4475 Dublin Rd
Hilliard, OH 43026
614-876-1272
www.stbrendanschool.us
Frequently Asked Questions
2015-16 School Year
Q: I am considering enrolling my child in kindergarten. What skills should my child have to be
ready for kindergarten?
A: In most instances, kindergarten children start school on the basis of their age (must be at
least five years old by September 30, 2015). However, all five-year-old children are not at the
same level of development. Every kindergarten student that enrolls will participate in the
Kindergarten Round-Up Readiness Inventory (KRO) in the spring before their kindergarten year
begins the following fall. A date and time will be assigned and communicated to you for your
child's KRO session. The inventory allows our kindergarten teachers, Mrs. McFadden and Mrs.
Nugent, to assess your child's skill development in vocabulary, letter identification, visual
discrimination, phonemic awareness, comprehension and interpretation, and mathematical
knowledge. You will receive feedback on whether the teachers feel your child is ready for
kindergarten. It is your decision as parents to enroll your child or wait another year.
Q: Is St Brendan Kindergarten a full-day or half-day program?
A: The St Brendan kindergarten program is a full-day program. There are many benefits for your
child in a full-day program, including spiritual, social and academic development, all of which
enhance their school experience and help form a solid foundation for their academic career.
Q: Is there a waiting list for kindergarten or any other grade at St Brendan?
A: We do not know until the enrollment period comes to a close each year, but we have not
had a waiting list for any grade for the past few years. If a waiting list is compiled, parents are
contacted as soon as an opening becomes available. Wait lists are not carried forward from
year to year, and thus are no longer valid when new registration begins for the next school
year.
Q: What are the admission policies at St Brendan School?
A: Please visit our website at www.stbrendanschool.us under Admissions > Enrollment Priorities
for detailed information.
Q: What is the maximum enrollment per classroom?
A: For kindergarten, the maximum class size is 25. Each of our kindergarten classrooms have a
full-time aide in addition to their regular teacher. For all other grades, the maximum class size is
30. Occasionally, a class may have 31 or 32 students to accommodate a family’s needs.
OUR MISSION:
St Brendan School is dedicated to educating children in a Catholic community
where spirituality is fostered, uniqueness is valued and potential is realized.
Q: Is St Brendan School accredited?
A: All Catholic schools located in the Diocese of Columbus are chartered through the state of
Ohio, maintained through the Ohio Catholic Accrediting Association (OCSAA). Over 60% of our
teachers have earned master degrees and are always involved in ongoing professional
development to enhance their professional skills. In addition, many of our teachers have been
certified in the multi-sensory Orton-Gillingham methodology.
Q: What is the religious education program at St Brendan School?
A: The unique feature of a parochial school is the process of religious development and
formation of its students. At St Brendan School, spiritual development is fostered through a
complete graded course of study in religion, which is taught in grades K–8, covering the basic
tenets, beliefs, traditions and practices of the Roman Catholic faith. Sacramental preparation
for Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation is incorporated into the curriculum at the
appropriate grade levels. At St Brendan School, participation in Eucharistic celebrations is of
highest priority, and students attend weekly liturgy. Parents and friends are encouraged to
attend liturgies and prayer services with the school children. The student body also has the
opportunity to experience traditional devotions and practices of the Catholic faith. All of the
above components, as well as a pervading atmosphere of faith, contribute to the process of
internalizing values that are distinctively attributed to the Catholic faith.
Q: How do St Brendan students perform on standardized testing?
A: Thanks to dedicated teachers and parents who support each child's educational goals, we are
proud that St Brendan students consistently exceed national rankings on standardized tests. St
Brendan students exceed Diocesan expectations as well. The school office is happy to provide
figure comparisons across the Diocesan student population upon request.
Q: What special programs are offered at St Brendan School? What services are available to
students who have special needs?
A: St Brendan School offers a wide variety of services and programs, including a full-time
information technology specialist who helps our teachers integrate technology into their
classroom lessons, a school guidance counselor, intervention specialists, speech and language
services, a full-time school nurse, instructional aides in the classrooms, and reading tutors for
students in grades 1–3. St Brendan School is an approved provider for the Jon Peterson
Scholarship through the Ohio Department of Education. We are also a site for students whose
parents have applied for the ODE Autism Scholarship.
OUR MISSION:
St Brendan School is dedicated to educating children in a Catholic community
where spirituality is fostered, uniqueness is valued and potential is realized.
Q: What enrichment opportunities are available outside the classroom setting?
A: St Brendan School’s extracurricular and co-curricular activities are intended to enhance and
develop a child's individual interests and talents outside of the traditional classroom setting.
These enrichment activities include:
 Research Fair (grades 6-8)
 Wax Museum (grade 3)
 Junior Achievement Biztown (grade 5)
 Dolphin Dispatch (school newspaper)
 Power of the Pencil (grades 5–6); Power of the Pen (grades 7–8)
 Math Club (grades 4–5); Math Counts (grades 6–8)
 D.A.R.E. Program
 Shoebox Science
 Invention Convention
 Student Advisory Council (grades 4–8)
 Spelling and Geography Bees
 Spanish Enrichment (grades 1-8)
 RJ Art Show
 Instrumental Band Instruction (grades 5-8), including Christmas and Spring Concerts
 Liturgical Choir (grades 4–8)
 4th and 8th Grade Musicals
 Scouting for Girls and Boys (grades 1-8)
 Comprehensive Athletic Program (grades K–8)
Q: What athletic programs are offered through St Brendan Parish?
A: Open to all parish members regardless of which school they attend, our athletic programs
enhance the sense of community within our parish. Below is a list of sports offerings by
season/grade:
 Fall Sports: Cheerleading (3–8), Football (4–8), Soccer (K–8), and Volleyball (4–8).
 Winter Sports: Basketball (K–8), Cheerleading (3–8), and Soccer (K–8).
 Spring Sports: Baseball (4–8), Golf (6–8), Soccer (K–8), Softball (4–8), Track (4–8), and
Volleyball Clinics (1–3).
Q: What is the daily schedule at St Brendan School?
A: Students may enter the building anytime from 8:15-8:30am. The tardy bell rings at 8:30am.
The school day ends at 3:15p.
Q: Does St Brendan School offer before or after-school child care?
A: Yes. Kids Zone is offered before school from 7:00-8:15am and after school from 3:15-6:00p.
Students are provided a healthy snack after school, allotted time and help to complete their
homework and given plenty of recreation time with their friends. Kids Zone is set up in the
school cafeteria with recreation in the school gym and playground. Enrollment for Kids Zone is
offered in the spring for the following school year and tends to fill up quickly with wait lists. The
cost of Kids Zone is separate from school tuition. Please see the school website at
www.stbrendanschool.us for additional Kids Zone information.
OUR MISSION:
St Brendan School is dedicated to educating children in a Catholic community
where spirituality is fostered, uniqueness is valued and potential is realized.
Q: Are parents expected to volunteer during the school year?
A: Yes. One of the best parts of St Brendan School is our warm community because of great
parent involvement. Your child will love seeing you at volunteer activities such as library or
lunch duty or coaching one of their sports teams. All families are asked to work during five
lunch shifts (or pay $50) and volunteer at three other activities per school year. As a new family
to our community, you will be contacted during the summer prior to school starting by your
Parent Pal who will help you navigate through all the necessary information you need to know
as a new family including available volunteer activities.
Note: All parents who volunteer must have on file with the school a current Bureau of Criminal
Investigation criminal background check report, including finger-printing. Parents must also
have taken the required Protecting God’s Children program according to Diocesan Policy 4110.0.
Q: What is the cost of tuition at St Brendan School?
A: Annual tuition per student for the 2015-16 school year is as follows:
 Full-Day Kindergarten (Parishioner): $4,200
 1st Child (grades 1-8; Parishioner): $3,750
 2nd Child (grades 1-8; Parishioner): $3,450
 3rd Child (grades 1-8; Parishioner): $2,650
 4th Child (grades 1-8; Parishioner): $2,650
 Any Child (grades K-8; Non-Parishioner): $5,640
Q: Is there tuition assistance available at St Brendan School?
A: Yes. All students whose parents are members of St Brendan Parish qualify for the parish
grant which supports the cost of tuition. Parents who may have a need for additional tuition
assistance through the Diocesan FACTS Tuition Assistance Program. All applications are
completed online and must be submitted no later than March 15th of a given year for a parent
to be considered for Diocesan tuition assistance (see www.factstuitionaid.com for more
details). The funds from St Brendan Parish for tuition assistance are supported through the
SCRIP program in which all parents are strongly encouraged to participate.
Q: To whom can I speak to learn more about St Brendan School?
A: Our Principal, Mary Lang, is happy to meet with families who may be considering St. Brendan
School. Please contact the school office at 614-876-1272 to schedule an appointment.
OUR MISSION:
St Brendan School is dedicated to educating children in a Catholic community
where spirituality is fostered, uniqueness is valued and potential is realized.