Applications for Financial Aid
Applications for Financial Aid for the 2018-19 school year are now available at www.tads.com. Please check the TADS website for details.
School Fundraiser — Chipotle Restaurant from 4:00 – 8:00 pm on Wednesday, October 11
School Fundraiser on Wednesday, October 11 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at Chipotle Restaurant, Vista Gardens, 10201 Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy, Bowie, MD 20720.
Open House — Monday, October 9 from 9:00 – 11:00 am
Saint Matthias will host an open house for prospective families on Monday, October 9th. Stop by to learn more about our school from 9:00 – 11:00 am.
Monthly Newsletter 10-5-17
St. Matthias Robotics Club
The inaugural meeting of the Academy of Saint Matthias the Apostle Robotics Club was held on Thursday October 5th. We had over 30 students join us for the clubs first meeting. Students had an opportunity to get hands on with the Frist Lego League(FLL) robotics equipment and learn about this year’s project challenge, Hydro Dynamics. Also, students learned all about the tenants of FLL inspiration, team work and gracious professionalism. A special thank you go out to Let’s Go Boys and Girls for the equipment donations, Mr. Walters, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. G for being our adult volunteers.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday October 12th from 4 – 5pm. Students should be sure to bring a composition notebook, pencil and snack. See you next week!
Bridges Newsletter 9-28-17
Bridges Newsletter 09/28/2017 (PDF)
Join the Fun at the Fall Festival
Our annual Fall Festival is this Saturday from 11am – 3pm, and we look forward to a fun time! Special thanks to all of the families that took advantage of the wristband pre-sale. Wristbands were sent home with students today. For any additional forms received today or Friday, wristbands will be available for pick-up at the ticket table on Saturday. Children should wear their wristbands to the Fall Festival. Only children with wristbands will be allowed to participate in the various games and activities. Wristbands can also be purchased on-site this Saturday. We hope to see you there!
Robotics Club Begins
We are very excited to bring this opportunity to the students of St. Matthias. Thanks to former teacher and parishioner, Ms. Thompson and parent, Mr. Walters students in grade 3-8 are now invited to join our first robotics club. We will be using our amazing robotics equipment on loan to us from Let’s Go Boys and Girls to help our students learn important engineering, technology and team building skills. Please use the attached flier to sign-up today!
Please note that the club does not begin until 4 PM. Parents of club members will need to take a turn supervising the children here while they wait or all parents of children who are not in ESP will need to pick their child up at 3 and then return at 4.
Scantron and You
Every student in grades 1-8 has taken the Scantron assessment in reading and math. The individual child’s results were given to the oldest or only child of these families today to take home. They are in a sealed envelope along with a letter from Principal Schratz and a parent guide to the Scantron Tests for parents to read. Please read this information carefully. Parents with questions should not hesitate to contact Mrs. Schratz.
The teachers are meeting this afternoon to analyze this data very carefully and to make instructional plans to help each child achieve maximum growth. Your support of your child’s learning is very impor- tant.
The Scantron testing program and St. Matthias trends will be discussed at the Principal’s Coffee on October 6 at 8:30 in the Hughes Center.
Read more in the current Bridges Newsletter 09/28/2017 (PDF)
Bridges Newsletter 9-21-17
Scantron Assessments
Unlike stated in last week’s Bridges, the parent reports will not be distributed until next week. The 6th and 8th grade students have not taken the math assessment due to their being at Blackrock Outdoor Education and Retreat Center. The reports will be sent home on September 28. However, the teachers have begun using the data available thus far to set goals for individual students as well as to plan for instruction for their classes. Last year our school experienced a 35% increase in our reading scores and a 16% increase in math achievement. However, it is important to note that we are determined to in- crease achievement even further in both reading and math. This will take great effort, not only on the part of the teachers, but also from the students. Parents also have a role to play. Supporting your chil- dren’s learning by ensuring they get enough rest, eat nutritious meals, do their homework, read nightly and practice math facts is critical. It is also important to encourage your children to set high goals, build up their confidence and believe in them.
Ice Pop Fridays
The HSA will be selling ice pops beginning this Friday during lunch. If you would like to have your child purchase one, please put a dollar in his or her lunch box. The proceeds from the ice pop and pizza sales along with the HSA dues is used to fund events and treats for the children throughout the year.
Girls Basketball Update
St. Matthias is registering a girls’ basketball team with the Archdiocese of Washington CYO! We are very excited about this news. Any girl 10 years old and under are eligible to join the team. If your daughter(s) is interested please complete the interest survey attached to this newsletter.
Soccer Shootout
All students are invited to participate in the Knights of Columbus Annual Soccer Shoot Out on Saturday, September 30 at 9 AM on our soccer field.
Instrumental Band Program
The Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle is proud to offer our students in grades 4-8 the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument and participate in the school band. Band lessons occur on Friday mornings beginning on September 29. The schedule rotates so that students do not miss instruction in the same subject. The advanced band practices at recess on Fridays. There are a limited number of scholarships for new band members. Please see our principal, Mrs. Schratz for further information.
Read more in this edition of Bridges September 21 (PDF)
The Father Edward Albert Hughes Scholarship 2017-2018
The Father Hughes Scholarship award program is funded by the parishioners of Saint Matthias the Apostle Church to meet the needs of parish students who attend the Academy of Saint Matthias the Apostle or an accredited Archdiocese of Washington Catholic High School.
Submission deadline is Friday, April 28, 2017.
To be considered for this scholarship, each family must have a Financial Aid application on file with TADS. For additional information, please contact Ms. Ann O’Hare, Director of Admissions, in the Academy of Saint Matthias the Apostle Office at 301-577-9412 or aohare@stmatthias.org.
Read more about the scholarship and download an application here.