Saint Gabriel School Weekly Newsletter for Parents
Saint Gabriel School Weekly Newsletter for Parents
Bring your backpack to mass on Sunday, August 17 at 10AM mass and receive a special back to school blessing Plus, join us for donuts after mass! No RSVP required.
Students who complete the Evan Moor summer workbook by Friday, August 15 may have a uniform break every Friday in August (August 15, 22, 29). Bring in your book to your homeroom teacher to receive a certificate!
Dear Parents/ Guardians,
We had a great first week of school! The beginning of the school year is all about connecting and fostering relationships. Teachers will be reaching out to you to introduce themselves and connect with you to learn more about your child. We consider parents as the primary teachers of their children so your partnership is vital.
This year each grade has a "Class of" page in Schoology where teachers will post important announcements, homework, and resources. If you do not yet have access to your Schoology account, your child's homeroom teacher will send home your access code soon. Please note that parents/ caregivers should log in with their parent account, which is seperate from the student account. Look for more Schoology resources for parents/ caregivers coming soon.
The 2025-2026 Parent/ Guardian/ Teacher/ Back to Student handbook is now available. (changes are highlighted in yellow in document)
Notable changes:
Grades 2-8 will have Spanish as a Unique class
Grades Kindergarten and 1st grade will have Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as a Unique class
Grades 5-8 may wear quarter-zip sweatshirts with a collared uniform shirt underneath.
Grades 1-8 shorts/ pants must have belt loops and wear a solid black, brown, or navy belt. Magnetic closures are allowed. Drawstrings or stretchy waistbands are not allowed for grades 1-8.
Thank you for your partnership!
Have a great weekend,
Lara Krill
Principal
Thank you to our families for working with us during carpool. Here are some friendly reminders to keep everyone safe and things moving as quickly as possible:
As you enter for morning arrival, please make two lanes in front of play park. Left lane is for preschool drop-off; right lane is for K-8.
Please drive slowly, especially in the back by the play park.
If you are picking up a preschool student, please make sure that you are checked in before leaving your car to do so.
Please pull all the way up to the cones and pull in close to one another so we can maximize our space.
Make sure to use the app or at least have your number readily available.
If you are in wave 2, patiently remain in your car. Students are not allowed passed the cones.
Please follow directions of staff politely.
Beginning September 1, 2025, the fee for credit card transactions will move to 3.05%. This slight change reflects the rising costs imposed by credit card companies and ensures we can continue to offer convenient payment options while maintaining the quality of our services.
As always, alternative payment methods, such as ACH, are available at no additional cost.
The tuition policies for the school have been updated and are now available to view on our website. These policies are in effect beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Changes of note:
After a family has had 3 unresolved payments, in addition to any fees charged by FACTs, Saint Gabriel will charge an additional return fee of $25.00 per return.
If a family has an invalid payment on their FACTs account, they must set up a new valid payment account within 5 business days. If they do not set up a new valid payment in FACTs after 5 days, then their child will be held out of activities and school programs until the new payment account is set up and valid.
If a family has been notified multiple times that they are in violation of our payment policies, and fail to rectify the situation, then Saint Gabriel has the option to ask the child to withdraw from our programs.
Any questions regarding tuition or financial policies may be directed to our Co-Director of Finance, Pam Terwilliger, at pterwilliger@stgabriel.net.
A text message was sent Friday, August 1 for a test of our emergency notification system to all emergency contacts and staff. Email blasts will also be sent periodically. Not getting our messages? Reach out to school@stgabriel.net to update contact information.
Consider purchasing an item from our teacher wish lists!
St. Gabriel School invites all 4th and 5th grade students to become School Safety Patrols. This stewardship project is a great opportunity to participate in our school community. Each morning, a group of approximately three students along with several adults, will greet students arriving during carpool drop off and assist Kindergarten and Pre-K students. For more information, see Ms. Lauder.
Choir will be offered to students in grades 3 through 8 after school on Mondays from 2:55pm to 3:45pm. Practice will be held in Church. Students in grades 3 and 4 will sing for our liturgies on Tuesday. Grades 5 through 8 will sing for the Thursday Liturgies. For more information and to register, click here.
Staying hydrated is important! Please make sure your child has a clear or translucent, plastic water bottle each day. Hydroflasks and similar metal water bottles are not allowed during the school day. Water bottles are to be taken home each day to be washed. Only water may be in the water bottles.
While you’re shopping for uniforms, you can view our Uniform Chart on our website for easy reference.
A few items of note:
Grades 5-8 may now wear the logo quarter-zip sweatshirt. (NEW for Grades 5&6) *8th grade sweatshirt order will be shared later.
Shirts should be long enough to stay tucked in.
Socks may be black or white.
Jewelry: One small necklace. Necklaces must be religious medals or a cross. One bracelet may be worn. Watches are permitted. No Smart Watches, Apple Watches, Fitbits with internet, etc.
Belts: A black, blue, or navy solid color belt must be worn with shorts or pants (grades 1-8)
Boys hair: Hair must be out of the face and eyes, above eyebrows, to the middle of the ear, and above the collar.
Skirts should be to the top of the knee.
PE uniforms may be purchased at Coffman’s or Shaheen's (NEW).
Each Friday unless otherwise specified will be designated as school spirit day. Students are permitted to wear a St. Gabriel spirit wear shirt with official logo. Students will be allowed to wear their sports shirts, jerseys, etc. on this day. PE or uniform bottoms ONLY may be worn on Spirit Days.
We still need two part-time (T, Th) instructional assistants for Kindergarten and one part-time administrative assistant in the school office. View our Employment Opportunities webpage for more information.
As a reminder, please ensure we have updated immunization forms on file. Eye exams are required for incoming Kindergarten and/or new 1st grade and 6th grade students. Physical forms are required for 6th grade students. For more information, visit our Health Information page on our website. Forms may be emailed to school@stgabriel.net or turned in on Meet Your Teacher Night.
Are you ready for Spirit Days? This year Spirit Days will be every Friday. Students may wear a St. Gabriel shirt or jersey with uniform or PE uniform bottoms. Visit www.stgabrielshop.com to order your spirit wear items today!
We will continue to use the same arrival and dismissal routes for cars and buses. We use PikMyKid for dismissal.
New parents- Be sure to download the PikMyKid app and update your dismissal preferences.
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.
September 4 (6-8 p.m.)- Mock Schedule Night (1-8)- parents only
September 9- Grandparents Day (Kindergarten)
September 29- October 3- Spirit Week
September 29- Feast of St. Gabriel All School Mass
October 1- Picture Day
October 3- Walk-a-thon
Online Meal Payments
My School Bucks provides a simple way to keep up with accounts and meal purchases. Through www.myschoolbucks.com, you can view account balances, monitor meal purchases, make one-time payments* or schedule automatic payments*. (*subject to a convenience fee) My School Bucks accepts credit or debit cards. You can even download an app for your Android or iPhone.
Charging Policy
Students are allowed to charge meals up to $25 (approximately 5 meals). After this point, students must bring lunches from home and will not be allowed to charge anything further to their account including drinks or snacks. If these students forget to bring their lunch, we will provide them with a cheese sandwich or PB&J.
*If there is a different email you wish to use, please let us know. We will also send physical letters home once a week.
Account balances at the maximum charge limit not paid within ten (10) days (or contact with the Cafeteria Manager) will be considered delinquent and may be subject to collection.
Questions pertaining to policies regarding charges and/or payments can be directed to Angie Kordis, Food Service Manager, 502-212-4058 or cafeteria@stgabriel.net
Saint Gabriel will be hosting its annual PTSO Walk-A-Thon on Friday, October 3rd. Funds raised help provide student scholarships, school enrichment, teacher requests for their classrooms and student and teacher appreciation throughout the year. Our goal this year is to raise $43,000.
We are looking for community businesses to help support our walk this year through various sponsorship levels. This is a great way to promote a local business.
Family and individual donations will begin later in September.
If interested, please return forms by 8/31/25.
Saint Gabriel PTSO strives:
To promote communication among parents, teachers and administration.
To provide parents and teachers assistance in all aspects of education and student growth.
To promote good will and cooperation between parents, faculty, administration, school board and parish.
To direct and coordinate parental support to the school through specific assistance activities, social functions and fund-raisers.
To organize and conduct fundraisers. Funds raised are given to Saint Gabriel the Archangel School to assist with classroom supplies, student programs, teacher and staff appreciation, social events and other programs approved by the administration
Walk-a-thon- October 3
Father/ Daughter Dance- November 1
Santa Shop- December 2-4
Paint Night- December 4
Mother/ Son event- March 21
Please consider volunteering for PTSO! There are lots of opportunities to be involved.
Officer
Walk-a-thon Chair
Walk-a-thon Committee
Father-Daughter Dance Chair
Father-Daughter Dance Committee
Mother-Son Chair
Mother-Son Committee
Paint Night Chair
Santa Shop Chair
Teacher Appreciation Chair
Teacher Appreciation Committee
General volunteer throughout the year
Not on social media but want to stay up to date on PTSO news? Join our GroupMe chat. GroupMe link
ARE YOU SOMEONE OR DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO…
Has expressed an interest in becoming Catholic?
Has a child over the age of seven who has not been baptized?
Was baptized Catholic as a child, but has not celebrated the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist?
We offer an opportunity to come together in a small group to learn more about our faith. Sessions focus on the teachings and experience of Church and prepare individuals to celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist during the Easter season. There are also separate sessions for children or youth. You are welcome to participate in the process with your questions, your insights, and your faith story in a warm, accepting setting. For information, please contact Kathy Abell, Director of Faith Formation, by emailing kabell@stgabriel.net, or by calling (office) 502-239-5481 x 312 or (cell) 502-905-3795.
Free Hispanic and Resource Fair/ Gratis Feria Hispana de Salud y Recursos
Hosted by: Fern Creek United Methodist Church
6724 Bardstown Road
502-239-8405
Saturday, August 23rd
10AM - 1PM
Blood Pressure Screening, Glucose Screening, Dental Screening, Vision Screening, Healthcare Resources Information, and other activities for children
Light lunch available!
Saint Xavier High School is hosting a Fall Swim and Dive Clinic. This swim clinic is an opportunity for both boys and girls ages 5-14 to practice swimming in a fun and positive setting. The clinic is open to swimmers of all abilities, from beginner to advanced. For more information, see PDF flier.