The Messenger

Dear Fabulous Families -

Congratulations to our Second Graders who received their First Communion on Sunday! They were excited to receive Jesus!

It's been a busy week with the vocal and band concerts as well as the Art Showcase. We will have Field Day on Friday to round out the week. Please be sure you have read over the Field Day information below. We are looking forward to a great day! Just a reminder it is a noon dismissal day, too.

Uniform Fitting - Need a new uniform for next year? We are having a uniform fitting at St. Gabriel next Tuesday, May 13, for your convenience. Order now so they are delivered by August! There are only a few factories that make our plaid, so it is important to order early. See information below.

Many thanks to our PFA and to all of you for a very special Staff Appreciation Week! Everyone at school has felt the love!

Coming home in the Wednesday yellow envelope:

Nothing from the office.

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

FIELD DAY

~ 12:00 p.m. dismissal ~

Some helpful reminders:

• Normal morning drop-off procedures will take place.

• Students should be in their homerooms by 7:45 a.m.

• Normal 12:00 p.m. dismissal pick-up procedures will take place.

• All students should bring a water bottle (labeled with their name).

• A Pirate’s Booty snack bag will be provided to the students on Field Day.

• Students are not required to wear their school uniform on Field Day.

• K-5th students should wear colored short/long-sleeve t-shirts (see

color listed on the paper in the Wednesday envelope).

6,7,8th students should wear their house t-shirts.

• All students should wear reasonable length shorts or sweatpants.

All students should wear socks and tennis shoes (NO Crocs, sandals

or flip-flops allowed).

• Eye black is allowed if desired, but NO body paint should be worn. Students will be asked to wash it off.

• K-5th students will be staying with their homerooms to play games.

• 6,7,8th students will be playing games with their houses.

• The walking permission slip that was signed by a parent/guardian in the beginning of the year will be used as the allowance for your child to go to Francis Park for games. We will also be using other areas around/inside school for games.

***** Tamm Ave. will be drivable for drop off and pick up, but it will be closed from

7:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. There is no through traffic or parking on Tamm. Ave. (in front of school between Murdoch and Nottingham) during Field Day since we will be spreading out and using the street for games as well.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Morris at lmorris@stgab.org.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Morris, PE teacher

We would like to give parents and students the opportunity to have a say in some of the menu items for lunch next year. On this Google Form you will find entree options, side options, and specialty options. Please go through these options with your child(ren) to select options that you would like to see on the menu next year. The Google Form will close on Monday, May 19.

Looking for a way to get more involved at St. Gabe’s? PFA needs you! We’re looking to fill positions on the following committees for the 2025/2026 school year:

- Home and School

- Community Outreach

- Social Media Chair

If you’re interested and/or want to learn more about PFA, please contact Erin Backes at Erin.d.backes@gmail.com.

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

St. Gabriel Community Outreach Volunteer Opportunity this summer!

The Claver House is partnering with Northside Youth and Senior Service Center to oversee "STEAM" Adventure Camp" this summer. We are looking for volunteers on Sundays and Mondays to help purchase/make desserts, assemble lunches and deliver them.

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,

Congratulations to our 2nd graders and their families as the 2nd graders received their First Communion this past Sunday. We also congratulate 5th grader, Jett S. and 6th grader, Mary Cate R., who received their First Communion this past weekend.

Tomorrow is the 7th grade Baptism/ Leadership Mass when our 7th graders renew their Baptism promises and pledge to be the leaders of our school their 8th grade year. They will attend their Leadership Retreat next Friday, May 16th. We look forward to their growing leadership and responsibilities.

Please join us for the May Crowning/ 8th grade Blessing Mass on May 15th. Next Thursday, we will celebrate a May Crowning at the beginning of Mass. The 8th graders will process in with their 2nd grade buddies and Mary will be crowned. The school will pray for our 8th graders as this is their last All School Mass as 8th graders. Please join us for this Mass if you are able.

Favorite Mary Prayer Song:

https://www.google.com/search?q=norbert+ave+maria&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS925US956&oq=Norbert+ave+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgBEAAYFhgeMgoIABBFGBYYHhg5MggIARAAGBYYHjIICAIQABgWGB4yCggDEAAYgAQYogQyBwgEEAAY7wUyCggFEAAYogQYiQUyCggGEAAYgAQYogTSAQoxNTU4MWowajE1qAIIsAIB8QVeKfi_6VOnqvEFXin4v-lTp6o&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:507f8722,vid:sI670wUNcts,st:0

Laudato Si!

May 24, 2025 is the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si!

See the link below for ideas from the Sisters of Mercy to live the Catholic Social Teaching of Care for the Earth.

https://www.sistersofmercy.org/mercy-for-justice/earth/mercy-tips-to-care-for-earth/

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

5/13 1C

5/20 K Baptism

Wednesdays- 5-8 Attends

5/14 5H

5/21 7th Grade

Thursdays- All School Attends

5/8 7th Grade Leadership/ Baptism Mass

5/15 May Crowning/ 8th Grade Blessing

5/22 No All School Mass

5/23 Last Day of School All School Mass in church 11:15 am

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

May

7- Art Fair, 6-8:30 pm

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

ARCHANGEL YOUTH MINISTRY (AYM)

AYM covers the parishes of St. Gabriel and St. Raphael in the St. Louis Hills Neighborhood and is open to ALL high school teens. No sign-up necessary! High school teens can attend on a regular basis or drop-in as it fits their schedule! We meet regularly on Sunday and Wednesday evenings in the AYM Room of St. Raphael Rectory's Lower Level.

The 2025 Luke 18 Retreat was last weekend at SRA and was a fun-filled, faith-filled weekend for our

8 th graders, led by our high school teens. We are so proud of the work our high schoolers put into

preparing and their leadership throughout the weekend! We look forward to the 2026 Luke 18 Retreat

next year. The dates are TBD but will be announced as soon as possible.

Life Teen Nights are BACK on Sundays (at a NEW TIME) of 7-9 pm and include snacks, socializing,

games, talks, and discussions.

R&R Nights are Wednesdays from 7-8:30 pm and are unstructured evenings for teens to hang out

(recharge & reconnect).

See the AYM calendar for specific dates.

LOOKING AHEAD

*May 18 th | Teen/Youth Mass at 5:30 pm (SGA church) followed by a Social Night (SRA - AYM Room) |

Current 8 th graders can begin attending AYM!

*June 14 th | SGA Block Party! (service hour opportunity)

*July 18 th -20 th | AYM at Steubenville 2025!

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

WHAT

Kenrick-Glennon Days is an overnight summer camp that gives grade school boys a chance to experience life at the seminary. This three day overnight camp is sponsored by the Office of Vocations and is held at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Shrewsbury, MO. Campers will join small groups led by seminarians and high school counselors. Together they will experience games, prayers, and activities that aim to strengthen their faith and promote an openness to a priestly vocation.

WHEN

• Camp One - Rising 6th & 7th Grade (Fall 2025)

— Monday, June 9, 2025 - Wednesday, June 11, 2025

• Camp Two – Rising 8th & 9th (Fall 2025)

— Thursday, June 12, 2025 - Saturday, June 14, 2025

For more information and to register visit:

www.stlvocations.org/kgd

For additional questions please contact the Vocation Office Staff:

Renae Novak – rnovak@archstl.org

Fr. Tony Ritter – anthonyritter@archstl.org

https://goraisedough.com/buy/2590