San Gabriel Mission High School facts for kids

San Gabriel Mission High School is a special school just for girls. It is a Catholic high school that helps students get ready for college. The school is built on the historic grounds of the fourth California mission. This mission was started in 1771 by Franciscan priests. Junipero Serra often used it as his main office. The school is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

School History

San Gabriel Mission High School is a Catholic college prep school. It stands on the land of the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. This mission was the fourth one in California. Franciscan priests founded it in 1771. The Claretians religious group started managing the local church in 1908.

How the School Started

The idea for the high school began in the mid-1940s. Father J. Nuevo, a pastor at Mission San Gabriel, had a vision for it. He collected a lot of money, about $245,000, to help build the school. He was transferred in 1948. His replacement, Father Eugene Herran, continued the project.

The groundbreaking ceremony happened on January 16, 1949. San Gabriel Mission High School opened in September 1949. At first, it was a "co-institutional" school. This meant boys and girls were taught separately. The Claretian Fathers taught the boys. The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose taught the girls.

The first group of students had 119 girls and boys. They temporarily studied at All Souls Grammar School. In February 1950, they moved into their new building. Father John Schneider and Sister Mary Redempta Prose were the first principals. The school was officially dedicated on January 14, 1951.

School Colors and Mascot

The new school chose green and silver as its colors. Green stands for hope, and silver means sterling worth. To honor the Mission's past, students picked "Pioneers" as their school name. The girls' sports teams are known as the Lady Pioneers.

Early Activities and Clubs

Many clubs and activities started in the early years. These included the Student Council, Sodality, and Glee Club. There were also Orchestra and Drama clubs. Boys could join football, basketball, and track teams. Girls played volleyball, basketball, and tennis.

Intramural sports, Play Day, and Field Day became yearly events. Dances, rallies, and musicals also filled the activity schedule. Students performed plays and musicals. The chorus started in 1950. For many years, the Drama Club and Glee Club put on shows. They often performed at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse.

Sports Achievements and Modern Updates

In 1963, the Mission Band marched in the Temple City Camellia Parade. That same year, the Boys Pioneer Basketball Team reached the CIF championships for the seventh time. The Mission Soccer Team won the League Title in 1966. They also won the Southern Section CIF championship in 1967 and 1968. Mission's sports teams continue to achieve success in CIF and Horizon League Championships.

In 2007, Mission TV started broadcasting live online. In 2009, the Cultural Room opened. Language clubs use this room for their meetings.

School Leadership Over the Years

Here are the names of the principals who have led San Gabriel Mission High School:

• 1949-1951: Fr. John Schneider; S. Mary Redempta Prose
• 1951-1952: Fr. Leo Mattecheck; S. Rita Marie Brown
• 1952-1954: Fr. John Schneider; S. Rita Marie Brown
• 1954-1957: Fr. Leo Mattecheck; S. Rita Marie Brown
• 1957-1958: Fr. Leo Mattecheck; S. Alberta Oehlke
• 1958-1963: Fr. Leo Mattecheck; S. John Dominic Samaha
• 1963-1966: Fr. Henry Herrera; S. John Dominic Samaha
• 1966-1967: Fr. Matthew Di Maria; S. John Dominic Samaha
• 1967-1970: Fr. Matthew Di Maria; S. Mara Martin
• 1970-1971: S. Mara Martin
• 1971-1973: S. Katherine Jean Cowen
• 1973-1979: S. Mary Patrick English
• 1979-1987: S. Carolyn Kolander
• 1987-1988: S. Carolyn Kolander (on leave); Mr. Frank Laurenzello
• 1989-2000: Mr. Frank Laurenzello
• 2000-2006: Mrs. Carolyn Nelson
• 2006-2015: Mr. Jamie Collins
• 2015-2018: Dr. Marielle Sallo
• 2018–present: Ms. Raquel Cagigas, '96

In the fall of 1971, San Gabriel Mission High School became an all-girls' school. The Claretians stopped their involvement at that time. The school has been fully approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges since 1954.

Campus Improvements

The school has added many new facilities over the years. In the fall of 1994, a new chemistry lab was finished. A new Physical Science Lab opened in the fall of 1996. A chapel was completed in 1997. In the fall of 1999, a new biology lab was ready.

In 2007, a new exercise room opened. The auditorium floor was replaced in 2008. A new dance studio was completed in 2009.

Learning at SGMHS

San Gabriel Mission High School is approved by WCEA/WASC. It follows rules set by the archdiocese and the state.

The school offers many courses to help students learn and grow. These include Enrichment Courses and SAT Prep classes. Students also get personal advice for college admissions. The school offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which are like college-level classes. They also have the AP Capstone Program.

The school briefly offered the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Student Community

Currently, there are over 150 students at San Gabriel Mission High School. Students travel from many different cities to attend. They come from the San Gabriel Valley and the greater Los Angeles area.

Sports Teams

San Gabriel Mission High School is part of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). This group manages high school sports in California. The school is a member of the Horizon League.

Sports offered at San Gabriel Mission High School include:

• Basketball
• Cross-Country
• Soccer
• Softball
• Track and Field
• Volleyball

Famous Alumni

• Kenny Loggins - (1966) An American singer and songwriter.

See also

• Mission San Gabriel Arcángel