About Us
At St. Matthew Catholic School, we pride ourselves on the strong partnership that exists among the home, the school and the parish.
Mission Statement
In a school community formed by Catholic beliefs and traditions, our Mission is to educate students to their full potential.
How We Meet the Diverse Needs of Our Students
A Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment
St. Matthew Catholic School serves a student population with a diverse range of social, academic and spiritual needs. Our staff is committed to meeting these needs in a safe and welcoming environment that reflects our shared Gospel values.
The St. Matthew Catholic School community is made up of many cultures, with Portuguese, Spanish and Italian being the most represented. As a result, Portuguese and Italian language classes are offered daily.
Academic Support
The academic needs of our students are first met through classroom instruction. When additional support is required, classroom teachers work closely with support staff and parents to address concerns.
If an academic need arises, the teacher, in collaboration with parents, may seek assistance from the School Based Support Team (SBST), the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT), or the Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC). Throughout this process, recommendations are implemented and documented in an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a Program Review Form.
This process may result in students receiving support from specialized teachers who use targeted teaching strategies to meet individual learning needs. St. Matthew currently provides specialized support in the areas of:
Multiple exceptionalities
Exceptional programs
Early literacy
Learning disabilities
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Speech and language
Additional academic programs include:
Vocal music
Instrumental music (Grades 7 and 8)
Guidance
Student Activities and Athletics
Students have many opportunities to become involved in extracurricular activities, including:
School band
Social Justice Committee
Baseball
Soccer
Cross country
Track and field
Volleyball
Faith and Spiritual Development
The spiritual needs of our students are supported through the partnership of home, school and parish. Our daily practices and school liturgies reflect our shared commitment to nurturing each student's faith journey.
Together, we encourage students to live out their Catholic faith by showing kindness, respect, tolerance and appreciation for one another while taking an active role in serving the Catholic community.
Religion and Family Life programs provide the foundation for spiritual growth. Students have many opportunities to deepen their faith through prayer, reflection and service, including:
Daily opening and closing exercises
Community food drives
Paraliturgies and Masses
Annual Terry Fox Walk
Jump Rope for Heart
Christmas Shoe Box Gift Project
Social Justice Club
School History and Tradition
St. Matthew Catholic School first opened its doors in 1922 in a renovated house serving 77 students. In 1926, part of the original property was sold to fund the construction of a new two-story, eight-room school.
By 1929, enrolment had grown to 193 students, and by 1959 it had increased to 563. Continued growth led to three additions to the 1926 building: 13 classrooms in 1963, a small gymnasium and kindergarten room in 1966, and a large gymnasium and library in 1974.
Today, St. Matthew Catholic School serves a diverse student population, with many students speaking a language other than English at home and many born outside Canada. Over the years, the school has built a strong tradition of academic and athletic excellence, reflected in its graduation awards, tournament pennants, team photographs and yearbooks.
Our school is named in honour of the apostle St. Matthew, whose name means "the gift of Yahweh" or "the faithful." After Jesus' death, Matthew travelled to Judea and later to Ethiopia and Persia, where he is believed to have been martyred.