As a Catholic school, we are called to serve with compassion and love. At St. Gabriel’s, we answer this call with a commitment to developing enduring, authentic community connections that allow us to integrate meaningful service with innovative instruction and thoughtful reflection.
Throughout their time at St. Gabriel’s, our students engage in service learning that emphasizes reciprocity and deep respect for all people. Our students maintain lasting partnerships with local organizations and work collaboratively to solve real-world problems. They are involved with direct and indirect service that includes research, advocacy, and hands-on projects. At every level, our students explore the impacts of their actions using a progressive model as it applies to self, school, community, and global connections. They work independently and partner with fellow classmates, non-profits, schools, government officials, and other community members in an effort to care for God’s creation and His people.
From Pre-K 3 through 8th grade, our students promote and protect biodiversity and our natural habitats, raise awareness for issues that include clean water, food insecurity, quality education, and social justice. Through these experiences, our students further develop and strengthen valuable skills like self-awareness, social awareness, responsible decision making, and empathy; these social emotional learning (SEL) skills are integral to student success. SEL serves as the foundation for all learning at St. Gabriel’s, but is especially significant to service learning as it cultivates the skills necessary to make, form, and deepen relationships.
Beyond service learning, our students, faculty, staff, and parents regularly participate in community service. This philanthropic work includes donation drives, fundraisers, and opportunities to volunteer in order to further serve, support, and strengthen our local and global communities.