Service Learning

St. Matthew School integrates Service Learning into daily life for students of all ages.  Service Learning is a powerful approach to learning that naturally pairs with our faith-based school environment and our mission of ‘service to others’. Service Learning is the process of learning while serving others, or serving others for the purpose of learning.

Examples of Service Learning:

Missons – St. Matthew students think about the hardships of others on a daily basis. We guide and teach our students to care about others through prayer but also through action. Even our youngest students understand that a small contribution can make a big difference over time.  St. Matthew School has been recognized for many consecutive years for our continued support of the Children’s Mission Fund.

Robotics Team “Food Audit” – Students on the Robotics Team (Grades 5-8) collected foods destined for the trash during a school lunch to illustrate how wasteful we are. An informative presentation about garbage disposal and the impact of landfills on the environment helped our school community to reflect on our habits and how to be less wasteful.  A follow-up food audit proved that our students are becoming more aware and thoughtful about the food they waste, thanks to the teachings of the Robotics Team.
Through the process of teaching the younger students about this environmental concern, the students on the Robotics Team prepared and presented a cohesive presentation that would resonate with young children, both visually and intellectually.  Teamwork was required as the students coordinated the collection of food waste and delivered their presentation. By highlighting the impact our school community will have over time if we continue to throw away uneaten food, the students on our Robotics Team are making a difference for the environment while acting as role models for our younger students.

Halloween Traditions – Holiday traditions abound at St. Matthew School.  Our annual Halloween Pumpkin Decorating Contest centers on serving the Ozanam Family Shelter of Edison.  Students from grade 1-8 create uniquely decorated pumpkins that they enter into the contest. The pumpkin creations are far beyond your typical smiling jack-o-lanterns!!  Students transform them into unbelievable works of art, requiring creativity, imagination and some serious engineering.  Once the winners are announced, the pumpkins are delivered to the Ozanam Shelter as donations for families. Our students take pride knowing that their decorated pumpkins will bring hours of joy to families in need.  Another Halloween tradition is the Haunted House created by the 8th grade students for the school community.  The students design and build a fantastically scary maze of displays and then dress in costumes to animate the experience for the younger children and teachers on Halloween.  It’s a school community event that everyone looks forward to. 

Individuals in Action – The students are impacted by feelings of pride when doing something to help others through Service Learning projects. The St. Matthew’s community takes every opportunity to recognize students that carry that feeling through and seek ways to help others on their own. Recently a young kindergarten student donated the money he received from the Tooth Fairy to the Missions.  In prior years a student made and sold Christmas ornaments to raise money for the Missions. This determined student toured local churches and sold directly to parishioners after church services and resulted in a donation to the Missions of $512.