The O'Reilly Minute

Dear Parents,

We were deeply troubled and saddened to share the news yesterday regarding John Denzel. At this time, we do not have any further details beyond what has already been shared. We will keep you updated as new information becomes available.

Please rest assured that the safety of our children remains our highest priority. We remain committed to our rigorous background checks, stringent security measures within the building, and adherence to Diocesan Safe Environment Policies. We will continue to collaborate with experts like Jesse Weinberger to educate our community on safe practices related to technology and social media.  We are reminded of the crucial role we all play in safeguarding our children. We thank you and appreciate your partnership, continued support, prayers and vigilance in this important matter.

Our school theme for the 2024 - 2025 school year is “Seeds of Hope.” As we embark on another exciting school year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the importance of fostering hope in our children. Some of you may have read or heard that Pope Francis has declared that the year 2025 is to be a Jubilee Year with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” This upcoming Jubilee Year is a special time in the words of Pope Francis, "to rediscover, proclaim and build hope.” What a wonderful opportunity for our school, parish and parents to partner to teach our children that even though there are many challenges in the world and that we often experience disappointment, fear, or anxiousness, God’s love never ceases. Every day brings with it new ways to see God’s love at work in the world. Using the imagery of a seed, we can help our children relate to the idea that caring and nurturing a small seed allows it to grow into a beautiful flower, or a strong tree that gives us shade and oxygen or that produces food that we can eat to keep our bodies healthy.   

As the new school year begins, I would like to take this opportunity to share a few changes in our staff assignments and welcome several new teachers to our school community. Staffing has been a challenge this summer, and I appreciate the efforts of so many of you helping with the networking. Our end result is that we have reassigned some of our current staff to maximize their talents and expertise, and we have hired several amazing new teachers to join our accomplished staff. Please join me in welcoming: 

Ms. Bradie Ramsay - 5th grade science/math/religion

Ms. Olivia Roberts - Music

Mrs. Monica Rodenberg - School Nurse

Mr. David O’Reilly - Grades 7-8 Instructional Support Teacher

Mrs. Melanie Pizzino - 4th grade Math only

New Assignments:  

Mrs. Gloria Boeckl - 6th grade science/math/religion

Mrs. Karen Delucia - 5th grade homeroom teacher

Mrs. Shelley Regrut - 4th grade religion, ELA and social studies

Following a year of research and study, we have decided to move away from the traditional four quarter format for report cards to a trimester design. A trimester system divides the academic year into three sessions: fall, winter, and spring, each approximately 12-13 weeks long. We feel that our students will benefit from:

• More consecutive time for quality instructional time between reporting periods.  
• More effective timeline for assessing academic growth over time between reporting periods.
• STAR testing and reporting which takes place three times a year. 
• More consecutive time for social/emotional growth between reporting periods.
• Providing a longer time at the beginning of the year to acclimate to a new grade level, which is more developmentally appropriate for elementary school students.  
• More flexibility for teachers to pace curriculum.  

With this new format in mind, we have altered the schedule for our art, physical education, music and Spanish classes. Each one of these special area classes will be taught all 3 trimesters, or in other words, the entire school year instead of alternating quarters. So please get those PE uniforms ordered, hemmed and ready for the first week of school!

IMPORTANT K - 8 DATES:  

• Parent Administration and Grades 1 - 8 Meet the Teacher - August 20th, 4:00 - 6:00 PM
• Kindergarten WOW - August 20th- Please see your letter for assigned times for WOW and for staggered start times and dates.
• Staggered Start Opening for grades 1- 8 will be 8:00 am - 2:50 pm.
• August 21st - Last names L - Z only  
• August 22nd - Last names A - K only
• August 23rd - All students 
• Opening School Mass - Friday, August 23rd, 9:00 AM

Next week will be our full Back To School edition of the Wolfhound Wednesday with information regarding back to school forms, sign ups, Meet The Teacher and how to access homeroom assignments. 

As the new school year approaches, let us truly embrace Pope Francis’ message of hope in our daily lives, and together let us seek ways to spread seeds of hope, love and care making the world a better place for all.   

Summer blessings,

Kathy O’Reilly

P.S. Our annual Back To School Uniform Exchange will take place this Sunday, August 10th. Please see the details below.

Semi-Annual Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange

Sunday, Aug 11 10-1

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:

• At the school office Aug 5-9 during school hours
• At a bin outside Erin Heise’s home at 6588 Wynwright Dr Dublin OH Aug 3-9
• Bring them with you to the exchange if the other options don't work for you.
• If you have a ripped jumper or logoed item, please still donate it as we can use it for spare parts (buttons, crest, etc.)!
• Leftovers will be donated to other schools and charities in need.

Shoppers, sign up here: Summer 2024 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. If you need items, but can’t attend, let a friend shop for you!

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 are free, please sign up here:  Summer 2024 Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange Volunteer Sign Up

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

Join St. Brigid Home & School

St. Brigid Home & School is looking for volunteers to get involved in the many Home & School activities for the 24-25 school year!

To sign up to be a volunteer or on a committee with Home & School, click the sign-up button below. If you have questions, contact 24-25 Home & School Chairs Sarah Graf, sarahstarks77@hotmail.com or Heather Cesarz, heather.j.cesarz@gmail.com.

To learn more about Home & School and its committees, view the 24-25 brochure here.

All are welcome to attend our first meeting, which will be held Thursday, September 5 at 10 AM in Hendricks Hall.

Meet the Teacher - Tues, Aug 20

We begin this year with a “Meet The Teacher” on Tuesday, August 20th from 4:00 - 6:00 pm hosted by our Home and School and our School Advisory Committee. This event will be outdoors behind the school. Families will be invited to visit classrooms to “Meet The Teacher” and then spend time outdoors visiting information tables and enjoying treats. Come in the front doors, stop by the Home and School table and proceed to meet your teacher. Then go outside for the welcome back party. Preschool students will have a separate meet the teacher playdate. Information about this event will be sent to preschool parents via email. Kindergarten families attend K WOW Day as a separate meet the teacher event.

Home & School Spirit Wear Sale at Meet the Teacher Aug 20th

Both of our spirit wear vendors will be at Meet the Teacher this year. Morganheimer/Premier and Rah Rah will each have limited inventory to purchase that evening.

Gym Pants: Morganheimer/Premier will have sample gym pants available. You can place orders for these gym pants with Premier that evening. Gym pant orders placed at Meet The Teacher will be ready for pick up on 8/23 after 3:00 in the pick up bin labeled St Brigid. Address: Morganheimer/Premier Sports & Spirit, 473 Village Park Drive, Powell, OH 43065

Please Note: Both vendors prefer cash that evening but will also accept checks. These are the only two ways to purchase spirit wear at Meet The Teacher. 

Stay Tuned - Spirit Wear Shops Coming Soon. Watch Wolfhound Wednesday for information and links.

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

FACTS WebForms and Teacher Assignments - August 16

All students in preschool through grade 8 will be using FACTS to complete their back to school Web Forms again this school year. These forms will be available beginning Friday, August 16th. Upon login, please navigate to School, and then Webforms, to complete your Web Forms packet.

After completing your Webforms, select Student, and then Schedules to view your student's homeroom teacher.

If you have problems or questions, please contact Kerinan Jordan at mrs.jordan@stbrigid-school.org

EdChoice Acceptances

EdChoice Expansion scholarships have been recently awarded by the state. You may or may not have received an acceptance letter from the state. If you have received one, please sign and return it to edchoice@stbrigid-school.org

If you have not received an acceptance letter, you can complete a blank acceptance form here.

Also here is the link for the Check Deposit Form. Checks are sent to St. Brigid and this form is needed for us to process the checks.

Please send all completed forms to edchoice@stbrigid-school.org

If you have not yet applied or renewed your EdChoice Expansion scholarship there is still time to do so. Please contact Andrea O'Reilly for application and renewal questions at edchoice@stbrigid-school.org

St. Brigid Student Featured as Nationwide Children's 2024 Marathon Mile Champion

Isabella Ward, St. Brigid of Kildare 4th grader, will be one of 24 patients featured as a Marathon Mile Champion at the 2024 Nationwide Children's Marathon in Columbus this October.

24 patients treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital are selected to line each mile of the Nationwide Children's Marathon, share their story and inspire others. Each Marathon Mile Champion picks a theme for their mile and is celebrated for their strength and bravery. There is also one Angel Mile to honor those who are no longer with us and one Encore Mile where we recognize every patient who has lined the course in the past. Together, they represent the more than 1.4 million patient visits to our hospital every year.

To read about Isabella's story and fundraising page, click here.

Bus Registration Reminder

Bus Registration Dates for Dublin, Olentangy and Hilliard Buses have now passed. If you have not registered your child(ren) for Bus Transportation for the '24-'25 school year, please do so now to ensure that your transportation request can be accommodated. Please note that registration is required for all new and returning families who wish to receive Bus service.

Here is a link to the online request forms:

https://stbrigidofkildare.com/home-news/register-bus-transportation/

If you have any questions, contact Meredith Dorley at mrs.dorley@stbrigid-school.org, or your Bus Garage.

School Supplies

The deadline for online ordering of EduKit School Supply Kits has passed.

To view the list of school supplies needed for your child's grade, click the link below. Supplies can be dropped off on Tuesday, August 20 during Meet the Teacher night.

For questions, please contact Jennifer Musser, jmusserfamily@aol.com

Add Funds to Lunch Account

Funds can be added to your child's cafeteria account through FACTS.

For instructions on how to do this, please see the link below.

SPiCE Committee Meeting Recap

An update from the SPiCE Committee:

The SPiCE committee is back, and what a year we are planning.  We had our first meeting on July 25th, and discussed inclusion, acceptance, and how to support the special members of God's family here at St. Brigid of Kildare Parish. 

The Catholic Church's social teachings promote inclusion, or the idea that all people have inherent dignity as children of God and should be included in communal living. Pope Francis has said that inclusion means encouraging people to contribute to the good of society and the church, despite their limitations and gifts. He also wrote that people with disabilities can teach others that humans need God's love, mercy, and strength, and that awareness of one's limits can help people appreciate God's decision to help in times of weakness. 

 As we continue to plan and work together as an organization and community we would love to hear your thoughts and ideas. If you are interested in joining our organization or just sharing your thoughts please reach out to our newly created SPiCE email address - SPICE@stbrigid-school.org.

Hilliard School's First Time Riders Event

For Hilliard City School families with students who are first-time bus riders, there will be an event on Saturday, August 10 from 8 am - 12 pm at Weaver Middle School to learn about bus safety, explore a bus, and more! You can take photos of your little one's first bus ride and share their experience.

Magnifikid Now Available at Mass

Families are invited to take a copy of the Magnifikid to follow during Mass!

From the publishers of the MAGNIFICAT magazine comes Magnifikid! The MagnifKid is a missalette designed for children ages 6 to 12. MagnifiKid is published in full color and includes the readings and prayers of the Sunday Mass along with explanations of the difficult words and meaning of the rituals. All responses are color coded making it easy for children to focus and participate during Mass.

These will be available to families in the church vestibule at the kiosk.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom

of heaven belongs to such as these.”

We hope this missalette draws your children and family into the beauty of the Mass!

Upcoming Volunteer Training

Adults 18 years of age and older are required to complete this class prior to volunteering with minors. Register for the class at https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/reg_list2.cfm?theOrgID=18023&theme=0

 Upcoming PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN (PGC) sessions:

• 8/10/2024 9am St Brendan (Hilliard)
• 8/12/2024 6pm St Michael (Worthington)

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, registration with SELECTiON.COM Fastrax and complete a criminal background check prior to volunteering.

Full details and forms can be found at https://stbrigidofkildare.org/safe-environment/ 

Scam Impersonating Bishop Fernandes

An increasing number of social media accounts posing as Bishop Earl Fernandes are targeting individuals online and requesting money.

“We were made aware of several social media accounts that were impersonating him, asking people directly for money, or to do personal favors, directly through messages,” said Andrew Zuk, the associate director for the Office of Communications.

“We’ve reported it. We’ve asked anybody who sees these accounts to report them and to not click any links that they might have.”

The fake social media accounts appear to be targeting older adults or retirees, he said. Actors also often prey on individuals with perceived less technology experience.

To read more about this scam, read the article from the Catholic Times here.

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.