Our journey with St. Matthew Community has been one of the best decisions our family has made. In a way, ours began backwards. Our experience began when our oldest child became preschool aged—enrolling with the ECC and 3 year old preschool. We continued with the ECC as our family grew, but left the school when our oldest started kindergarten. To us, something was missing in her education and we eventually made our way back to St. Matthew when she entered second grade, and we joined the parish shortly thereafter.
Sending our kids to St. Matthew school has been one of the most meaningful decisions our family has ever made. For us, it's about providing them with a balanced education that goes beyond the classroom and branches into community involvement, spiritual growth and moral development. We believe that a child's education should include instilling qualities like compassion, empathy, and integrity. All of these values are woven into class, helping our children become responsible, compassionate, and respectful individuals.
Moreover, the sense of community and belonging at St. Matthew is truly remarkable. It's more than just an educational institution, church and daycare; it feels like a close-knit family. Our kids have the opportunity to develop deep and meaningful friendships with peers and form strong bonds with teachers who genuinely care about their well-being and growth. The supportive environment at the school helps our children flourish, building their confidence and allowing them to explore their talents and interests freely.
All in all, we couldn’t be happier with our decision to enroll our children at St. Matthew. We are continuously reminded of the importance of God and faith in our daily life, which in turn, nourishes our children to become the best that they can be.
Our time at St. Matthew School and Parish provided the roots for our family to grow. Through the years, we have taken advantage of everything St. Matthew's has to offer. Our kids have made life-long friends, and Pete and I have taken turns serving on various committees and boards while our kids were part of the inaugural Early Childhood Center (ECC) class. St. Matthew's ensured that our kids have grown in their faith, served their community, and received a strong academic foundation. As our older children transitioned into middle school and high school, we were able to look back and realize that their time at St. Matthew provided the cornerstone for their development.
St. Matthew's is a diverse and welcoming school and community. Families and faculty aren't flashy, but rather gritty and resourceful. The staff is incredible, knowledgeable, driven, creative, and committed to finding new ways for every child to succeed. Mrs. Conlon is an incredibly strong leader, as she is as effective as she is efficient. Additionally, the ECC on campus adds another unique layer to the community. As infants, our twins were cared for by their eventual 3rd Grade teacher! When you join St. Matt's, you are automatically a part of a greater Jaguar family.
We wanted a place where our kids could learn about their faith and also practice it. St. Matthew's is committed to exposing students to age-appropriate service organizations and projects throughout the community. Jesus' teachings become more real with every trip to Manor Care, donation to Waypoint, or a monster-hand that is sold. We wanted our children to have a strong academic foundation ... beyond just the content. We also wanted them to develop resiliency, become creative thinkers, learn discipline, and problem solve independently.
If you are interested in a Catholic education for your child, we invite you to schedule a tour and come visit us at St. Matthew's!