Hello, my name is Connie Griffith. I am the chairperson of the St. Gabriel School Commission, and along with Dennis Dininger and Kerry Balding am a member of the West Deanery Unification Commission. Like many of you, we currently have children attending and children that have graduated from St. Gabriel. I personally graduated from here many years ago. Our love for this school is unwavering and like you we have spent a good portion of our lives and resources here. We will be sad when this school year comes to a close, but we rejoice in the knowledge that these changes, while difficult, will open the door for our children to experience an education that will become a model of educational excellence in the Archdiocese. Since this unification is new and unprecedented, it has created some misunderstandings. As a West Deanery Unification board member, I wanted to communicate this process.

The first phase was to unify St. Gabriel School and St. Michael School into one school for the 2010-2011 school year. We were to accomplish many tasks quickly in order to be ready for next school year. Those tasks were to appoint a new principal, create a tuition and fee schedule, approve a school budget, and provide guidelines for hiring teachers. The first task was to appoint a new principal of the unified school. With much deliberation, we chose two individuals, Sarah Watson and Matt Goddard, as co-principals. The reason was that the members of the West Deanery Unification Commission felt very strongly that we wanted individuals who understood and supported the K-12 model with the 21st Century Education. The Archdiocese actually suggested and is financially supporting a 2nd principal in order to accomplish our goals. We have created and published a tuition and fee schedule and we have already approved the school budget. As of this communication, Sarah Watson and Matt Goddard are working together to provide our school with the best teaching staff for our children’s education.

The second phase will start the 2011-2012 school year, when the elementary school with a new name (yet to be determined) will be joined with Cardinal Ritter High School to create the K-12 model. The schools will be under the direction and budget of Cardinal Ritter High School. This concept will continue to support Catholic education, provide educational excellence and prepare our children for a successful future both spiritually and intellectually.

We are pleased to announce that there is a new blog available on our website that will keep you up-to-date with all the latest information about our exciting new church building project. Currently it contains older articles from our homepage about the early stages of our plans including video of the public meeting where we approved the building project.

The latest entry is a link to a slideshow that shows floorplans, blueprints, and artist sketches of proposed stained glass windows for the new church. More photos and information will be coming in the weeks ahead.

The new blog is available at http://www.stgabrielindy.org/newchurch/.

You can always find the latest articles in the sidebar of this main webpage on the right-hand side of your screen under the title “New Church Building News”.

March 19, 2010

Dear Parents of St. Michael and St. Gabriel the Archangels Catholic Schools,

When the Archdiocese asked us to be part of the amazing educational opportunity being presented to our children, we were very excited. Through this unification process, we know our personal collaboration throughout the rest of this school year and during the 2010-2011 school year is of the utmost importance. Because of this, we started meeting immediately to work on the coming year. Both of us are dedicated to making St. Michael School a school which continues the current excellent programs and enhances the education of all students.

This coming year will be a year of great excitement, opportunity, and academic excellence. We hope you will come on the journey with us. We wanted to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves to you.

Mr. Matthew Goddard
As a life-long member of St. Michael Parish, I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to work with Miss Sarah Watson as the leaders of the school I grew up supporting. My parents (Dave and Jeri) chose this parish/school for my two sisters (Traci and Jenny) and me to enrich our Catholic faith. I attended St. Michael, kindergarten through eighth grade, graduating in 1995. I continued my education at Cardinal Ritter High School. During High School, I participated in many sports and other extra-curricular activities. After graduating from High School in 1999, I selected Franklin College to major in Physical Education, and to play tennis at the collegiate level. I transferred to IUPUI after 2 years and graduated from there in 2004. I then started my professional life as a physical education teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes and All Saints. In the 2005-2006 school year, I became the physical education teacher at St. Michael. As my years went on at St. Michael I took on more and more duties and realized I wanted to become an administrator. Therefore, I enrolled in the IUPUI Urban Principal Program and finished my classes last summer with my degree and license coming this May. That program, along with the current principal of St. Michael, Steve Padgett, helped me develop my own leadership and educational philosophies. These have established who I am as a principal.

I married my wife (Nichole) in the summer of 2006. God graced us with a baby boy (Quentin) on April 11, 2009. We are also the guardians of Nichole’s brother (Tyler) who is currently a junior at Cardinal Ritter High School. My family resides in Wayne Township.

With this opportunity to work with Miss Watson, who is a dedicated child-centered leader, we will make this transition as smooth as possible.

Miss Sarah J. Watson
As a native west-sider, I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with Mr. Matt Goddard as shared administrators at St. Michael School. Both St. Michael and St. Gabriel are close to my heart. One set of my grandparents were founding members of St. Michael Parish, followed by the second set joining in 1953. Both of my parents, their siblings, and all of my siblings attended St. Michael School, and my parents both taught at St. Michael in the early 1970s. I graduated from St. Michael in 1993. After St. Michael, I followed a long line of family members to Cathedral High School, graduating in 1997. In 2000, I graduated from Purdue University with degrees in Special Education, Psychology, and Social Studies Education. I received my Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Indianapolis in 2007.

After graduation from Purdue, I came to St. Gabriel School and began my teaching career. While at St. Gabriel I taught fifth grade, fourth grade social studies and language arts, resource, and acted as the lead teacher for the school. During this time, I also was the youth minister at St. Michael Parish. In 2006, I was hired as principal at St. Gabriel.

I see education as my true vocation. Spending my day teaching, learning, and leading is what God calls me to do. It is my privilege to be able to give back to the Catholic Education system my parents struggled to make a part of my life. I am honored to be at St. Michael and share this position of principal with Mr. Goddard. Mr. Goddard and I believe that children are the reason we are at school each day, and we desire to continue the student-centered approach that is at both schools now.

We know that over the course of the next few months several questions will be asked and answers to longstanding questions will be given. Please feel free to contact either or both of us with your questions, comments, and concerns. Mr. Goddard may be reached at mgoddard@indyarchangel.org and/or Miss Watson may be reached at swatson@stgabrielindyschool.org. We look forward to seeing those we know and meeting those we do not know at the open house on April 15, 2010, from 5:30 PM-7:00 PM. The staff for the coming year will be present at this open house, too.

Sincerely,

Mr. Matthew Goddard Miss Sarah J. Watson

March 10, 2010

To: St. Gabriel and St. Michael parents and parishioners

The West Deanery Unification Commission met on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 to discuss the appointment of an administrator for the newly unified parish schools.

After considering several options, all members of the Commission agreed to hire both Matt Goddard and Sarah Watson as principals, who have shared responsibilities for the coming school year, 2010-2011, at St. Michael the Archangel School. As was stated at the parent meeting at St. Gabriel School on February 28, having administrators from both schools will be advantageous in blending two programs.

The ongoing interest and support of the Archdiocese to help assure the future of Catholic Education in the West Deanery continues as this new partnership unfolds.

Over the next two months the Office of Catholic Education, in conjunction with Matt and Sarah, will determine the distinct roles and responsibilities of each position. However, this will not affect the process of hiring teachers, which needs to take place as soon as possible.

Guidelines have been drafted by the Commission that will enable the current principals of both schools, along with Matt Goddard, to make faculty and staff decisions by mid-April.

This unification of two Catholic parish schools and Cardinal Ritter High School provides a unique opportunity to develop a Pre K – 12 program in the West Deanery that will prepare students for the challenges they will meet in an ever-changing world.

Again we ask for your prayers and support as we move forward in this transition phase.

Sincerely,

Ginny Suttner

West Deanery Unification Coordinator

February 19, 2010

To: St. Gabriel and St. Michael Parishioners and Parents

Dear Parishioners and Parents,

In an effort to communicate with you regarding the uniting of St. Gabriel and St. Michael, the Archangels, Schools, I offer the following information.

My name is Virginia Suttner and I have been involved in Catholic education for a total of 31 years as teacher, principal and educational consultant for the Office of Catholic Education. On February 10, 2010, I was officially appointed as coordinator to assist and oversee staffing, curriculum, administration, and other related issues in this transition process.

Thus far in my short tenure as coordinator, I have interviewed the faculty and staff of both schools in order to better understand their strengths and the challenges they have faced in this unification process. I have had individual meetings with both principals to learn more about their school’s unique profiles. Additionally, Father Larry Crawford and Father Varghese Maliakkal met briefly with me to provide their perspective of this rapidly approaching merger.

A West Deanery Commission has been established with three members from St. Gabriel, five members from St. Michael, both pastors, the Dean of the West Deanery and the newly appointed coordinator. The members of this Commission are committed, involved and excited about this incredible opportunity to take part in the creation of a preschool through grade 12 Catholic school.

The Commission first met on February 16, 2010 to discuss four critical issues that must be addressed immediately: tuition, staffing, registration and communication. At the next Commission meeting on February 23, we will determine the tuition rates and registration fees for the next school year, 2010-2011, discuss hiring processes for administrators, faculty and staff, and review marketing materials.

An Open House has been scheduled at St. Michael the Archangel School, Sunday, February 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We would like to invite all interested parents to an informational meeting immediately following the Open House. We want to be open to your concerns and will do our best to answer any questions that you may have.

I ask for your prayers and cooperation as I work with all of you on this new educational opportunity for your students.

Sincerely,

Virginia Suttner

West Deanery Consolidation Coordinator

Archbishop Buechlein has approved our plans to go forward with the educational partnership between St. Gabriel School, St. Michael’s School, Cardinal Ritter High School, and Marian University. Below is the text of a letter he sent to Father Larry outlining the steps that will occur to facilitate the transition. More information will be forthcoming soon.

Most Rev. Daniel M.Buechlein, O.S.B.
Archdiocese of Indianapolis
P.O. Box 1410
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1410
317-236-1400

February 2 , 2010
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Reverend Larry Crawford
Saint Gabriel Catholic Church
6000 W 34th St
Indianapolis IN 46224

 Dear Fr. Crawford:

 I have reviewed the latest recommendations for enhancing Catholic education in the West Deanery. I thank you for your hard work and time. I appreciate the sacrifices you have made to attend the meetings and to consider prayerfully and carefully the best options for guaranteeing the success of Catholic education in the West Deanery.

 After consulting with Monsignor Schaedel, Father Crawford, Father Varghese, and Mickey Lentz and our Office of Catholic Education staff, I believe we are all in agreement that it would be best for the schools and parishes  involved if we proceed in phases.

 Phase I

 Based on the committee’s recommendation, the Archdiocese approves the following:

1. The Archdiocese will appoint an outside coordinator to assist and oversee staffing, curriculum administration, and other related transition issues. This position will start in early February of 2010 and will end with the opening of the 2010-2011 school year.
2. The governance of St. Michael School for us 2010-2011 will be by a newly fanned commission made up of five members from St. Michael School. three members from Sf. Gabriel School. the two pastors, the Dean of the West Deanery, and the newly appointed out.side coordinator. This new commission should be in place as soon as possihle.
3. The 7th and 8th grade programs at St. Michael School and Cardinal Ritter High School will continue to work in close collaboration with one another during the 2010-2001 school year and will continue to be operated out of both sites.

 Items of priority to be addressed:

• Smooth and effective integration of students, parents, and faculty/staff St. Gabriel to St.Michael Schools for the 2010-11 school term
• Further collaboration of the 7th and 8th grade programs at Sf. Michael and Cardinal Ritter schools
• Begin the marketing and communication of the collaboration with a focus on the advantages
• Continued discussions and planning of the curriculum
• Implement professional development program for instructors Pre-K to 8
• Identify and implement actions to provide a phasing in of curriculum

Phase II

 Based on the committee’s recommendation, the Archdiocese approves the following:

1. A new Board of Limited Jurisdiction for Cardinal Ritter High School and St. Michael the Archangel School will he established that ensures representation and expertise by January 1, 2011.
2. The Chief Executive Officer of this new Board of Limited Jurisdiction is the President of Cardinal Ritter High School

 Items of priority to be addressed:

• Establishment of administrative structure for this new union of schools
• Implement active marketing and advancement plans to increase enrollment and resources
• Continued discussions with Marian University on increased collaboration

 I am pleased that these efforts are continuing to move forward. There is still much work to be done and I encourage everyone involved to continue to stay focused on what is best for the children of the West Deanery. 

Again, I would like to give my sincere thanks to the committee members from St. Gabriel School, Saint Michael the Archangel School and Cardinal Ritter High School for all of your hard work, time and innovative ideas.

May God bless you and your continued work to strengthen Catholic education in the West Deanery. 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B.
Archbishop of Indianapolis

We’ve been referring to our new school partnership between St. Gabriel, St. Michael, Cardinal Ritter, and Marian University as providing “21st Century Education.” Our school website now contains an article which provides some questions and answers about what we mean by 21st Century Education. Click here for the article about 21st-century education. For more information about the new school partnership see the articles below titled “Frequently Asked Questions About the Future of St. Gabriel School” and “Our Continuing Commitment to Catholic Education“

Dear Parishioners:

A bit of past/current history might be helpful.  In the Council of Baltimore the first bishops of the United States said that a Catholic School should be attached to every Catholic Church to deal with the immigrant population. Some people today still remember when it was required that if they did not send their children to a Catholic School they had to get permission of the Bishop through their pastor. That model of Catholic Church/School has been the one that we have been familiar with all our lives. 

In recent years we have seen many Catholic Schools enter into consolidations or even close.  St. Gabriel, St. Michael and Cardinal Ritter Jr/Sr. High School have chosen to take a proactive stance, and by partnering to create a new entity do much more educationally than any one institution could do individually, and to take our children into a Twenty-First century educational experience.

I understand that it is more than a saying that there must be a Good Friday before there can be an Easter Sunday.  Each of us has to grieve the loss before we can move on to the new and exciting.  But the educational program being offered to these communities is an incredible opportunity.   It is a concept in which a child can potentially enter the educational program and end up with a bachelor or master degree in 16 yrs.  And as the partnership unfolds in the next few months, you will be kept informed and some of you will be asked to serve on committees (some already have).  It will be a program where every individual student’s needs are met.  And next fall St. Gabriel will be in partnership with an educational program that others nationwide will be looking at.

And St. Gabriel will continue to be a parish for many people of a variety of cultures and traditions.

Please know that the rumor mill is working overtime right now.  It used to be that we had to deal with word of mouth, and written word.  Now we have email, twitter, and everything else.  And everyone is an authority.  But know this.  The only official word will come through Fr. Larry Crawford and/or Sarah Watson.  Anything, including what “downtown” says will come through us and only through us.

Right now we need to focus on all the life and things that are happening this year at St. Gabriel.  

• We have just finished two incredible and great weeks at St.  Gabriel with the two missions.  Many people grew in their Hope in Christ.
• Our Faith Formation program is growing incredibly this year.
  • Sunday Morning Religious Ed (grade 1-6) has 123 students.
  • Thursday Youth Classes (7 grade through high school)  has 50 students
  • Sacramental Prep which includes 1^st Reconciliation (in January and 1^st Eucharist I May has 59 students
  • There are 18 high school students who are asking for Confirmation
  • RCIA has 7 people in the English class and   6 in the Spanish for a total of 13 candidates.

 Our parish is thriving.  We are looking to the future.  We sometimes grieve as we see the child grow into maturity; but we know it must.  We know the tomorrows we face will in fact be better than the yesterdays that were wonderful.

 Sincerely,
Fr. Larry Crawford
Pastor

What you really want to know about the partnership of Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School, St. Gabriel the Archangel School and St. Michael the Archangel School

Is Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School closing?
Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School is not closing.  The students attending Saint Gabriel now will have the amazing opportunity to be part of a new school. The opportunities there will be afforded to our students are countless.  This is a brand new school, based on 21^st century education. Because of the proximity of the two schools, it only makes sense that we will use St. Michael and Cardinal Ritter High School’s current buildings, at 30^th and Tibbs.  The resources we will be able to provide number many more than our current resources.  We will be able to have a school counselor, more equipment, a streamlined curriculum, spiritual opportunities, social advantages, athletic opportunities, and much more; and we can do this all while maintaining a similar class size.

Is Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish closing?
Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish is not closing.  Saint Gabriel Parish will have ownership in the new school.  This new school will be the Catholic school for the Saint Gabriel Parish families.  The Saint Gabriel Parish will continue to operate.

Where will our students be receiving sacramental preparation?
Parishioners of Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish and their families will still have Sacramental Preparation at Saint Gabriel Parish.  The program for Sacramental Preparation will continue to operate out of each parish’s faith formation offices.  The Saint Gabriel program currently operates in this manner.

Is the plan for Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish to become a Hispanic parish?
Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish will continue to honor and hold dear its multicultural community.  We will continue to welcome anyone who would like to be part of our parish community to join. 

What does the new school mean for our students?
The students of Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School will attend school in a new school building.  Each student at Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School, no matter their educational ability will continue to be taught with the same compassion that is provided to them currently.  In addition, we will be able to better serve those with special needs, both for remediation and acceleration. 

What will the name of the new school be?
The name of the new school is one of the many still unanswered questions.

How will the staff be hired for the new school?
Staffing decisions for the new school have not yet been made.  Once these are made, they will be shared with the communities.

Is there a major plan/vision that you are not sharing with us?
There are still many unanswered questions about the new school.  There are a number of people working to get questions answered.  During this process, we are bound to hear things on the street that may not be true.  As facts are settled, we  will be sharing them with you.  One of the reasons we are  bringing families onboard now as opposed to after all decisions are made is that we want to get you involved by serving on committees helping to make some of the decisions.  It is our hope that everyone feels that the new creation is in fact ours.  As opportunities arise, we will be contacting people to sit on committees to help with the task at hand.  

What happens to the existing Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School building?
Do I need to transfer parishes?
There have been no decisions made as to what will happen to the current Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School building.  There are many possibilities yet to explore.  A committee of parishioners will be gathered to begin these discussions.

What will the tuition be at the new school?
Tuition and other financial questions regarding the new school have not yet been settled.  When this information is available, it will be shared.

Who will be in charge of the new school?
The new school will have a board of directors, a president, and principals.  The individuals who will fill these positions have yet to be named.

STATEMENT OF OCTOBER 11, 2009

In a letter called, RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM, the United States Bishops wrote the following:  “Young people of the third millennium must be a source of energy and leadership in our Church and our nation. Therefore, we must provide young people with an academically rigorous and doctrinally sound program of education and faith formation designed to strengthen their union with Christ and his Church. Catholic schools collaborate with parents and guardians in raising and forming their children as families struggle with the changing and challenging cultural and moral contexts in which they find themselves. Catholic schools provide young people with sound Church teaching through a broad-based curriculum, where faith and culture are intertwined in all areas of a school’s life. By equipping our young people with a sound education, rooted in the Gospel message, the Person of Jesus Christ, and rich in the cherished traditions and liturgical practices of our faith, we ensure that they have the foundation to live morally and uprightly in our complex modern world.”

“Ongoing faith formation and professional development programs must also be available so that administrators and teachers in Catholic schools can continue to grow in their ministry of education. These programs will introduce new and effective initiatives, educational models, and approaches, while always maintaining a sound Catholic identity in our schools.”

We have followed the Bishops mandate to review “effective initiates, educational models and approaches, while always maintaining a sound Catholic identity in our schools.” It is the responsibility of each Pastor in collaboration with the educational leaders of the West Deanery and the guidance of the Office of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese to ensure that the precious children entrusted to our care by God and by generous parents are receiving the very best educational opportunity.  To that end, discussions have been ongoing at the leadership level to 1) assess our current programs and resources, and 2) to review all of the options for ongoing growth and improvement and 3) to ultimately make a recommendation to the Archdiocese.

Our discussions have been very much aware of the nature of change and how difficult it has become in our society.  We also recognize that often change is mis-perceived as a negative comment on the past or those who have gone before us.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  We stand on the shoulders of our current and past Pastors, administrators and faculty who have shown nothing but dedication and service as we try to shape an even better future for our children.  We are about polishing the gem.  We are about providing the sort of curriculum and learning environment that will allow us to move from excellent to extraordinary.

Our entire focus during these discussions has been on the children and their future.  How might we serve them better with a seamless faith-filled curriculum P-K through 12^th grade with potential for being P-K to 16?  We believe in a faith filled curriculum PK-12/16 committed to preparing its students to succeed in a global and equally dynamic community; a curriculum whose outcomes inspire students to be discerning believers, problem solvers, innovators , communicators, collaborators, media literate, self-directed and globally aware.  How do we best address issues related to insuring that the educational program is available, affordable and accessible?  How do we best serve varying student needs based upon age and experience?  We want an educational community that seamless provides Gospel based faith formation so that all that is learned in school will be seen in the light of service and social justice.  We want an educational community in the West Deanery that is safe, caring and where students are known by name.  We want an educational community where age-appropriate academic challenges are made and achieved so that we graduate students who are successful and confident of future success – personally and academically. 

While all of the details have yet to be worked out, it is now clear in what direction our vision is taking us and it is time to share it with you.

As of July 1, 2010, a new and exciting educational program will be introduced that will include contributions from Cardinal Ritter Junior-Senior High School, St. Michael’s and St. Gabriel’s elementary schools.  The vision also includes greater collaboration with Marian University.  St. Gabriel’s will no longer serve as a center for elementary education.  The many exciting ministry options for the use of the building will be reviewed through a discernment process by parish leadership including the Parish Council.  The building which currently houses St. Michael’s students will be reconfigured to welcome the students currently enrolled at St. Gabriel’s.  All of the new programs will be directed and overseen by a single board and administration yet to be named.  Transition issues related to faculty and staff, tuition, financial aid, student placement and facility use will continue to be addressed in a spirit of justice.

Names of participants:

• Father Crawford
• Father Varghese
• Steve Padgett
• Paul Lockard
• Jo Hoy
• Sarah Watson
• Eve Gill
• Lisa Zetzl
• Matt Goddard

All of the questions you may have in your mind right now may not be able to be answered today.  As soon as more details are available, more will be shared with you. As we continue to develop what will be a new experience for our Deanery, we certainly ask for your prayers and your patience. 

May God bless you all!