Activities / Opportunities

Art

The St. Matthias art curriculum is dedicated to developing each child’s skills in problem solving, creativity, aesthetic awareness, and visual self-expression.  Students participate in a variety of art experiences which include: drawing, ceramics, painting, printmaking, weaving, and sculpture.  They will learn to work independently and participate in group activities.  The study of specific artists and/or art styles often times accompanies the art making process.  This includes art from a variety of cultures and art that is integrated with other subjects.  The goal is for students to leave St. Matthias with a greater understanding of art fundamentals and art history, as well as how to apply what they’ve learned to their everyday lives.    

Student work will also be entered into contests throughout the year including the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Annual Poster Contest, the Knights of Columbus Christmas Poster Contest, and the Wisconsin State Fair Young People’s Art Exhibit.

Athletics

St. Matthias offers a wide variety of sports for students to participate in. Fall sports include Volleyball and Soccer. Basketball is played during the winter season. Softball, Soccer and Track and Field are available in the spring. A significant percentage of the student body is active in athletics on a yearly basis. Athletics thrives on the efforts of volunteer coaches, board members, the school, parents, and most importantly the student athletes.

Battle of the Books

Students in grades 4, 5, and 6 are invited to participate in our annual Battle of the Books competition.  This reading incentive program involves teams of students who agree to read a predetermined list of books and then to compete against each other, testing their knowledge of those books, to determine a champion team.  Battle of the Books is a volunteer program designed to promote reading comprehension, team building, and friendly competition.

Cadets

The cadetting program is a great way for the eighth grade students to practice their leadership role at St. Matthias.  Students arrive promptly to their assigned posts to perform their specific duties. These duties include opening car doors, waiting for school to begin with the younger students and directing them to their classrooms, and setting up cones and barricades in the parking lot; this helps to create a quick and easy drop off and pick up area for parents.  All these duties help to keep our school grounds safe.

Faith-A-Thon

Our sixth through eighth grade students participate in an Archdiocese competition involving their knowledge of the Catholic faith. A school wide contest is held in early spring. Winners from this level move on to the Archdiocese level Faith-A-Thon at the TYME OUT Center in Nashotah. Topics include Scripture, prayer, sacraments, parts of the Mass, and beliefs. St. Matthias has taken the championship at the last two contests.

Junior High Handbells

The St. Matthias Junior High Handbell choir is an extra-curricular activity open to seventh and eighth graders. Students audition for membership. The handbell choir performs three or four times a month at school Masses and for Christmas, Easter and Catholic Schools Week Masses. Junior High Handbells is a unique opportunity for students to learn the basics of bell ringing and hopefully, to continue to play in high school and as an adult. The handbell choir’s goal is to share their talents with the church while accompanying others musical and prayerful worship with God.

Music

The music department is an exciting place to learn, grow and get creative.  In general music classes, students participate in a variety of activities such as singing, playing instruments and analyzing musical performances.  In third through eighth grade, students serve as the choir and cantors for school Mass several times a year.  Our school is fortunate to have a large number of Orff instruments such as xylophones and hand chimes.  Students of all grades are introduced to these instruments and spend plenty of class time learning to read music.  General music classes also spend time discussing the characteristics of music and how they influence music of all styles from classical to pop.  Music class at St. Matthias is a great place for students to explore their creative side and expand their musical talents and interests.

Nature Center

The nature center has been in existence for about ten years and is ever changing and expanding.  Students, teachers, parents, and community members have all been involved over the year in its development and use.  Planting, maintaining the plants, harvesting the produce, observing the environment, and appreciating the changes which occur in nature help to make this a lovely extension classroom for the study of God’s gift in the natural environment.

Peer Tutoring

A peer tutoring program is available to students at St. Matthias School. Our 7th and 8th grade students volunteer to serve as tutors for some of our younger students, grades 1-2, who need academic support. The student's teacher supplies materials and subjects to be worked on for the tutoring session. This after school program is coordinated and monitored by the Resource and Reading Center teachers.

Physical Education

Students go to Physical Education class twice a week. Activities include but are not limited to team sports, cooperative games, adventure sports/activities, tumbling, and fitness. As a part of Physical Education we try to emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle by talking about health and nutrition in addition to daily physical activity.

Reading Center

The role of the Reading Center Teacher is to support and supplement the classroom teacher in a quality reading program that is researched-based and meets the need of the students.  An early intervention program is provided in grades 1st and 2nd.   Small group support is provided in grades 3rd thru 6th when needed.  The goal of the reading teacher is to support life long readers.

Resource Center

The Resource Center is designed to support and extend classroom instruction, particularly in the area of our research-based mathematics program. Small group and/or individual instruction is also provided for targeted students. The Center also acts as a resource for teachers and parents to meet the special needs of our students. The Resource teacher, who has received special training through the Archdiocese, also serves as Supportive Consultant.

Science Fair/Academic Fair

Every student in grades 6-8 participates in our annual Science/Academic Fair by doing a major project in one of the academic areas. Each project includes a research of the topic along with a 3-sided poster display and other visuals. These are wonderful to view and enjoy during our Open House. The students are able to showcase their best work and we are proud of their effort and achievement.

Spanish

Spanish at St. Matthias is offered in grades K5-8th. Students in grades 5-8 enjoy using the Realidades A and B textbook series. Younger students focus on theme units and vocabulary while older students focus on language structure, grammar and vocabulary within the topical chapters of the textbook. Spanish classes provide many opportunities for reading, writing, speaking, and listening to strengthen beginning, basic Spanish skills. Cultural experiences throughout the Spanish speaking world are highlighted within each unit. The goal is for all students to move into the upper levels of high school Spanish with ease.

Spelling Bee

St. Matthias' annual Spelling Bee occurs on Monday during Catholic Schools' Week. Four contestants from grades four to eight represent each grade level. They earned the honorary place on stage by being the best in their class. The school assembly is awed by the students' spelling savvy. The winner proceeds to the Regional Bee. Every champion speller and runner-up dream of attending the State and National Spelling Bees. Whatever the outcome, students continue to take pride in analyzing words.

Student Council

St. Matthias has a long standing tradition of a vibrant and active Student Council.  The St. Matthias Student Council is composed of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Representatives from each homeroom.  Elections are held in the fall and the Student Council meets once a month to discuss issues and ideas brought to them by their constituency.

The purpose of the Student Council includes fostering leadership qualities in students, encouraging student voice in school affairs, providing opportunities for students to assume more challenging responsibilities, and providing a channel for increasing school spirit, student morale, pride, and input.  Student Council is responsible for the $1 Dress Down Days, the Pennies for Patients Campaign, and other fundraisers such as toy and clothing drives.

Washington, D.C. Trip

Eighth grade students have the opportunity to travel with their class to our nation’s capital over Easter Vacation.  During the five days of the trip students visit numerous sites in Washington, D.C. including the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, and the Holocaust Museum.  Many eighth grade students have commented after the trip that it was an experience they will never forget.  For more information about the trip contact Mr. Heinecke.

Winter and Spring Programs

Each year, St. Matthias produces two musical shows.  In the winter, the first through forth grades present a Christmas program.  The goal of the Christmas program is to strengthen students’ singing and performing skills while helping them remember the gift of Jesus’ birth.  The students take great pride in presenting this show each year and aim to tell and remind others of the Christmas story, too.  The kindergarten and junior kindergarten also spend time learning the story of Christmas and give a short production that retells of Jesus’ birth.  

In the spring, the fifth through eighth graders present a fun musical program.  These programs range in subject matter.  Past show themes have centered on show tunes, the history of jazz, and rock ‘n roll.  Students have the opportunity to get involved in many ways for these productions outside regular music class.  They may tryout to be dancers, sing a special piece of music, be an actor, or work on a committee such as the backstage crew or the scenery/props committee.  The spring show gives students the chance to combine their musical skills with other talents and have fun doing so.  What a winning combination!

Youth Choir

The St. Matthias Youth Choir is an extra-curricular activity for students in grades fourth through eighth.  Choir gives students yet another opportunity to advance in their musical skills through singing.   The Youth Choir sings once a month for weekend Mass at St. Matthias Church, including masses for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  Students also have the opportunity to cantor at these Masses allowing students to further their solo performing skills.  The choir’s goal is to share their talents with the church while leading others into musical and prayerful worship with God.  Occasionally, the choir has the opportunity to do performances outside the church at local festivals and community gatherings.