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St. Matthew’s celebrates school’s expansion

By Barbara Hughes
Special to The Catholic Virginian

After four and a half years of planning, problem solving and fundraising, St. Matthew’s School in Virginia Beach has a new library, media center, art room, music room, learning resource center and five new classrooms.

Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo dedicated the new wing May 6 and congratulated parents, teachers, faculty and students for their role in turning a dream into a reality.

According to school principal Barbara White, the $1.5 million expansion was not without its share of problems.

When the 13,500 square foot-addition was first proposed to the city planning commission, it met with opposition. Neighbors feared a larger school would increase the volume of traffic.

When at last their fears were put to rest and construction began, another obstacle was unearthed. Buried under the proposed site were several septic tanks that had never been removed.

But as Ms. White explained, “After dealing with one issue after another, the fact that the construction has been completed and that we can at last go forward makes it all worthwhile. I’m thrilled.”

In addition to the new space, the previous building has undergone technological upgrades to facilitate learning and make it a more secure space.

Every classroom will be equipped with a smart board.

Closed circuit television cameras monitor hallways, entrance and exit doors and phones have been installed in every classroom.

“For the first time, students can go from one end of the building to the other without having to go outside,” Ms. White said. “That’s a huge plus from a security standpoint.”

With the end of the school year only weeks away, empty library shelves stand ready to be transformed. Books from the current library will be moved to the new one.

“There’s lots of details that still need to be worked out,” explained Mary Ziegenfuss, school librarian.

A parents’ planning team is already in place to help with scheduling to insure maximum use of the library and media center. Once the new library is operational, the current library will revert to parish use.

The partnership between the school, the parish and parents has been integral and a tremendous assist, explained Ms. White. During the dedication ceremony, she thanked the pastor Father Joseph Facura for a donation of $100,000 from the parish and for his patience and support every step of the way.

During the same ceremony school board member John Squires was given an award for donating his time and talent.

A computer technologist by profession, Mr. Squires worked evenings and weekends, doing all the electrical work for the technology center and the security system at cost.

“I love this school,” said Mr. Squires who has a 7th grader at the school and another who graduated from St. Matthew’s.

“It feels small enough so that everyone knows everyone else and everyone is interested in them.”

Demonstrating the state of the art teleconferencing capabilities, Mr. Squires explained that the broadcast system will be up and running by the new school year.

Elizabeth Allen, director of Development, told The Catholic Virginian, “The addition is a testament to the teamwork of parents and teachers and to Barbara White’s management of funds that were raised.”

Over the past six to seven years, the Home and School Association raised about $80,000 annually through spring carnivals and fall auctions.

Current enrollment at St. Matthew’s School is 570 students. Although the city has capped the enrollment for the school at 625, Ms. White said she envisions 600 students as a more realistic number.

Currently the school draws students from Virginia Beach and Chesapeake but has a few students from Norfolk. St. Matthew’s is the only Catholic School in South Hampton Roads to have its own school buses.

One bus brings students from Prince of Peace in Chesapeake and the other from near the Chesapeake Mall.

“We’ve tried not to raise the price of bus service,” said Ms. White. “It’s never been about making a profit. We need to bring in enough money to maintain the buses, but it’s really about helping parents with transportation.”

Ms. White who has been principal at St. Matthew’s School for 19 years and a teacher there five years prior to that, has seen the school through numerous changes.

Now with the addition of the new wing, she’s ready to watch the students and faculty enjoy the new space and reap the rewards.

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