Dear Parents and Guardians,    As you have heard in the news, the state of Ohio has passed a new two-year budget signed into law by Governor DeWine on Tuesday morning. This budget includes an increase in the federal poverty level in determining eligible families that may receive a full Ed Choice Expansion Scholarship from the state. At this time, it has been stated that the level has moved from households with an AGI at or below 250% of the federal poverty level to households with an AGI at or below 450% of the federal poverty level. Households with an AGI above 450% of the federal poverty level may be eligible for a partial scholarship.   Many of the details are still being worked out, and to enable the state to prepare for the numerous applications, the Ohio Department of Education Ed Choice site has been shut down for two to three weeks. ODE anticipates it opening again for new applications on or around August 1.    We are excited about the opportunity this will provide for many of our families. We appreciate your patience as the state works out details at their level, and we prepare to help our families with the application process.    One piece of the application process is providing proof of residency, which requires a utility bill. We recommend your Duke Energy or a similar residence energy bill. You will also have to provide proof of income to the state. More information will be sent when the state determines the required information.    At this time, tuition payments will continue as originally planned for all families as eligibility for the scholarship is determined.    We will keep you updated as we are provided with more information.    Blessings, Mrs. Muchmore

June 6, 2023 Dear Parents and Guardians, I hope you have enjoyed the first week of summer with your families! The teachers and staff have been busy closing the 2022 – 2023 school year and moving on to their own summer of rest and rejuvenation. The office staff is moving forward in preparation for the new school year; time does not stand still at school! We are excited as we prepare for August and the arrival of over 480 students who will grace our halls and classrooms with their love of Jesus, a desire to learn, and their smiles! Our last few days together this year were filled with faith and community. Our closing school mass and awards ceremony enabled us to join together to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and to hear God’s word, while the awards ceremony allowed us to honor the students who received awards for their hard work this year - the Theme Award for living out our school theme this year, the Cardinal Virtue of Prudence, and the Principal’s Award for academic achievement. The Awards Ceremony also gave us time to acknowledge our faculty and staff who are moving on to retirement and new career paths. Mrs. Sue Rohan, Mrs. Patty Sorter, and Mrs. Beth Judd are retiring after many collective years of service to St. Columban. Mrs. Lizzie Ater, Mrs. Jannette Santamarina, and Mrs. Colleen Cooper are exploring new paths in their educational careers. We have been very blessed that these women have shared their time, talent, and treasure with our students and parents! The students and staff also said a special thank you and happy retirement to Fr. Larry with a slide show of what they have learned from him and suggestions for retirement. A beautiful wood-carved nativity scene was created for Fr. Larry that included a thumbprint or “swipe” of the paintbrush from the entire school! Thank you to Mrs. McDow and Mrs. Gregory for creating and organizing this gift, and a special thank you to Mr. Jim Settlemire, who carved the scene. We have been blessed by Fr. Larry’s sharing of the Catholic faith, wisdom, insight, and support throughout the years and we wish him joy and peace as he enjoys his retirement!  We are grateful for those who worked so diligently to ensure our closing days of the school year were memorable. Thank you to the faculty and staff who closed the year academically with the students while also providing lots of fun activities. To our Parish Staff who worked each week to prepare our weekly liturgies and a special last school mass, and to Mr. Sherman, the specials teachers, Officer Vicky, Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Cox, PTO, and the Boosters who all made our Field Day one to remember! As we close this year and move forward in preparation of our return in August, we wanted to share important information. The basic calendar for the new school year is attached to this email. Should you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Yeoman, or myself in the school office. Office hours for this summer are: May 30 – June 23: 8:00 – 3:00 June 26 – July 28: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00 – 12:00 July 31 – August 11: 8:00 – 3:00 August 14: 7:30 – 3:30 Final report cards for this school year were mailed last Thursday. I want to thank the teachers for the hours and hours of work they invest in reporting your students’ grades and commenting on your student’s progress. This is no easy task and involves multiple steps at the end of the year to ensure a student’s cumulative record is updated. If you have not received your child’s report card, it is likely there are fees owed for the past school year. Lunch, library, and technology equipment fees are all due before final report cards or high school records are released. Please call the office if you have any questions. School supply lists for the upcoming school year will be posted on our school website in the next few days. If you ordered a school supply box from PTO, you will receive it at our Barbecue Blast on August 21, 2023. Please be sure to follow the school supply list as teachers prepare instruction and classrooms for those supplies requested. We are grateful for the many, many donations to our uniform exchange; it is overflowing! We want to thank our PTO Board members who have been preparing the clothes for those who wish to use the exchange. There is a large supply of gym uniforms! Please come by during office hours if you want to choose uniform items for your students. The student handbook is being reviewed and will be posted with updates soon. Please be sure to read this handbook thoroughly and discuss it with your students. The homework, uniform, and technology policies are areas that we had difficulties with last year, and we appreciate your help ensuring your students are aware of and follow the policies as we begin the new year. In mid-July, you will receive from me, via email, a State of the School report and a summary from the Education Commission Survey. I look forward to sharing with you current school information, as well as our vision as we move forward in our quest to educate young people in our faith and strong academics. Please be sure to view the documents attached to the OptionC alert. They include the list of Theme and Principal Award winners, the 2023-2024 Basic School Calendar, and Scout information. There is also a PTO link for ordering the 21-22 Yearbook if you did not purchase one and a Booster link for Spiritwear! Our students, parents, and community will be in our hearts and prayers as everyone enjoys the summer months! Be safe! May God’s peace be with you always. Blessings, Mrs. Muchmore PTO Announcement 21-22 Yearbook Reprints  Did you miss getting a 21-22 yearbook?  We've got great news! LifeTouch has agreed to do a reprint of the 21-22 yearbook for us. Cost will be $25/book and is due at time of ordering. Please fill out the Google Form below to order (this form will also be posted on our Facebook page. You only need to fill it out once!).  Payment can be made by dropping off a check (made out to St Columban PTO) or cash (in an envelope with your name) at the school office (open M-F from 8a-3p). If drop off hours are difficult, please contact ptoforstc@gmail.com, and we will work something out with you. You will receive an email from us when books are in.  Please let us know if you have any questions!  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EiSiVAreu3IQWOPx5EKVO0Z8Gi1pNP9oMTs2TNS8kqM/edit?usp=drive_web   Booster Spiritwear The link for spiritwear is open for the next two weeks. Order your Bobcat spirit wear today!  https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/UZEZoEzeHv 2022 – 2023 Theme and Principal Award Winners KA: Hunter Roessner, Geneva Magnus, Ethan Estill, Louise Wey KB: Mason Frantz, Aubree Reisert, Max Berkheimer, Kate Brown 1A: Tony Ostendarp, Annie Reimer, Nathan Owen, Lizzy Glowacki 1B: Lucy Shimala, Lucas Stang, Mary Bowers, Carter Batchler 2A: Michael Matthews, Kate Ward, Evan Ward, Olivia Berkheimer 2B: Graeme Froehle, Margaret Bowers, Griffydd Williams, Ella Chadwell 3A: Owen Edwards, Emma O'Neil, Enzo Ferreri, Grace Wermert 3B: Jackson Watkins, Callie Gelhot, Lucas Marmora, Violet Fenwick 4A: Carson Acomb, Callahan Reese, Grant Strottman, Reagan Brackett 4B: Jay Glowacki, Adalynn Stacey, Andrew Brown, Harper Geiman 5A: Alan Ward, Brianna Spaulding, Theo Fenwick, Leah Cherry 5B: Colton Gearhart, Dory Bowers, Perry Schenk, Lea Sorrell 6A: Max Owens, Caroline Milby, Owen O'Neil, Caroline Strottman 6B: Eli Stoops, Adley Gelhot, Noah Kramig, Sophia Scheidt 7A: Cameron Acomb, Lia Beimesche, Nate Kroger, Elizabeth Mayer 7B: Isaiah Flohre, Savanna Gault, Liam Schnettler, Ashley Malsch