Dear Parents,

Thank you for your attendance at last week’s Curriculum Nights.  It was so great to see everyone and to hear about all of the wonderful things planned for our students in the year ahead.

Yesterday morning I had the opportunity to be a part of our 7th and 8th graders’ remembrance of the historic events of September 11, 2001.  Our students first met with firefighters from Washington Township to learn about the role of first responders in an emergency situation and then participated alongside the firefighters in walking 2,071 steps in our gym that symbolized the rescue efforts of our brave firefighters.  The atmosphere in our gym was memorable, as our students demonstrated great respect and interest in learning about this historic event while walking alongside our local firefighters.

The family directory is now available when you login to your FACTS account (district code SBK-OH); it is on the left side menu under School. If any of your information is not correct, please update it in FACTS or reach out to the school at (614) 718-5825.

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend our first Crucial Conversation event for the 2023-24 school year.  The topic will be Environment Safety.  Bruce McKenna, our campus safety and security director,  will share with parents our school’s enhanced safety plan using funds from our recent safety grant.  We will also be conducting our first school safety drill for the year with students next Wednesday, September 20th. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Bruce McKenna at: [email protected]  

May we continue to Come To The Table: Serving God and Our Community,

September blessings, 

Kathy O’Reilly

EdChoice Scholarship: Frequently Asked Questions

The deadline to apply for EdChoice for the 2023-24 school year (and receive your full scholarship amount) is September 30. Below are a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the new EdChoice Expansion Scholarship program. The FAQ sheet includes answers to:

1. Has my application been accepted?
2. Do I apply for EdChoice Traditional or Expansion Scholarship?
3. Will I receive my Oak Society Grant if I apply for EdChoice? Can I get both?
4. How soon until I hear if my application has been accepted by ODE?
5. Do I have to fill out the income verification piece regardless of my income?
6. Will the check come directly to me or to the school? Do I have to come to the school to sign the check each month?
7.  If I prepaid tuition, will I be reimbursed for the amount of my Ed Choice award? 
8. Who at St. Brigid will see/have access to my income verification information?
9. What happens to my previously awarded assistance (scholarships, Emmaus Road Grants, Diocesan Assistance, teacher discounts) if I get an Ed Choice award?
10. What happens to my earned credits (Scrip, Share the Good News, $35 assistance application credit) if I get an Ed Choice award?
11. Do our families have to follow the 3rd grade reading guarantee and state testing guidelines that are a part of the Ed Choice program?
12. Do our families have to follow the Ed Choice attendance policy?

EdChoice Scholarship Application Instructions

Ohio's Educational Choice (EdChoice) Scholarship Program is now accessible to ALL Ohioans! All families are eligible to receive between $650-$6,165 per K-8 student.

We are asking that all families apply for EdChoice. This will allow us to reallocate our scholarship, grant, and aid dollars to ensure families receive maximum support.

To apply for an EdChoice scholarship for the 2023-24 school year, please see the instructions and more information here.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call (614) 718-5825.

Curriculum Packets

Thank you for attending Curriculum Night last week! If you are still in need of links to curriculum packets, they will be available all year on our website on our Current Families page (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Barn Bash is October 20: Tickets On Sale Now!

Tickets are now on sale for Barn Bash on Friday, October 20 from 6-8:15 PM at Leeds Farm in Ostrander, Ohio!

The price to attend is $12 per person (children 2 and under are free). The price will increase to $15 per person on October 11. The last day to purchase tickets is October 18.

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

For questions related to Barn Bash, contact co-chairs Ashley Storey ([email protected]) or Anne Knapke ([email protected]).

Click the link below to buy tickets to attend.

We are also in need of many snack and drink donations for the event. Click the link below to sign up to donate.

After School Learning & Service Opportunities (ALSO) Program Sign Ups This Week

Sign ups will be held this Thursday and Friday in homerooms for children in grades 4-8 for ALSO programs. Opportunities are being discussed in class.

To view the slideshow with all the ALSO program offerings, click the link below.

Crucial Conversations Parenting Workshops 23-24

Crucial Conversations, a parenting speaker series for St. Brigid of Kildare Parish and School parents of school-aged children, is back with a series of events for the 2023-24 school year. These parenting workshops will focus on student wellness and safety—physically, emotionally, and online.

Environment Safety—September 27, 6:30 PM, Enke Hall

St. Brigid of Kildare Campus Safety and Security Director Bruce McKenna will talk with parents about our school building’s new enhanced safety plan using funds from our safety grant.

Emotional Safety—November 7, 6:30 PM, School Gymnasium

Professional Clinical Counselor Laura Lewis will share ideas and strategies about emotional

wellness, touching on anxiety, depression and the role of mental health. She brings practical ideas and strategies to integrate mental and emotional wellness into your family.

Social Media Safety—January (TBD), School Gymnasium

Nationally recognized internet safety speaker Jesse Weinberger will share guidance, data, and

resources for keeping children and families safer online. She will share life changing information on the connection between social media and mental health. Learn more about Jesse at her website www.overnightgeekuniversity.com.

Wolfhound Football Home Games This Weekend

The Varsity and Sr. Reserve football teams have home games this Sunday 9/17 at Brigid's Green! The Varsity game is at 2 pm followed by the Sr. Reserve at 3:45 pm. We'd love for you to come out and cheer on the Wolfhounds!

Attn St. Brigid School Volunteers: New & Established

If you are interested in volunteering for the school, or are already an established volunteer, we are asking EVERYONE to go to the link below in order to be verified as a volunteer in good standing. This will enable us to merge our old system (paper records) of established volunteers into our Raptor System, along with welcoming new volunteers.

All requirements to volunteer are still applicable (completion of Protecting God’s Children Session and Fingerprint / Background check etc.) and will be verified with your submission by

our Safe Environment Coordinator.

We are utilizing the Raptor Visitor / Volunteer Management System to screen all volunteers in

our school and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff. Upon entering

the building during school hours, volunteers will be asked to present an ID such as a Driver’s

License to be scanned or manually entered into the system. The Raptor System will check the

volunteer’s name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex

offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the

Raptor system. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the volunteer.

If you have questions about the volunteer requirements or status of your application, please

contact John Denzel (Safe Environment Coordinator) [email protected] or

614.761.3734 ext. 249.

If you have questions about the Raptor System, please contact Bruce McKenna (School Safety

Officer Director) [email protected] or 614.718.5825 ext. 276.

Join Us for Welcome Weekend This Weekend!

Join us in Hendricks Hall on September 16th and 17^th, after all Masses for Welcome Weekend. This is a time when all parishioners can enjoy food and drinks while browsing the many opportunities and ministries that need your participation. Over 50 ministries and committees will be present for you to explore, and volunteers will be available to answer your questions. There will also be a new parishioner's welcome committee to register for our parish if you would like to join.

Fr. Black will be available to greet parishioners as he begins his ministry here at St. Brigid. We hope you will join us for refreshments and fellowship in Hendricks Hall after every Mass. 

Please consider how you can become part of our parish family and join us on the journey of faith.

Sandwich Saturday - Sept 16

At Sandwich Saturday 1000 bologna sandwiches are made to support various food pantries in downtown Columbus. This is a great way to start off your weekend with an act of service and it only takes 30 minutes! It is perfect for all ages (including those in need of service hours) and no registration is needed.

The sandwich making starts promptly at 9:00am in the school cafeteria so come a little early to get settled. We also accept donations of individually packaged snacks. Sandwich Saturday is a project of the Social Action committee.

Thinking About Becoming Catholic?

• Have you ever thought about becoming Catholic?
• Do you think you might like to look into the Catholic way of Life?
• Do you know someone interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith?

 You are invited to join us!

Our first meeting will be an orientation on October 17. All classes will be held on Tuesday evenings, from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Berry Room. The calendar for this coming year is on our website at www.stbrigidofkildare.org/rcia. For more information contact Kim VanHuffel at [email protected] or complete the form on the website above.

The Rescue Project

September 13—November 15

The Rescue Project tells us that the most urgent task in the church is the compelling proclamation of the gospel, one that offers people a way of seeing reality, and of making sense of the world, history, and life, that is vastly different from the story our modern culture tells.

We invite you to join us for the Rescue Project! Together we can discover The Story.

There are four ways to participate this fall:

•  Sisters in Christ - Join a community of women in prayer and study. Wednesdays, 1:15-2:45 PM, Deacon’s Room
• Wednesday Evening Group - Join other parishioners in this study/small groups. Wednesdays, 7-8:30 PM, Berry Room
• Thursday Morning Group - Join other parishioners in this study/small groups. Thursdays, 10—11:30 AM, Berry Room
• Individual Small Groups - Create your own small group in your home and receive study materials free of charge from the parish!

To register, click the button below.

For more information, contact Kim VanHuffel at [email protected]. 

That Man Is You!

THAT MAN IS YOU! is an interactive men’s program combining the best research from science with the teachings of the Catholic faith and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of man fully alive. By honestly addressing the pressures and temptations that men face in our modern culture, That Man is You! Seeks to form men who will be capable of transforming homes and society. At St. Brigid of Kildare, we are currently in year 5 of this program (for the 2023-24 year).

Join us for food, fellowship and faith, starting Saturday, September 9, 2023 in Hendricks Hall. Doors Open at 6:30 AM for light breakfast and fellowship. Program starts promptly at 7:00 AM. All men are welcome.

Mom to Mom Kickoff Sept 13

Mom to Mom is a vibrant, faith sharing group focused on motherhood, spirituality, and Catholic parenting. Whether you’re a rookie or veteran, join us to support, share and gain wisdom from each other.

Meetings: Wednesday Sept 20th - Nov 15th

Time: 9:45-11 am

Location: Church Basement

Child Care Sign up: Here

This fall Mom to Mom will watch and discuss videos from the Formed “Catholic Moms Summit.” The Catholic Mom’s Summit is a collection of talks in which women encourage and support one another in the vocation of Catholic Motherhood, see below for our September Schedule. Drop in any time, no need to prepare, come as you are! We hope you can make it! 

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: 

9/16/2023 St Brendan (Hilliard) 9:00am

11/06/2023 Zoom PGC Columbus 6:00pm

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/