Saint Gabriel School Weekly Newsletter for Parents
Saint Gabriel School Weekly Newsletter for Parents
Each Lent, Catholic families across the country unite to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through CRS Rice Bowl, families learn about how our sisters and brothers across the globe overcome hardships like hunger and climate change, and how through Lenten alms, we have the power to make the world wl a better place for all.
Rice bowls will be sent home next week. On Fridays during Lent, students are invited to bring in coins for our Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Penny Challenge. Each grade will have a jug in the cafeteria during morning carpool. Individual rice bowls returned the week of March 30 will earn extra points towards the homeroom total. Please label with child's name and homeroom.
Join us for Trivia Night!
New date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
-Prizes for top three teams and award for best table decor.
-Proceeds benefit our sports ministry program, school, and preschool.
-Split the Pot tickets are still available for pre-sale. Need not be present to win. Email festival@stgabriel.net for more tickets.
Thank you for your support of the St. Gabriel community.
Who will be the lucky winner? Raffle ticket sales for split the pot have been extended until February 21, 2026. Tickets may be ordered by contacting festival@stgabriel.net.
NEW!
Raffle tickets may now be purchased online.
Help us spread the word! Open House for Prospective Families will be Wednesday, March 4 from 9-11a.m. Families can find more information at https://www.stgabrielcatholicschool.net/admissions/visit-sgs. We also need parent volunteers to help give tours! If you are interested in helping, please contact Becca Thornton at bthornton@stgabriel.net.
The next Eat Lunch With Your Child day is Friday, March 6. Please look for the adult order form to be sent next week. Please do not bring outside food from another vendor. This event is for lunch only, not recess.
The 8th grade students will lead K-8 students in the Stations of the Cross during Lent on Fridays, March 6, 13, and 27. All sessions will begin at 1:45 p.m. in the church. There will be no sign-outs after 1:40 pm on these days as it is disruptive to pull students from church.
Students in K-5 and their families are invited to participate in Spring Into Math night hosted by Mathnasium. Event will be Thursday, March 12 from 6-7 p.m. in the cafeteria. More information coming soon!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Have you ever thought about the joy in sacrifice that Lent provides? The word “Lent” comes from an Old English term that signifies springtime and lengthening days. In light of this significance, Lent calls us to slow down our busy, fast-paced, all-absorbing lives and spiritually find greater space for God. These 40 days are a time to intentionally cultivate our relationship with God so that our spiritual lives can reach a new springtime.
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These are based on Matthew Chapter 6, where Christ gives his disciples directives on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Notice that these passages follow the verse where Christ states, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” We might scratch our heads at what sounds like a tall summons to divine perfection, which remains humanly impossible, but this is not what Christ means. By these words he calls us to love: to conform ourselves more closely to God in kindness, mercy, and holiness.
Most of us don’t delight in sacrifice; in fact, in our daily lives, we often do our best to avoid challenges and practices that push us outside of our comfort zones.
In Christianity, there is a beautiful parallel between joy and sacrifice, and we are presented with a wonderful opportunity to embrace this uniquely during Lent. In one of his Lenten messages, Pope Francis shared, “Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty.” While giving up sweets in favor of healthy snacks for Lent is a common and noble endeavor, the goal of Lent should not only be a spiritual excuse to lose weight! In choosing acts of self-denial, we are saying “no” to things in order to get into the practice of saying “no” when inclined towards sin, ultimately deepening our faith and our relationship with the Lord. Victory can be found when we deny ourselves and pick up our crosses and hardships in order to grow closer to Christ!
Therein lies the joy. When we grow closer to God by denying our will, we say “yes” to a life of abundance with Him. Our God is a loving God; He will not hold back His grace from those who honor Him and choose challenging things to grow and give Him glory. Christ even tells us Himself, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Without question, Lent is a time for conscious penitence and spiritual preparation for Easter. And it is important to remember that God loves us whether we make Lenten changes or not. At the same time, Lent provides us an opportunity to make God a greater part of our life, and to take our faith to new levels.
Lent is a time for every one of us to do more than simply deny ourselves; we need to welcome God into our lives in greater ways so that when we get to Holy Week and Easter, we have an even greater appreciation for the sacrifice the Lord made for us. Talk about pure abundant joy! May you and your family enjoy a holy and joyous Lenten journey.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Kathy Abell
Director of Faith Formation
Reserve your spot for summer camp! Complete the online form or email preschool@stgabriel.net. Online form requires a Brightwheel account.
Applications for the 2026-27 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. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. In order to receive preference, current and parish families who are ADDING students must apply by the priority deadline.
This is for NEW students only. Returning students will complete re-enrollment through FACTS in March.
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 to sell pull tabs. If you volunteer, your child may have a uniform break the next non-mass day! Please sign up using Sign Up Genius link below. Thank you for your support!
Mar. 4- 6Rhea
Mar. 5- 7Cecil
Mar. 11- 7Gooch
Mar. 12- 7Grimes
NEW! All volunteers will be entered into a drawing to win a class popcorn party!
The next snow day will be Distance Learning Day #5. Snow day assignments are available to view on the Schooogy "Class of" pages. Click here for more information about distance learning. The Archdiocese Handbook for Catholic Schools policy allows for five NTI days.
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.
Updates on campus closures and delays can be found here: www.gabrielweather.com
St. Gabriel will host a Safe Environment Training on Monday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m.
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.
March 12- Spring Into Math Family Night
March 17- 8th grade Graduation Pictures
March 26- 5th grade Patriotic Program
April 1- Kindergarten Easter Egg Hunt
April 16- STREAM Showcase
April 23- 2nd grade Grandparents Day
April 25- First Communion
May 7- 8th grade Grandparents Day
May 12- 8th grade Graduation
May 19- Field Day
We are proud to be your food service provider and we want to know how we're doing. Please take this short survey and let us know what you think. Your voice matters!
Thank you in advance for your participation.
The Saint Gabriel PTSO Mother/Son event is right around the corner. This year's theme is "Survivor".
Join us for a fun day of activities, games, and a photo booth! Pizza (two slices per person), snack, and water will be provided.
Event will be Saturday, March 21 from 6-8pm in the St. Gabriel Multipurpose Building.
Tickets are $15 per person for the first two people and $10 for each additional person under the same reservation. Register by March 13. The first 250 who attend will get a special gift!
If a mother is not available, any special adult is welcome to attend with the child.
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
Not on social media but want to stay up to date on PTSO news? Join our GroupMe chat. GroupMe link
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 February 23.
Thank you for your support!
Our school ID is ID: 393279.
Would you like to try something different for Lent? Fr. Jason invites the Gabriel family to pray daily and memorize Psalm 24 as a way to prepare for Easter. In adopting this challenge, we would be "giving up" the precious gift of time and "offering up" a communal prayer of praising Christ in our lives. If you would like to join the Gabriel Lent Challenge, here is the website link for Psalm 24: www.stgabriel.net/psalm24.
Get ready for another great season of fun and competition! ⚡
Sign up for the following sports through GameDay:
Open until 4/1/26
🏌️ Golf – 3rd–8th Grade
🎾 Tennis – 5th–8th Grade
👉 Register here: https://gameday.loucsaa.net/
👟 Coaches Wanted!
If you’re interested in coaching, please email Jamie Pike at 📧 jpike1793@gmail.com
Let’s make it a great season! 💪🎉
We will be hosting a 7th Grade Informational Meeting on March 12 from 5:00–6:00 PM in the Bethlehem cafeteria. This meeting is open to all 7th grade students and their families who are interested in learning more about Bethlehem High School.
In addition, our Little Blue Bash will be held on March 27 from 4:00–6:00 PM in the Bethlehem gym. This event is designed for 4th and 5th grade students. Registration is required and can be completed using the following link: Link To Register