Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2014 - 2015 school year!  This year's school theme, "Disciples On A Journey," will allow us to continue to develop the idea of discipleship with our students.  Last year we studied the many ways Mary models discipleship for us.  This year we will learn about figures from the Old and New Testaments who journeyed in their faith, and explore our own journeys as disciples as we continue to deepen our personal relationship with Jesus.  This will lead us to live our lives each day as faithful witnesses to God's Word and the Catholic faith.  This is an exciting and sometimes challenging journey.  We look forward to taking the journey together.  

I have many new and exciting topics to share with you as we begin the new year.

Building Enhancements:

Our journey to enhance our educational environment to meet the needs of 21st century learning continued with implementing phase two of our four phase plan.  We have re-located the Religious Education offices to Enke Hall across from the music room allowing us to move all of the literacy teachers to the school office. This strategic move made available additional space to create 5 additional student learning spaces with flexible use furniture.  A small construction project is yet to take place this fall to create a sun room opposite the Think Tank with seating for 12 - 14 students.  We know our students will enjoy actively learning in our new 21st century learning spaces.

New Staff:

New Staff Members:

Karol Halm - latchkey director

Patty Bednar - kindergarten aide with Shelley O'Neil

Linda Gelhaus - 1st grade aide with Mackenzie Veeder

Tina Hendricks - 3rd grade aide

Teri Ryan - 1-2nd grade educational support assistant

Caitlin Holland - 3-4th grade educational support assistant

Mackenzie Veeder - 1st grade teacher

Nicole Brinkman - 5-6th grade ELA and 6th grade religion teacher

Carla Chiavacci - 7-8th Grade literacy

Julia Trapp - music teacher

Marisel Quintero - Spanish teacher

Kathy Stuart - intervention specialist K - 2

Melissa Karam - intervention specialist

ALICE Safety and Security Training:

School safety is always one of our top priorities.  As you know we routinely practice fire, tornado, and lockdown drills with our students.  Current research shows that the traditional lockdown procedure is no longer best practice.  The new recommendations on school safety include all of the training protocols found in ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) training program.   The recommendations suggest that Lockdown is no longer a standalone strategy.  Instead ALICE training empowers decision making at the time of the incident using the strategies of ALICE.  Our staff began training with this protocol last year.  We are completing the training this week and now would like to invite parents to an information meeting before we start working with our students on this new protocol.  The informational meeting will be September 3rd at 6:30 PM in the gym.  I encourage at least one parent from each family to attend.   

SchoolSpeak:

The Diocese of Columbus has purchased a diocesan wide contract with SchoolSpeak.  All schools in the diocese will be using this service for school databases, school directories, attendance, interim reports, end of the quarter progress reports and miscellaneous other business functions. 

Student-Led Conferences:

Student-led conferences will take place on the evenings of September 24-25.  Last year we began changing our process for conferences and we are now ready to move forward to our next phase in development.  The timing of this early conference will help students establish personal learning goals early in the year. The process also allow students, parents, and teachers to establish an early working relationship to assure student success.   

Curriculum Night:

Traditional curriculum night is being suspended this year due to the September 3rd parent information meeting and the early student-led conference dates.  Information that is usually shared on curriculum night will be found in the September 3 issue of the Wolfhound Wednesday.

Snow Days and School Calendar:

The State of Ohio has mandated for the 2014-15 school year that all schools will change to an hour-based schedule and there will not be any built in snow days.  Instead schools may schedule "excess" hours above the minimum number.  Hours above the minimum number missed by weather related closures or other emergency closures do not need to be made up. 

We have decided to maintain our traditional schedule of 178 student days which is well above the minimum number of required hours (1,001 hours) thereby generating more than enough calamity days and more importantly maximum time for student learning. 

Important Dates:

• Monday, August 18 - Parent Administration Day / Meet the Teacher (4 - 6 PM)
• Monday, August 18 - Kindergarten WOW Day
• Tuesday, August 19 - Kindergarten WOW Day
• Wednesday, August 20 - First Day of School (K-8)
• Wednesday, September 3 - Parent Informational Meeting, ALICE Training and SchoolSpeak, 6:30 PM in the gym)

Sharing the Good News:

We welcome our newest Wolfhound to the staff family...

Katie and Matt Sachs welcomed Holly Elizabeth Sachs born on August 1st and weighed in at 6 lbs. 6 oz. and 18 inches long.  Mom Katie and baby are both doing great! Katie will be returning to work in a new position as 1st grade literacy teacher in just a few weeks. 

Karen Partridge (5th - 6th grade teacher) is getting married to Brian DeLucia on September 6th at St. Brigid of Kildare Church. God's blessings to Karen and Brian as they begin their new life together. 

As our journey for the new year begins we can be proud of the spiritual and academic excellence nurtured by Saint Brigid of Kildare School and in knowing that we are truly making a difference in the lives of our children.  On behalf of the faculty and staff, we look forward to working with all of our students and with you in the new school year.

Blessings,

Kathleen O'Reilly

Principal