A Catholic School in the Heart of the Kettle Moraine
St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School sits on Saint Gabriel Way in Hubertus, a small community tucked into the rolling countryside of Washington County, Wisconsin, where the northern edge of the Kettle Moraine meets the rural stretches of Richfield and the Holy Hill area. The school is a ministry of St. Gabriel Catholic Parish, one of the parishes of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and serves families from Hubertus, Richfield, Colgate, and the surrounding towns. From the outside, the building reads as a single, unified campus, with the parish church and school sharing the same grounds since 2018. From the inside, the day begins and ends with prayer, the hallways echo with the sound of a student body that has outgrown the modest one-room schoolhouse of 1888, and the school calendar revolves around the rhythms of the Catholic liturgical year as much as the academic year.
What the school is most known for is the pairing of a close-knit, small-class-size environment with the academic results that have come from it. On the most recent round of MAP testing for spring 2025/2026, 86 percent of St. Gabriel students scored above the national mean in math, 89 percent in reading, and 92 percent in language usage. In June 2025, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee recognized the school with Exemplary Recognition awards in both Academic Excellence and Mission and Catholic Identity - a dual honor that highlights a faculty which deliberately weaves faith and learning into the same day. Parents who visit are drawn by the small class sizes, the Catholic identity, and the reputation the school has built for sending its graduates on to college-preparatory high schools ready to lead, serve, and succeed.
More Than 130 Years of Catholic Education
The roots of St. Gabriel stretch back to 1887, when construction began on St. Hubert Parochial School. Seventy children began classes there in 1888, making this the longest continuously operating Catholic school ministry in the area. A second teacher was added in 1906, and the school was divided into two classrooms with four grades in each; the religious sisters who taught there instructed the children in reading, writing, and how to live as Catholics.
The school grew along with the parish over the next century. By May of 1953, parishioners had raised more than $41,000 to build a new school, and when it was completed in April of 1954, enrollment was already past 100 students. Three more classrooms were added in 1957, two more in the 1962-63 school year, and a 1974 fund drive raised $125,000 for an addition that included a library and learning center, three more classrooms, and the school office. In 1996, the parish celebrated its 150th anniversary with 520 families and 151 day school students.
A new chapter opened on July 21, 2002, when St. Hubert Parish, St. Columba Parish, and St. Mary Parish combined to form St. Gabriel Parish, and the school was renamed St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School. The most visible change came in January 2018, when the school moved from its long-time Hubertus Road location to one shared campus with the parish church on Saint Gabriel Way, where the school and parish now worship, learn, and serve side by side. Today every classroom has an interactive SMART display, students in grades 2 through 8 have 1:1 Chromebooks, and the school holds 11 commendations from the Archdiocesan accreditation process, covering Catholic Identity, curriculum, technology, school improvement planning, the after-school program, educational leadership, communication, student services, community relationships, and school climate.
A Mission of Proclaim, Form, Live
The school's mission statement is short and is repeated often by students and staff: "We, the people of St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School, brothers and sisters in Christ, have as our Mission to proclaim Christ and make disciples through the sacramental life of the Catholic Church, and to create an environment where academic excellence is nurtured." That mission is broken into three actions - Proclaim, Form, and Live - and those words show up in school branding and on spirit shirts throughout the year.
Faith is woven into every part of the day. Each morning opens with prayer, religious instruction is part of every grade, and students close the day with student-led prayer. Students plan and attend weekly Mass together and gather for monthly adoration. Sacramental preparation, faith-building retreats, a living Advent wreath, and Stations of the Cross are the rhythm of the year. The school describes itself as Catholic through and through, and it shows: weekly Mass, monthly adoration, religious instruction at every grade, and a service expectation that turns faith into action.
The school is also what the principal calls "small c catholic," welcoming students of all faiths and placing a high value on respect, hospitality, and community. Service is built into the curriculum and is treated as a way of life. Students collect items for local food shelves, serve meals at a homeless shelter, and assemble hundreds of pajamas that are donated to local families in need. Catholic social justice principles are embedded in classroom lessons, and the philosophy of the school holds that a graduate of St. Gabriel should be willing to serve, able to lead, and prepared to succeed.
From Pre-Kindergarten Through 8th Grade
St. Gabriel serves children in 4-year-old kindergarten through 8th grade, with the same faculty walking alongside the same families for up to nine years. The school day runs from 7:40 a.m., when drop-off begins, to 3:15 p.m. dismissal, with students released to their classrooms at 7:50 a.m.
The early childhood years are anchored by Kelly Roloff in 4K and Linda Reinowski in 5K. Both teachers design their rooms for children who are still learning how to learn: circle time, hands-on exploration, the first steps of reading and writing, and the daily rhythms of school. Aides Yvonne Endres and Patty Berg support the K4 classrooms. Mrs. Roloff, who holds a degree in Early Childhood Exceptional Educational Needs from UW-Eau Claire and a Viterbo certificate in regular education, joined St. Gabriel in 2024 after 19 years in early childhood and special education. Mrs. Reinowski brings 22 years of experience, mostly in 4K, 5K, and 1st grade, and is licensed Pre-K through 6.
The primary grades (1 through 3) build the foundations of reading, writing, and math. Vicki Littel, the 1st grade teacher, has been teaching at St. Gabriel since 1999 after earning her degree from UW-Whitewater, and she is the teacher many alumni remember as the year they learned to read. Maggie Schmidt, in 2nd grade, joined St. Gabriel after four years and teaches with a degree from St. Norbert College. Lucy Rappis, in 3rd grade, is a Marquette graduate and serves as the assistant director of the After-School Learning Program. The intermediate grades (4 and 5) are taught by Beth McAleer and Terri Burns. Mrs. McAleer, a UW-Oshkosh graduate with a lifetime license in elementary education and mathematics, also directs the After-School Learning Program. Mrs. Burns came to St. Gabriel after a winding path that included parish catechetical work, 10 years at Sylvan Learning Center, substitute teaching in Slinger, and a reciprocal Wisconsin license, and she now teaches 5th grade full time.
The middle school (grades 6 through 8) is small enough that each grade has a homeroom teacher who teaches the bulk of the core subjects. Karen Jungwirth, licensed in secondary English with 18 years of experience, teaches 6th grade homeroom along with English and literature. Deb Erdmann, a Cardinal Stritch graduate with 25 years in Catholic education, teaches 7th grade homeroom and social studies and religion. Tom DeMers teaches 8th grade homeroom and middle school math and science, and brings a background that includes creating and running an online grade school in Waukesha for 11 years, plus a master's in online teaching and learning from Concordia University-Portland.
Enrichment classes run across all grades. JoAnne Wasserman teaches art and music to K5 through 8th grade, with a focus on visual literacy and vocal performance. Silvia Schilling teaches Spanish to grades 1 through 8, using developmentally appropriate activities for young language learners. Amanda Schulteis, a UW-Oshkosh graduate with a master's in school counseling from Concordia, teaches physical education to all grades from K4 through 8th, an arrangement that lets her see every child in the school each week. Health, based on Catholic teaching and the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards, rounds out the special-area offerings. The school also belongs to Project Lead the Way and holds PLTW Distinguished School status for its STEM programming.
Faculty Who Choose to Stay
St. Gabriel is the kind of school where teachers stay. Miss Littel has been in her 1st grade classroom since 1999. Mrs. Schuh, the school secretary, came to the parish with her family seven years ago and has been a presence at the front desk of the school office since. The RtI (Response to Intervention) team is led by Sarah Kohls, a former stay-at-home mom and insurance professional who came to teaching as a second career and now works with students who need extra support in math and reading, alongside Traci Zupke, a former professional landscape designer and land surveyor who answered what she describes as a call from the Holy Spirit to teach in a Catholic school. Mrs. Zupke, whose background includes degrees in forestry and landscape design, is pursuing her math intervention certification and brings a unique blend of real-world experience to the RtI room.
The principal, Kim Lestina, is a Carroll University graduate in educational leadership, holds a master's in teaching from Aurora University, and has 25 years of teaching experience. She lives in Oconomowoc with her husband Craig and their two sons, both of whom are graduates of St. Jerome Parish School. She is a product of Catholic schools herself, and she keeps a quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta on her page: "I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things." Under her leadership, the school has earned its dual Archdiocesan Exemplary Recognition and has continued to build a faculty that combines veteran teachers with new energy from younger educators like Mr. DeMers, who came to St. Gabriel after time away from the classroom spent traveling the world and refereeing soccer internationally.
Fr. Tim, the pastor of St. Gabriel Parish, is the spiritual shepherd of the school community, and his photo and welcome letter are part of the school's online introduction to families. The parish business office supports the school in matters of tuition, finance, and admissions, with Mary Gilmeister serving as Director of Development and Joan Weiss as the parish's pastoral secretary.
Beyond the Classroom
St. Gabriel's extracurricular menu is broad for a school of its size. Athletics include boys' and girls' basketball and volleyball, and the school fields competitive teams that play in the local Catholic grade school league. Academic and creative activities include Destination Imagination, Forensics, and the Knowledge Lounge, an IXL club where students extend their learning beyond the regular school day. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts meet at the school and use the building as a base for their troops. The school also publishes a student yearbook, and each year the 8th grade class designs the yearbook cover in art class.
The school year is anchored by the annual Parish and School Auction, held on the second Saturday in March on the St. Gabriel campus. It is the largest fundraiser of the year, with an online silent auction, social hour, raffles, a catered dinner, and a live auction. The Parish Cash Calendar Raffle runs throughout the year, with $6,500 in weekly cash prizes. March of the Hawks is the school's annual giving drive; in 2025/2026, the goal was $21,000 to fund religious formation workbooks, curriculum consumables, Bibles, Chromebook accessories, and the technology support that keeps the school's network safe. The HSA Read-A-Thon, led by the Home and School Association, gathers pledges for the minutes students read and supports items like Accelerated Reader prizes, the IXL purchase, and new ELA curriculum.
The school also raises money through $crip, an ongoing gift card program in which 50 percent of profits are credited to families' tuition accounts monthly. Spirit shirts for the 2026-2027 school year carry the school theme JOY - Jesus, Others, and Yourself - and are worn on the monthly Spirit Group days, when older students lead their mixed-grade groups through activities and reflections on the saints and virtues.
After the Bell Rings: ASLP
The After-School Learning Program, or ASLP, is run out of the school building and is open Monday through Friday, from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. on full school days. It is directed by Mrs. McAleer, the 4th grade teacher, and assisted by Ms. Rappis, the 3rd grade teacher. The fee is $12 per student per day, and the program is designed to give students a safe place to keep growing spiritually, academically, and emotionally after the regular school day ends. Parents can sign up for specific days, and the program publishes a parent handbook that outlines the daily routine, pickup procedures, and the kinds of structured activities that fill the afternoon.
A Building Designed for Safety
Safety is treated as a serious and ongoing responsibility. The school has a dedicated safety committee that includes the school administrator, teachers, and law enforcement personnel, and the entire staff is trained in the I Love u Guys standard response protocol for K-12 schools. The school works closely with the Washington County Sheriff's Department and the Richfield Fire Department, who visit the building for walk-throughs, training, talks with students, and supervision of drills. Safety drills are run regularly throughout the school year.
The building itself is designed around layers of security. There are 32 interior and exterior cameras covering the school and the church, and every door is equipped with a camera. The front door, the parish hall door, and the ramp door are all armed with a monitor and buzzer; no one enters without being acknowledged and verified. A panic button in the building alerts the Washington County Sheriff's Department immediately if activated. All exterior doors are locked while students are in the building, and visitors must check in at the office, show photo identification, and wear a visitor badge. Classroom doors are kept locked and closed during the school day and are fitted with Nightlock devices for added security during a lockdown. At the 2024 auction, $50,000 was raised to enhance security for the entire school and parish campus.
Every adult who has contact with students is also required to complete Safeguarding God's Children training through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and volunteers who regularly work during school hours must complete a Volunteer Application Form. April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the school uses that season to share resources with families about keeping children and teens safe online, praying for healing from abuse, and strengthening family life.
A Parent Partnership in Two Commissions
Two parent bodies share responsibility for the school community. The Home and School Association, or HSA, is open to every parent of a St. Gabriel student and meets on the third Monday of each month during the school year, currently by Google Meet. Its work is largely social, spiritual, and supportive: middle school dances, Trunk or Treat, Muffins with Mom, donuts for Grandparents' Day, teacher appreciation meals during conferences and in-service days, a Snack Shack, Candy Bar Bingo, a Wrap-A-Thon, and Birthday treat bags for every student. Each family contributes $30 from tuition to the HSA, and the 2026-2027 board is led by Co-Presidents Brooke Marcellis and Kelsey Berger, with Co-Vice Presidents Lindsey Perriello and Kim Franzen, Treasurer Lisa White, and Co-Treasurer Kourtney Viste. Staff liaisons from the faculty are Miss Littel and Ms. Rappis.
The School Advisory Commission, or S.A.C., is a smaller representative parent body that works more directly with the principal on policy and long-range planning. It includes the principal, a parish council liaison, and parent representatives from K4 through 8th grade, and it meets monthly during the school year. The S.A.C. also runs the March of the Hawks annual giving drive. Members of the 2026-2027 commission include Meghan Berndt, Amber Chycinski, Jake Lechusz, Ryan Lusher, Matt Marcellis, and Kenneth Perriello, with the chair, vice-chair, and secretary positions to be filled. The parish council liaison is Rebecca Hartzel.
Parents are asked to volunteer 10 to 15 hours per year, and volunteer slots are coordinated through iVolunteer, the school's online sign-up system. Room parents are chosen by lottery in the fall, and they help coordinate the class basket for the auction, the teacher's birthday celebration, and other classroom-level needs.
Tuition, Assistance, and a Commitment to Stay Open
St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School does not participate in state-funded school choice programs, and the parish and school together make up the difference between tuition and the actual cost of educating each child. Tuition for 2026/2027 is set each spring, and the school publishes its registration fee, payment form, and tuition agreement on its admissions page. New families pay a $200 per-family registration fee at the time of enrollment, and a prepayment discount is available to families who pay tuition in full by the first Monday of the school year. The discount ranges from $100 for one K4 child to $325 for four or more K5-8 children.
A tuition assistance program, administered through the parish business office, is available to qualified families, and the school notes that it is committed to making grants available to the best of its ability each year. Refer-a-family credits of $500 per new family enrolled are available to current families, and a one-day-a-week playground or lunch aide commitment for the full school year earns $500 off tuition per committed day. The $crip program, through which families purchase gift cards for everyday spending, returns 50 percent of profit to tuition accounts monthly.
Angela Hauert and Mike Reichert in the parish business office handle questions about tuition assistance and can be reached at (262) 628-1141. Mary Gilmeister, the Director of Development, handles donations, fundraising, and conversations with prospective major donors, and can be reached at the parish office at extension 236 or by email at mgilmeister@stgabrielhubertus.org.
A School That Takes the Long View
The 2026-2027 school year opened with the school yearbook's opening pages already designed by last spring's 8th grade art class, the JOY spirit shirts on order, and the new HSA board in place. The school day, the prayer life, the math and reading scores, the safety drills, the Wednesday night basketball practices, the middle school dances, the Advent wreath, the Stations of the Cross, the food shelf collections, the pajama drive, the Read-A-Thon, and the spring auction will follow the same rhythms they have followed for the past 130 years. The school, the parish, and the families who fill its classrooms are committed to a vision that holds academics and faith to the same standard, that expects graduates to serve as well as they lead, and that welcomes every family - Catholic or not - into a community that takes the long view of what a child can become.