The O'Reilly Minute

Dear Parents,

I am excited to announce that our school has officially been named a Purple Star School, recognizing our commitment to supporting military-connected students and families. You may remember that during our Veterans Day celebration in November, we shared that we were pursuing this distinguished designation. It seems especially fitting that during the week we honor Memorial Day, we are now able to share the joyful news that St. Brigid of Kildare School has received this honor. This recognition reflects our deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by military families and our commitment to ensuring that all students feel welcomed, supported, and connected within our school community. You can read more about this award in the article below.

As the school year draws to a close on Thursday, May 28th, I would once again like to invite everyone to join us for our closing Leadership Mass. Please refer to last week’s Friday Folder messages for details regarding the liturgy. Please note that all students will participate in the Mass procession and will enter through the church’s main front doors. Because of the logistics of the procession, students will not be able to sit with parents during Mass. Thank you for your understanding.

Following Mass, we will recognize faculty and staff members celebrating milestone years of service to St. Brigid School, including 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years. We will also announce this year’s scholarship recipients. The day will conclude with a 1:00 PM early dismissal (please note this is earlier than our usual 1:30 PM dismissal).

Next week will feature our final regular Wolfhound Wednesday of the school year. Throughout the summer months, we will periodically send additional Wolfhound Wednesday communications with important updates and information for families.

We are also pleased to announce several exciting additions and updates to our teaching staff for the 2026–27 school year. As part of our continued commitment to innovative, student-centered learning, we are expanding our Innovation Team to further enrich STREAM education — Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. This team will help create even more opportunities for students to engage in hands-on, creative, and authentic learning experiences through science exploration, technology integration, robotics, engineering, coding, and collaborative problem-solving.

We are excited to welcome Mrs. Beth Nelson-Hernandez, currently serving as an aide on our kindergarten team, and Mr. David O’Reilly from our middle school faculty, who will join Mrs. Kerinan Jordan and Mrs. Bridget DeSocio in leading this important initiative. We look forward to the many ways this talented team will inspire curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and innovation across all grade levels.

We have prayed, studied, learned, served, and celebrated together throughout this school year, and now it is time for a well-deserved summer break — a season to renew, refresh, and prepare for the many blessings of the 2026–27 school year ahead.

Thank you for a wonderful year. On behalf of our entire faculty and staff, we wish your family a restful, prayerful, safe, and joy-filled summer.



Summer Blessings,

Kathy O’Reilly

St. Brigid of Kildare School Named a 2026 Purple Star School

We are proud to share that St. Brigid of Kildare School has been recognized as a 2026 Purple Star School by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

The Purple Star designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. Schools earning this recognition meet rigorous criteria focused on helping students navigate the unique academic and social-emotional challenges that can come with military life, including transitions, deployments, and family separations.

This designation reflects our dedication to creating a welcoming, supportive environment for all students—especially those whose families serve our country. We are grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside our military families and ensure they feel connected and supported within our school community.

The Purple Star designation is valid through April 2029.

We extend our sincere thanks to all those who contributed to this effort, including Stacie Williams, Gracie Dziewiatkowski, Jenny Rozanski, and Tiffany Smith. We also extend our gratitude to the military families in our community for their service and sacrifice.

Join St. Brigid Home & School

St. Brigid Home and School is looking for volunteers to be involved with the many activities we have planned for next year!

To show your interest in volunteering, please click the survey link below. Time commitments and responsibilities vary- there is something for everyone! Contact Beth Church bethczekalski@gmail.com or Erin Zalewski erinzalewski23@gmail.com wirh questions. 

To leave more about Home and School committees, view the description here.

FACTS Tuition Payment Plans 2026-27

FACTS Tuition Payment Plans for the 2026-2027 school year will be finalized by July 10. At the time of finalization, your payment plan will include tuition credits awarded from the Emmaus Road Scholarship (SGO), the Oak Society, any scholarship received, and SCRIP credit earned. Your agreement may or may not include the EdChoice Scholarship amounts. Over the summer tuition payment plans will be continually updated as the State of Ohio notifies us of your EdChoice Scholarship.  

It is important that you pay attention to the email notifications FACTS will send regarding updates to your payment plan.  You are able to access the tuition payment plan information via the FACTS SIS family portal. It is equally important that you review the terms of your tuition payment plan. Is your plan Full-Pay, Semi-Annual, Quarterly, 12-month, or 10-month? Did you opt for the Peace of Mind (POM) benefit? If you need to change the terms of your payment plan, please contact Jackie Mack immediately, jmack@stbrigidofkildare.org, 614.761.3734, ext. 247 and she will assist you.  

Congrats Wolfhound Softball!

Congratulations to the 4th/5th grade softball team who completed their 2nd consecutive undefeated season. This year they went 10-0 in the regular season while also winning both tournament games.

The mission of SBK athletics is to contribute to the holistic (physical, mental, and spiritual) growth of each student-athlete through disciplined participation in sports and to cultivate and maintain a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.

Congrats on a great season Wolfhounds!

Now Hiring: School Lunch Assistant

St. Brigid of Kildare School is seeking a friendly and dependable Lunch Assistant to help serve meals to our students.

Responsibilities include:

• Assisting with serving lunch to children
• Light food prep and setup
• Washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen/dining area
• Creating a positive, welcoming environment for students

Details:

• Flexible weekday hours (typically late morning to early afternoon)
• Great opportunity for parents, retirees, or anyone who enjoys working with children
• No prior experience required - just a willingness to help and a positive attitude

If you are interested in supporting our school community, please contact Joyce Brown at jbrown@cdeducation.org for more information.

St. Brigid Athletics: Summer & Fall Registrations Open

Summer & Fall Sports Registrations Now Open:

• CYO Soccer (Grades 4-8)
• St. Brigid Golf (Grades 4-8)
• Lil Hounds Golf (Grades K-3)
• Lil Hounds Volleyball (Grades 2-3)
• SBK Fall Cheer (Grades 4-8)
• Lil Hounds Cheer (Grades 1-3)
• CYO Fall Sports
• Lil Hounds Soccer (Grades K-3)

Attention Soccer Parents: Coaches Needed

SBK Athletics will be offering Lil Hounds Soccer this summer/fall for students going into K-3rd grades. Registration began May 22d (link available above).

If you are interested in serving as a coach, you must obtain a background check, complete Protecting God's Children training, and the Raptor volunter application. You must also complete coaching certification through the coaches skills academy.

All individuals interested in coaching please send your name, email and phone number to Aaron Quinn, Athletic Director, at aquinn@stbrigidofkildare.org.

Submissions must be received no later than June 5th.

Earn Credit for Tuition with RaiseRight

RaiseRight:  Buy Gift Cards ⇨ Save money on your child’s 2027-2028 tuition! 



Earn credit towards your child’s 2027-2028 tuition by buying electronic or physical gift cards from RaiseRight to pay for your everyday shopping and spending year-round including groceries, dining out, home improvement, and everything in between. One hundred percent (100%) of your RaiseRight earnings (from April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027) is deducted from your family’s Saint Brigid tuition for the following year (2027-2028). 

How it Works: 

• Use the RaiseRight website or app to order gift cards at face value from 750+ brands
• Pick from eGift cards and “Ship to Home” physical gift cards
• eGift cards are available within minutes
• “Ship to Home” physical gift card shipping is available for a $.50 shipping fee per order plus a $.50 handling fee per card (up to 16 per order).
• Pay via a linked bank account 
• $0.29 fee on each transaction
• Earn from 1-to-20% towards your child’s 2027-2028 tuition on every gift card you buy

• For more information, please see this flyer.

Educational Apparel Back to School Sales

Educational Apparel is offering Back-to-School uniform savings throughout the summer, both online and in-store. Families can save 25% on uniform items during the May sale (May 24–31) using code EAMAY26, 20% during the June sale (June 1–30) with code EAJUNE26, and 15% during the July sale (July 1–31) with code EAJULY26. The sale excludes classroom brand items.

Educational Apparel is located at 3906 Brown Park Dr. in Hilliard, and online shopping is available at Educational Apparel

Register for Bus Transportation for 26-27

The transportation departments from Dublin, Hilliard and Olentangy schools require all new and returning families to register your students for busing this fall. If you are a new family moving to the area, and don't know your new address yet, please contact them as soon as you have this information.

Olentangy Schools Requests:

• All Non-Public parents (new or returning) must fill out this online form by June 20, 2026.



Dublin Schools Requests:

• All Non-Public parents (new or returning) please complete this form by June 17, 2026.

Hilliard School Requests:

• All Non-Public parents (new or returning) please complete this form by July 31, 2026.

Semi-Annual Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange Aug 9 10am-1pm

Shoppers, sign up here to receive reminders and updates: Summer 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, let a friend shop for you! 

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

1. At the school office June 1-5 or Aug 3-7 during school hours
2. At a bin outside Theresa White’s home at 5882 Vandeleur Place, Dublin, OH Aug 1-7
3. Bring them with you to the exchange if the other options don't work for you, but please help us put them out.
4. 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
5. Non-logo 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: Summer 2026 Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange Volunteer Sign Up

Questions? Email Theresa White at theresa.m.c.white@gmail.com or Justine Kouskouris at justinekouskouris@gmail.com.

Lost & Found

With the end of the year approaching, please check the Lost and Found when you visit school for all your

year-end events! The lost and found is located in the gym hallway beside the stage. All items will be

donated or thrown away on June 5, 2026.

View photos of items currently in Lost & Found at the link below.

Check Lunch Account Balances

Parents, please check your children's lunch account balances. Starting the week of May 18th, all accounts will be checked to make sure there are funds available to purchase al-a-carte items and second entrees. 

Any account with a negative balance will be invoiced $200 to pay off the debt and leave money in the account to begin the new school year. There will also be a $25 non-refunable late fee applied to the account. All positive balances will be rolled over to next year.

Now Hiring: Classroom Aides

Classroom Teacher's Aides

We are hiring classroom teacher's aides for the 2026-27 academic school year. The ideal candidate has enthusiasm for working with students to support learning, is flexible, and has collaborative skills in working with the classroom teacher.  

To view the full job description and application instructions, click here.

Summer Tutoring (Updated List 4.28.28)

Summer tutoring is available from many Saint Brigid of Kildare staff members. Staff can be contacted via email or by calling the school office and leaving a message.

Click below for the list of teachers, subjects and contact information.

Parish Picnic Honoring Ms. Kathy O'Reilly

Join us on Sunday, June 14 at 12 PM on Brigid’s Green for a special Parish Picnic honoring Ms. Kathy O’Reilly as we celebrate her retirement and years of faithful service to our parish and school community.

Come enjoy a cookout-style lunch, fellowship with fellow parishioners, and the opportunity to thank Ms. O’Reilly for the lasting impact she has made at St. Brigid of Kildare.

All are welcome!

Please RSVP at stbrigidofkildare.org.

Knights of Columbus Golf Outing

Friday, May 29 at Safari Golf Club

Click the link below to learn more about the Knights of Columbus Golf Outing, which benefits the annual scholarship program.

Family First Seeking Board Members

It's that time of year, we are looking to fill board positions for the 26-27 Family First year. Please prayerfully consider joining our leadership team. Open positions include:

Co-Director- Family First is looking for a new co-chair to serve with Beth Biller. Co-chair is a two-year commitment, with the first year being mentored by the "senior" co-chair and the second year assuming the "senior" role while mentoring a new co-chair. This role requires an open heart to listen to the needs of our parish, a willingness to lead weekly (during the school year) Mom-to-Mom meetings, and availability to represent Family First at various parish and Family First events throughout the year. 

Publicity Chair- works with the parish office to create Bulletin, Common Threads announcements, Instagram posts, and publicity materials for Family First events, so some artistic and graphic design skills are a plus, but not required. 

Further details about the roles are available in the link below. Please reach out to Kerri (414)839-5597 or Beth (412)523-1108 with any questions about the roles. Family First cannot continue without volunteer leadership. Where is the Holy Spirit calling you to serve?

You can view roles and responsibilities here.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Support Sessions - Next Session May 28

At St. Brigid of Kildare

5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

May 28

Join us for an informative series designed to support caregivers and loved ones of those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. These sessions will provide helpful resources, practical tips, and compassionate guidance to navigate the challenges of caregiving with confidence and grace. You'll connect with others, learn from experienced professionals, and gain tools to better support both your loved one and yourself.

To sign up, visit:

www.stbrigidofkildare.org/signups

St. Charles Summer Camps & Upcoming Events

This June and July, St. Charles will host 35 exciting camps and classes for students of all ages and interests. Options include co-ed camps in Track & Field, Robotics, Volleyball, and Ice Hockey! Students can also participate in Camp Cardinal, a fun-filled day camp exploring the best of St. Charles, along with Baseball, Basketball, Borromean Project, Engineering, Football, Lacrosse, Quiz Bowl, Soccer, Speed Camp, Ultimate Frisbee, and Wrestling camps. For incoming freshmen, St. Charles also offers readiness courses in Latin, Algebra, English Preparation, and Study Skills.

For questions, contact Ryan Aiello at (380) 209-2248 or raiello@scprep.org.

Click the link below for more details on summer camps and to register.

St. Charles will also be hosting two upcoming events, click the links below to learn more:

• Annual Golf Outing, July 6
• Father-Son Cornhole Tournament, June 20

Bishop Watterson Summer Camps

Bishop Watterson High School will be hosting several summer camps for children of varying ages! Sports, Wood Shop Registration Open Now! Dance Coming Soon!

Newly added information on their soccer camp is available here.

Click the link below for more details and to register.

All-Catholic High School Reunion July 17th

Pre-1971 grads, July 17th

A special “Reunion Luncheon” is being organized for those who graduated from a Columbus Catholic high school (since closed or still open) before 1971. This special gathering will take place on Friday, July 17, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Valley Dale Ballroom, site of so many past events and fond memories. Final details (cost, lunch activities, RSVP instructions) will be released in May via letter, email, social media, and parish bulletins. In the meantime, mark this date on your calendar!

Email Katy Ryan Paolini (katysma61@outlook.com), Louis J. Fabro (lfabro@scprep.org), or Lou Nobile (lngolf57@att.net) if you have suggestions on how to make this event even more special. See you on July 17th!

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.