About Us
With God's help, the faculty undertakes the shared responsibility with families to nurture students in the habits of thinking, judging, and acting as responsible Christian citizens of our community. The purpose of the school is to help each child grow and develop spiritually, morally, emotionally, and physically and intellectually.
Accreditation
St. Matthew's Catholic School is accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference. The conference serves not only as accrediting agent for the catholic schools, but also as a liaison between the State Department of education and the respective Diocesan Offices of Education. We were last accredited in April, 2006.
Religious Activities
All students receive instruction in the Catholic faith each day. Each class (Pre-K-8th) attends Mass once a week accompanied by the homeroom teacher. All students and teachers attend Mass on First Fridays and other Holy days of Obligation.
All students in grades Pre-K through 8th grade participate in six enrichment courses every week: Computer Lab, Physical Education, Art, Music, Spanish and Library Skills.
Our school counselor teaches a study skills course, Study Wise, by the Excel Program, to students in grades 5 to prepare them for time management, organizational skills, learning, studying, and test-taking strategies.
Testing
Standardized tests for grades 2 - 8 are scheduled by the Diocese during the fall of each year. Second graders take their test in the spring.
VPK
Our teachers are FL State Certified with degrees in Early Childhood- age 3 to 3rd grade. This is not a requirement to teach VPK and most providers do not meet this high standard. Our students scored 187 of 200 possible points after completing the VPK program. This score represents the students' "Readiness Rate for Kindergarten by the FL Department of Education.
Lunch
Children may bring their own lunches to school or buy them in the lunchroom. Beverages may be purchased.