Dear Fabulous Families -

We are looking forward to our school improvement team visiting our school tomorrow and Friday! The staff members and SIP team have worked hard to prepare for the visit. Just a reminder that students who have a special PFA spirit shirt, from any year, are welcome to join the staff and wear their shirt this Friday.

Thanks to everyone who filled out the school lunch survey from several weeks ago. Your feedback is helpful. See the results below.

Thanks to everyone in the first, third, and fifth grades who sent in their RSVP for Grandparents/VIP Day next Tuesday. Families will receive an email from through Teacher Ease with directions to give to your special guests.

Best of luck to our 8th Grade students as they perform in Follies this Saturday! A few tickets are left for this fun and entertaining performance! See below for ticket purchasing information.

Coming home in the Wednesday yellow envelope:

Mystery Day Permission Slip-8th Grade

Field Day Permission Slip-1st Grade

SLU Summer Reading Camp-Youngest or Only

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

Administration met with Chef Brenda and Jeff from Food Service Consultants and shared an overview of the survey results with them. The top three areas that came across as patterns in the comments were: portion size, too many unhealthy options, and concern over the ability of students to purchase any item without restriction/parents thought they were limiting options in their account already.

Some changes that students will begin noticing are having baked chip options rather than regular chips, limiting the number of snack items students can purchase when checking out, the line closing halfway through lunch so students have enough time to eat their regular lunch and any other purchased items. FSC will investigate why the account option is not recognizing when parents limit snack options. We will be sending out an opportunity for families to pick out their top suggestions for Chef Brenda to make in the kitchen. Stay tuned for that email! We will also be working on other improvements, but wanted to share these updates for now.

Are you passionate about education and looking to make a difference in our community? We invite you to apply for the St. Gabriel Board of Education!

The Board of Education is now accepting nominations and applications to fill upcoming openings on the Board. Candidates should be registered members of the parish or parents of students at St. Gabe’s. Applications will be accepted from March 26th – April 16th. Click here to apply.

Why Join?

• Impact: Shape the future of St. Gabe’s and contribute to the success of our students.

• Community: Collaborate with dedicated individuals who share your commitment to education.

• Growth: Gain valuable experience and develop leadership skills.

If you’re considering this opportunity and need more information before deciding, or if you know someone who would be a great fit, please reach out to Lacy or Jaime. They are available to answer any questions you may have.

Jaime Signorino | jaime.m.signorino@gmail.com

Lacy Gassner | lacy.brianna@gmail.com

Get Involved. Make a Difference. Apply Today!

Get your tickets for the hottest show in town on Saturday, April 12th at 7pm!

We have a limited number of seats remaining!

Link to purchase: https://forms.ministryforms.net/viewForm.aspx?formId=bf367640-1903-40d8-8d44-340e471e6f22

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/70A044FAFAD2DA5FA7-55141184-recess

Here is the link to the Sign Up Genius for cafeteria volunteers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A044FAFAD2DA5FA7-55141052-cafeteria

Claver House Community Garden is a special project supported by St. Gabriel and other local parishes every year. To help prepare for the project, we need volunteers to plant two dozen of one type of vegetable and nurture it until planting day on April 12th. Volunteers are needed on April 12th and May 10th to help tend to the garden beds at Claver House.

This community garden and outdoor learning center teaches health, nutrition, gardening and sustainability to GardenVille and Claver House residents. It provides a good source for healthy foods, flowers and green spaces in their neighborhood. Food harvested from the garden feeds residents from June through October. This project is an excellent way to bring families together by reaching out and helping others.

Sign Up Here!

Here is the link you can use to "click through"

https://tinyurl.com/ClaverGardenHelp

There is Hope in the Baking

Bake Sale going on now! Pre-Order online (click here) and pick up in St. Gabriel Cafeteria on Sunday, 4/13 from 11-11:30 AM. Last day to order is next Wednesday, 4/9!

Insert Bridge Bread flyer here

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THIS SATURDAY, 4/12!

Claver House

Claver House Community Garden is a special project supported by St. Gabriel and other local parishes every year. This community garden and outdoor learning center teaches health, nutrition, gardening and sustainability to GardenVille and Claver House residents. It provides a good source for healthy foods, flowers and green spaces in their neighborhood. Food harvested from the garden feeds residents from June through October. This project is an excellent way to bring families together by reaching out and helping others.

When:

Saturday, 4/12 from 9 am - 12 pm

Help transplant the seedlings to the Claver House garden

Saturday, 5/10 from 9 am - 11 am

Help to water, weed and harvest the garden beds.

Sign Up Here!

• 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,

We look forward to celebrating Mass with our Kindergarten and First Grade families this coming Sunday at 10:00 am.

Please keep our 2nd graders and their families in your prayers as the students prepare to receive their First Communion.

Our 7th grade students continue with their Southside Early Childhood service project . Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they serve at this important site that serves families with infants to preschoolers.

Duchesne House is collecting school supplies. See their link in the Table of Contents for details and items needed. We appreciate their leadership in coordinating this effort.

Please continue to use your Rice Bowl materials for prayer and reflection this Lent.

CRS Rice Bowl provides resources for daily reflection throughout the liturgical season. Consider these suggestions in your family’s Lenten plan:

• Use your CRS Rice Bowl and Lenten Calendar each day to guide your prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
  
• Visit crsricebowl.org to read weekly Stories of Hope and watch the accompanying videos.
  
• Use the CRS Rice Bowl recipes from crsricebowl.org/recipe to prepare simple, meatless meals on the Fridays of Lent to eat in solidarity with our global family.
  

During this holy season, may your Lenten journey be a transformative and enriching experience as you put your faith into action for our sisters and brothers experiencing the greatest need."

SLUH is offering a Lenten Speaker Opportunity tomorrow on April 10th at 7pm.:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dignity-of-the-human-person-a-focus-on-immigration-registration-1236504651699?aff=oddtdtcreator

Prayer of Saint Augustine

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.

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

4/15 Grandparents Day- Grades 1,3, and 5 attend

4/22 2A Baptism Mass

4/29 1M

5/6 1K

5/13 1C

5/20 K Baptism

Wednesdays- 5-8 Attends

4/16 6D

4/235P

4/30 5W Baptism Mass (Rescheduled from Snow Day)

5/7 6B

5/14 5H

Thursdays- All School Attends

4/10 Duchesne House

4/17 Holy Thursday

4/24 Girl Scouts

5/1 1C

5/8 7th Grade Leadership/ Baptism Mass

5/15 May Crowning/ 8th Grade Blessing

Looking ahead 2024-2025:

Family Mass Schedule-Mass is at 10:00 am

K and 1st Grade- April 13th

Second Grade

First Eucharist

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

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

April

13 - Kindergarten & First Grade Family Mass

15 - Grandparents Day - Grades 1, 3, 5

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

https://goraisedough.com/buy/2590