Thank you to all who supported the St. Matthias 2nd Annual Read-A-Thon.

The application period is now open, and applications are available in the parish and school offices and on our school website. Submission deadline is Friday, May 27, 2022.

You must be enrolled in or have applied to a private school to apply for this aid. Go to www.marylandboost.org to check your financial eligibility and see the supporting documents needed to apply. Deadline is April 29, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. If you require assistance with this application, please contact Mrs. Ann O’Hare at 301-577-9412 or aohare@stmatthias.org

Please join us for an open house for prospective parents on March 24, 2022 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tour our campus and learn more about our programs. Reservations are required. Please contact Mrs. Ann O’Hare at 301-577-9412 or aohare@stmatthias.org.

Lent is a time to take stock of our relationship with God and make a more strategic effort to repent and grow in holiness. During Lent, Christians are called to give more attention to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These three Lenten disciplines will be the focus of religion classes for all grades. Students and their families have two projects that address the practice of sharing with those in need (almsgiving). The first project is a continuation of one started before the sudden shut down of school in December. Donations are needed to make goodie boxes for the homeless. See attached flyer. The second project is the annual Operation Rice Bowl which benefits many people in third world countries. All family members are asked to make sacrifices and put money saved in the cardboard rice bowl that will be given to the oldest child on Ash Wednesday. The last day of school before Easter break the students bring in their rice bowl money where it is then sent to Catholic Relief Services to support their projects overseas. The students will be learning about some of the countries and projects that their generosity supports. During Lent the students will have more opportunities to prayer. They will pray Stations of the Cross and participate in Adoration. Catholic students will also have the opportunity to go to confession.

Families, who are interested in a Catholic education for their child for the fall of 2022, are encouraged to apply for financial aid from the Archdiocese of Washington. This application can be found at www.TADS.com and must be submitted by Feb. 18, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. If you require assistance with this process, please contact Mrs. Ann O’Hare, Director of Admissions, at aohare@stmatthias.org or 301-577-9412.

With covid surging, our hopes for a winter basketball program are dashed. However, we are hopeful that the students will have the opportunity to play CYO spring soccer and participate in CYO track and field. Parent volunteers are needed so that we can offer these activities to our children. This is a great way to earn volunteer hours, spend time with your child and make an important contribution to your child’s school. This year we are also instituting a Super Volunteer Award for those parents who provide service above and beyond the 20-hour service requirement. Coaching is a great way to earn this award. If you are interested in learning more about being a CYO coach, please contact the school office. We are also in need of parents with expertise or interest to serve on the STEAM and/or Marketing and Development committees. New members are also welcome on the Home and School Executive committee.

We are very sad to bid farewell to our pastor, Father Jack Kennealy. Fr. Jack has been a great supporter of the school in many ways. In visiting religion classes, leading us in worship, providing sound financial expertise and sharing his enthusiasm for the ministry of Catholic education, he has been a great asset to us and will be greatly missed. We are collecting notes of farewell and thanks from school families to present to him at the end of the school day on Tuesday, January 18. If you would like to send a card or note to school on Tuesday morning, it would be greatly appreciated.

The Pastor and Finance Council have set the tuition for the coming school year. As Father Jack explained at the State of the School/HSA meeting in October, the archdiocese now requires schools to publish a single K-8 tuition rate. Thus, tuition for the coming school year will be $8650, which is just under a 2.5% increase. The parishioner, and multi-child grants will continue to be offered, as well as archdiocesan financial aid for those who applied by December 6 and BOOST. Pre-school tuition is $7450, an increase of less than 3%. Qualifying families may receive funding toward pre-school tuition through the state of Maryland. The re-enrollment fee is $225 per family. This year this non-refundable fee includes the $25 HSA dues per family. After March 1, this fee increases to $375. The first tuition payment for the 2023 school year is due in July. Tuition contracts for returning families must be signed by June 15. A complete 2023 tuition and fee guide will be available very soon. Any questions about tuition and fees should be addressed to Mrs. Schratz.

Join the St. Matthias School Community as we spread love through giving during this holiday season. In conjunction with PJs and Pancakes, HSA is inviting each family to engage in an opportunity to give to others with the Shoebox Project. We will provide shoeboxes filled with necessities such as toothbrushes/ toothpaste, hand sanitizer, gloves, etc. to people in a local shelter. Items are designated by class and we ask that each student bring the designated items to school next week. If it is more convenient to send $3, an HSA committee member will make purchases in time for packing the boxes. Please see the attached document for the item your class should bring. Thank you in advance. It feels good to give!

Date: Tuesday, December 21, 2021

The St. Matthias 4th Annual Fun-d Run was our most successful ever.

We will hold a celebration on Sat., Oct. 30, 2021 to celebrate our 60th anniversary! Mass in the church will be at 4 p.m. and a reception for adults only will follow from 5-8 p.m. Tours of the school will be available. Masks are required for this event. We are requesting RSVP's by Oct. 22, 2021 to Geoffrey Loughner (gloughner@stmatthias.org) or Ann O'Hare (aohare@stmatthias.org).

Prospective families are welcomed to join us for an open house Oct. 14, 2021 from 9-10 a.m. Oct. 28, 2021 from 9-10 a.m. Masks are required. Please RSVP to Ann O'Hare either by phone (301-577-9412) or email aohare@stmatthias.org

Parents are needed to help out every day at lunch and recess.

Thank you to the following parents who have stepped up to be room parents.

The St. Matthias School Office will begin summer hours on Monday, Jun 14, 2021

We would like to recruit coordinators and chairpersons for the events/activities listed below before the 1st day of school 2021.

The Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Program provides scholarships for some students

On behalf of the Students, Faculty, and Staff of the Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle, we would like to welcome you to our inaugural issue of The Mustang Magazine. Our goal with this publication is to highlight all the happenings at our school as well as the success of our alumni.