Wolfhound Wednesday - January 7, 2026 | | 6th graders celebrating a white snowman-day dress down day before break | |
The O'Reilly Minute
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year with the wish that 2026 will be filled with many blessings! As the routine of back to school and work takes place this week, it is time to start planning ahead to a busy January.
Please start planning for the following January events.
- Current family re-enrollment for current preschool - 7th grade students will take place starting this Friday, January 9th. On Friday, you will receive an email with instructions to complete re-enrollment for the 2026-27 school year in FACTS. Please make sure this is completed by Friday, January 16th in order to secure your spot for next school year. Our application for new families has a deadline of January 23rd, and we will begin accepting new families for next school year after that date.
- School will be closed January 19th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- The annual school Spelling Bee will be held on Friday, January 16th at 1:15 pm. We have a “snow date” of January 23rd.
- Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated the Week of January 25th and will include a Mass for the Feast of St. Brigid, a Book Fair, Student Led Conferences and Hounds Hoopla on February 2nd. More details to follow.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our school families for considering a donation to the Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund. The Diocese is still recording check donations and we hope to have a final amount raised in 2025 soon. We do know that our school has raised over $384,000 for tuition assistance for the 2026-27 school year through this scholarship. There is no doubt that this will make a huge difference to our school. We will have many more details to share with you in the very near future.
Please note the article below regarding our Spring Musical. We are looking for volunteers to share their talents by joining our Theater Volunteer Team. Please take a minute to read the article and consider sharing your time and talents with our talented young thespians.
On behalf of our staff, I would like to thank our school families for your support, Christmas photos, kind notes, prayers, gifts, and the generous Gifts of Gratitude program. We are so thankful for your ongoing generous and loving support of our school community.
It is my hope that 2026 will be filled with many blessings and our families and staff will have a healthy, joyful, and hope-filled new year,
Kathy O’Reilly
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
~Romans 15:13
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Calling All Theatre Adults
Our spring musical, High School Musical Jr., is beginning to kick off, and we are excited to invite theatre parents to be part of bringing this production to life!
We are currently seeking enthusiastic parents with theatre experience or related skills to assist in several key areas.
We are especially looking for volunteers with theatre experience or interest in:
- Scene blocking / directing junior performers
- Acquiring and organizing props
- Set design / building
- Costume design / coordination
- Theatre electrical work, including lighting
- Any other related theatre needs
- Choreography (a bonus, but not required!)
Time Commitment
Parent volunteers should be available for the following:
- Regular Rehearsals:
- After school Monday–Friday, 3:00–5:30 PM (6:00 as we get closer to the show)
- Starting February 2nd
- Dress Rehearsal:
- Sunday, April 12th
- Performance Dates:
- April 15–18
- Additional Support:
- Occasional Saturdays throughout the rehearsal period to work with students and other volunteers on set design, painting, and stage setup
Whether you have professional theatre experience or simply a passion and willingness to help, your time and talents can make a meaningful impact on our students and this production.
Interested in Helping?
If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please reach out to Principal Kathy O’Reilly and Music Teacher Olivia Roberts, letting them know of any prior experience and interest by Friday, January 16th.
Thank you for supporting the arts and helping make High School Musical Jr. a memorable experience for our students, we can’t do it without you!
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Safe Environment Policy Change
Effective January 1, 2026 the Diocese implemented an update to the Safe Environment Policy.
Previously, volunteers completed fingerprinting only once. Starting in January, all volunteers and parish employees (school staff already follow this) must renew fingerprinting every five years to remain compliant.
You do not need to retake the Protecting God’s Children (PGC) class — it remains “one and done.”
This update helps ensure that all adults who work with minors or vulnerable adults have up-to-date background checks. To avoid delays, please act early.
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If it’s been more than five years since your last fingerprinting, schedule a new one soon.
- If you’re unsure when you last completed fingerprinting, please login to your Virtus account to see your dates. If you are having trouble logging in, then please let me know.
- For step-by-step instructions and fingerprinting locations, visit:
- https://stbrigidofkildare.org/welcome/about-us/safe-environment/
Important: Fingerprinting results must be sent directly to the Diocese (Catholic Diocese of Columbus Safe Environment Office, 197 E. Gay Street, Columbus, OH 43215). Please do not send copies to St. Brigid.
We will host FastFingerprints sessions onsite for convenience (fees still apply).
- January 12, 2026 4:30 pm- 7:30 pm in Carr Room, Hendricks Hall, St. Brigid of Kildare
Questions? Contact Brad Marzullo at (614) 761-3734 ext. 249 or bmarzullo@stbrigidofkildare.org.
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Hounds Hoopla: Donations Needed
Hounds Hoopla is coming Friday, February 6, 2026, 6-8PM at our school!
Join us for Bingo, a DJ GLOW dance party, a magician, crafts, face painting and fun! Pizza, snacks and drinks included. Entry is $35 per family.
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 $10-$20 gift cards, crafts, stuffed animals, games, puzzles, sports equipment like soccer balls, plastic bats and balls, little kids ball gloves, nail polish, hair accessories, etc. Please check clearance shelves as we shop for Christmas! Anything new, unopened or in like new condition we would appreciate.
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.
**Look for the registration and volunteer links when we return from break.**
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New Students Registration Deadline: Jan 23
The application for new students for the 2026-27 school year opened on Friday, November 14. The on-time deadline for new families to apply is Friday, January 23, 2026 at midnight.
If you have a new student applying to the school, please complete the new student application at www.stbrigidofkildare.com/apply. (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 9th.) Preschool students whose families are active, registered parishioners are guaranteed enrollment for kindergarten. Parents will be notified via email of acceptance/wait list status beginning or shortly after Friday, January 30, 2026.
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Corks for a Cause 2026
Save the date for March 7, 2026!
We are excited to hold our 19th annual Corks for a Cause Silent Auction and Wine Tasting for SPiCE on Saturday, March 7, 2025.
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 at the link below. All sponsorship packages include tickets to the event and a wide range of advertising.
| | News from Our Parish & Community | |
The Art of Living
Join Sisters in Christ for The Art of Living, a six-part series on Living the Virtues with Dr. Edward Sri.
This short series will be in the Deacon Room on Wednesdays, January 14, 21, and 28 from 1:15-2:45 PM.
Contact Cheryl Hohlefelder for more information at hohleinone@gmail.com
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Living Joy
God created you for JOY -- and he wants that for you here and now! You just have to cooperate with his plan and follow some simple steps.
Join us for this short series on Wednesdays, January 14, 21, and 28 from 7-8:30 PM, or Thursdays, January 15, 22, and 29 from 10-11:30 AM in the Berry Room. Contact Kim VanHuffel for more information at kvanhuffel@stbrigidofkildare.org.
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Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest
Do you have children aged 9 to 14 as of 1/1/2026?
Join us for the Free Throw Contest on Sunday, January 25th, in the St. Brigid school gymnasium from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. Check-in for registered girls and boys begins at 1:30 pm.
Register online at the link below.
| | News from Our Catholic Schools | |
BWHS Feeder School Night
Bishop Watterson High School is hosting a girls basketball feeder school night on Thursday, January 8.
See graphic flyer for more details.
| | U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School (2021, 2014, 2008) | | | | |
