St. Gabriel's Catholic School (Austin, Texas)

St. Gabriel's Catholic School
Address
2500 Wimberly Lane
Austin, Texas, Travis County, 78735
USA
Information
Type Private, Independent School
Religious affiliation(s) Christianity
Denomination Catholic
Founded 1999
Authority Catholic Diocese of Austin
Chairperson Amy Parker
Head of school Dan McKenna
Staff 63
Grades Junior Kindergarten – 8th
Gender Co-ed
Enrollment 430
Average class size 20
Student to teacher ratio 10:1
Campus size 33 acres
Campus type Suburban
School color(s) Green and Gold
Athletics conference Inter-Parochial League
Sports Various
Mascot Saber-toothed cat
Team name Sabers
Accreditation Independent Schools Association of the Southwest and Texas Catholic Conference Education Department
Tuition $7,585 - $15,525
Website http://www.sgs-austin.org/

St. Gabriel's Catholic School (also referred to as SGCS), is a Catholic private school in Austin, Texas. St. Gabriel's enrolls students in grade Junior Kindergarten through eighth that are divided into three sections: Junior Kindergarten, Lower School (Kindergarten through fifth grades) and Middle School (sixth through eighth grades). The school enrolls students of all faiths and of different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The indoor and outdoor campus spans across 33 acres and 75,000 square feet in the Hill Country of Austin, Texas.[1] St. Gabriel’s is accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department (TCCED)[2] and the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS).[3] St. Gabriel’s is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS),[4] the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA),[5] and Catholic Schools Diocese of Austin.[6]

History

Southwest Austin Catholic School Inc., a non-profit corporation, was established to own and operate St. Gabriel’s and to lead the fundraising and building efforts.[7] St. Gabriel’s Catholic School began its first school year in 1999 in Austin, Texas, with an enrollment size of 350 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.[6]

St. Gabriel's Catholic School launched a capital campaign in 2014 that involves an addition of 30,000 square feet to the current campus. Completion of this project is the final phase in the build-out of the school's 32 acres, due to impervious ground cover restrictions. The overall expansion is a continuation of the strategic and master plan set forth by the School founders and Board of Trustees. This is a $6.6 million comprehensive campaign; $6 million for capital and $600,000 for endowment.[8] St. Gabriel's Catholic School's capital campaign project will add a chapel, a performing and visual arts area, a science lab, a multimedia library and research center, and an indoor sports practice center to its current 58,500-square-foot facility.[9]

Academics

St. Gabriel’s has programs for Junior Kindergarten, Lower School (Kindergarten through fifth grades) and Middle School (sixth through eighth grades). The students’ curricula consist of study areas in math, language arts, science, social studies, Spanish, Latin, technology, religion, fine arts, library and physical education.[10] The Junior Kindergarten program introduces children to school and multi-sensory learning through age-appropriate activities.[11] The Lower School program includes problem-solving components, introduces students to multiple subject areas and emphasizes writing throughout different subjects.[12] In Middle School, students attend separate classes associated with specific subjects and electives (interest topics outside of core areas of study).[13] This curriculum focuses on teaching the skills and techniques in a variety of academic disciplines and allows students to explore different interests and levels of learning. Ninety-eight percent of the school’s Middle School students are accepted to the high school of their choice. St. Gabriel’s students scored far above the national average in total math and total reading in all grades and scored in the 98th percentile overall compared to other school scores on national standardized testing (ITBS).[14]

Technology

The school announced in spring 2012 its launching of an innovative technology initiative that will measure the effectiveness of technology used in its classrooms.[15] The initiative is focused on evaluating metrics and outcomes associated with the strategic integration of technology at all levels of education. Junior Kindergarten through third grade has classroom sets of iPads, and all fourth and fifth graders have their own iPads. St. Gabriel’s is one of the first schools in the country to give iPads to students at these grade levels.[16] Tele-presence interactive projection system and “flipped classroom” lessons through Khan Academy are other elements of the initiative that the school will measure and evaluate.

The evaluation initiative follows a successful integration of technology among middle school students. St. Gabriel's offers a 1-to-1 laptop program. This 1-to-1 laptop program helps students customize their learning, improve their time management skills, organizational skills and research techniques, and strengthens their overall 21st-century skills at school and at home.[17]

Athletics

St. Gabriel's is part of the Austin Inter-Parochial League.[18] The athletics program follows an inclusive ‘no cut’ philosophy and offers programs in basketball, golf, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, tackle football, track and volleyball.[19] In fall 2011, St. Gabriel’s facilitated the NFL Youth Flag Football League for girls and boys ages four to 17. The league includes different levels and divisions of play for co-ed and girls.[20]

Co-Curricular and Extra-Curricular Activities

St. Gabriel’s offers several after-school programs and co-curricular activities. These activities or clubs include the National Junior Honor Society, Latin Club, Archangel inspirational and spiritual club, geography bee, tennis program, theater, student council and art classes.[21]

The Saber Robotics team at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School won the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) robotics state championship in January 2011. The team won a trip to Legoland to compete for the national title in May 2011. The team will again compete for the national title in May 2012.[22]

Community

St. Gabriel's Catholic School has been voted Austin Favorite Private School by Austin Family Magazine for three straight years (2014, 2013, 2012).[23] St. Gabriel’s Catholic School was the first school in Texas to provide the CyberALLY training program to its entire middle school. The training teaches middle and high school students the realities and dangers of cyberbullying, how they can respond to the attacks and how to prevent cyberbullying from happening.[24]

In November 2010 and continuing each school year, St. Gabriel’s faculty, staff, students and parents brought awareness to the Coats for Kids donation program by producing a flash mob at the Hill Country Galleria in Austin, Texas.[25] St. Gabriel’s students gathered food to support the local Capital Area Food Bank and collected coats to support Coats for Kids in November 2011.[26]

St. Gabriel's students are involved in the community and show their support by paying tribute to the nation's veterans on Veterans Day each year (since 2009). Every student planted a handful of small American flags outside the school to honor the men and women who served and continue to serve our country.[27]

In early 2012, St. Gabriel's also received a $20,000-grant from Duke Energy to go toward a state-of-the-art Incenergy Energy Management System, which "automates heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) operation, boosts efficiency, reduces power use and cuts costs."[28]

References

  1. ↑ "St. Gabriel's Catholic School History". St. Gabriel's Catholic School. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  2. ↑ "Texas Catholic Conference Education Department Schools Listing". Texas Catholic Conference Education Department. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  3. ↑ "Independent Schools Association of the Southwest Directory". Independent Schools Association of the Southwest. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  4. ↑ "National Association of Independent Schools Home Page". National Association of Independent Schools. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  5. ↑ "National Catholic Educational Association". National Catholic Educational Association. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Catholic Schools Diocese of Austin List of Schools". Diocese of Austin. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  7. ↑ "FM Properties' donation boosts catholic school drive". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  8. ↑ http://www.sgs-austin.org/support/imagine-this.cfm
  9. ↑ http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/lake-travis-westlake/st.-gabriel%E2%80%99s-catholic-school-plans-to-complete-major-expansion/
  10. ↑ "St. Gabriel's Academics". St. Gabriel's Catholic School. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  11. ↑ "St. Gabriel's Junior Kindergarten". St. Gabriel's Catholic School. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  12. ↑ "St. Gabriel's Lower School". St. Gabriel's Catholic School. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  13. ↑ "St. Gabriel's Middle School". St. Gabriel's Catholic School. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  14. ↑ "St. Gabriel's Curriculum". St. Gabriel's Catholic School. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  15. ↑ "St. Gabriel’s Catholic School Launches Innovative Technology Initiative". Yahoo! Finance. 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  16. ↑ "St. Gabriel’s Catholic Schools brings iPads to the classroom". KVUE. 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  17. ↑ "St. Gabriel’s Launches 1:1 iPad Initiative to Flip Classrooms". THE Journal. 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  18. ↑ Inter-Parochial League "Austin Inter-Parochial League Athletics". Austin Inter-Parochial League. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  19. ↑ "St. Gabriel's Athletics". St. Gabriel's Catholic School. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  20. ↑ "Westlake FLAG Football League". Active. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  21. ↑ "St. Gabriel's Extra-Curricular Activities". St. Gabriel's Catholic School. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  22. ↑ "Austin-Area Students Win FIRST Robotics Championship". Sys-con Media. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  23. ↑ http://www.austinfamily.com/austin-familys-2014-readers-poll-favorites/
  24. ↑ "St. Gabriel’s Catholic School is a CyberALLY". Bishop John McCarthy. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  25. ↑ "Coats for Kids Flash Mob". KVUE. 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  26. ↑ "Austin Children Give Back". YNN Austin. 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  27. ↑ "One Austin School's Tribute to Veterans". MyFox Austin. 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
  28. ↑ "Duke Energy Awards Two Austin Schools". Duke Energy. 2012-01-09. Retrieved 2012-04-12.

External links