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.