Our School
History
Saint Gabriel’s School
1931
Saint Gabriel’s School is founded with 10 students who take classes in the living room of the founder’s house.
1945
The first three-story institutional building is built on the founder’s former home on San Gabriel Street, now Almirante Pastene.
1948
The school anthem and insignia are born.
1952
Kenneth Michell, the founder’s son, creates and directs Lilas Campus, a new space located in Eliodoro Yáñez.
1954
The Bilbao Campus is built. The “humanities“ program, which today would be called Secondary Education, begins operating there. Florence Michell takes over as Director of this campus.
1958
A Junior School for younger children is located on Diamelos Street, behind the Bilbao campus. Ruby Michell, the founder’s daughter, is its first director.
1959
The first 12 graduates have graduated. They receive their diplomas from founder Miss Florence Trewhela and CEO Miss Florence Michell.
1960
The school’s stadium is built in Las Condes and the school begins participating in various tournaments and championships.
1964
The school received official recognition from the Ministry of Education, confirming the status of “Cooperator of the State’s Educational Function“ awarded in 1956.
1966
The PAA is being taken for the first time, replacing the Baccalaureate exam.
1976
Florence Trewhela, Saint Gabriel’s School’s founder, is awarded with the “Gabriela Mistral Order of Cultural and Teaching Merit“ in recognition of her valuable services to Chilean education during sixty-seven years of teaching.
1977
The 1st Florence Trewhela de Michell Athletics Championship is being held in memory of the school’s founder, who passed away this year.
1980
The first lyric concert for 12th-grade students takes place. It is now known as the “Concert of Words.“
1981
The school’s 50th anniversary is celebrated with three major events: the birth of the VIDA motto, the formal publication of the magazine, and the solidarity relationship with the Calvo Mackenna Hospital. The hospital’s neonatal wing is built thanks to the school’s contributions.
1982
The first computer arrives at the school, an Apple 2C. With this, the school becomes a pioneer in the country in introducing such a tool.
1983
Saint Gabriel’s becomes a founding member of the United World Colleges, an association that brings together schools from around the world and promotes exchanges between them. This year also marks the creation of the first Student Center.
1984
Saint Gabriel’s joins the ABSCH (Association of British Schools of Chile), beginning a period of cooperation and exchange of student and faculty experiences with other member schools.
1985
Saint Gabriel’s joins the International Baccalaureate (IB) with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. This enriches the school’s curriculum.
1987
A new building is being built for Middle School at Lilas Campus.
1990
The first IB exams are taken.
1991
Coinciding with the 60th anniversary, the auditorium was built and the library expanded at the Bilbao Campus. At the same time, the third floor of the Diamelos Campus was constructed. As a way to strengthen the institutional identity, the Badge and Tie Ceremony and the Last Assembly for Senior School students were launched.
1993
Florence Michell, the school’s principal, receives the “Gabriel Mistral Order of Cultural and Teaching Merit“ award for her services to Chilean education, primarily through Saint Gabriel’s.
1996
The school joined as one of the founding members of the Latin American Heads’ Conference, an institution that brings together principals from various British schools. Saint Gabriel’s hosted Gillian Shepard, Secretary of State for Education, UK. Several ambassadors and principals from ABSCH schools were also in attendance.
1999
Construction of the stadium’s gymnasium and clubhouse begins.
2000
The school’s website and continuous improvement plan, known as the “Saint Gabriel’s Navigation Chart,“ were created. The Millennium Hall and the Geometric Patio were built on the fourth floor of the Bilbao campus, providing more learning and socializing spaces. The first Father-Son Painting Gathering was organized, strengthening the school-home partnership. The new gymnasium and clubhouse were inaugurated.
2002
The school receives an award from the Municipality of Providencia for its architectural and educational contributions to the community. The arts are promoted at the school, and the music ensemble is created, which excels at various national early music events.
2003
Odette Boys, the school’s principal, receives the “Gabriel Mistral Order of Cultural and Teaching Merit“ award for her services to Chilean education. The Alumni of the Year Award is established and presented at the 11th grade graduation ceremony.
2004
Saint Gabriel’s is one of the first private schools to obtain the “Seal of Quality in School Management“ awarded by the National Certification Council of the Chile Foundation.
2005
The Florence Michell Educational Foundation is created to contribute to the comprehensive development of the school.
2006
The school’s 75th anniversary is being celebrated with the “Best Musical Fest.“ More than 200 students participate, attracting an audience of over two thousand people for two performances. The first “Cheese and Wine“ is also being organized, bringing together alumni who have graduated from the school. And to promote art, an exhibition of Picasso’s Guernica is being coordinated in the auditorium of the Bilbao campus.
2007
Saint Gabriel’s is one of the first ABSCH schools to enter the UC School Sports Tournament, expanding the sports offerings for our students.
2008
Saint Gabriel’s hosted the LAHC conference, welcoming delegations from various Latin American countries.
2010
An innovative Ethics and Values program is being implemented for all students from first grade to second year of high school, which includes the study of the world’s six major religions.
2011
We celebrate our 80th anniversary with our first Family Run. A charity run that brings families together and contributes to various charitable causes. The first phase of the school’s reorganization begins, looking ahead to 2020, with the implementation of the Middle School move from Pastene campus to Lilas campus. Academically, we take another step forward, as we join the IB Diploma Program for Senior School students.
2012
The new Middle School Library opens at the Bilbao Campus, creating unique and personalized spaces tailored to students’ ages and interests. The SG Orchestra is formed
2014
Saint Gabriel’s participates in the World School Volleyball Championship in Portugal, winning the Fair Play Award among more than 30 participating countries.
2015
It’s been 10 years since the creation of the Florence Michell Foundation, and the Community Outreach program is being strengthened, establishing new partnerships with institutions and undertaking the first international CAS trip to Costa Rica
2017
The Lilas Campus Gymnasium is inaugurated.
2019
The new dining room at the Lilas Headquarters is inaugurated.
2020
The reorganization of the Junior School (grades 1-3) at the Lilas Campus and the Lower, Middle, and Senior Schools at the Bilbao Campus is underway. The school is adapting to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2023
Saint Gabriel’s is participating in its third World School Volleyball Championship in France, once again earning the Fair Play Award.
2024
“The Bridge: Community and Culture” is created as an outreach space to promote art and culture within and beyond the community.