The Messenger

Dear Fabulous Families -

Congratulations to our eighth grade students who graduated last night. We wish them the very best! May God continue to bless them in all that they do!

I cannot believe this is our last week of school! In some ways it seems like we were just trying to figure out how to open school to over 500 students during a pandemic. We've had an amazing year and are truly blessed for your support. Thank you for the grace and understanding and prayers that have sustained us during a challenging year.

We look forward to the guidance that the CDC and St. Louis Health Department will be giving to schools for fall re-opening. Our St. Gabriel Pandemic Committee will re-convene this summer to review the guidance and make decisions specific to our school much like we did last summer. At this point, nobody knows what that looks like. We all want to get back to "normal" as much as possible, as soon as possible - safely. As Catholics we are called to make decisions based on the common good and to care for the vulnerable, so decisions will continue to be made with these ideas in mind. We will continue to update you through the newsletter and any special email blasts this summer as decisions are made; anything else should be considered rumor and is unhealthy for our school community.

We will have at least one more newsletter next week to wrap up the year to share staff changes, Board of Education results, school supply orders, and a few end of year photos!

Don't forget a canned food item for tomorrow!

Peace and Joy -

Tonya McEnery

Principal

St. Gabriel the Archangel

Dan Winkeler

Assistant Principal

St. Gabriel the Archangel

Thursday – Show Your Gabe’s Spirit!

It is a gold and blue add-on day. Wear our school colors with your uniform. Also, share the spirit with others by bringing in a canned food item to stock the food pantry for summer.

Friday – Ready for Summer Dress Down Day!

Show off your vacation wardrobe – shorts, T-shirt, sunglasses, hat – Get creative! (No swimsuits)

UPDATE - Assuming the weather is good on Friday morning, we are planning on having an end-of-year school Mass on the parking lot at 9:00. Students are welcome to bring towels to sit on!

Did you know that your student can work on skills over the summer to prepare for the next grade level? IXL is a program that we have used during this school year, and they have created 20-day plans for Math and English/Language Arts to help students prepare for the next school year. Students can continue to use their IXL passwords and logins throughout the summer to prepare for the next year and help to avoid that summer slide!

Incoming 6th graders:

IXL Summer Boost skill plan-Math

IXL Summer Boost skill plan-ELA

Incoming 7th graders:

IXL Summer Boost skill-Math

IXL Summer Boost skill-ELA

Incoming 8th graders:

IXL Summer Boost skill-Math

IXL Summer Boost skill-ELA

The McGinnis Siblings got the opportunity to have fun in the office being Principals of the Day! They won the day at last year's auction.

These are a few exceptional art pieces created by several of St. Gabriel’s Eighth Graders during art class with Mrs. Rosie Abramczyk. They were allowed to pursue their own individual interests by choosing their final art project topic and the materials they would use. They had to incorporate at least one Principle of Design and then write an Artist Statement to explain their process and ideas. Click the link to view their wonderful art!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15AWaPVUag-XZ1HSyIhiXcx4LWj3JIhW0bdkII_T9YzE/edit?usp=sharing

Kindergarten thru 3rd grade students are required to have a chairback and an art pouch.

4th and 5th graders are required to have a chairback pouch and drawstring art bag.

Our very own Joyce Ortwerth has volunteered to create them again for our students. If any of you have incoming kindergarten students, please use the link to get your order to Joyce. She can start working on them over the summer. We will also share this information with our new families.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TkiLt2CGjNpzrfYQtdnWinPSE-4cNxbu/view?usp=sharing

NURSE NEWS:

We have been thrilled to hear that so many of our students aged 12 and over have received their first Covid-19 vaccine over the past several days! We encourage all individuals who are currently eligible, including our students, to get vaccinated. Below are links to schedule a vaccination appointment for you or your child.

BJC

Mercy

St. Luke's

SSM

REMEMBER!!

Current CDC guidelines for FULLY vaccinated individuals, including CHILDREN, state that you DO NOT have to quarantine if you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, unless you become symptomatic.

Click here for other CDC guidance for FULLY vaccinated individuals:

CDC Fully Vaccinated Guidance

*Masks will continue to be worn at school as these updates do not currently apply to the school setting.*

Covid-19 Vaccine Information:

AAP Covid-19 Vaccine Parent FAQ

SLCH COVID-19: Myths vs. Facts Video
CDC Covid-19 Vaccine Information

Protect your child, protect their summer, protect their school year and protect the community!

For quick reference of COVID-19 resources in previous newsletters, please click this link.

Dear Parents,

Thanks for all your support this year! It has been a blessing seeing those of you who are able to make morning Mass with your children. It is a gift to be able to celebrate our faith and the Eucharist at school.

The students have been developing their leadership skills by serving as lectors at Mass and by leading prayer services. Our 7th grade class had a leadership retreat day last week and made a pledge at Mass today to be the leaders of our school. We are proud of our students!

Saint Gabriel Community, Be Messengers of Hope and share the Good News- We are One!

The PFA has a variety of committee involvement opportunities that do not require board meeting attendance.

Meet and Greet

The Meet and Greet Committee strives to welcome new students and their families to the St. Gabriel community through events spread throughout spring, summer, and fall. Engagement events include, but are not limited to: placing welcome yard signs, assigning mentor families, planning social events, and other experiences for new families. If you would like to become a 2021-2022 Meet and Greet committee member, please contact Christina Shekell @ cashekell@hotmail.com.

Home and School

The Home and School Committee provides opportunities for families to become involved in their child’s classroom and other school-sponsored events. We coordinate volunteer opportunities and organize activities to support teachers and celebrate our school community. If you would like to become a 2021-2022 Home and School committee member, please contact Erin Backes @ erin.d.backes@gmail.com.

Fundraising

The goal of the Faculty Appreciation Committee is to show appreciation to the teachers and staff of St. Gabriel the Archangel school for their continual hard work and dedication to our children. We aim to accomplish this goal by providing faculty and staff meals throughout the school year, recognizing teacher and staff birthdays, celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, and providing various means of support to the faculty and staff throughout the school year. If you would like to become a 2021-2022 Home and School committee member, please contact Erin Knitter @ erin.k.keefe@gmail.com.

Faculty Appreciation

The goal of the Faculty Appreciation Committee is to show appreciation to the teachers and staff of St. Gabriel the Archangel school for their continual hard work and dedication to our children. We aim to accomplish this goal by providing faculty and staff meals throughout the school year, recognizing teacher and staff birthdays, celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, and providing various means of support to the faculty and staff throughout the school year. If you would like to become a 2021-2022 Home and School committee member, please contact Kory Hinrichs @ koryhinrichs@gmail.com.

Looking to get more involved in the school community??? The PFA is looking for you! We have the following Board positions available for the 2021-2022 school year:

Home & School Co-Chair:

The Home and School Committee provides opportunities for families to become involved in their child’s classroom and other school-sponsored events. We coordinate volunteer opportunities and organize activities to support teachers and celebrate our school community.

Fundraising Co-Chair:

The PFA Fundraising Committee supports the efforts of the PFA by hosting a variety of fundraisers throughout the year. These include, among other things, in-school treat days, dining out fundraisers, and Spirit Wear sales.

Website Co-Chair:

The PFA is also looking for a volunteer with a graphic design background to help design graphics for entries into the S’mores, announcements on the PFA website, and class Facebook pages.

The mission of the St. Gabriel PFA is to foster the connection between St. Gabriel the Archangel School and its families, faculty, and students through the promotion of activities that integrate academic excellence, social development and Catholic values, while enhancing communication and interaction within our school community.

If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Leanne O’Callaghan at mickandleanne@outlook.com or free to call (314) 608-5713 for more detailed information.

May 26- Mystery Day Part 2 - 8th Grade

May 28 - Last day of school, noon dismissal

Just announced for next year:

April 28, 2022 - 8th Grade Confirmation

As we conclude this most challenging but rewarding academic year blessings and

congratulations to all those who have or will graduate this spring. From Graduate Programs,

College, High School & Grade School. A special word of thanks and gratitude for our eighth grade class this year at St. Gabriel the Archangel, may the good Lord and the gift of his Holy Spirit guide and protect you as you progress through life. I am proud of all of you.

A graduation marks a wonderful accomplishment, a passage of life, and a gateway to the rest of our lives. May the knowledge you have received, not remain just for yourself, but may it be a source of wisdom and guidance to all humankind. Our God is a God of creation create with your lives.

Also a special welcome home to all of our college students I pray that this past academic year was both a year of growth in understanding and of wisdom. May God bless you, guide and protect you this summer and as you proceed through life.

My prayer and wishes for all our graduates:

While graduating classes may come and go, O almighty God, only you know all the graduates by name and have been with them their every step. Gracious and loving God, let us celebrate the gift of these young men and women and also to give thanks for all the blessing you have

showered upon them in their lives. The abilities to reason, to learn and to remember all

demonstrate your creative genius and love for humankind. You have given to these graduates’

mental gifts and the physical health to achieve the goal they have reached and have blessed their efforts with success. The personal care you have shown these men and women in their parents, families, teachers and classmates is another blessing that makes them think of you with heartfelt appreciation. O God hear our prayer for these graduates watch over them guide them and protect them as they continue to grow and mature in your image. Amen.

Easter Blessings!

Msgr. John Shamleffer

This Memorial Day weekend let us pause in prayer and gratitude for those who have given their lives for our country! Let us pray for peace in our world.

At this time, the SGAA CANNOT GUARANTEE PARTICIPATION in the Fall sports, but we have opened player registration via the CYC's new platform called Team Sideline: https://www.teamsideline.com/sites/cycsouthcentral/content/23052/Org-St-Gabriel. As with any new system, you will have a one-time account creation process for Team Sideline, but future registrations will be quick. All Team Sideline registrations require approval of waivers for “Media Release”, “Assumption of Risk”, and “Parent Code of Conduct”.

The DEADLINE for registration to be included on a roster is Monday evening, JUNE 7TH.

SGAA is postponing collection of the 2021 fees for Soccer and Volleyball until later this Summer. You will not be charged anything right now during registration. However, if we do move ahead with participation in the Fall sports, the fees applied later this Summer will remain the same as past years:

• Soccer (PreK – 1st Grade) - $40

• Soccer (2nd – 8th Grade) - $60

• Volleyball (3rd – 8th Grade) - $60

Please forward any questions to: Shad Aiello – SGAA President, ShadAiello@SBCGlobal.net, 314-265-9462

Hello, St. Gabriel Families with Grade and High School Students,

We are announcing the return of Totus Tuus this Summer. The dates are July 5-9, 2021. This includes Confessions, Mass, and Adoration as well as learning about the faith and snacks.

The day program is for students who are entering into First through Sixth Grades. The evening program is for those entering Seventh through Twelfth Grades. The day program starts at 9:00AM and ends at 3PM. They will meet in the school classrooms and use the school facilities. The evening program starts at 7:30PM and ends at 9:45PM and will utilize the Gabriel House.

We also need adult volunteers to monitor the classrooms and help with meals for the day program. We are in need of volunteers to provide lunch for the four missionaries during the day program and additional volunteers to host them for dinner. We are also in need of volunteers to be “host families” where the missionaries can sleep for the night. Host families will provide a light breakfast for the missionaries, as well.

Cost for the week is $40 for the first child; $50 for the 2nd Child and 3+ children $60. Any additional child after 3 is free. Here is the link for the registration form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZGLT4dKyA6vvPHp0-sKQwHvaIpg1X8KQ/edit.

Please email Fr. Mark using the address below or mail (or bring it to the rectory) at 6303 Nottingham Ave, St. Louis, MO., 63109.

If interested or if there are any questions, please contact Fr. Mark Madden at 314-353-6303x123 or email at maddenm@stgabrielstl.org. God Bless,

Thanks to all for a wonderful school year. Everyone is welcome this summer to

use the parish schoolyard for games and gatherings

Some simple rules though are to be followed in order to be a good neighbor and for

a safe experience for all.

1) During the weeks when the summer camp is in session, they have first use of

schoolyard.

2) Non-vaccinated adults and children should wear masks when they cannot

distance themselves from one another.

3) No bullying, cursing, or destructive behavior will be tolerated.

4) A 9pm curfew is to be respected: as the schoolyard is near homes and

voices travel at night.