The O'Reilly Minute

Dear Parents,

As the calendar turns to October, I hope you're looking forward to the exciting opportunities ahead this month. I'm writing to share important information about our upcoming Student-Led Conferences (SLC) and a few updates regarding school safety.

Our upcoming Student-Led Conferences (SLC) will take place on the following dates:

• October 9th: Grades 3/4 and 5/6
• October 10th: Grades K-2 and 7/8

Please use the links in the article below to sign up for a conference time. Each family should sign up for one slot with their child's homeroom teacher.

Importance of SLC

During Curriculum Night, we shared how vital it is for teachers, students, and parents to build strong relationships. These conferences provide a wonderful opportunity for your child to reflect on their progress and set goals with both their teacher and family. I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity, which happens three times each school year.

How SLCs Differ from Traditional Parent-Teacher Conferences

Unlike traditional conferences, SLCs empower students to take the lead in discussing their own learning, supported by their teachers and families. Please note that in addition to SLCs, our teachers will reach out through emails, phone calls, or request individual conferences if there are academic, social, emotional, or behavioral concerns. Of course, parents are always welcome to contact teachers with any questions or concerns about their child’s progress.

School Safety Update

I’d like to provide a brief update regarding our ongoing search for a School Safety Director. We continue to network to find the right candidate and are also in discussions with a security company that specializes in providing schools with trained personnel, including retired police officers and veterans. I hope to have this resolved soon.

Parking Lot Safety Reminders

Safety remains a top priority. I’d like to remind everyone of a few important guidelines for the parking lot:

• Morning Drop-Off: Please drive slowly, being mindful of students and staff in crosswalks. If staff are arriving at the same time, please allow them to turn into the parking lot to park.
• Afternoon Pick-Up: Park in any available space and walk up to the sidewalk near the gym and Enke Hall to meet your child. Please do not wave for them to run out into the parking lot to your parked car.  
• Playground Use: While many of you enjoy using our playgrounds after school, please be mindful of the students in our latchkey or preschool programs. If they are out to play, we kindly ask you to exit the playground so staff can safely monitor their students.
• Detailed Instructions: Car Rider Arrival and Dismissal Instructions 2024-2025

Thank you for your continued partnership in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all our students.

Autumn blessings,

Kathy O'Reilly

2nd Grade Photo Newsletters

Click the photo album link below to see what the students have worked on in class over the past weeks!

Student-Led Conference Sign Ups

Student-led conferences will be held:

Wednesday, October 9 (4-6:30 PM):

Grades 3, 4, 5, and 6

Thursday, October 10 (4-6:30 PM):

Grades K, 1, 2, 7, and 8

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

After-School Study Table is Back!

Saint Brigid of Kildare School’s After School Study Table program has started back up for this school year and is currently on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 PM for all 7th and 8th graders (the program may open soon for 5th and 6th grade).

The purpose of the program is to provide students with an opportunity to work on their school assignments in a quiet and supportive study environment. This is not intended to be a tutoring program. However, students will receive help with homework, build study skills and learn to plan and manage their time.

Mr. O’Reilly, along with one or two other teachers, will be monitoring students during this time. You are asked to sign up to help coordinate staffing.

To sign up for October dates, click here: October Study Table Sign Up

We are excited for this opportunity to help students at Saint Brigid continue on the path to success!

If you have any further questions, please contact Mr. O’Reilly at mr.oreilly@stbrigid-school.org. 

October is ADHD Awareness Month

October 18th is recognized as ADHD Awareness Day. In recognition of this day, students will be allowed to dress down and wear orange!

This month we are focusing on student and parent education and awareness on ADHD. Please view the slideshow at the link below to learn more about this neurodevelopmental disorder.

Thank You Annual Fund Donors!

This month you will see the Annual Fund at work supporting the Fall Harvest festivities. Paying for parties is just one of the many items the Home and School Association funds with your gifts during the school year. Please consider a once-a-year contribution of $125 per student ($50 for preschool). 100% of every dollar raised goes directly to school projects and activities that enrich the learning experience for your children.

Please click the below arrow to give to the Annual Fund, and/or forward this email to a family member or friend who may be interested in contributing.

October Counselor Newsletter

Click the link below to read the October newsletter from our Spirit of Peace Clinical Counselors, Maegan Flannery and Terri Johnston.

Spirit Wear Order Update

Rah Rah Orders – Reminder to Pick Up

As a reminder, spirit wear orders from Rah Rah are in and ready for pick up. If you chose to pick up your order, you may do so at:

6702 Royal Plume Drive, Dublin (home of Jaime Erickson)

All pick up orders will be placed in a large tote on the front porch. Orders will be bagged and marked with your name.

If you have any questions please contact Jaime Erickson 614-578-8960, Shauna Durant 740-815-9053 or Sherri Johnson 614-584-1977. 

Morganheimer/Premier

If you have placed a Morganheimer/Premier Spirit Wear order and received information from them that your order is ready for pick up please note this info from the vendor: pick up at our location at 473 Village Park Dr., Powell OH 43065. Weekly Hours: Wednesday-Friday - 12p-4p (After hours pickup is available. Please request via email)

Contact Premier with any questions or issues at 

614-505-7125 art@premiersportsandspirit.com

Barn Bash - Tickets Now on Sale

Tickets are now on sale for the Barn Bash on Friday, October 18^th from 6-8:15PM at Leeds Farm in Ostrander, Ohio.

The price to attend is $15 per person (children 2 and under are free). The last day to purchase tickets is October 16^th. 

All are invited to attend this fun night for families, which includes games, snacks, a DJ and family fun on the farm on the farm all evening. Please note that all children must be supervised by adults at all times. Alcohol is NOT permitted on Leed’s Farm Property. 

For any questions related to Barn Bash, contact co-chairs Jodi Greco (jodigreco77@gmail.com) or Ashely Jones (ashleypaigejones1@gmail.com)

Click the link below to buy tickets to attend.

Donations & Volunteers Needed

We are also in need of snack and drink donations for the event. Please click the link below to sign up to donate or to volunteer for the event. All donation items can be placed in a bin outside of the school office. Thank you!

Open House for Incoming Preschool & Kindergarten

Thursday, November 14 | 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Saint Brigid of Kildare School will be holding an open house for prospective preschool and kindergarten families for the 2025-26 school year on Thursday, November 14 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Spread the word to any families who may be interested! Prospective 1st - 8th grade families may call the school at 614-718-5825 to schedule an individual tour.

Applications for new families for the next school year will open on November 15 for preschool through eighth grade with an on-time deadline of January 24.

Use the link below to RSVP.

Flu Clinic Oct 16

On October 16th at 9 am Nationwide Children's Hospital will be coming to St. Brigid to administer flu vaccines to students and staff members that would like them.

If you would like your child to receive a flu vaccine at school that day, please fill out the consent form here and include insurance information.

Consent forms need turned into Monica Rodenberg, School Nurse, in the clinic by October 8th. 

SBAA Winter Sports Registration Open

St Brigid Athletic Association is happy to announce Winter Sports Registration is now open here.  (Note: due to updates, the link may not work on some servers. Try clearing your cache or accessing the link via a different server. If you are still having issues, you can reach out to Brian Frantz at brian.frantz15@gmail.com).

Please note strict deadlines for registration, there will be no extension of registration dates - so please register as soon as possible.

The registration fee for basketball this year includes a $50 refundable volunteer fee. If/once you sign up and volunteer, you will receive the $50 back at the end of the season. There will be sign up genius with ample volunteer opportunities and of course all coaching positions qualify as volunteering. This was necessary as parent volunteering has been an issue in many of our sports. In addition, the winter sports registration has a hard deadline of Oct. 20. Historically we've had over 10% of sign ups after the deadline which makes team formation very difficult. 

Basketball

Grades: 4th - 8th - Boys & Girls

Lil Hounds - 2nd & 3rd Boys & Girls

Commissioner: Bill Baumel - Boys, Mike McTighe - Girls

Fees:  $240 - 4th - 8th, $85 - Lil Hounds

Cheer

Grades: 6th - 8th - Girls Commissioner: Lindsey Meadows

Fee: $25

Ski Club

Commissioner: Jessie Hoffman

Fees: $120 Transporation + Additional Fees (Lift tickets, lessons, rentals)

 If you have any questions about a specific sport, please reach out to each respective commissioner/contact.  If you have any problems with registrations, please reach out to Brian Frantz for any registration problems.

Congrats Wolfhounds!

There were many athletic announcements from our Wolfhounds this past weekend:

Cross Country

On Sunday Sept 29, St. Brigid hosted a Diocesan cross country meet for all the parishes. A total of 11 teams and 331 athletes participated.  

The St. Brigid 4th-6th grade boys team won their division and the 4th-6th grade girls team finished 2nd in their division.

Next Saturday the 7th-8th grade girls will compete in the Eisenhart Invitational at Thomas Worthington High School and the following Saturday, Oct 12, all of our teams will compete at the Diocesan Championship.

Football

The 5th/6th grade football team had an epic battle versus Western Irish this past Sunday afternoon in the rain at Brigid's Green - and will face them again this Sunday at 5:20 at St. Charles in the playoffs - Congratulations and good luck to Art Gianakopoulos, Axel Lohse, Charlie Mifsud, Charlie Walker, Colin Obers, Connor Redder, Henry Hohlefelder, Jack Fulkert, Jack Horn, Jacob Ziegler, Joel Schilling, Joseph Blouir, Mason Jones, Nicholas Ailabouni, Owen Cooney, Patrick White, Ryan Braun, Ryan Brun, Tyler McKinley and Zach Baumel!!!

Volleyball

Join the St Brigid volleyball teams for the Ohio State women’s volleyball game against Michigan on Sunday, October 13th, at 1:00pm in the Schottenstein Center! A block of tickets have been reserved for all St Brigid families (volleyball athletes, and all SBK families are invited to join!) for just $11 per person. Please select your desired seats within our SBK block using the following link. OSU volleyball tickets We hope to see you there!

The 8th grade girls varsity volleyball team had a thrilling straight set victory over OLPH on Saturday. The girls came from behind to win the first set and then held off a comeback from OLPH in the second set. Everyone stayed positive, lifted each other up, and hustled for each point!   

Job Openings at St. Brigid of Kildare Parish

St. Brigid of Kildare Parish is hiring for several positions:

Safe Environment Coordinator: The Safe Environment Coordinator will manage the compliance of Diocesan Safe Environment Policies for St. Brigid Church and School for all staff and ministry volunteers, especially those involving minors. The ideal candidate will have experience in law enforcement, the military, or criminal justice, and be an effective communicator and collaborator.

Click here to view the full job description and application instructions.

Evening Support Staff: The Evening Support Staff will be responsible for ensuring facilities are ready for evening use, attendees’ needs are addresses, all safe environment policies are followed, and the campus is properly secured at the end of the evening.

Click here to view the full job description and application instructions.

Weekend Support Staff: The Weekend Support Staff will be responsible for ensuring facilities are ready for meetings or events and the campus is properly secured at the end of the evening.

Click here to view the full job description and application instructions.

Application instructions and full job descriptions are available in the links above.

The Art of Happiness

Blending social science and Catholicism, this Word on Fire course combines cutting-edge research and top-notch scholarship with the lives of great saints and our incredible inheritance of Church teaching. There are even surprising places to discover where secular science reinforces sacred wisdom. Your host, Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks, will give you clear take-aways and action items that you can put into practice right now—to build more happiness for yourself, and to help you share more joy and peace with your family, your friends, and everyone else God puts before you!

Wednesdays Oct 23-Nov 20 -- 7-8:30 pm

Thursdays Oct 24-Nov 21 -- 10:30-Noon

To learn more, contact Kim VanHuffel at kvanhuffel@stbrigidofkildare.org.

Walking With Purpose Beginning in October

Walking with Purpose is a Bible study community that meets women right where they are, hands them a cup of coffee, and transforms their hearts. If you desire to grow in your faith, to encounter God’s Word in a fresh way, and in a supportive community of Catholic Women….join us! 

Beginning in October, on Tuesdays at 7 pm.

Learn more and register at the link below.

Interested in Becoming Catholic? OCIA Sign Up



"Hello! My name is Pamela. I attended the OCIA program at Saint Brigid. Our class was one of the largest and I was honored to be a part of it. I met many wonderful people and learned what it means to be Catholic. It is a way of life, love and charity in the name of Jesus. I've always loved Jesus although I didn't feel like I knew him. I was raised Methodist. I raised three Catholic children and saw their faith. I went through the program with my teenage grandson. My relationship with Jesus is now very personal. I'm thankful I walked into my grandson's room that day and asked him if he still wanted to become Catholic. He said 'yes' and I said 'me too'." — Pamela (OCIA class of 2024)

If you are interested in becoming Catholic, or just learning more about the process, visit our OCIA (formerly known as RCIA) webpage and complete an inquiry form at www.stbrigidofkildare.org/ocia

Eucharistic Adoration this Friday Oct 4



You are invited to spend time and prayer in Adoration on Friday, October 4th for First Friday Eucharistic Adoration following the 9:00 AM Mass and concluding at 4:00 PM with Benediction.

"I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reflection of You, incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden Yourself and concealed your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You and my soul recognizes its Creator, its Highest Good, and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration." St. Faustina (Feast Day: October 5)

Jesus invites you to spend time with him in Eucharistic Adoration and grow in wisdom. All are welcome, including families with children. If you wish to sign up for an hour, please email Shelly Cocumelli at scocumelli4@gmail.com

BWHS Fall Festival & Trick or Treat

Join the Bishop Watterson High School community for a Fall Festival to kickoff homecoming week. All are welcome!

Sunday, October 6 from 5-8 PM

Trick or Treat at Bishop Watterson High School from 3-4:30 PM on October 27. See below for details.

BWHS September Red & Gold

Click here to read the September feeder school newsletter for Bishop Watterson High School.

St. Charles Cardinal Chat

Middle School Families, You're invited…

Are you interested in learning more about St. Charles and what it has to offer your son? Join us for the evening to learn from current St. Charles parents and families about what it is like to attend St. Charles Preparatory School. This is a relaxed and welcoming social function, and great opportunity to talk to current St. Charles parents and ask any and all questions you may have about your son being a future Cardinal. Drinks and refreshments will be provided.

Wednesday, October 16th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Hosted at the Braun Family Home

10055 Morris Dr.

Dublin, OH 43017

If you have questions about the evening and/or would like to RSVP for the chat,

feel free to contact Amy Braun via phone, text or email @ 614-506-8313 or

amymbraun@gmail.com

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.