San Gabriel Mission High School facts for kids

San Gabriel Mission High School is a special school just for girls. It's a Catholic high school that helps students get ready for college. The school is located in San Gabriel, on the same land as the fourth California mission. This mission was started way back in 1771 by Franciscan priests.

School History

San Gabriel Mission High School opened its doors in September 1949. The idea for the school came from Father J. Nuevo, who was a pastor at the Mission San Gabriel. He worked hard to gather money for the new school building.

Early Days and Growth

When the school first opened, it was a "co-institutional" school. This means boys and girls were taught in separate sections. The boys' section was run by the Claretian Fathers. The girls' section was run by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose. The first students, about 119 boys and girls, started classes in a temporary location. By February 1950, they moved into their brand new building.

The school chose green and silver as its colors. Green stands for hope, and silver means something valuable and excellent. Students picked "Pioneers" as their team name. This was to honor the history of the Mission.

Activities and Sports

From the very beginning, students had many clubs and activities. These included:

• Student Council
• Glee Club (for singing)
• Orchestra
• Drama clubs

Boys could play sports like football, basketball, and soccer. Girls had volleyball, basketball, and tennis. Fun events like Play Day and Field Day became yearly traditions. Dances, rallies, and musicals also filled the school calendar.

The school's drama and music groups put on many shows. In 1950, the chorus performed "Tribute to Stephen Foster." For many years, the Drama Club and Glee Club performed at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse.

Athletic Achievements

San Gabriel Mission High School has a strong sports history. In 1963, the Mission Band marched in the Temple City Camellia Parade. The Boys Pioneer Basketball Team made it to the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) championships seven times! The Mission Soccer Team won the League Title in 1966. They also won the Southern Section CIF championship in 1967 and 1968. The school's teams continue to do well in CIF and Horizon League competitions.

Becoming an All-Girls School

In 1971, the Claretian Fathers left the school. San Gabriel Mission High School then became an all-girls school. It has stayed that way ever since. The school has been officially approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges since 1954. This means it meets high standards for education.

Campus Improvements

Over the years, the school has added many new facilities:

• In 1994, a new chemistry lab was finished.
• In 1996, a new Physical Science Lab opened.
• A chapel was completed in 1997.
• A new biology lab was finished in 1999.
• An exercise room opened in 2007 (it's being updated now).
• A new floor was added to the auditorium in 2008.
• A new dance studio was completed in 2009.

Alumni Association

The first meeting of the San Gabriel Mission High School Alumni Association was held in 1981. This group helps former students stay connected to the school.

Academics and Learning

San Gabriel Mission High School is approved by WCEA/WASC. This means its teaching programs are high quality. The school follows rules set by the local Catholic Church and the state.

Students can take special classes like:

• Enrichment Courses
• SAT Prep (to get ready for college entrance exams)
• Personal College Admissions Advisement (help with applying to colleges)
• Advanced Placement (AP) courses (college-level classes)
• The AP Capstone Program (a special research program)

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

Student Community

Currently, over 150 students attend San Gabriel Mission High School. These students come from many different cities. They travel from all over the San Gabriel Valley and the greater Los Angeles area. The current principal is Ms. Raquel Cagigas.

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

Many successful people have graduated from San Gabriel Mission High School. Some have even returned to help the school.

• Kenny Loggins (Class of 1966) is a very famous American singer and songwriter. He helped the school celebrate its 40th anniversary in 1989.
• Kim Baldonado (Class of 1982) is an NBC news reporter. She gave the graduation speech in 2012.
• Suzanna Guzman (Class of 1973) is a well-known opera singer (mezzo-soprano).
• Alba Quezada (Class of 1971) is also a renowned opera singer (soprano).
• Peter Mullin (Class of 1958) is a businessman and owns the Mullin Automotive Museum.

See also

• Mission San Gabriel Arcángel