Principal's Message
Gabrielino High School
Welcome to Gabrielino High School!
It is with great excitement and pride that Gabrielino High School is celebrating its Silver Anniversary. It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since GHS first opened its doors. That first year we had 320 students, this school year we opened with 1700. As one of the founding staff members, I am pleased to see how the hopes and dreams of that first staff and the community have become a reality.
When the school opened in 1994, San Gabriel Unified School District was in the middle of a legal battle to keep the school open. At the time a neighboring district was suing the State of California over the 1992 unification election. The goal was to invalidate the election which would negate the need for the new high school. In that first year there were 18 staff members at GHS. All of us worked day to day not knowing if we would have a job for the year, or even next week. It was a stressful time. I had two small children and worried what I would do if I became unemployed. My husband and I had long talks about the risk, but we both knew that the opportunity to help build a school was too special to pass up.
I am sure similar conversations took place in the households of the other 17 staff members. Like me, all of them stayed. We took the chance on Gabrielino because we believed in the dream of the SGUSD community and knew we could create something very special.
In years that followed, new staff members were added. Like the first staff, they brought new voices, ideas, and experiences. As the years passed programs were added, and expanded, and the school was, and continues to be recognized for academic and extracurricular excellence. We have achieved this again, as evidenced by the accomplishments earned during the 2017-2018 school year:
• Gabrielino was awarded a 6 year term of accreditation
• GHS was named in the top 9% of schools nationally by U.S. News and World Report
• Gabrielino was recognized as a Star School by the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence
• GHS had 5 national merit finalists and one national merit scholarship winner
• The Speech team won their 21st straight league championship and had a State Champion in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking
• Girls’ Volleyball won their 15th league championship
• Girls’ Varsity Soccer won their fifth straight Mission League Championship and played in the semi-final round of CIF play-off competition
• Girls’ Basketball, Girls’ Golf, Boys’ Golf won league championships
• Multiple league individual championships, league MVPs, multiple teams in CIF playoffs, and players selected to All Area Teams
• The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) took students to the State and National Championships
• Three plays, five concerts, band went to SCSBOA championships, and gold and superior ratings for choir and orchestra
• 97% of the Class of 2018 plan to pursue post-secondary education, with 55% attending four year colleges and universities
• GHS was named in the top 9% of schools nationally by U.S. News and World Report
• Gabrielino was recognized as a Star School by the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence
• GHS had 5 national merit finalists and one national merit scholarship winner
• The Speech team won their 21st straight league championship and had a State Champion in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking
• Girls’ Volleyball won their 15th league championship
• Girls’ Varsity Soccer won their fifth straight Mission League Championship and played in the semi-final round of CIF play-off competition
• Girls’ Basketball, Girls’ Golf, Boys’ Golf won league championships
• Multiple league individual championships, league MVPs, multiple teams in CIF playoffs, and players selected to All Area Teams
• The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) took students to the State and National Championships
• Three plays, five concerts, band went to SCSBOA championships, and gold and superior ratings for choir and orchestra
• 97% of the Class of 2018 plan to pursue post-secondary education, with 55% attending four year colleges and universities
Over the last nine years I have asked the GHS community to “Go Forward”, “Live the Vision”, “Be the Difference”, demonstrate “Excellence in Action”, “Be Original”, focus on “Inspiring Imagination”, to “Think Big”, focus on “Creating Opportunities”, and be “Right Here, Right Now.” Each theme spoke to where we were as a school in that particular year. During the 2018-2019 school year Gabrielino will expand its collaboration program to provide more inclusion of students with special needs in core curriculum classes. The school will also begin the first phase of integrating English Learners into college preparatory courses while providing additional language support. GHS site level teams will continue to meet to analyze data to determine instructional best practices, intervention programs, and steps for the continual expansion of CTE pathways for career and college readiness. Each of these initiatives illustrates our school theme for 2018-2019, “Foundations and Innovations”. These programs are built on the foundations laid over the last 25 years and are innovative in their approach to ensuring all GHS students are ready for life beyond graduation.
As we celebrate our 25th year, I want to thank SGUSD’s Governing Board and District Administration for their support of Gabrielino High School. I also want to thank Gabrielino’s exceptional teachers, staff, and parents. Your commitment and dedication to our students and programs have made Gabrielino one of the best schools in the nation and state. Our school shines because of your efforts!
Best wishes for a successful school year and Go Eagles!
Sharron Heinrich
Principal
Principal
2018-2019 Theme: Foundations & Innovations
School Motto: Pride-Tradition-Honor
Mission of Gabrielino: A Commitment to Constant And Never-Ending Improvement (CANI)
Vision Statement: Building Upon the Strengths, Talents, and Passions of all Students