The story of St. Matthew’s Parish begins on May 2, 1949, when the
preschool opened its doors to twenty-four children on Swarthmore Avenue before
moving to The Garland Ranch, a beautiful piece of land hidden behind a locked
gate on a street called Bienveneda.
Situated just one mile from the Pacific Ocean, this thirty-acre site has
been the location of the Parish of St. Matthew and the school since that
time. Oak trees and meadows,
sycamores and canyon hillsides, with fittingly designed buildings for church
and school, all add considerably to the beauty of the property. Soon after the elementary grades were
added in the 1950s, the day school had more than 200 students in
attendance. Already, applications
for enrollment far exceeded capacity. During the years since, the school has
grown and flourished, adding Grades 7 and 8 in 1978.
Today there are approximately 325 boys and girls enrolled in preschool
through eighth grade. The facility
houses twenty-eight classrooms that include an art studio, two music and
performing arts classrooms, two science labs, and more than 200 computers
networked for student use. In
addition to the seven classroom buildings, there is an administration building,
a 13,000 volume library housed in the 20,000 square foot student center, a
sports and performing arts center complete with gym, stage and lighting and
sound for student productions, a swimming pool, a large playing field, six
separate playgrounds, and the church which serves as the chapel. While retaining its pastoral character,
virtually all facilities were newly built or significantly remodel during the
last decade, creating state-of-the-art classrooms that are both welcoming and
conducive to learning.
Throughout the school’s six decades of
existence, parishioners, students and faculty have continued to be awestruck by
the beauty of the surroundings, where deer still wander the spacious campus,
students are actively engaged in learning, dedicated and caring teachers create
innovative lessons each day, as well as the pervasive warmth of the St. Matthew’s
community. Perhaps these words
from the School Prayer best sum up
the St. Matthew’s spirit: Teach
us to be people of courage, hope and joy in all that we do. Help us to live together in kindness,
respecting all things which are all part of you.
Celebrating 25 years with Mr. Frost!
Song credits for "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
