Mission

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St. Matthew’s School Vision:
Empowering leaders one faith-filled day at a time.

St. Matthew’s School Mission:
St. Matthew’s Catholic School is committed to the traditions of our Catholic faith and provides a Christ-centered foundation of learning for all through spiritual and academic formation, fine arts, and physical development.

Accreditation

St. Matthew School is accredited and the Diocese of Richmond is accredited as a school system through Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools – Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA) .

Middle States Association is a worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement. For over 130 years, Middle States has been helping school leaders establish and reach their goals, develop strategic plans, promote staff development, and advance student achievement. Hundreds of faith-based schools seek out MSA accreditation because MSA supports and recognizes the importance of having schools fulfill their missions under their specialized faith-based traditions and values.

 

 

 

Overview

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Saint Matthew’s School is within the Diocese of Richmond. As a regional school, it serves students from across South Hampton Roads, including students from as far away as North Carolina.

School Size: The school serves between 460 and 525 students in preschool through 8th grade. The teacher:student ratio is 1:18.

Facilities: Early Learners and Junior Kindergarten: The school’s Early Learners and Junior Kindergarten building include four large classrooms, serving children ages 2, 3 and 4. The classrooms include lofts and many educational manipulatives. Outside the building is an age-appropriate playground. Early Learners and Junior Kindergarten students walk to the school’s main school building daily for lunch and specials.

Main School Building ( includes the Elementary School and Middle School Wing):

• 17 large elementary school classrooms
• Two Cafeteria Spaces
• A State of the Art Media Center
• Art Room
• Music Room
• Gymnasium with a Stage
• Discovery Learning Center
• Middle School Wing, including a Science lab and 6 classrooms
• Nurse’s Clinic
• Counselor’s Office

The school building is attached to Saint Matthew’s Church. Outside are two other playground areas for use for the older children, a large pavilion and field space for team practice, PE classes, and recess.

School Divisions: Early Learners ages 2 & 3 and Junior Kindergarten age 4: T/Th, MWF, or five-day options are available. Parents can choose between half and full days; Elementary School: K-5th grade; Middle School: 6th-8th grade

Location: Saint Matthew’s is located in Virginia Beach near the city borders of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. The address is 3316 Sandra Lane, Virginia Beach, VA

School Times: Half Day Preschool: 8:15am-12:00pm; All Other Students: 8:15am-3:15pm

Before & After School Programs: Before School: 6:30-7:30am, Cost: $3.00/1/2 hour, per child; After School offered from 3:30pm-5:30pm, Cost: $6.00/hour, per child. All students are offered the option of attending the before and aftercare programs. There are no age restrictions.

Tuition & Admissions: Please visit our Admissions section at Admissions section.

Curriculum: Saint Matthew’s follows the curriculum provided by the Diocese of Richmond. Click here for more information from the diocese. More specifics about our curriculum are also available in our Academics section.

Spiritual Life: Students attend theology class daily and mass weekly. The school begins and ends the day in prayer and also prays before lunch.

Athletics: Saint Matthew’s offers soccer, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, track and field, volleyball, field hockey, and golf. More information may be found in the Athletics section.

Arts: All students attend art and music classes weekly. Band, chorus, drama, and after-school art classes are also available.

Other Activities: Saint Matthew’s offers a variety of after-school clubs. Please visit our Activities section for a complete list.

Transportation: Saint Matthew’s offers bus service in Chesapeake. Bus stops are at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, the Riverwalk neighborhood, the Orchard Square Shopping Center, and St. Stephen, Martyr.

Lunch: Daily lunch is offered, along with some breakfast items and ice cream after school. Visit our lunch menu link under “Parents” for the latest offerings.

Uniforms: All students in Kindergarten through 8th grade wear uniforms. Our uniform requirements may be found in the handbook.

Committed Faculty:
33% of teachers have worked at St. Matthew’s for more than 10 years.
25% of teachers have worked at St. Matthew’s for more than 20 years.
5% of the St. Matthew’s faculty and staff are alumni of St. Matthew’s School
79% of St. Matthew’s faculty and staff send or sent their school-age children to St. Matthew’s

Alumni Accomplishment
In 15 of the last 21 years, a student from St. Matthew’s has been either the Valedictorian or Salutatorian at Catholic High School.
2003 – Katie Daniels, Salutatorian
2005 – Lawrence McDermott, Salutatorian
2006 – Katrina Fernandez, Valedictorian
2007 – Matthew Davis, Salutatorian
2008 – William Hoey, Valedictorian
2009 – Caitlin Foley, Salutatorian
2010 – Christine Chesley, Valedictorian
2011 – Maya Chesley, Salutatorian
2012 – Matthew Foley, Valedictorian and Andrew Altobello, Salutatorian
2013 – In the top 10, SMS Graduates are ranked 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8
2014 – In the top 10, SMS Graduates are ranked 4, 5, and 6
2015 – Angela Leon, Valedictorian
2016 – Patrick West, Valedictorian and Ryan Remias, Salutatorian
2017 – Caroline Foley, Valedictorian (Total of 5 students in the top 11)
2018 – Elise Fisher, Valedictorian
2019 – In the top 10, SMS Graduates are ranked 3, 8, and 9
2020 – In the top 10, a SMS Graduate ranked 5
2021 – In the top 10%, SMS Graduates ranked 8 and 11
2022 – In the top 10, a SMS Graduate ranked 7
2023 – Riley Douglas, Salutatorian
2024 – Noah Avis, Valedictorian (Total of 6 students in the top 12)