The Messenger

Dear Fabulous Families -

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends. Thank you for your flexibility with the additional day off on Monday. The pipe has been fixed and things are in good shape.

Photos Needed - Help Mrs. Abramczyk with the yearbook by sending her photos. See the information below!

Leader in Me - Check out additional information below and look for a link tomorrow to share information on leadership, academics, and culture.

Capital Campaign - Thank you for returning your pledge cards for the Capital Campaign. We have surpassed 4.4 million dollars! The Welcome Center and Center for Innovative Learning will become a reality with your generosity. Please remember St. Gabriel in this Season of Giving and we will meet our goal!

Reminder - Toy donations are due tomorrow for Whole Kids Outreach - Students are welcome to donate an unwrapped toy tomorrow (Thursday) for Whole Kids Outreach. Students will bring their toy to Mass tomorrow morning. See the information below in the newsletter.

Coming home in the Wednesday yellow envelope:

• Winter Vocal Concert Information-2nd and 4th Grades Only
• Spelling Bee Study Lists - Grades 4-8

Reminder: Submissions for the newsletter should be sent to Mrs. McEnery and Ms. Schmitt by noon on Monday. Graphics should be a jpg or png. In the subject line, please put "Newsletter".

Tonya McEnery

Principal

Jenn Schmitt

Assistant Principal

Have you completed your pledge card yet? Now is the time! Please PLEDGE NOW either online via Faith Direct or submit your pledge card to the rectory.

If you are looking for ways to amplify your gift, consider Creative Ways to Donate, such as:

- Spread your pledge payments out over several years (3 years maximum for gifts under $15,000; 5 years maximum otherwise).

- Explore Memorial Naming Opportunities, perhaps together with other family or community members.

- Check if your employer has a matching gift program.

- Consider gifts of stock or donor advised funds.

- Other non-traditional sources could include life insurance, personal property or saleable real estate, and IRA distributions.

Mrs. Abramczyk is requesting photos to use in this year's yearbook. Please email them to her directly at rabramczyk@stgab.org with the topic or event in the heading. Send photos from this school year that fit into the following categories:

- Special Events: the picnic, class parties, donut Sundays, field trips, etc.

- Clubs and Special Groups: Bellarmine Speech Team, Salt and Light Pro Life Club, Lighthouse Committee, etc.

- 90 Years of St. Gabes: photos of the school from the past, generations of families who have attended St. Gabes, throwback photos

- "Follow Me-Jesus": photos from events that involve community outreach, service, prayer and church

- Sports: pics of grade level teams (school teams) and tournaments

(These photos may or may not be used in the yearbook depending on what is available/needed.)

*A Special Request for All 8th Grade Parents*

Please send a photo of your eighth grader back when they were in kindergarten. It can be a classic school photo or a snapshot- uniform is not required. Send this directly to Mrs. Abramczyk by January 31st.

Make Christmas Special for a child in need!

Whole Kids Outreach serves rural Missouri children in need. In December, WKO hosts a Christmas Store so that kids can have a great Christmas morning!

Saint Gabriel the Archangel will be collecting new toys and other items (unwrapped) for children birth through young teens for the WKO Christmas Store.

Every WKO child/teen receives a large, medium, and small gift , so all gifts are appreciated.

In addition, cash donations and Amazon, Walmart and Target gift cards are welcome!

Please no items that suggest violence or war.

Gift Ideas Can Be Found Below:

https://www.myregistry.com/organization/%20whole-kids-outreach-ellington-mo/2464070/giftlist

Please bring your toys to Mass on December 5th! We will not be collecting donations before that.

Whole Kids Outreach is a faith-based, nonprofit service organization committed to the unmet health and developmental needs of children, youth, and pregnant women within their family structure. Over the past 20+ years, WKO has worked to develop innovative, culturally sensitive interventions and programs to help families living in Appalachian-style poverty in rural Missouri meet their healthcare needs.

Our Leader in Me Program teaches our students the "student version" of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. These habits help students learn executive functioning skills to be successful with planning, prioritizing, and working with others. We hope our students are able to leave St. Gabriel and go out into the "real world" leading others with Catholic values to make a difference.

We are working on goals in three different areas: Academics, Culture, and Leadership.

Jenn Schmitt, Assistant Principal, serves as our Lighthouse Coordinator.

Teachers lead the various committees:

Ms. Brennecke and Ms. Pryor serve as Academic Leaders

Ms. Callison and Mrs. Andrus serve as Leadership Leaders.

Mrs. Abramczyk and Mrs. Seiler serve as Culture Leaders.

We are excited to get our Student Lighthouse Team up and running this year! These student leaders will begin leading sub-committees in the second semester.

To track our progress, we began using the Measurable Results Assessment (MRA) last year with staff, students, and parents. The Lighthouse Team uses these results to help set team goals and communicate success. We invite our parents to share their opinions in a link that will be sent out tomorrow (Thursday).

Our Spring after school class selection is here! Sign up information will be coming soon! Class dates are listed on the flier below. Any questions, please feel free to contact me at archangel@stgab.org.

Jill Farace

Cross one gift off your list early! The holidays are quickly approaching and the PFA is now accepting donations for their annual Christmas Collection. Your generous contributions will be divided evenly amongst St. Gabriel teachers and staff. Please consider donating today!

Thank you and happy holidays!

Please use this link to donate:

https://stgabrielpfa.membershiptoolkit.com/annualchristmascollection

Parents have the opportunity to volunteer at school by helping with lunch and recess duties. All volunteers must go through the Protecting God's Children / Safe Environment training requirement.

• Please do not sign up for a position if you have not completed Protecting God's Children / Safe Environment training. Information on this is posted below. .
• The following links are for the first trimester.
• Please only sign up for one spot to give others the chance to volunteer.

Here is the link to the Sign Up Genius for recess volunteers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A044FAFAD2DA5FA7-52834478-recess

Here is the link to the Sign Up Genius for cafeteria volunteers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A044FAFAD2DA5FA7-51700775-cafeteria

• Important - All volunteers need to successfully complete the mandated Archdiocesan Protecting God's Children/Safe Environment Training. Before signing up for lunch duty/recess duty, field trips, etc., volunteers must have this completed. Please use the following link to find the complete information from the church website: mandated training information. Please direct questions to our parish secretary and Child Safety Coordinator, Eileen Garavaglia, at 314-353-6303 Ext. 110 or garavagliae@stgabrielstl.org.

Dear Parents,

Students in grades 3- 8 are being offered the sacrament of Reconciliation this week. It is a great way to prepare to celebrate the feast of Christmas. Here is a link to resources about the sacrament.

https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/sacraments/reconciliation/

Here are the times the sacrament is offered in the parish.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Monday – Friday 7:30am - 7:55am

Saturday 4:00pm – 4:45pm

We know it is a quick turn around but John House is working on their service to children who are in need that live just a bit south of us in rural Missouri and are served by Whole Kids Outreach. Toys will be brought to Mass and collected at the Offertory tomorrow, December 5th.

There is an opportunity on the SLU Campus to hear Rubin Garcia: Migration and the Catholic Call in a Divided World. Here is a link with more information.

https://www.slu.edu/calendar/index.php#event-details/5987071b-433e-47ad-9206-4c45e49e0d45

From the USCCB site:

https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/upload/catholic-social-teaching-poster-for-children-digital.pdf

The students are so proud when they have parts at Mass. We hope you can join us whenever you are able. See below for the school day Mass Schedule.

School Masses

Tuesdays- 1-4 Attends

12/9 All School Mass-Feast of the Immaculate Conception-Note this is a Monday

12/10 Students do not attend as they attended 12/9

12/17 3B Baptism Mass

Wednesdays- 5-8 Attends

12/11 No Mass-Students attended Monday

12/18 5P

Thursdays- All School Attends

12/5 John House-Whole Kids Outreach

12/12 4W Our Lady of Guadalupe

12/19 4H

Looking ahead 2024-2025:

Family Mass Schedule-Mass is at 10:00 am

4th and 5th Grade- January 12th

2nd and 3rd Grade- February 9th

K and 1st Grade- April 13th

Second Grade

First Eucharist

First Communion Parent Mtg.- Wednesday, March 26th- 6:30 pm in church

Sunday, May 4th- 1st Communion, 2pm Mass

Confirmation

Confirmation Day of Reflection- February 18, 2025

Confirmation Mass -February 20, 2025 at Saint Gabriel the Archangel Church at 7 pm

Prayer Resource:

The School Sisters of Notre Dame have a virtual prayer space to pray for peace.

SSND Prayer Room: Open on Fridays from 9am- 9pm Central Time.

https://ssnd.org/ssnd-virtual-prayer-room/

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Come pray with us!

Deborah DaLay

Coordinator of Religious Education

Dates below are subject to change and additional days will be added as we continue to plan for the year. Dates are also posted on the Google calendar located on our website.

2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

December

11- Vocal Concert (2nd and 4th grade students, and Honor Choir), 7pm

12- Band Concert, 7pm

20- Christmas Parties, 11:05

20-Christmas Break Begins (Noon Dismissal)

23-January 3, 2025 - Christmas Break

January

6- Classes Resume

12- 4th & 5th Grade Family Mass (NEW)

15- American Heart Association Fundraiser Begins

20- No School: MLK Day

26-31- Catholic Schools Week

26- Open House

27- Spelling Bee, 2:05pm

31- Noon Dismissal

February

7- End of American Heart Association

Fundraiser

9- 2nd & 3rd Grade Family Mass (NEW)

14- End of 2nd Trimester

14- Valentine’s Day Parties, 11:05am

14- Planning & Collaboration (Noon

Dismissal)

17- No School: Presidents’ Day

20 - 8th Grade Confirmation

25- Parents/Students/Teacher Conferences, 3:30-7pm

27- Parents/Students/Teacher Conferences, 3:30-7pm

28- Noon Dismissal

March

5- Ash Wednesday

6- 4th Grade Field Trip to LinkUp (Updated)

7- Stations of the Cross

8 - Auction

14- Stations of the Cross

17-21- Spring Break

24- 8th Grade Field Trip to Holocaust Museum (Updated)

26- First Communion Parent Meeting,

6:30pm

28- Stations of the Cross

April

4- Planning & Collaboration (Noon

Dismissal)

13 - Kindergarten & First Grade Family Mass (NEW)

17- No School: Holy Thursday

18- No School: Good Friday

20- Easter Sunday

21- No School: Easter Monday

23-25 - 6th Grade Camp

25-27 - AYM Luke 18 Retreat for 8th Graders

May

2- 2nd Grade Jesus Day

4- First Communion, 2pm

5- 2nd Grade Only, No School

6-7- Art Fair

6- Vocal Concert (Kindergarten, 1st, and 3rd grade students, and Honor Choir), 7pm

7- Band Concert, 7pm

9- Noon Dismissal: Field Day

15- May Crowning

15- 8th Grade - Last Day

16- 8th Grade Mystery Trip

16- 7th Grade Leadership Day

20- 8th Grade Graduation, 6pm

23- Noon Dismissal: Last Day of School

AYM (Archangel Youth Ministry) high school teens will be babysitting for *FREE* on Thursday, December 5th from 6:45-9:00 pm so moms can attend the Women at the Well Advent Gathering being held in St. Gabriel church. Teens will be assisted by AYM adult leaders.

All kids needing care (infant through 5th grade) must be registered in advance via the Google Form link.

Please email Youth Minister, Sarah Henderson: hendersons@stgabrielstl.org with any questions.

https://forms.gle/2m7JAhX9ing5QRyU9

We are looking for people of all ages willing to embrace the Christmas spirit by baking cookies for the homebound members of our parish. We are inviting scout troops, parents and kids, kids looking for service hours, and anyone else to bake cookies this year.

Deliver any number of cookies to 6239 Delor anytime on Sunday, December 15.

Your efforts will delight the 50+ homebound parishioners whose hearts are warmed when they receive a plate of goodies from their St. Gabriel friends each year.

Thank you for participating in this annual event. It can’t happen without your generosity.

Questions: Contact Debbie Russo at 314-852-9914

Welcome to ARCHANGEL YOUTH MINISTRY (AYM) covering the parishes of the St. Louis Hills neighborhood (St. Gabriel & St. Raphael). AYM is open to all high school teens. No sign-up necessary and teens do not need to be from the St. Louis Hills parishes to participate. High school teens can attend on a regular basis or drop-in as it fits their schedule.

Weekly Sunday Life Teen Nights (6:45-8:30 pm in Gabriel House) include snacks, socializing, games, talks, and discussions.

Wednesday R&R Nights (7-8:30 pm in Gabriel House) are unstructured evenings for teens to hang out (recharge & reconnect). See the AYM calendar for specific dates.

LOOKING AHEAD

*December 22nd | Teen Mass & AYM Christmas Party!

*April 25th-27th | Luke 18 Retreat! | for 8th graders, led by high school teens | Registration and more information to come...

*July 18th-20th | AYM at Steubenville 2025! | open to current 8th-12th grade students | Registration and more information to come...

STAY CONNECTED with AYM

Follow us on Instagram @archangelym

Like our Facebook Group: Archangel Youth Ministry

Join the SGA or SRA Flocknote Group: Youth Ministry

Visit the Youth Group page on the SGA parish website

Contact Youth Minister: Sarah Henderson - hendersons@stgabrielstl.org

https://goraisedough.com/buy/2590