The O'Reilly Minute

Dear Parents,

What an unusual start to Catholic Schools Week! With the uncertainty surrounding the weather for the remainder of the week, I will continue to share updates on any known changes to our special events. Please be aware that additional adjustments may be needed if school closures continue.

Catholic Schools Week - Take 2!

Student-Led Conferences:

• Student-Led Conferences are postponed to February 4th and 5th. 
• The Book Fair and 8th Grade Bake Sale will be available both evenings next week.

Lunch Menu Changes:

• Thursday – Student favorite: rotini and meatballs
•  Friday – Wedge pizza with the student favorite dessert: cupcake with sprinkles

Catholic Schools Week Dress Down Days:

• The Saint Brigid spiritwear dress down day will take place on Friday, January 30th, along with the 8th grade vs. faculty and staff basketball game.   
• We will have the classroom theme-based dress-down on Monday, February 2nd. 

Bookfair

• Literati Bookfair will be available until February 6th 

Catholic Schools Week Service Opportunities

• The 100th day of school snack collection will take place from Thursday, January 29th to Tuesday, February 4th.  Students will assemble the snack bags for Feed the Kids Columbus on Wednesday, February 4th.  See details in the story below.
• Students in the next week will have an opportunity to make Seeds of Caring cards for First Responders.

Hounds Hoopla

• Will take place next Friday, February 6 (as planned). Please see the article below to purchase tickets and for donation and volunteer opportunities.

Celebrating With Our Parish Family

• Students are invited to wear their uniforms or church appropriate spiritwear to weekend Masses on January 31st and February 1st
• Families will distribute student-made prayer cards to parishioners as they arrive for Mass.  

I would also like to draw your attention to two important articles featured in this edition of Wolfhound Wednesday.

The first article comes from our SPICE Committee, which is continuing its awareness efforts by providing a slideshow on the topic of traumatic brain injuries. Today’s snow day may offer a great opportunity to take a few moments to review this informative resource together as a family.



The second article highlights our ongoing efforts to promote meaningful family and school discussions centered on the topic of respect. This topic is integral to helping our students understand that their words and actions reflect how they honor the dignity of themselves and others. Respect is so important to our school culture that it has been identified as a school-wide goal in our accreditation plan. We truly need your partnership as we work together to build a strong community that respects the dignity of every person.

May the blessings of Saint Brigid be with you always,

Kathy O’Reilly

Student-Led Conference Sign Ups

Student-led conferences will be held:

Wednesday, February 4 (4-6:30 PM):

Grades K, 1, 2, 7, and 8

Thursday, February 5 (4-6:30 PM):

Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6

Use the link below to find your child's teacher and sign up for their conference.

Spirit Wear Sale at Student-Led Conferences 

Spirit Wear Winter Inventory Blowout | MOST ITEMS $5–$10

Stop by the Spirit Wear table during Student-Led Conferences on February 4 & 5 to shop deeply discounted school apparel. We’ll have a mix of items, including premium sweatshirts, super soft vintage football tees, football sweatshirts, and gym pants. Sizes and quantities are limited. Cash appreciated.

Respect in Our Everyday Lives

At St. Brigid, we believe that every child is created with inherent worth and dignity.  This important lesson will be a central topic in our classrooms, with lessons focused on students recognizing the value in themselves and others, understanding that our words and actions reflect how we honor that dignity. 

The idea of respect, how everyone is valued, is not only an important focus of our school community, but one we hope is reinforced at home.  We encourage families to engage in open conversations about respect, respectful communication, and empathy.  To help with that dialogue, we have included some questions that can introduce the topic of respect in everyday conversation at home, and reflect on its importance.

What does respect mean to you?

This question encourages your child to share personal definitions and understandings of respect.

Can you think of a time when you felt respected? What happened?

This question helps your child to reflect on positive experiences and recognize the importance of respectful interactions.

How do you show respect to your classmates and teachers?

This question prompts your child to think about actions and behaviors in the classroom.

What are some examples of disrespectful behavior? How does it affect others?

Taking the time to also speak about negative behaviors can help your child understand the impact of disrespect and the importance of maintaining a respectful environment. 

Why is it important to respect people who have different opinions or backgrounds?

This question encourages your child to consider diversity and the value of inclusivity in interactions. 



We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing the church’s teachings regarding human dignity and respectful actions, and how a focus on these can enable us to continue to be rooted in Love and Beacons of Hope.

2026-27 Calendar Dates

To view a list of preliminary school calendar dates for the 2026-2027 school year, click the link below.

First Day of School: August 19th (L-Z) last name and August 20th (A-K) last name

Last Day of School: May 27th (1:00 Release)

Thanksgiving Break: November 25th-27th 

Christmas Break: December 21st-January 3rd. 

Spring Break: March 8th-12th

Easter Break: March 25th-29th 

Thursday Early Release at 1:30 Dates: September 17th, October 15th, November 19th, December 18th (Friday), January 21st, February 18th, March 18th, April 15th, and May 20th

Additional Days Off School: September 7th, September 25th, October 23rd, November 6th, January 18th, February 15th, February 26th, and April 16th

This link can also always be found on our website under Calendars.

Hounds Hoopla: Registration Open

Hounds Hoopla is coming Friday, February 6th from 6-8PM at St. Brigid.  

Join us for Bingo, a DJ glow dance party, crafts, face painting, a magician, a photo booth and fun! Pizza, snacks and drinks included. Entry is $35 per family. The registration link and volunteer sign up are below. 

Please note for planning purposes, this event is not a drop-off. To ensure everyone's safety and enjoyment, children may attend only with a supervising adult present throughout the event. 

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 the $10-20 amount, crafts, stuffed animals, games, sports equipment like soccer balls, plastic bats and balls, little kids ball gloves, nail polish, hair accessories.  

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

Volunteer Signup Link

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090949A8AE22A3FB6-61574356-hounds

*Please sign up to volunteer early so we can ensure PGC compliance.*

Registration Link

https://payit.nelnet.net/form/aInlhPQ8

*Please sign up early*

100th Day of School Service Challenge

To celebrate our 100th day of school, students will support Feed the Kids Columbus through a fun service project. Each grade level has been challenged to work together to create 100 snack bags, helping ensure that children in our community have food when they need it most.

Families are invited to help us reach our goal by donating the snack item assigned to their child’s homeroom. Donations should be sent to school January 29–February 4, and students will assemble the snack bags in class on Wednesday, February 4.

Thank you for helping with this opportunity to serve others with generosity and care.

Snack Donations by Grade Level

Pre-School: Box of large Ziploc bags

Kindergarten: Box of granola bars (no nuts)

Grades 1–2: Box of applesauce squeezers

Grades 3–4: Box of fruit snacks

Grades 5–6: Box of individual packs of pretzels

Grades 7–8: Box of Nutri-Grain bars

Staff: Box of individual packs of Goldfish

8th Grade Bake Sale

From the Eighth Grade Social Committee:

The Eighth Grade Social Committee is having a Bake Sale fundraiser for their trip to Washington DC. It will be open the nights of Student Led Conferences on February 4th and 5th. A portion of the profits will go to charity. The bake sale will be in between the Think Tank and the Sun Room next to the library, and near the Book Sale. We can only accept cash payments at this time. Thank you for your support!

Tuition Assistance Application Deadline March 15

The application to receive tuition assistance for the 2026-27 school year is now open, with a deadline of March 15, 2026.

The FACTS Grant & Aid application is an income-only application, meaning you only need to submit the following information to apply:

• Federal tax return for the most recent tax year
• Most recent W-2(s)
• Any other sources of income and amounts

This one application makes you eligible to receive tuition assistance dollars from one or more of the following pools of funding:

1. Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund
2. Diocesan Tuition Assistance
3. TACT (Teacher) Tuition Assistance

(Please note St. Brigid Donor Scholarships and Oak Society Grants require a separate application in the spring).

Scholarship awards are determined in May. Please contact Jackie Mack (jmack@stbrigidofkildare.org or 614-761-3734) with questions regarding potential award status.

You can begin the application now at https://online.factsmgt.com/aid

The Mantle - 7th & 8th Grade Events

St. Brigid's High School Youth Ministry program, The Mantle, is welcoming 7th and 8th grade students to join The Mantle for several upcoming events.

• February 1 - St. Brigid Feast Day Party
• February 8 - Super Bowl Pot Luck
• March 29 - Parish Penance Service & Mantle Musical

See graphic for more details, and reach out to Ellie Dills at edills@stbrigidofkildare.org if you have any questions.

Corks for a Cause 2026 - Tickets on Sale

Tickets for Corks for a Cause 2026 are on sale now!

We are excited to hold our 19th annual Corks for a Cause Silent Auction and Wine Tasting for SPiCE on Saturday, March 7, 2025, with a theme of An Evening at the Masters.

If you'd like to learn more about the event, how you can help, or share your ideas, please reach out to Sarah Moore at smoore@stbrigidofkildare.org.

If you are interested in a sponsorship, learn more here. All sponsorship packages include tickets to the event and a wide range of advertising.

Wine & Silent Auction Item Donations Needed

We are again collecting donations of wine or champange bottles valued at $20 and up for our fun "putting for wine" activity at the event! If you can donate bottles or any items for the silent auction, please either bring them to the school or parish office, or contact Sarah Moore at smoore@stbrigidofkildare.org or 614-761-3734.

SPICE Awareness Month: Traumatic Brain Injury

Our SPiCE program highlights a different awareness theme each month. These themes are chosen with care, focusing on areas that have directly touched the lives of our students and staff. Teachers use the monthly presentations to guide age-appropriate conversations with students, helping them grow in empathy, understanding, and appreciation of one another’s unique gifts.

For January, our focus is on Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Click the link below to learn more about TBIs, and see what students will be learning about in class this month.

We thank you for your continued support of the SPiCE mission as we work together to build a school community rooted in faith, acceptance, and love.

Spring Sports Registration Open

Families wanting to register their student-athlete for a spring sport at St. Brigid can use the attached link. As a reminder, the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) is now administering the registration for all recognized sports.

Spring sports include:

• CYO Coach-Pitch (2nd-3rd grade)
• CYO Softball (4th-8th grade)
• CYO Baseball (4th-8th grade)
• CYO Track (4th-8th grade)

Anyone interested in coaching or volunteering for baseball and softball this spring should contact Chad Wright, Commissioner, at cdwright@visitingangels.com or 304.941.2169.

Please include your name and which sport/grade you are interested in helping with.

https://doodlio.com/#/reg/10209/1971



Registration for spring sports will remain open until February 20th.

Kindergarten Parent Social

Attention Kindergarten parents! You're invited to a casual night out at Revelry Tavern on Tuesday, February 24 for a chance to get to know the parents behind our amazing St. Brigid kindergarteners. Food/Drink will be available to order. Hope to see you there! 

*Text/Call Delainie Minnillo with any questions - 301-254-5265

Sponsored by St. Brigid Home & School

7th Grade Parent Social

Class of 2027 parents, let's get to know each other better before these kiddos graduate! We will meet at Bridge's End Brewing at 6:45 PM on Thursday, February 26. Please let us know at the RSVP link if you can join us by February 19.

We will gather at Bridge's End Brewery, located in Shawnee Hills, on February 26 from 6:45-8:45 PM. You are welcome to order individually from the beverage and dinner menu, or just come and chat.

To RSVP and learn more details about the event, click here.

Sponsored by St. Brigid Home & School

Semi-Annual Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange Feb 22 10am-1pm

Shoppers, sign up here: Winter 2026 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. New families are welcome to seek answers to uniform questions as they shop. If you need items, but can’t attend, please ask a friend to shop for you! 



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

1.      At the school office beginning Feb 2 during school hours

1. At a bin outside Erin Heise’s home at 6588 Wynwright Dr Dublin OH Feb 15-20
2. Bring them with you to the exchange if the other options don't work for you, but please help us put them out.
3. If you have a ripped jumper or logoed item, please still donate it as we can use it for spare parts (buttons, crest, elastic, etc.)! Similarly, if you have gym jackets without logos, we will try to find crests to add to them
4. 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 can help, please sign up here:  Winter 2026 Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange Volunteer Sign Up

Questions? Email Erin Heise at erinjolene@hotmail.com or Gracie Dziewiatkowski at marygracedzski@gmail.com.

All are Welcome at Eucharistic Adoration - Fri, Feb 6

You are invited to understand the love Jesus has for you during First Friday Eucharistic Adoration following the 9:00 AM Mass and concluding at 4:00 PM with Benediction, as well as each Wednesday from 5-7 PM in the chapel.

“When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now,”- Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Jesus loves you and wants you to spend time with him in Eucharistic Adoration. He is waiting for you! All are welcome, including families with children. If you wish to sign up for an hour, please email Shelly Cocumelli at rocks1dad@aol.com.

The current sign up page can be found at https://stbrigidofkildare.org/eucharistic-adoration/.

Adult Faith Formation

We would like to invite you to join one of our Adult Faith Formation groups to learn more about our Catholic faith, to meet more people from our community, and to enliven your spirit and become closer to God.

For more information, contact Kim VanHuffel at kvanhuffel@stbrigidofkildare.org.

Make It a Date!

February 7, 6:15 - 7:30 PM

Hendricks Hall

All married and engaged couples are invited to St. Brigid's 34th annual Make It a Date!

Fr. Jason Fox will be the featured speaker and the evening will begin with light appetizers, the chance to catch up with old and new friends, then couples leave on their own date at a venue of their choice.

RSVP to Jessica Freiburger at 4freixys@gmail.com by Feb 5.

St. Charles Spaghetti Dinner

Annual St. Charles Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, February 1st

St. Charles Preparatory School will host its annual Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, February 1st, from 1:00- 6:30 p.m., in the school’s Walter Student Commons. Dinner will be prepared by the Susi Family and its staff from Berwick Manor. Guests will enjoy a bountiful meal of spaghetti with meatball, salad, rolls, ice cream, and a beverage. Cost is $16.00 for Adults; $11.00 for Senior Citizens; $8.00 for Children ages 5-12 (4 and under are free). There is also a special $70 Family Rate (dine-in, up to 6 immediate family members). Tickets only available at the door and carry out orders will be available.

A Night for the Eagles

Saturday, February 22

6-11 PM

Ohio Brewing Company

A Night for the Eagles is a fresh, modern take on Bishop Watterson's beloved Gala tradition. Revived for the first time since 2019, this reimagined "Night Out" celebration will bring our

community together for an elegant, high-energy, cocktail-style evening dedicated to uplifting and expanding opportunities for the Bishop Watterson student body supporting tuition assistance

through the BWHS Family Scholarship Endowment & Facility/Building Upgrades. Guests can look forward to a vibrant atmosphere, meaningful moments, and the chance to directly

support the programs and experiences that help our students soar.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Meet & Socialize With The BWHS Community

Heavy Hors D'oeuvres

Full Bar

DJ

Silent Auction

Learn more and register at the flyer.

Submit Materials to Wolfhound Wednesday

If you have information you'd like included in the next Wolfhound Wednesday, email it to Allie Wing at mrs.wing@stbrigid-school.org.



To view past issues of the Wolfhound Wednesday, find them archived on our website here.