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Welcome Back Students!
St. Gabriel Gazette Back to School, 2017 Volume 14, Issue 1
The 2017-2018 school year is underway and St. Gabriel
School is excited to see our returning students, and wel-
comes the following new students to our school commu-
nity:
PK3: Ananya Balamurugan, Aaron Cardone, Maya
Cardone, Aroosh Chavan, Bryce Felber, Ishaan Garap-
ati, Addyson Greaves, Maira Kongara, Annabelle Mat-
thews, Angel Negron, Breon Russell, Siobhan Sheelan,
Poojaa Sonniya Vinoth Kumar, Kaushik Velraj Kumar.
PK4: Sarai Ettienne-Modeste, Donovan Hotchkiss,
Carihelys Leon Santiago, Gabriella Matthews, Gianna
Ruggiero.
Kindergarten: Michael Baah-Minkah, Vihaan Bharga-
van, Caasi Johnson, Nathan Lockwood, Brooke
Onessimo, Lauren Wallace.
Grade 1: Owen Collette, Ryan Cor tr ight, Rylee
Fraysier.
Grade 3: Ishaan Mandal.
Grade 4: Samuel Amponsah-Minkah, Maddyson
Ortiz.
Grade 7: Gabr ielle Hutchinson, David McManus.
We are happy to see all new and returning faces this
year. We wish everyone a successful and fun year!
Goodbye Class of 2017; Welcome Class of 2018!
The New Year begins!
(left) Gr. 7 siblings
(center) Gr. 4 friends reunited
(right) Gr. 3 classmates
Congratulations to the Class of 2017!
Students who graduated on June 2, 2017 will be start-
ing their freshman year of High School at Northwest
Catholic, East Catholic, Loomis Chaffee, Safety Acade-
my Magnet School and Windsor and Suffield Public
Schools. We wish them the very best of luck!
Introducing the Class of 2018!
This year’s eighth grade class has much to look for-
ward to, including the 8th grade trip to Newport in
December and the final 8th grade trip to a destination
they will agree on! They have a lot of hard work to get
ready for High School, but they are well on their way!
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Changes for St. Gabriel School:
New Staff and Building Updates!
St. Gabriel School is happy to welcome several new
staff members joining our school for the 2017 / 2018
school year:
Mrs. Lindsey Plunge—Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Kathleen Plucker—Kindergarten
Mrs. Ruth Ann Schuler—Grade 4
Mrs. Beth Surapine—Music (Grades PreK—5)
Mrs. Jackie Harris-Stone—Music (Grades 6-8, in-
cluding Middle School Choir)
Miss Marlena Maglieri—After School Care
As you walk around the school you will notice a
number of updates and changes, inside and out! Due
to a fire code inspection last year, old transformers
located in the building were removed and a new
transformer was placed outside which resulted in an
upgrade to our electrical panel.
In addition, an update was made to our plumbing in
the 1960’s building, additional security cameras were
added in the stairwell and upstairs hallway and,
thanks to Mr. Dexter Ettienne-Modeste, the gym has
a new paint job.
Technology updates include 15 additional iPad minis
to be used in classrooms as well as 25 Lenovo 2-in-1
tablet/laptops to be used daily by the Middle School.
Our website is newly formatted and we now have a
mobile app available (look for St. Gabriel School in
the App Store!).
Back to School, 2017 Volume 14, Issue 1
I would like to welcome parents to
visit or contact me with any ques-
tions, concerns, or medical infor-
mation that affects your child. You
can call me at 860-688-6401 be-
tween 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. (or lat-
er), or email
Please be aware of paperwork that
may be due to the nurse’s office
for this school year:
· An updated Health Assessment
and a record of immunizations is
due for new students.
· Sixth grade students should sub-
mit completed Health Assessment
Records with updated immuniza-
tions as soon as the physical exam
is completed (due June 2017 –
May 2018).
· All preschool students are re-
quired by the State of Connecticut
to have a flu shot and submit docu-
mentation before the end of De-
cember 2017. Flu shots are availa-
ble now, so don't wait until there's
a shortage or your child becomes
ill. Preschoolers may not return to
school in January without it.
Other Important Information:
Between late September and De-
cember, hearing and vision
(distance only) screenings will be
conducted for grades K, 1, 3, 4, &
5. Screening of students in grades
2, & 6-8 are no longer stated man-
dated, but will be performed as
time permits. Please, remind your
students to wear their glasses/
contacts as prescribed.
From the Nurse’s Corner By: Mrs. Hunter—School Nurse
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Back to School, 32017 Volume 14, Issue 1
Attention...
Students in Grades 4 – 8
Join the 2017/2018
St. Gabriel Gazette Staff
Help fill the Gazette with fun and interesting stories.
Provide your artwork, fun puzzles or cartoons.
Learn how to report, interview and write articles.
Join St. Gabriel’s Journalism Club
The Journalism Club will meet on a monthly basis during lunch to brainstorm and assign article topics. Additional
meeting times will be available for those students
interested in staying after school to do editing and layout.
Further detail will be provided regarding meeting dates and times.
Volunteer Hours: Parents are needed to help make copies of our
Gazette each month.
______ Yes, I can make copies
Name, phone/email _____________________________________________
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Back to School, 2017 Volume 14, Issue 1
St. Gabriel School’s four weeks
of 2017 Summer Camp were
very successful, with full attend-
ance for each week! The Sum-
mer Camp staff was assisted by
numerous Junior Counselors –
from St. Gabriel school as well
as from the public schools. Al-
so helping us were a few of our
newest alumni, as well as some
prior year graduates. Most of
these students volunteered their
time and fulfilled some of their
confirmation service hours. All
of the junior counselors and vol-
unteers did a fabulous job!! Alt-
hough the weather was rather
steamy, everyone had a blast!
Each week had its own theme,
crafts and field trip.
Week 1 – Sky Week – campers
made straw rockets, pinwheels
and created “balloon” design t-
shirts. Trips included the New
England Air Museum and
Launch Trampoline Park.
Week 2 – Art Week – campers
created tie dye t-shirts, firework
salt art and colorful spinners.
Trips this week included
Khamp’s Studio for a day of in-
structional painting and Rave
Cinemas to see ‘Despicable me
3’.
Week 3 – Sports Week– camp-
ers made Olympic Medal neck-
laces, sports pennants and deco-
rated a t-shirt with their favorite
sports pictures. The group visit-
ed Bradley Bowl and made a
2nd visit to Launch Trampoline
Park (in lieu of visiting one of
Windsor’s public pools, due to
inclement weather).
Week 4 – Ninja Week – During
the final week, campers made
ornamental lanterns and sten-
ciled t-shirts. Trips included
Rave Cinemas in Manchester to
see movie ‘Angry Birds’ and to
Ninja Challenge in S. Windsor.
We ended the week with a pop-
corn party in the gym and
watched ‘Kung Fu Panda’.
In addition to all of the activities
noted, each day campers made
fun snacks, including chocolate
fudge pops, frosted pretzels,
Lego brownies, Rice Krispies
dips, baseball cookies, and fro-
zen s’mores! They also enjoyed
outside time playing group
games and cooling off with lots
of water fun!
Sun, Fun and Success at Summer Camp 2017!
Summer Camp Fun:
Top Left—a camp
counselor helps a camper
make a balloon designed
t-shirt.
Top Right—campers with
their very own painting
from Khamp’s Studio
Bottom left—Miss Knowles
having fun at Launch
Trampoline Park.
Bottom Right— Campers
from week 4 at Ninja
Challenge in South Windsor.
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Home & School News
Back to School, 2017 Volume 14, Issue 1
Welcome to the start of another
fantastic school year! The Home &
School Association looks forward
to working with all of you to pro-
vide fun activities for students and
their families as well as important
school fundraisers. Come out to
Back to School Night on Septem-
ber 20th at 6:30pm to meet the
board, the teachers and your fellow
parents.
We start the year with our annu-
al Magazine Drive. Students can
sell magazines for which the
school receives 40% of each sub-
scription or renewal sold. All sales
earn the student prize tickets to
spend at the Prize Store at the end
of the sale. We encourage every-
one to order online at gaschool-
store.com; our school code is
2595833.
Our Bids for Kids: Goods and
Service Auction is set for Novem-
ber 11th at Maneeley’s in South
Windsor. This year will include a
full buffet meal. Come enjoy a
night of good food, drinks and a
lively social scene while bidding
on goods, services and vacations.
This event is the largest fundraiser
our school puts on and we need
everyone to participate. We need
many helping hands to make this
event a success. Please contact
committee chairs: Sarah Jane Han-
nigan ([email protected])
or Kristen Hoffman
([email protected]) if you
wish to help.
Home & School meetings take
place once a month, on Wednes-
days, throughout the school
year. Our next meeting is October
11th at 6:30pm. All parents are in-
vited to participate. Kids are wel-
come and we will try to arrange
babysitting. We look forward to
working with you!
Upcoming Events:
The BOO BASH is scheduled for
October 28th. If you are interested
in helping with this event just
email us!
BIDS FOR KIDS AUC-
TION: November 11th at
Maneeley’s in South Windsor.
Look for information soon on this
important event.
SANTA SHOP will be held on
December 19th in the school gym-
nasium, during school hours. This
is a great opportunity for your
child to purchase quality, afforda-
ble gifts for their families and
friends. Information will be sent
home closer to the date.
Don’t Miss Back to School Night! Wednesday, September 20th 6:30pm
The Home & School Association looks forward to meeting all new fami-
lies and seeing returning families at our BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
on September 20th. This is an excellent opportunity to meet St. Gabriel
School faculty, visit your child’s classroom, learn more about the up-
coming school year, and sign up for October conferences.
Title Name
President Maureen Hasz
Vice President Kari Glaude
Treasurer Teresa Baboolal
Secretary Kristen Gryskiewicz
2017/2018 Home and School Board
By: Mrs. Maureen Hasz, H&S President
Feel free to contact the Home & School at their email: [email protected]
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Please be sure to patronize the St. Gabriel Gazette supporters!
1911 Poquonock Ave.
860-683-0266
www.BrownsHarvest.com
Celebrating our 40th Season of Fall Family Fun!
6 Acre interactive corn maze and kids' maze, too!
Hayrides, pumpkins and Cider Donuts!
Family Movie Night—Sep. 29th; admission is a
donation for the Windsor Food Bank!
Touch-a-Truck; September 23rd
Visit our Website & Facebook page for more events
Remember: You can put an ad in our paper for only $5.
Electronic and hardcopy distribu-tion to hundreds of families in the Windsor community.
Contact Lynn Wilkos:
860-688-6401 or [email protected].
More fun activities at Summer Camp:
Left: New England Air Museum Center: Ninja Warrior Challenge Course Right: Activities at the volleyball court