The Messenger

Dear Fabulous Families -

• Capital Campaign Town Hall Meetings - These are scheduled for next week. Come learn more about the Building Bright Futures Capital Campaign. Check out ways to get a Dress Down Pass!

• Halloween Dress Down Day - Bring $1 tomorrow to support hurricane relief efforts. More information is posted below.

• Veterans Day Celebration - 5th Grade is hosting our annual Veterans Day Celebration on Thursday, November 14. Your child is welcome to invite a Veteran to Mass and the reception. Be sure to RSVP using the link below.

• No School Friday - There is no school on Friday due to it being All Saints' Day which is a Holy Day of Obligation.

• 90th Anniversary Gala - Today is the last day to sign up to attend the 90th Anniversary Gala on November 16. See the information below. Celebrate St. Gabriel!

Coming home in the Wednesday yellow envelope:

• Capital Campaign information for non-parishioner families

Reminder: Submissions for the newsletter should be sent to Mrs. McEnery 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

Our Leader in Me Student Lighthouse Team is sponsoring a Halloween Dress Down Day tomorrow on October 31. Students can pay $1 for a Dress Down Day with proceeds going to help with the hurricane relief efforts.

Students are also welcome to wear a Halloween shirt, hat, socks, jewelry as part of their dress down clothes, if they would like to do so, but it is not required. This opportunity does not include full costumes including mask/painted faces or anything scary.

If your student(s) did not bring in a dollar today, they can still donate tomorrow (Thursday)!

Thank you for supporting these efforts.

Thank you to all who came to Mass this past weekend to celebrate our parish community and kick off the Building Bright Futures Campaign - the St. Gabriel Campaign for Innovative Learning and Fellowship.

To learn more information regarding the campaign, plan to attend a Town Hall Reception the first week of November in the school cafeteria. Details are as follows:

Each Town Hall will allow time for fellowship, viewing of the video, enjoyment of light refreshments and answering any questions you may have.

• Monday, November 4th @ 7pm
• Wednesday, November 6th @ 7pm
• Thursday, November 7th @ 7pm
• Saturday, November 9th @ 2pm

A dress down pass will be offered to the children of any parents who attend a town hall meeting. Please sign in at the meeting and a pass will be sent home with your child. Families who have donated to the campaign on or before Saturday, November 9 will receive a dress down pass and do not need to attend a town hall meeting. All passes will be sent home the week of November 11.

Please RSVP to Sarah Henderson at hendersons@stgabrielstl.org or call 314.353.6303.

Our 5th grade students are hosting a Veterans Day reception after the all-school Mass at 8:00 am on Thursday, November 14. Students in K-8 are welcome to bring a Veteran to Mass and the reception. Please RSVP using this link so we know how many will be in attendance.

Additional information will be shared later.

There are a few tables left to reserve! Don't forget to pre-order your pizzas too. Scan the QR for more details!

Use the QR code or following link to order poinsettias to benefit the Class of 2025!

https://forms.ministryforms.net/viewForm.aspx?formId=ab2ddc21-27fd-4780-a1a2-b55c7b6a0e5f

Ordering closes on November 15th at 10pm. Contact Kristen Miller with questions at kristeneickman@yahoo.com.

Urban Candles make great holiday gifts! Order yours starting Friday to benefit the Class of 2025!

Chess season will be starting up soon. St. Gabriel’s Chess Team is open to students in grades 3-8. Beginners and advanced players are welcome. We practice weekly and focus on preparation for four competitive CYC chess meets.

Practices will be Monday nights at St. Gabriel starting mid-November in the 5-7pm time frame. The CYC meets are on various Saturdays from December to February - meet times are 8:30am-2:00pm.

Registration is open in mid-October via Team Sideline; the fee is $70, or it is covered by the Family Fee.

Questions? Please reach out to Beth DeCioccio @ 314-308-0511 or stgabechess@gmail.com

Please help us Stock the Lounge with treats for our teachers. Please deliver all items to 5873 Itaska, 5870 Itaska, or 6529 Walsh by Wednesday, 11/6.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B45AFAC2EA5F85-52508944-stock

This year we are offering special item drops throughout the school year with our Holiday drop being the first. The items below have a longer turn around time so please order promptly. Be on the lookout for our next drop (boy items included) in the next 2 weeks. The online store for these items will close November 22nd! Order items here.

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.
• To start, 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,

Yesterday, our third grade class dressed as saints, processed into Mass, and were part of Father Molini's homily. Later in the day, third graders lined the hallways in costume. Students and teachers could stop and hear about the individual saint's life. Great job third graders!

Please keep our second graders and their families in your prayers as the second graders prepare to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation next month.

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

11/5 1C

11/12 4W

11/19 4H

11/26 3S

12/3 3P

Wednesdays- 5-8 Attends

11/6 6D Baptism Mass

11/13 6B

11/20 5W

11/29 No school Thanksgiving Break

12/4 5P

Thursdays- All School Attends

10/31 5W

11/7 5P

11/14 Joan House- Veterans Mass

11/21 5H

11/30 No school-Happy Thanksgiving

12/5 John House-Whole Kids Outreach

Looking ahead 2024-2025:

Family Mass Schedule-Mass is at 10:00 am

8th Grade Confirmation Commitment- November 17th

4th and 5th Grade- January 12th

2nd and 3rd Grade- February 9th

K and 1st Grade- April 13th

Second Grade

First Reconciliation

First Reconciliation-Thursday, November 21st- at 7 pm

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

October

31 - Halloween Dress Down Fundraiser for Hurricane Relief

November

1- No School: All Saints’ Day

7- 6th Grade Religious Summit Field Trip (Updated)

15- End of 1st Trimester

15- Planning & Collaboration (Noon Dismissal)

16 - St. Gabriel 90th Anniversary Gala

17- 8th Grade Confirmation Commitment Family Mass

21- First Reconciliation, 6:30pm

27-29- Thanksgiving Holidays

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

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.

GET YOUR AYM APPAREL!

AYM is now offering a sweatshirt and t-shirt option for purchase! While we have many t-shirts connected to retreats and Steubenville, we don't have a sweatshirt (at all) nor a t-shirt that is "only AYM," and we are introducing a new logo on the t-shirt option. The current logo will continue to be used in addition to the new one.

Teens love sweatshirts and Christmas is right around the corner!

*Orders will be taken until Sunday, Nov. 3rd.

*See the flyer or use this link or visit the Youth Group page on the SGA website for additional details.

LOOKING AHEAD

* ​Nov. 3rd | No AYM | We will be returning from Fall Retreat earlier in the day, so there will NOT be Life Teen tonight.

*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

If you missed the original deadline, you're in luck! Registration to attend the 90th Anniversary Gala has been extended to TODAY, Oct. 30th!

We hope you will be able to join us in celebrating 90 years of St. Gabriel!

You can also use this link to register.