Issue 4 - June 2024
You can also view a standard PDF version by clicking the link listed below. An accessible text version is available after the link.
For PDF Download Version, click here
Accessible text version of Gabe’s Gazette Issue 4, June 2024.
Enjoy our latest school news. Keeping our supporters and community updated.
Abilities Brew
As St Gabriel’s School Castle Hill embraces its first Year 12 class in 2024, we have also welcomed another addition to the school, by way of a brand new mobile coffee van.
The van, which has been kitted out beautifully by The Mobile Coffee Group, will be a teaching tool for the school’s VET Hospitality students, and a stepping stone for them to transition into post-school employment with real life work experience already on their CV.
It was made possible by the kind contribution of a family of a Gabe’s alumni.
A school vote was made to name the new coffee business and the winning name was “Abilities Brew”, with the slogan “Brewing inclusivity, one cup at a time.”
Meanwhile, our Year 12 students have been undertaking work experience at local cafes. Thanks to local businesses like The Burrow in Cherrybrook, our Hospitality students are gaining valuable training and work experience hours.
It's exciting to see their confidence and skills grow every time they complete a placement.
Garden to Table Meals
Year 8 visited the vegetable garden beds this term so they could harvest fruit and veggies to take to the teaching kitchen and use to create "garden to table meals".
Students enjoyed collecting the produce and investigating the garden beds for caterpillars and other bugs, and learning more about the different ingredients they used.
Golfing for Gabes
Thank you everyone!
Despite the rainy week, we managed to run our annual Golfing for Gabe’s event at Castle Hill Country Club on Tuesday the 7th May.
A number of our parents and many local businesses came out to support us on the day, and we raised $31,226 to help support the upgrade of some outdoor learning spaces at school. Thank you so much to everyone involved, including our Silver Sponsors Falcone Hospitality, Independent Locksmiths and Security, ANZUK Education and Lexus Parramatta.
Community Support
We have a lot to be thankful for, being part of the Hills community. In 2023 and 2024, we’ve had a great deal of support from local groups, including a $9,000 donation from Hills Lodge
to help us get new signage at the school.
The Baulkham Hills Lions have been busy cooking sausages for us at Bunnings, our Christmas Market and other events last year.
In total they’ve raised over $6,000 for school and classroom resources and technology.
Budding Entrepreneurs
The Year 10 students have been working on a business unit in class, and they came up with an idea to make, package, promote and sell cookies.
As you can see from the photos, their market day was a big success. The cookies were delicious!
Thanks for Your Support NSW State Government
We’re excited to announce that after the July holidays there will be a brand new Ninja Course fitness playground in the senior primary area. This is courtesy of NSW State Government ‘Community Development Fund’ grant which St Gabriel’s was awarded for their Learning to Thrive Wellbeing program.
The grant and program have been able to support a number of our community events through the second half of 2023 and start of 2024, as well as parent and sibling workshops.
Our New Buildings
It’s been about six months since we moved into our new buildings and the students have been taking full advantage of all that has to offer - including a new hall, library, science labs, Technical and Applied Sciences woodwork room, teaching kitchen and more classrooms to accommodate our move from primary to
K-12. We’re still working on upgrading some of the outdoor areas, which is a 2024 focus.
It's Tax Appeal Time. Become a Regular Donor.
As a not-for-profit, we invest everything back into our school. We rely on the generous support of the community to deliver the best educational opportunities and facilities to our students. Become a regular donor and help support our ongoing success, helping students with disabilities. For a very small amount each month, you could help us make a big difference.
You can register to donate at QR code or: give-aus.keela.co/STGdonate
St Gabriel's is a registered ACNC charity and all donations $2 or more are tax deductible.
