Gonzaga Mothers Club

Events

Each year, the Gonzaga Mothers Club organizes dozens of events and activities that enrich the school community.  
Whether it’s welcoming the incoming class at the New Families Welcome Picnic in the Fall, showing the faculty some well-deserved love by serving them breakfast at our monthly “Faculty Treats,” or hosting and organizing all aspects of the annual Christmas Gala, the work of the GMC is a never-ending labor of love.

Of course, it takes an army of volunteers to make so many great things happen. We’re grateful that each year, dozens of GMC members step up and take on leadership roles in supporting all these activities. If you’re interested in leading an event or activity, we’d love to have your help! Click here to read a description of responsibilities of each position on the GMC Board of Directors, as well as job descriptions of Committee and Activity Chairs.

Below are descriptions of many of the ways we’re active on Eye Street. Within each, you’ll find contact information for the GMC members leading the charge for that event. 
GMC EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

List of 17 items.

  • Get Acquainted Parties

    During August, September, and October, Gonzaga families volunteer to donate and host small get-togethers to welcome incoming freshman and transfer student families. The GMC, in cooperation with the Headmaster's Office, works with the host families to prepare guest lists and schedule dates for these gatherings in various locations throughout DC, Virginia, and Maryland. 

    What the gathering is like is up to the host(s)—it could be coffee and bagels before a football game, Saturday evening cocktails, or a Sunday cookout with burgers and dogs. If you want to learn more about hosting a party, please contact GMC lead organizers  at getacquainted@gonzagamothers.org
  • Faculty & Staff Welcome Back Luncheon

    Every August, the GMC treats the Gonzaga faculty and staff to a "welcome back" luncheon in the Lower Commons. GMC volunteers decorate the Commons, serve a delicious lunch, and provide raffles and door prizes to the faculty and staff. Join us in welcoming back the teachers, coaches, and staff during this fun kickoff to the new year! For more information, email welcomefaculty@gonzagamothers.org
  • New Families Welcome Picnic

    Near the start of each school year, the Headmaster's Office hosts a special evening to welcome all freshmen and new students and their families.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet classmates and their parents and fill your closet with the latest Gonzaga gear (as the bookstore is open for your convenience!) 

    If you have questions, contact lead GMC organizers at picnic@gonzagamothers.org.
  • Back-to-School Night

    Back-to-school night in the Fall offers new and returning parents alike the opportunity to meet their sons' teachers and to experience firsthand the environment and objectives of the classroom. Parents follow their sons' class schedule; although one-on-one meetings between parents and teachers are not possible at this event, most parents find the experience valuable.
     
    GMC and Eagles' Wings volunteers assist by setting up the cafeteria and offering desserts to parents during “lunch” and “free periods” as they enjoy their “school day.”  Volunteers also help clean up the cafeteria in preparation for the next day of school.
     
    To learn more, please email backtoschoool@gonzagamothers.org.
  • Ignatian Reflection & Prayer Group

    The Ignatian Reflection and Prayer Group consists of Gonzaga moms and female guardians who gather monthly to explore the Ignatian spirituality at the heart of our sons’ education, and reflect on how to put it into practice in our own lives.

    We seek to deepen our faith by reading and discussing relevant essays and books, participating in Masses and retreats, and participating in guided reflections combined with a variety of Ignatian forms of prayer.

    All are welcome to join our casual and welcoming group! For dates, check the calendar. For more information, contact  ignatianprayer@gonzagamothers.org
  • Gonzaga/Visitation Activities

    Each year the GMC helps support several Gonzaga and Georgetown Visitation social gatherings and joint service projects. Highlights include the traditional Fall Family Mass and Picnic at Visi, a "gleaning of the fields" service project and a planned event or day trip after spring semester ends.

    The GMC helps organize the events, coordinating with our counterparts at Visi. Email gvactivities@gonzagamothers.org for more information. 
  • Faculty Treats

    Faculty treats is always highly anticipated by the hard-working Gonzaga faculty and staff! One morning each month, GMC volunteers prepare a delicious home-cooked breakfast for the teachers, coaches, maintenance staff, Jesuit community, and administration to thank them for all they do for our boys. Each month has a different theme, but our goal is always the same: To provide a festive repast for our hardworking staff. 

    It’s always a blast and volunteers are always needed! For more information, contact facultytreats@gonzagamothers.org.
  • Bake Sales

    The boys love bake sales and thanks to the organization of the GMC, they’re a great source of support for clubs, teams, and activities! Typically, they’re held once a week during lunch periods. 
     
    Because so many teams, clubs, and student groups host sales, the GMC works with Student Services in serving as the “air traffic controller” for all bakes sales on campuscoordinating the schedule, organizing volunteers, and making sure things run smoothly. 
     
  • Parent Teacher Conferences Faculty Dinners

    The Gonzaga Mothers Club provides hospitality for the Parent-Teacher Conferences that take place during the school year. Volunteers provide food and refreshments that are appreciated by the faculty and staff.

    Contact ptconferences@gonzagamothers.org with any questions.
  • Mass of Thanksgiving

    Held each year in November, the Mass of Thanksgiving is jointly hosted by the GMC and Eagles' Wings, Gonzaga’s club for parents of alumni. Everyone in the Gonzaga community—students, parents, alumni, and faculty—are invited to a Sunday morning Mass, with collection proceeds and other donations benefitting the Father McKenna Center. A breakfast reception hosted by Eagles' Wings and the GMC then follows. 

    Volunteers are needed to set up; serve as readers, ushers or Eucharistic ministers at the Mass; and help prepare and serve the breakfast. If you have any questions, please contact event organizers at thanksgiving@gonzagamothers.org.
  • Freshman Retreat

    The Freshman Retreat is a two-and-a-half day retreat for the entire freshman class as they begin their second semester at Gonzaga. The retreat, which is held at Gonzaga and includes sleeping on campus, is organized by Campus Ministry and led by a wonderful team of junior and senior student leaders. It’s an experience many young men of Gonzaga count among the highlights of their time on Eye Street. 

    The retreat is led by the upperclassmen and Campus Ministry, but the GMC plays an important supporting role (albeit in the background). We set up for, prepare, and serve meals; provide snacks and support for chaperones and staff who are on campus throughout; host a reception for all parents of participants, and more.
     
    For more information, please email freshmanretreat@gonzagamothers.org.
  • Class Parent Nights

    Over the course of the year, Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior parents have nights where they learn from Gonzaga's counselors, staff, administration, or outside experts on various grade-appropriate topics of interest. 

    The GMC supports these events with hospitality, food, and other logistics. For more information, please contact class hospitality by grade.
  • Mother-Son Mass & Celebration

    The annual Mother-Son Mass & Celebration is a longstanding springtime tradition at Gonzaga. It begins with Mass in St. Aloysius Church, followed by a Mother-Son brunch in the Carmody Center. Collection proceeds from the
    Mass benefit the upkeep and restoration of St. Aloysius Church. Each year, a prominent speaker addresses the brunch, and Mother-Son portraits are taken to commemorate the event.

    The Gonzaga Fathers Club does the heavy lifting on the day of the celebration—setting up and serving breakfast. But GMC volunteers are needed to help plan for the event, create seating arrangements, sell tickets, and make other preparations. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please email  MotherSon@GonzagaMothers.org.
  • International Food Fair

    Always a festive day at Gonzaga, the International Food Fair celebrates the cultural diversity of our community with a school-wide luncheon featuring authentic dishes from across the globe. Students and faculty purchase wristbands that allow them to sample to their heart’s content, with all proceeds benefitting the Modern Language Department.
  • Faculty & Staff Summer Send-Off Luncheon

    Each spring, after lesson plans are packed away and exams are finished, the GMC sends the Gonzaga faculty and staff off in style with a casual luncheon in the Lower Commons. This themed event has become a popular tradition among members of the faculty—a great way to finish a successful school year on a high note.

    For more information, please send an email to summerfaculty@gonzagamothers.org
  • Baccalaureate Mass & Reception

    Held each year the day before graduation in St. Aloysius Church, the Baccalaureate Mass and Reception brings seniors and their families together for their final Mass as students at Gonzaga.  As tickets are not required, it’s a great opportunity to invite family and friends who will not be able to attend the formal graduation ceremony on Sunday.

    The GMC hosts a reception for all members of the graduating class, their families and guests, and the Gonzaga faculty and staff in the Carmody Center immediately following Mass. In addition to refreshments and fun, there is a professional photographer available to take photos. 

    Contact baccalaureate@gonzagamothers.org to learn more.
  • New Mothers Luncheon

    Each spring, the GMC hosts a New Mothers Luncheon in honor of the moms and female guardians of all newly admitted students. It’s a wonderful opportunity for mothers of incoming students to get acquainted; meet the faculty, staff, and members of the Jesuit Community; and learn about Eye Street (including the Mothers Club!).

    If you have questions or need more information, please email newmom@gonzagamothers.org.

Upcoming GMC Events

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Upcoming Gala Events

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Celebrating 200 Years of Jesuit Education in the Nation's Capital