To our current and prospective parents, students and families,

Welcome to the San Gabriel Mission Elementary School family! I am particularly grateful for the blessing of this community of staff, students and families in my life and am eager to get to know each of you; I have much to learn about our school community and look forward to making memories with you.

Catholic education has always been an integral part of my life; my mother was a Catholic school teacher and I am a product of Catholic education, attending Our Lady of Lourdes School in Tujunga for 1st-8th grades and graduating from Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills. I went on to earn a BA degree in Mexican-American Studies from California State University, Los Angeles as well as a Multi-Subject Bilingual Teaching Credential. A lover of learning, I then continued my Catholic education, pursuing a Special Education Advocacy Certificate from the University of San Diego and my Masters in School Administration and CA Administrative Credential from Loyola Marymount University through the ISLA program.

After teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School District for five years, I felt a calling to the vocation of Catholic school teacher and began teaching, first at St. James the Less in La Crescenta, where I taught for 10 years, and then at St. Elizabeth in Altadena where, in addition to teacher, I was also the Vice Principal, STEP and Title Coordinator. I have grown in faith and knowledge over the years and I am grateful to every teacher, staff member, parent and student I have had the privilege of working with, as they have helped shape the educator I am today.

I am a wife and the very proud mother of four grown children who I adore with all my heart. My husband and I worked very hard to send our children to Catholic schools and so I understand the dedication of parents who recognize the value of a Catholic education, wish to provide their children with a Catholic faith foundation and choose to sacrifice to make that opportunity possible; I commend you for your commitment to the futures of your children. God has now called me to lead this dynamic community of San Gabriel Mission Elementary School and together, as faith-filled believers, we come together to serve our students, our Church, and our community. I make a commitment to you to remain steadfast in the pursuit of those things which will ensure an environment of faith and rigor for your children; one that challenges them to grow in both wisdom and in virtue.

Our theme for the 2021-2022 school year comes from Isaiah 40:31: Those who trust the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. There is little doubt that each and every one of us experienced a gamut of emotions caused by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; fear, sadness, frustration, uncertainty, worry and lonliness. Yet the Lord tells us that, if we remain faithful and hopeful and place our lives in His hands, we will remain strong through every season. As Catholic Christians, we know that Christ is our refuge and our strength. May we be strengthened this year to emerge from last year's pain and setbacks, ready to soar like eagles!

Blessings,

Mrs. Eva Garcia M.A.,Ed.
Principal