoops Game at 2:00 pm - Faculty and Staff vs. 8th Grade (Parents are welcome if your schedule allows)
• Hounds Hoopla sponsored Home and School and the Annual Fund - an evening of family fun!  

Photo Newsletters: 7th & 8th Grades

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

Hounds Hoopla is Feb 3 - Volunteers & Donations Needed

Hounds Hoopla is coming Friday, February 3 from 6-8:30 PM at our school!

Join us for Bingo, a DJ dance party, crafts, and face painting. Pizza and snacks included. Entry is $25 per family; register at the link below.



Donations Needed

Donations are needed for bingo prizes. A donation box will be in the main office area outside the nurse's office. Great donation item ideas include: gift cards for the older kids in $10-$20 amounts, crafts, stuffed animals,

games, sports equipment like soccer balls, plastic bats and balls, little kids ball gloves, and nail polish.

Anything new, unopened or in like new condition we would look forward to having for the prize tables.

Student-Led Conference Sign Ups

Student-Led Conferences are coming up on Thursday, February 2 for grades K, 1, 2, 5, and 6 and Thursday, February 9 for grades 3, 4, 7 and 8. Please use the link below to sign up for your child's homeroom teacher's conference.

Home & School Meeting Feb 2

All are welcome to join the next Home & School meeting coming up on Thursday, February 2 at 10 AM in Hendricks Hall, or to join via Zoom at:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82943756170?pwd=Uy9hSFhhWmhHMkVOaFZWQldHMkdxZz09

Congrats 1st Grade Dublin Arts Council Winner

*Updated to correct that Grace DuFault is in 1st grade*

Congratulations to Grace DuFault, 1st grader at St. Brigid, for winning the Dublin Arts Council award for Best of Show, Grades K-2.

Grace won this award with her acrylic painting The Princess and the Prince (pictured).

Dublin Arts Council’s 21st annual exhibition of student artwork showcases artwork from students in grades K-12 in the Dublin City Schools (DCS) attendance area, participants in the DCS PATHS post-secondary program and those who have participated in a Dublin Arts Council program. The juried exhibition includes 111 artworks from 74 artists. Best of Show, Technical Skill and Best use of Medium honors are awarded, providing students with the opportunity to experience a professional gallery exhibition. Students may sell their artwork if they choose to do so. The exhibition is available both in-person and online.

To view the Dublin Arts Council website with the artists' awards, click here.

Tuition Assistance Application - Deadline March 15

Applications for Tuition Assistance for the 2023-24 school year must be submitted through the FACTS Grant and Aid portal by March 15, 2023.

In order to receive a scholarship through the Emmaus Road Scholarship Program, you must apply for tuition assistance through FACTS.

Please note you cannot receive both an Oak Society grant and tuition assistance.

To be considered for Saint Brigid or the Diocese of Columbus Tuition Assistance Programs:

• You must be registered for the 2023-24 school year by March 15, 2023.
• The application, tax return, and W-2 must be submitted by March 15, 2023. (No exceptions will be made for any late applications, so please apply early in case additional documentation is requested by FACTS.)
• You must pay the online $35 application fee.
• You need only submit one application per family.
• Saint Brigid does not offer tuition assistance for non-Catholic families but you may be eligible for Diocesan assistance.
• There is no tuition assistance available for preschool.
• If 2022 taxes are not finished for submission by March 15, 2023, the 2021 tax return with 2022 W2 is acceptable.

Click here to view the flyer with this information.

Talking To Kids About Social Media

From Nationwide Children's Hospital On Our Sleeves program:

• When should my child be allowed to have a social media account?
• What are some of the risks?
• How can I talk to them about what they’re seeing online?

If you’ve had some of these thoughts you are not alone!

We know that social media is a great resource for our children to connect and learn, but it can also feel overwhelming – and maybe a bit scary too!

That’s why we’ve created new resources just for you about social media and kids’ mental health. 

Check out our conversation starters about social media you can download and use right now.

Lost and Found, Come and Get It!

This is a final call to retrieve your missing items from the newly established lost and found area of the cafeteria (link to photos here). Items remaining after 4 PM on February 10^th will be donated to the Uniform and Spiritwear Exchange or a local charity. Parents are encouraged to come check for lost items during school hours, but there are also some great opportunities like Hounds Hoopla and Student Conferences to browse the stash to see if any items are yours!

Going forward, here are some tips to keep your items with you:

1. Label all sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, etc. with your child’s name, not initials.  Avery non-iron tags are an inexpensive and easy way to protect your investment! Labelled items are more likely to be handed back to your child rather than placed in the lost and found.
2. If you’ve obtained an item from the Uniform Exchange and it already has a label, do your best to re-label so the item isn’t “returned” to the wrong family when lost.
3. Label water bottles, lunch boxes, etc. Many look the same!
4. Ask your child to search the lost and found during his/her lunchtime if missing an item.
5. Parents are welcome to pop in to check for items in the cafeteria anytime during the school day.

Uniform 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.

The exchange could not happen without volunteers! Please sign up to help and “shop” while you’re there!  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b44a8a929ab9-winter5#/

Corks for a Cause: Tickets On Sale Now!

We are excited to hold our 16th annual Corks for a Cause Silent Auction and Wine Tasting for SPiCE on Saturday, March 4, 2023. The theme this year is a Mardi Gras Masquerade! Tickets are now for sale online at the link below.

If you have wine bottles or auction items to donate, or are interested in a corporate sponsorship of the event, please contact Sarah Moore at [email protected].

Parish Movie Night

Join us for a Movie Night at 7 PM on Monday, January 30 in Hendricks Hall! We will be showing Mother Teresa: No Greater Love and will have popcorn, candy, lemonade and water (and feel free to bring your own snack!). Suitable for the whole family!

Let us know if you're coming at the RSVP link below.

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:

·    2/20/2023 Joan of Arc (Powell) 6:00 pm

·    3/23/2023 Holy Spirit (zoom session) 6:00 pm

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/ 

SBAA Spring Sports Registration Now Open

SBAA is happy to open up the Spring Sports Registration for 2023.  Offerings for the spring are Baseball, Softball, and Track & Field.  All three are available to boys and girls in the 4th - 8th grades that are students of St. Brigid or parishioners of St. Brigid.

Registration will be open until Saturday, Feb 25th, with the first practices to start shortly thereafter.  Please register soon to not miss out on any communication around practices and forming of teams. You can Register on the GoWolfhounds.com Registration form.

Early Bird Registration - Use Coupon Code "EarlySpring23" until January 28th for 10% off your registration.

Baseball & Softball:

Season will be made up of 8-10 games with a season-ending tournament planned for grade 5-8. Registration fees are $160 and include your jersey & St. Brigid hat. Practices will be at Brigid's Green along with about 1/2 of the games at St. Brigid and the rest at other Diocese schools.

If you have questions about Baseball or Softball - please contact Commissioner Will Malerich at [email protected]

Track & Field:

Season will consist of 4 meets + the Diocese championship starting around April 1 until May 14.  Practices will be held at Karrer Middle School or at St. Brigid/Avery Park as needed. Registration fees for track & field are $85.

If you have questions about Track & Field - please contact Commissioner Dan Workman at [email protected]

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.

Register at the link below.

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 11AM on Sunday, March 3rd. 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. If you have questions, please contact Jackie Pervan at [email protected] or visit our website. Online registration is now open: https://stbrigidofkildare.org/news-events/2023-womens-retreat-registration/

Make it a Date!

A Night Out to Strengthen Your Marriage

Saturday, February 11, 2023

6:15 to 7:30 p.m.

Hendricks Hall – St. Brigid of Kildare Parish 

All married and engaged couples are invited to St. Brigid’s 25th Make It a Date!

Journey back to the early years of your relationship as we reminisce about the role faith played in our marriages. 

We’re excited to hear from Rachael and Phillip Bede. They’ve been married for 18 years and have 8 kids. 

Like always, we’ll have light appetizers, and there will be a chance to catch up with old and new friends. 

At the conclusion of the event, couples leave on their own date at a venue of their choice to talk about the evening and how it relates to their own relationships.

Please RSVP to Christine Drab at [email protected] or 614-256-9065 by February 9.

Sponsored by Family First and the St. Brigid School of Adult Faith Formation