Education

PHOTOS | Parents, community rally to save St. Gabriel School from closure

By Paige Perez Posted on
A group of students sign their names onto a banner with the writing “SGS Strong” painted in red during a rally at St. Gabriel’s School in Riverdale on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.
A group of students sign their names onto a banner with the writing “SGS Strong” painted in red during a rally at St. Gabriel’s School in Riverdale on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.
Photo Paige Perez

 

Signs from a rally to save St. Gabriel’s School from closure hangs on a fence in the parking lot. Photo Paige Perez
The Church of St. Gabriel is connected to the school on the brink of closure in Riverdale on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.
The Church of St. Gabriel is connected to the school, which is on the brink of closure. Photo Paige Perez
Students sign their names onto a banner with the writing “SGS Strong” painted in red on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. The banner hangs onto a wall of St. Gabriel’s School in Riverdale during a rally to prevent the Archdiocese of New York from closing the school, which has been open since 1941.
Students eagerly sign their names onto a banner. The banner hangs on a wall of St. Gabriel’s School during a rally to prevent the Archdiocese of New York from closing the school, which has been open since 1941. Photo Paige Perez
A group of K-8 grade students hold up signs at a rally to save St. Gabriel’s School in Riverdale from closure. Photo Paige Perez
Patricia “Trish” Muniz (left), a former pre-K teacher and K-8 substitute, and Kai-lin Rausch, a member of the school’s parent’s association, share with the crowd the long lasting relationships they’ve nurtured while being members of the St. Gabriel’s School community on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Muniz’s two daughters graduated from the school and her husband has helped the basketball program since 2009. Rausch said she led community efforts to petition via email to the school leadership but she didn’t receive a response. Photo Paige Perez
Emily Delgado, left, a second grader, is comforted by her mother, Veronica Carpio, in St. Gabriel’s School Parking Lot as they listen to speakers at the rally on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Carpio said the school community is friendly and rumors of the closure came as a surprise to some parents. She also said her daughter is very sad and they don’t know where to go next for her education.
Emily Delgado, a second grader, is comforted by her mother Veronica Carpio in St. Gabriel’s School Parking Lot as they listen to speakers at the rally. Carpio said the Catholic school community is friendly and rumors of the closure came as a surprise to some parents. She also said her daughter is very sad and they don’t know where to go next for her education. Photo Paige Perez
A parent holds up a sign that reads “our kids have been through enough” during the rally against St. Gabriel’s School’s potential closure in Riverdale on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Some parents said it has been difficult trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A parent holds up a sign that reads “our kids have been through enough” during the rally against St. Gabriel’s School’s potential closure in Riverdale. Some parents said it has been difficult trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo Paige Perez

Update: The Archdiocese of New York announced on Feb. 15 at 4:17 p.m. that 12 Catholic schools in New York City would close, including six schools in the Bronx. Two additional Bronx schools, including St. Gabriel’s, are slated for mergers. The Archdiocese plans to merge St. Gabriel’s with St. Margaret’s of Cortona. 

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