Saint Gabriel School Weekly Newsletter for Parents
Week 15 - December 6
Candy Cane Sale
The Student Council Candy Cane sale will be taking place December 9-11. We invite you to bring money to school to purchase the candy canes. They will be sold for $1 each. The Candy Cane sale will be held in the cafeteria during lunch. Thank you for your support!
First Reconciliation
Our 2nd graders will make their First Reconciliation next week. Please keep them in your prayers as they participate in this special sacrament.
First Reconciliation, also known as First Penance or First Confession, is a Catholic sacrament where children confess their sins for the first time and receive absolution. It's a significant milestone in a Catholic's spiritual journey.
Eat Lunch With Your Child Day
Eat Lunch With Your Child days are back! The next designated day is Friday, December 13. This year there is an adult order form for lunch. If you would like to purchase lunch from the cafeteria, please complete an order form by Friday, December 6. This form is for guests only- please do not include your child's order. Orders will not be accepted after this time. Please do not bring outside food from another vendor. This event is for lunch only, not recess.
Children's Choir Mass & Concert
The school children's choir will sing at the 4 p.m. mass on Saturday, December 14. They will also perform a few songs after mass. All are invited to join!
Christmas Program
The 3rd and 4th graders will present a Christmas program on December 17 at 7 p.m. in the gym. All are invited. Are gnomes real? Come and see this hilarious play as the 3rd graders try to answer that question! Also, enjoy Christmas carols with recorders and singing from 4th grade. It's sure to be a smash!
Christmas Parties
K-3 will have Christmas parties on Thursday, December 19 at 1:45 p.m. Guests will need to sign in and wear a visitor's badge. Parents who are setting up may go to the classrooms at 1:30. All other guests are asked to remain in the office until 1:45.
1st grade Advent Program
The parent performance for the 1st grade Advent program will be Thursday, December 19 at 9:45 a.m. in the church. Parents may take pictures at this time. The students will also present at the all-school mass on December 20. The musical theatre elective students will present a few numbers after mass.
Letter from Mrs. Bunch
Practicing the Pause
By Cheri Bunch, SGS Reading Interventionist
One of the biggest challenges today is to find a precious moment in our chaotic schedules. Homework must be completed. We must get our children to dance, football practice, cheer, etc.- everywhere all the time, and we forget to pause. We’ve lost the art of looking into one another’s eyes when we are having conversations. If there is an empty space on our calendar, we fill it with something that has been begging for our attention. After raising five children to adulthood, a feat that I consider my greatest, may I leave you with some thoughts? Let’s start with the pause.
One of the best ways to pause is to pull out a book, nestle your child on your lap, and discover a story with them. I recommend creating a moment, an ambiance of comfort and cozy. Relax. Don’t teach, enjoy. It is best if you read a page and they read a page so that you are modeling good reading for them. Have them place their finger under every word that is being read. Talk about the story with them and laugh about the parts that are funny. Ask them what they might have thought or done. Quiet down the hurry and enjoy the moment with them. It has been my experience that when parents read with their child for at least twenty minutes every day, their children become invested readers, intrigued, and sometimes even voracious. Notice I didn’t say skilled, competent, or fluent. Lifelong readers become so from a desire to read. They will gain momentum in their skill as you enjoy these moments with them. The goal in these sessions with them should not be perfection; it should be inspiration.
Consistency is another key to success. Parents that make the time to read with their children consistently, more often than not, instill in them a passion to read. It all begins with practicing the pause. Here are some strategies to help practice the pause:
*Don’t set a timer. These moments might be small sometimes. Five minutes is better than nothing. Other times you might be enjoying the moment so much that it turns into 30 minutes. Relax.
*It is okay to skip a night or two, but create such a wonderful experience that they miss it when it doesn’t happen. I recommend that you have these moments at least four times a week. More is better, but when life interferes, four times will do.
*Let the attitude be, “we get to” not “we have to”. Sometimes it is all in how we say it.
*Be patient. Give them a moment to figure out a word. Tell them if they can’t get it, but pause to let them ponder.
*Don’t tell them to “just sound it out”. Not all words follow the rules and play fair.
*Try to choose reading material that is at their reading level or a little below. Consistency and enjoyment are the most important part of your time together.
HIGHLIGHTS
Toy Drive thank you
Student Council thanks you for your donations to the Toy Drive to benefit Franciscan Kitchen. Thank you for helping us make some Christmas wishes in our community come true!
Bundle up
It’s that time of year. The weather is turning colder, and it's time to bundle up outside. We do go outside for recess even when the weather is cold so please send your child with a coat, hat, and gloves. Students need to wear a Saint Gabriel sweatshirt with their uniform. All non-uniform sweatshirts or jackets are removed when inside. Be sure to LABEL these items so they can be returned if lost.
Calling All Student Artists
Here are some contest opportunities! You could win cash prizes! Our very own Haley Kiefer won the CEF poster contest last year. This year it could be you! Click the links below for more information.
CEF Catholic Schools Week Poster Contest (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8) - Deadline is Dec. 16, 2024
Serra Club and Archdiocese of Louisville Vocations Poster Contest (Grades 4-6)- Deadline is Jan. 8, 2025
Serra Club and Archdiocese of Louisville Vocations Essay Contest (Grades 7-8)- Deadline is Jan. 8, 2025
Now enrolling
Applications for the 2025-26 school year are now available! Know someone who may be interested? Help spread the word!
Visit our website to apply. Preschool through 8th grade will use the same application process. Priority deadline is January 15.
This is for new students only. Returning students will complete re-enrollment through FACTS in March.
Angel Award Nominations
Seeking nominations! The Angel Award recognizes a Saint Gabriel School employee who serves as a role model and is a positive influence in our community. Alums, current parents, past parents, students, faculty, and staff are invited to nominate a current administrator, faculty, or staff member who has made a significant difference in their lives. Last year's winner was Mrs. Susan Adams.
Nominations are due by Friday, December 13, 2024 and must include a description (two paragraph minimum) supporting your nomination. The award will be presented at the Catholic Schools Week all-school mass on Thursday, January 30, 2025. If chosen, your nomination submission may be read at mass.
Bingo
Bingo is one of our largest fundraisers. Funds are used to offer tuition assistance and capital projects. A schedule for this year has been created to assist with staffing volunteers. If you volunteer, your child may have a uniform break the next non-mass day! Please sign up using Sign Up Genius.
Dec. 11- KMeuris
Dec. 12- KRiley
Dec. 18- 1Offutt
Dec. 19- 1Stallings
Jan. 8- 1Adams
Jan. 9- 2Adams
Closing/ Delayed Openings Policy
Distance learning will begin on the next snow day! Click here for more information about distance learning.
When weather conditions cause school openings to be questionable, one of the following announcements will be made for the Catholic Elementary Schools in Jefferson County.
“All Catholic Elementary Schools in Jefferson County are open” – Saint Gabriel is open.
“Catholic Elementary Schools in Jefferson County will be open, but on a delayed schedule.” Saint Gabriel will be on a two-hour delay. Buses will run two hours late. Doors will open at 9:25 a.m. for student arrival. Students are not allowed in before this time. Classes will start at 10:00 a.m. Dismissal will be at regular time – 2:45 p.m.
“All Catholic Schools in Jefferson County are closed.” – Saint Gabriel is closed. In the case that Saint Gabriel is closed, Saint Gabriel Preschool will make every effort to offer full-day care for registered participants. Notification will be sent separately.
All morning activities, including detention, are cancelled for that day. Detention will be served the following scheduled day.
You will be notified via the Saint Gabriel Parent Alert program.
NEW: Updates on campus closures and delays can be found here: www.gabrielweather.com
Honor Thy Child/ Safe Environment Training
Are you planning to volunteer or attend a school event this year?
Field Trip chaperones and special event volunteers need to have a background check on file and have attended the Safe Environment Training. For more information, visit https://www.stgabriel.net/background. Not sure if we have your information? Contact background@stgabriel.net. To view upcoming Honor Thy Child trainings, visit https://www.archlou.org/about-the-archdiocese/archdiocesan-policies-guidelines-and-handbooks/restoringtrust/safe/. Background checks and safe environment training refresher must be completed every five years.
Save the Dates
December 14- School Choir Concert
December 17- 3rd/4th Christmas Program
December 19- Christmas parties (K-3)
December 19- 1st grade Nativity Program for Parents
December 20- Musical Theatre Performance
March 1- Gala
March 13- Grandparents Day (2nd)
April 24- Grandparents Day (8th)
April 26- Confirmation
From The Cafeteria
New Payment System
The cafeteria will be switching online payment companies. The last day to make a payment through EZPay is next Friday, Dec. 13th. Taher will still accept cash and check until the new system is in place. More information to come.
Cooking Classes with Taher.pdfFamily Cooking Classes
Taher is offer virtual cooking classes on Dec. 4 and 11. See flier for more information.
From The PTSO
Santa Shop Thank you
Thank you to our PTSO volunteers for working our Santa Shop this week! The students were so excited to pick out special gifts for their loved ones.
Box Tops
Box Tops is a great fundraiser for PTSO! Download the Box Tops for Education app and scan your receipt for a contribution of $1.50 or more. Be sure to enter the name of the child who should receive credit. Our next Box Tops Uniform Break will be January 27.
Our school ID is ID: 393279.
PTSO Group Me
Not on social media but want to stay up to date on PTSO news? Join our GroupMe chat. GroupMe link
PTSO Events 2024-25
Father/ Daughter Dance- January 11
Paint Night- February 5
, From The Parish
Thanksgiving Baskets Thank You
We were able to fill 111 Thanksgiving baskets this year! Thank you for your generous support!
#iGiveCatholic Giving Tuesday Thank You
Thank you St. Gabriel families for your donations for our iGiveCatholic Paving the Way to Prosperity campaign. We raised $7,149 from 52 donors. We are grateful for your generosity!
Didn't have a chance to give? Donate any time to St. Gabriel online.
Link Your Kroger Card
Choose St. Gabriel for your Kroger Community Rewards! This can be done easily by selecting our program on your digital account.
St. Gabriel ID # is: QA178
Learn more at https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards
From The Community
High School Placement Test
High School Placement Test for 8th graders going to a Catholic high school is Saturday, December 14. Register at your school of choice.
We have added a section on News You Can Use for high school information. Check out this section for upcoming events for prospective students. This section will continue to be updated.
