Principal's Update
Dear St. Gabes students and families,
Welcome to a wet and rainy May 1! As much as the weather is cold and rainy, I'm so happy for the moisture.
May and June are very big months in school with courses finishing up, exams, awards ceremonies, graduation . . . it's a busy time for everyone but with patience and persistence, we can get to our goals at the end of June!
May is also the month of Mary and we're still celebrating Easter season so it's also a really big month for the church. Next week also marks Mental Health Awareness Week and of course, we can't forget that Mother's Day is coming up on May 12. We want to wish all mom, step-moms, grandmothers and those in the role of mother a very special day.
Please go over our newsletter and note the important upcoming events.
I pray that you all have a safe and healthy spring!
Many Blessings to you all,
Renee Trottier,
Principal
May Calendar
May 4 - May the 4th Be With You
May 5 - Cinco de Mayo
May 6 - Nacho Monday - Nachos for lunch
May 8 - Hat's on for Mental Health
May 13 - Grade 9 Language Arts PAT
May 14 - School Council meeting 6:30
May 17 - PD Day - No School
May 20 - Victoria Day. School closed
May 23:
- Field Trip to Star of the North
- BBQ lunch picnic
June 7 - last day for high school students to hand in coursework
Newsletter Draw
Thank you for taking the time to read about what's happening at St. Gabes each month. Our newsletter is a really important way for you to keep up with what's happening at school.
Each month you can enter our draw for a gift card. I reset the draw each month so you can win more than once!
Registration for 2024/2025
Dear Families,
Thank you to all those who have already completed their registration for the upcoming school year. For those who haven't yet registered, we kindly remind you to do so at your earliest convenience. Registering promptly allows us to accurately plan for class sizes, allocate resources efficiently, and tailor our educational programs to meet the diverse needs of our students. Your timely registration plays a crucial role in helping us create the best possible learning environment for your child.
If you are a returning student who is under the age of 18, your parent/guardian was sent an email. Log into your Parent Portal account and you can register from there.
If you are over 18 and would like to return, you can register as a NEW student using the link below.
Please contact the school if you need any support with the registration process.
Click here to register for the 2024/25 school year.
Exam Schedules for ALL Students ALL Grades
Please click on the link for our exam schedule. Take note of the dates that you have to be in class to write exams and attend review sessions. The schedule includes review session dates and times.
Diploma exams cannot be moved or missed for any reason. If you miss your diploma, you will have to reschedule it for August by booking it on MyPass.
High School students - if you have time conflicts with a final exam, replacement exam, or review session, please contact your teacher to set up an alternate time to write the exam or attend a review session.
Grade 9 PATs dates are set and cannot be changed. If you have an unavoidable absence, please contact Mrs. Trottier as soon as you can. You can write the exam the following day (which means writing 2 exams in one day). You cannot write final exams/PATs earlier than the scheduled date. All grade 9s will write their PATs on site at St. Gabriel Education Centre, 15 Mission Ave. Teachers will provide grade 9 review sessions after each exam until 12:00. Grade 9 students should make arrangements to be picked up at 12:00.
Textbook Returns
On, or before, June 26 all textbooks and Chromebooks must be returned to St. Gabriel Education Centre. Please note, not returning school resources will result in a fee to pay for the replacement of the item. Damage will be assessed a fee to either rebind the book or replace it, depending on the damage. Thank you for your attention to this!
Hot Tip. -Just bring your textbook with you when you come to write your exam. ;)
Graduation
Are you graduating this year or wondering if you have the credentials to graduate? Check on MyPass, or talk to Mrs. Bedi, Mrs. Webb, or Mrs. Trottier to see if you're eligible to graduate. We can help you figure it out!
If you already know that. you're graduating, please let Mrs. Bedi know if you're coming to our ceremony.
When - June 14, 2024
Time - 10:00-12:00
Location - St. Albert Parish Church Basement (7 St. Vital Ave).
Cost - Free for grads and their families
School Council
You can find the agenda and meeting link on our website under "About Us/School Council". https://www.stgabe.gsacrd.ab.ca/about-st-gabriel/school-council-parent-council
We look forward to seeing you!
School Rules
1. Check in - Always check in at the office - sign in with our QR code. This is for students and guests.
2. Check out - Always check out again before you leave.
It's important that we know who is in the building for safety reasons. If there is a lock down or evacuation, we need to be able to identify who is at school so that we can help to keep you safe.
3. Do not wander into areas of the school that aren't part of St. Gabe's. Our division office employees are working in other classrooms and offices in the building and we do not want to disturb them.
4. Parking - DO NOT park in the staff parking lot to the east of the school. You will be asked to move your car. You can park in the public parking lot across the street, in front of the school on the street, at the tennis court parking lot, and on the side streets.
5. Washroom facilities - we have 2 washrooms dedicated for student use close to our common room. There are student washroom signs on the doors. Do not use the staff washrooms that are closest to the front office.
6. Bring your own reusable water bottle. We now have a water bottle filling station in the hallway.
Easter Season and the Month of Mary
May is a big month this year! We are still in the season of Easter until Pentecost Sunday on May 19 but May is also the month of Mary so we have a lot to celebrate this year!
Historians aren’t exactly sure why May was chosen to honour Mary, but many believe that May being the month when spring is in full bloom has a lot to do with it. May is the height of spring–gardens everywhere are alive with blooming flowers and trees are filling their branches with leaves. This new beginning and new birth in nature remind us of the life Mary gave to Jesus. Without Mary giving birth to Jesus, all the events that followed: Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection wouldn’t have happened. So, it’s believed that May (when nature is showing signs of life) is the ideal month to honour the woman who gave life to our Saviour.
When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, they could have gossiped and complained about how their plans and dreams were broken. Instead they gave thanks to God because His plans are better even and especially when we don't get what we planned. Give thanks to God always - Fr. Goyo.
May Counsellors Update
How is it May already?! The rest of our term is going to fly by. Amongst the whirlwind, don't forget that Mother's Day is May 12th. Whoever fills that special space in your life, be sure to take a moment to let them know how much their support means to you.
Speaking of support, I'd like to take a moment to remind you of the support we can offer you at St. Gabes:
Academic Support: We offer academic support to students through various means, including one-on-one meetings, group study sessions, and workshops on study skills and time management. As we approach final exams, please reach out, or encourage your child to reach out, if they need assistance with exam preparation or managing academic stress.
College and Career Guidance:
We can assist with college and career planning. We encourage students to schedule appointments to discuss their post-secondary plans and to take advantage of the resources available (on display in our main hallway).
Community Resources: We understand that some challenges may extend beyond the school environment. We can connect students and families with community resources and outside support services as needed. Whether it's accessing mental health services, finding tutoring assistance, or obtaining financial aid information, we're here to help navigate these resources.
Upcoming Events: Please mark your calendars for our upcoming events: Cinco De Mayo Taco Day (May 6), May 8 Hats on for Mental Health, May 17 & 20 No school, May 23 - Field Trip (open to all students) to Star of the North Retreat in St. Albert to help with sustainable gardening.
Contact Information: As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. You can schedule appointments by contacting Monique Webb at mwebb@gsacrd.ab.ca.
Can We Talk? Hat's On for Mental Health May 8
Every year CMHA dedicates a week in May to raise the awareness of Mental Health. This year Mental Health Week will run May 6-10, and Hats On! for Mental Health Day will take place on May 8. Albertans are invited to wear a hat to raise awareness of the importance of good mental health.
St. Gabes students are welcome to wear hats to help build understanding of mental health awareness.
Mental Health and Wellness
Don't forget to check out our "Mental Health and Wellness" section on our website for wellness ideas, tips, resources and sessions that are being offered. Click on "community supports" for information about services in St. Albert and area to support you or your family.
Do you know about 211?
Did you know that Alberta has a service that you can call, text or live chat? It's called 2-1-1 and it's a distress service that covers a really large number of topics. It's free, confidential and operates 24/7.
Do you need help with your coursework?
Did you know that Mrs. Julie Lamoureux is our learning support facilitator? She is available every day except Wednesdays to help you with your coursework. Just email her to set up a time to meet!
River's Edge Counselling
River's Edge workshop lineup for 2024 is updated. If you are interested in classes on any of the following topics, please click the link to register.
Math Help
Mrs. Ketsa helping a group of students, all from different classes, in our common room. Individual help is almost always available.
Parking
- Just a friendly reminder to park in the student designated parking areas:
- Public lot across the street\
- In front of the school on the street
- Public lot by the tennis courts
- On the side streets
We kindly ask that you comply with the following:
1. Do not park in our staff parking which is located to the east of the school
2. We also ask that you do not use the handicapped parking spot for drop off and pick up as we have students who need it.
Thank you!
Social Media - Updated Regularly
Please follow and share with your friends. We want everyone to know what a great place St. Gabes is!
Newsletter Draw
Please fill out the link for our draw! (Please do not enter more than once per month)
St. Gabriel Education Centre
Email: rtrottier@gsacrd.ab.ca
Website: https://www.stgabe.gsacrd.ab.ca/.
Location: 15 Mission Ave, St. Albert, AB, Canada
Phone: (780)459-6616
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StGabeHS