Hello St. Gabriel Families, | | |
Check out the following headlines and links to stay updated on everything happening at St. Gabriel Parish School.
The headlines that are highlighted are NEW or UPDATED for this Gazette.
As you scroll towards the bottom of the Gazette, there are various messages/events/needs from our parish and school committees like the HSA (Home and School Association), ATHLETICS, ADULT & YOUTH MINISTRY, etc. Please continue to scroll down to the end of this email to see all that is happening at our vibrant school and parish!
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Advent Prayer Services:
Just a reminder…Each Monday morning during Advent, our students meet in the gym at 8:10 for a short prayer service and the lighting of a candle on our living wreath. Our next prayer service will be on Monday, December 15.
After the prayer service, each class goes back to their classroom and lights the candle on their Advent wreath. Please join us in preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus this Advent season. Set up an Advent wreath in your home, and gather as a family each week to say a prayer and light a candle.
Winter Weather is Here:
We all knew that the time would eventually come when we would have to talk about the cold temperatures and snow. That time is upon us. The snow is beautiful, but it comes with some additional safety precautions. Here are a few reminders about our winter weather protocols.
- Please make sure that your children come prepared to go outside for recess each day during winter. They will need boots, hats, and mittens. If the temperature, including the wind chill, is below 10 degrees, recess will be indoors.
- The sidewalks may be slippery! During drop-off and pick-up times, please remind your child(ren) to be extra careful getting into and out of your car. Also, please do not allow your children to walk behind the cars. We have had “fender benders” in the line and do not want anyone getting hurt.
- Please remind your children that playing and building in the snow at school is ok; however, they cannot throw snow. Unfortunately, for safety reasons, snowball fights will need to be saved for home.
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If we need to close school due to inclement weather, a notification will be sent to parents via email and text. The notification will also be posted on our website and Facebook page. In addition, we will report our school closing on TMJ 4, FOX 6, and WISN 12.
Cold and Flu Season is Upon Us:
We are doing all we can to prevent the spread of germs here at school, but ‘tis the season. Please help us prevent the spread of colds and the flu bug in our school. If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home. A student should not be in school if they need medicine to make it through the day.
Reminder: Students should be fever-free (without medication) and have no instances of vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school after an illness. If they are experiencing discomfort (headaches, persistent cough, sneezing, etc.), they should stay home. Please contact the school office as soon as possible whenever your child will be absent. If your child sees a physician for their illness, please remember to request a medical excuse for their absence from school. This should be turned in to the office upon their return.
Christmas Concert:
Please join us for our annual Christmas concert on Thursday, December 18, in the church at 6:30 p.m. Students should meet in the Parish Hall at 6:10 p.m. Parents, please keep your students’ coats with you. We are excited to see all of our students in their Christmas Mass outfits and hear all of the songs that they have been working so hard on for the past few months.
Mid-Year Survey:
We invite all families to take part in this year’s Mid-Year Family Feedback Survey. Your input guides our work in academics, faith formation, communication, and overall student experience.
The survey has just 10 questions and takes about five minutes. With more than 140 students in our care, every response truly helps us understand what is going well and where we can grow.
Please take a moment to participate: Take the Survey HERE
The survey is open through Monday, December 15.
Thank you for your time and for your continued support of St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School.
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Save the Date — New This Year!
Instead of kicking off Catholic Schools Week with a pancake breakfast, we will be closing Catholic Schools Week by partnering with the wonderful team behind the Friday Fish Frys to host our BIG Open House Showcase during the fish fry on Friday, January 30, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
In addition to greeting prospective families, we invite all St. Gabriel Parish and School families to enjoy our famous fish fry dinner, visit classrooms, and experience the vibrant learning taking place each day.
Our Marketing (MARRC) & Fish Fry Committees are looking for volunteers to help during the open house/fish fry and to help Father with Mass the weekend before.
Please prayerfully signing up for a spot. Many positions are only an hour or two. We simply cannot do this event without your help!
Please use the buttons below to help us make St. Gabriel SHINE!😁👏🥳
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School-Wide Behavior Program:
We are including details of an all-school behavior management program in our discipline policy. We will begin to pilot this program in our middle school after Christmas break. It is our intention to have the policy fully implemented, school-wide, by the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.
We decided to add this program to our discipline policy in an effort to be more consistent in recognizing those students who display the Christian values that we seek to instill in them and to more diligently document concerning behaviors that need to be addressed by staff and parents immediately. This was NOT a result of increased behavioral issues in school. We just wanted to add a school-wide policy for everyone to use that would provide consistency throughout the grade levels.
Discipline Policy/Behavior Management Program
2026-2027 School Admission/Registration Revisions:
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!
With enrollment increasing and the possibility of needing to start waiting lists for some of our grades, we have revised our registration policy to include a new current family registration period and more detailed registration priority guidelines. We have also adjusted the numbers of our class size policy to more accurately portray the number of students we are able to serve in our classrooms.
A waiting list will be started once enrollment in a grade reaches 18. The last 2 seats will be reserved for new families with multiple students. Our current school enrollment is 145. Please see the current enrollment numbers for each grade level.
| | | K4: 12 | Grade 4: 18 | | K5: 15 | Grade 5: 16 | | Grade 1: 18 | Grade 6: 15 | | Grade 2: 16 | Grade 7: 10 | | Grade 3: 16 | Grade 8: 9 | | | |
We are hoping to open the current family registration period at the beginning of January, a few weeks before the new family registration opens at the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. I am asking for everyone's help in spreading the word because this will be new to all of our school families. It is important to emphasize that if current families do not register during the current family registration period (beginning of January - beginning of Catholic Schools Week), their child's seat will not be guaranteed. All remaining seats will be open to new families beginning January 25th this year.
Class Size/Admission Policy
From the Business Office:
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Tuition Statements - We thank you for your tuition payments! Please watch your email accounts for an emailed Tuition Statement from the Parish Office sent on December 9, 2025. This email comes from: St. Gabriel Catholic Parish and School, quickbooks@notification.intuit.com. If you are not receiving this monthly email, please contact Laura Rogacki in the parish office.
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After School Learning Program Statements - We thank you for your ASLP payments! Please remember that this program is a sign-up and pay-in-advance each month. Then, at the end of the month, we send a statement that includes the payments and a monthly invoice. These statements were also sent on December 9, 2025, and also come from: St. Gabriel Catholic Parish and School, quickbooks@notification.intuit.com.
If you have a zero balance and no recent tuition account activity, you may not receive a Tuition Statement at this time.
Year-End Giving:
As we approach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School. Your generosity has a lasting impact on our students and allows us to provide a faith-centered education that shapes future leaders.
As we reflect on 2025, we invite you to consider making a year-end gift to help us finish the year strong and start the New Year with renewed hope and purpose. Your donation directly supports our school’s mission to nurture both the academic and spiritual growth of our students, ensuring that we continue to provide a transformative educational experience for all.
In addition to supporting our school, your year-end gift may also provide tax benefits. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, donations to St. Gabriel School are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. There were many changes to current tax laws this year regarding charitable giving. Please contact a tax professional or financial advisor to determine the best plan for you. A gift made before December 31 may reduce your taxable income for 2025, making it an ideal time to contribute. Please contact Connie Helm, Director of Development at chelm@stgabrielhubertus.org if you have questions or would like to donate to the school.
Thank you for being a vital part of our school community. Your faithfulness and support are deeply appreciated. May God bless you and your family abundantly in the coming year!
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2025-2026 School Calendar:
Please see the link below for the 2025-2026 school year calendar.
2025-2026 School Year Calendar
Get involved; VOLUNTEER - Enrich your life by giving back
Volunteers help our school run smoothly and are greatly appreciated by our teachers and staff. Please check iVolunteer for various opportunities throughout the school year.
Current opportunities include:
Did you know...
Research shows there are many benefits of volunteering, below are a few...
- Helps create a sense of community😉
- Get to know the teachers and staff🙌
- Allows you to share your strengths or learn a new skill🎉
NOTE - Adults who work exclusively with other adults do not need to undergo safeguarding measures. However, if a minor is involved at any point, safeguarding protocols as outlined by the Archdiocese must be followed. All volunteers who volunteer during school hours are required to be certified in the Archdiocese Safe Environment Education Class. Please visit this webpage for more details.
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$crip (Raise Right) Certificates & Volunteer Need:
$crip cards make perfect gifts for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, or for use at your favorite retail shops, gas stations, or restaurants.
There will be NO $crip sales after Mass on December 27-28, 2025. $crip orders for the upcoming Christmas season will need to be purchased by Sunday, December 14, 2025, online or in the Parish/School Office in order to be received prior to Christmas.
Double your rebates with RaiseRight.com/Shop-Online.
- Download the RaiseRight App today and select “Shop Now” on a brand’s page.
- Use your gift card from RaiseRight as payment to earn extra on your purchase.
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For your convenience, you may order online at https://www.raiseright.com/shop. Online orders with available inventory will be filled on Mondays for pickup after weekend Masses. Special order inventory will be filled within two weeks, when the cards arrive.
Interested in learning more about buying online certificates using the RAISE RIGHT app? Please contact Finance Manager, Laura Rogacki, in the Parish Business Office at (262) 628-1141 or lrogacki@stgabrielhubertus.org for the program code.
Volunteers are needed to help sell Scrip on weekends after Masses. It is a great way to volunteer within the school and parish, and it only takes approximately half an hour of your time per shift. If you are interested, please contact Linda Schuh at lschuh@sgabriel.org or (262)628-1711 for more information.
Box Tops:
Box Tops are worth $.10 each, and they add up fast! Twice a year, our school receives a check to help pay for whatever we need - equipment, supplies, or experiences the kids love! Did you know you can now connect your Walmart account for even easier fundraising? You can earn cash for St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School without scanning receipts! See the app for more details to start earning easy money for the school.
Private Facebook Parent Group:
Our private St. Gabriel Parent Facebook Group is open for everyone to post and connect!
- Have a question for other parents? Ask it here.
- Want to share a proud moment, a helpful tip, or a favorite recipe? This is the place!
Let’s build community, share ideas, and show our St. Gabriel Spirit together!
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On the Calendar...
12/13-14 - HSA Wrap-a-Thon (see below to volunteer and to get your gifts wrapped)
12/18 - Christmas Concert at 6:30 p.m.
12/19 - Spirit Groups Meet - Nativity Pilgrimage
12/22 - Inservice Day - No School
12/23 - Inservice Day - No School
12/24-1/1 Christmas Break
1/ 3 - Inservice Day - No School
1/16 - End of Semester
1/25-1/30 - Catholic Schools Week - More information coming soon!
1/30 - Open House and FAMOUS Friday Fish Fry from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
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Peace and Blessings,
Mrs. Kimberly Lestina
Principal
| | We nurture academic excellence while we Proclaim the Word, Form Disciples, Live a Sacramental Life | | The first graders are diving into fairy-tale plays in Reading class and sharing their stories with confidence. Here are a few snapshots of them reading for their classmates. Great Job! | | |
We are delighted to share the news of our very first sponsor for the 2026 St. Gabriel Parish & School Auction!
A heartfelt thank you to Industrial Associates for joining us as a Silver Sponsor. Your generosity strengthens our mission and continues to uplift Catholic education for our students and families.
We are truly grateful for your support!
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St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School
Parent Groups
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Our School Advisory Commission (S.A.C.) team is a representative parent group of the entire school, from K4 through 8th grade, including the principal and a representative from the Pastoral Council. We work closely with the principal, teachers, and staff to support our renowned programs and curriculum.
S.A.C. is happy to assist parents and families with any concerns or questions you have during the school year. Email them at stgabrielSAC@sgabriel.org.
2025/2026 School Advisory Commission Members:
- Chairperson: Heidi Woelfel
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Vice Chair: Matt Marcellis
- Secretary: Jessica Ditscheit
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Members: Meghan Berndt, Amber Chycinski, Jake Lechusz, & Ryan Lusher
- Parish Council Liaison: Rebecca Hartzel
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HSA NEWS & EVENTS
2024-2025 Board Members
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President: Jenny Fenzl & Kristen Burg
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Co-Vice Presidents: Brooke Marcellis & Kelsey Berger
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Secretary: Ashley Long
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Treasurer: Shari Waggoner & Lisa White
Email us: hsa@sgabriel.org
READ THE MONTHLY MINUTES HERE
| | Our HSA Middle School Winter Dance was a wonderful success. Thank you to all who attended and to the dedicated volunteers whose time and effort made this special evening possible for our students. | | |
Cub Scout Pack 139 stepped up in a big way!
They collected a generous assortment of “most-wanted” items — toiletries, cleaning supplies, and fun essentials for kids like coloring books, crayons, and activity books — all to support Friends, Inc. in West Bend.
| | | | Great job, boys! Your service makes a real difference. | | |
Basketball season is officially in full swing! After nearly six weeks of practice, our teams hit the court last Saturday—and the energy, excitement, and school spirit were incredible. It’s truly an amazing time to be a Hawk!
This year, we’re proud to have three hardworking teams representing St. Gabriel:
- 4th Grade Girls
- 5th Grade Boys (combined with some of our 4th-grade boys)
- 7th Grade Boys (combined with 6th and 8th-grade boys)
These athletes have been giving their all in practice, learning the game, building confidence, and growing together as teams.
📣 Upcoming Games – Come Cheer On Your Hawks!
At Home – This Saturday, 12/13/25
- 5th Grade Boys vs. St. Mary’s (Menomonee Falls) – 9:15 A.M.
- 7th Grade Boys vs. Corpus Christi – 10:15 A.M.
On the Road – This Saturday, 12/13/25
- 4th Grade Girls vs. Corpus Christi – 5:00 P.M. @ St. Joe’s, Waukesha
Let’s pack the stands and show these kids what St. Gabriel spirit looks like! Wear your red, bring your energy, and help us make this a season to remember.
❤️ Want to Get Involved? Volunteer With Us!
If you’re interested in helping at a home game, we’d love to have you. Volunteering is a great way to:
- Meet new families
- Catch up with old friends
- Support our student-athletes
- And have some fun while cheering on the Hawks!
Volunteer roles are easy, fun, and meaningful—and they help keep our program strong.
👉 https://stgabrielhubertus.ivolunteer.com/hawksbasketball_25_26#
Thank you for supporting our players, coaches, and school community. We can’t wait to see you in the gym!
🦅❤️🏀Let’s Go Hawks! 🦅❤️🏀
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Christmas at Saint Gabriel
Mass Schedule:
Christmas Eve
4:30 & 10 p.m.
Christmas Day
8 & 10:30 a.m.
Mary, Mother of the Church (New Year’s Day)
December 31 at 4:30 p.m. & January 1 at 9 a.m.
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Christmas Memorial Flowers:
Anyone who wishes may make a donation for Christmas flowers in memory of their loved ones. Your donation will help offset the cost of decorating the church for the Christmas season. Please enclose payment (checks made out to St. Gabriel Parish) with this form and drop it in the Collection Basket or leave it in the Parish Office by Monday, December 15. You may also fill out the same information through GiveButter at https://givebutter.com/SGChristmasFlowers25
| | ATTENTION: Middle School Parents - Sign up your child/ren for Pizza with Purpose | | |
We celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, on Thursday, January 1. This feast, closely connected to the feast of Christmas, is the most important and oldest of the major feasts of Mary. Mary’s Divine Maternity became a universal feast in 1931.
St. Gabriel will celebrate two Masses on this holy day of obligation. There will be a Mass of anticipation on Wednesday evening, December 31, at 4:30 p.m. (livestreamed) and a Mass on Thursday, January 1, at 9 a.m. Please consider joining us and start out the New Year giving thanks to God and his mother Mary.
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Altar Servers – New and Seasoned!
New Altar Servers: Are you interested in Altar Serving? Are you feeling called to assist Father at Mass? St. Gabriel is welcoming NEW Altar Servers, 5th grade through high school, to join this ministry.
Seasoned Servers: Thank you for your dedicated service to St. Gabriel as an Altar Server.
As we start another school year, we are updating all the training and procedures for our seasoned servers. This year, ALL seasoned servers are required to go through re-training to remain active in this ministry.
If you have not received information through the school or Christian Formation, please reach out to the parish office. Maryrose Wolf, Director of Liturgy, will contact you for re-training or connect with you to learn more about this ministry and set up a training session for you.
If you are in need of service hours, this ministry is an option for you to consider.
Maryrose Wolf - Director of Liturgy
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You did it!
Thanks for reading to the end.
😁
Who doesn’t love a good laugh?
Check out this week’s joke below and get ready to giggle.
😄
| | What's the Grinch's least favorite band? | | |
🎉Congratulations to the last Gazette Winner🎉
Tricia Gettelman
Don't forget, if you click to read the punchline, your name will be put into the hopper for a cool
prize as a thank you for reading all the way to the end of the Gazette!
If you want to submit a joke, awesome, email nikki.packee@stgabrielhubertus.org.
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