St. Matthew's School turns 90

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

For almost a century, St. Matthew's School in Kalispell has been molding young minds from across the Flathead Valley.

Currently, there are about 250 students in the school ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade. There is also a daycare and preschool on site.

The school has had its ups and downs in its 90 years of operation. At one time the school included a high school as well as elementary grades. Kindergarten was added in 1976. Seventh- and eighth- grade classes were dropped and then added in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

Through it all the school has changed and grown to meet the demands of adding technology to the classroom.

Just 10 years ago, enrollment was only slightly half of what it is today.

There are always a few students in attendance from Columbia Falls, Bigfork and Whitefish, and surrounding areas.

But Principal Gene Boyle isn't sure of the exact numbers At one time he was told there were 18 students from Bigfork attending in a certain year.

It doesn't really matter — St. Matthew's works to educate all its students.

The private school follows much of the same curriculum as its public school counterparts. There is reading, math, Spanish, music and computers. There are even sports programs beginning in the fifth grade.

The one exception: Faith.

"Every morning there is prayer and a Bible reading. Then students have time for their personal prayers," Boyle said.

Each week has a theme that concludes with a church service focusing on that theme on Fridays. The grade levels take turns participating in the scripture readings during the service.

It's a long history that has taken St. Matthew's to the school it is today.

In 1917, the Sisters of Mercy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, opened the school. Seven years earlier they had opened the Kalispell General Hospital.

The "Sisters of Mercy Academy and Day School" included four teaching sisters, one lay teacher, a sister housekeeper and an enrollment of 67 children in eight grades and first year of high school.

The school would later be known by the name of the parish, St. Matthew's, and by 1925 included a four-year high school.

Today the staff includes Boyle and about 25 teachers and additional administrative, custodial and kitchen personnel.

Boyle is amazed that the school has overcome so much to where it is today.

"The most amazing is that they kept it going throughout the Depression," he said.

Boyle noted that the nuns were paid little, which kept down the costs.

"But it's amazing that they kept the building going. It can be hard now to keep going," he said.

Today, the school is still bolstered by its teaching staff.

"The teachers aren't paid as well as in public schools," Boyle said. "We have a tremendous teaching staff."

Boyle is quick to point out all the changes in St. Matthew's over the years. The original school building was located on the site of the current teacher parking lot.

St. Matthew's Parish purchased the school from the Sisters of Mercy in 1956 and began constructing a new building to the south of the existing school. The new facility opened in 1958.

Today, that structure has changed to accommodate students needs.

What was once the nuns' living quarters on the second floor has been converted into the library and classrooms.

The school has one laptop classroom, where students each have their own laptop and lessons are projected on a screen. There are also several SmartBoards, interactive white boards.

"It's difficult for private schools to keep up with the changes in technology," Boyle said.

Part of that is the expense. St. Matthew's has held a raffle for the past few years to help purchase new equipment.

It's just a different atmosphere at St. Matthew's.

Part of that is incorporating Christianity into everything. About 80 percent of the students are Catholic, while 20 percent belong to other religions.

Discipline is different, said Boyle, who joined St. Matthew's 10 years ago after leaving Flathead High School.

"Not that it's easier, but you can talk about Christian ideals and relate that in discipline," he said.