

The Messenger
A Publication of St. Gabriel the Archangel School 4/2/2025
Dear Fabulous Families -
Capital Campaign Update - Congratulations! We did it! See Fr. Molini's letter below. Thank you to everyone who helped us reach our goal!
Grandparents/VIP Day - Students in grades 1, 3, and 5 are welcome to invite grandparents or a Very Important Person to Mass, a reception, and classroom activities on Tuesday, April 15. Please RSVP using the link below by April 8 - next Tuesday - so teachers can be prepared and we have enough refreshments!
Staff Updates - Please see the notes below regarding staff members who will be missed as we look to next year. We wish them the best of luck and God's blessings as they start new chapters. Luckily some of these positions have already been filled and we are busy interviewing for the remaining positions. We look forward to sharing new staff members soon with you!
Coming home in the Wednesday yellow envelope:
Vision and Hearing results- Grades 1 & 3
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
I am incredibly pleased to announce that the Building Bright Futures campaign has met its goal of $5.5M on Friday evening.
It is a remarkable achievement. And very exciting! In just about 6 months, the parish came
together in its biggest fundraising mission since the building of this church and rectory in 1950.
This achievement is due to the amazing generosity of many people – school families, non-
school families, alumni, and school grandparents. Many children gave to the campaign, too.
I do have to also recognize the 17-person committee who has been at work on this for many
years. Each brought expertise, a relentless spirit and deep love for the parish.
To everyone: thank you. THANK YOU!
So what’s next?
1) The committee will continue to raise a bit more money to help cover possible increased
building materials and inflation costs. If you haven’t pledged, please do so now. Every
bit helps.
2) We’re already hard at work on clearing Gabriel House. The first step in that process is
remediating the asbestos. We released a request for proposals 3 weeks ago and we’re
expecting bids very soon. We expect remediation to begin in spring and summer.
3) The architectural designs, plans and engineering will begin shortly. We expect to release
bids to contractors this summer – and if everything goes right – groundbreaking will
occur in the fall.
There is much planning to do. And we’ll keep you informed along the way. Just know that we
are forever grateful for your generous support of this campaign. It’s a very exciting time.
Fr. Molini
Use the link below to RSVP for your Grandparents or Very Important Person.
Staffing Updates
We wish the following people the very best! Click on the links to read their notes.
Retirements:
Barb Belcher - Third Grade Teacher
Fran Boyer - Instructional Assistant
Elaine Favazza - Learning Consultant
Debbie Whited - Fourth Grade Teacher
Baby News:
Perpetua (Smith) Cox - Third Grade Teacher
New Opportunities:
Emily (Pryor) Gutknecht - Fifth Grade Teacher
Board of Education Elections
Board Applications Open!
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!
Duchesne House Collection
St. Gabriel Band at the Cardinals Game
Spotlight on Co-Curriculars...Band
4th Grade Flautists
Fourth grade flute students practicing exercises in their band book focusing on their new note, Ab!
4th Grade Saxophones
The saxophones in fourth grade playing along with MakeMusic on their piece, 'Rock Solid' for the spring concert. Making sure they are confident with their music, they are spread apart so they can hear themselves individually with more precision!
Concert Prep
8th graders preparing 'The Last Stagecoach Heist' for their final band concert at St. Gabe's! Please come out on May 7th at 7 pm to support them!
April Lunch Menu
Volunteer for Lunch and Recess Duties- 3rd Trimester Links are Live!
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
Community Outreach
Claver House
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.
Here is the link you can use to "click through"
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!!!!
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.
Protecting God's Children / Safe Environment Training
- 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.
Religious Education Information and Resources
Dear Parents,
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 on April 10th at 7pm.:
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:
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
4/8 2G
4/15 Grandparents Day- Grades 1,3, and 5 attend
4/22 2A Baptism Mass
4/29 1M
Wednesdays- 5-8 Attends
4/9 7B
4/16 6D
4/235P
4/30 5W Baptism Mass (Rescheduled from Snow Day)
Thursdays- All School Attends
4/3 1M
4/10 Duchesne House
4/17 Holy Thursday
4/24 Girl Scouts
5/1 1C
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
Calendar Dates for 2024-2025
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
4- Planning & Collaboration (Noon Dismissal)
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