Mustang Messenger 8/270/2026

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year!

There is something especially meaningful about the beginning of a new school year—the freshly prepared classrooms, new supplies, familiar faces returning, new families joining us, and the excitement of students walking through our doors ready for another year of learning and growth. After months of planning and preparation, it is a blessing to finally have our Mustangs back where they belong.

This week, we intentionally began in prayer. Our faculty and staff gathered with Catholic educators from across the Archdiocese for the Opening Schools Mass at the Basilica, placing our work and this new school year before God. We then carried that spirit home to St. Matthias, gathering with our students and families on the first day of school to pray together as one community.

That is exactly how I want us to begin—and how I hope we will continue.

Our theme this year, One Body, One Mission, reminds us that the work of educating our children belongs to all of us. School and home are not separate teams. Our faculty and staff, parents and guardians, parish community, and students each have an important role to play. When we work together, communicate with one another, extend grace when needed, and remain focused on what is best for our children, our entire community grows stronger.

And, of course, we remain Rooted in Faith; Growing in Excellence. Our faith must guide the work we do. Excellence should define how we do it. And service should sustain us along the way.

As we enter these first weeks, I ask for your partnership. Help your children establish strong routines. Encourage them to arrive each morning ready to learn. Talk with them about what they are learning. Get to know their teachers. Read our school communications. Ask questions when you need clarification. Celebrate their progress—and remind them that mistakes and challenges are also part of growing.

Most importantly, pray with us and pray for us. Pray for our students, that they will discover their gifts and have the courage to use them. Pray for our teachers and staff, that they will have wisdom, patience, and joy in their work. Pray for our families and parish. Pray for me and our school leadership as we make decisions on behalf of this community. And know that we will continue praying for you.

There is much ahead of us this year—learning, celebrations, challenges, milestones, Sacraments, service, friendships, and countless moments we cannot yet anticipate. I am excited to experience them together.

Thank you for entrusting your children to the Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle. It is a responsibility we take seriously and a privilege for which we are deeply grateful.

Here's to a wonderful year of being One Body, One Mission—Rooted in Faith and Growing in Excellence.

With faith and Mustang pride,

Dr. Coretta N. Streat

Principal

Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle

What better way to begin a new school year than in prayer?

Our faculty and staff began the school year united in faith at the Opening Schools Mass at the Basilica, joining Catholic educators from across the Archdiocese in prayer as we prepared our hearts and minds for the important work ahead.

We then brought that same spirit of prayer home to the Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle. On our first day of school, we gathered as a school community—students, families, faculty, and staff—to place this new year into God's hands. Together, we prayed for our children, our families, our teachers and staff, our school, and all those who will walk alongside us throughout the year.

As we live our school motto, Rooted in Faith; Growing in Excellence, we invite every member of our Mustang family to remain in constant prayer with us throughout the 2026–2027 school year. Pray for our students as they learn and grow. Pray for our teachers as they teach, guide, and nurture. Pray for our families as they partner with us. Pray for our parish and school leadership. And pray that everything we do reflects God's love and serves His purpose.

May we continue to remember that we are One Body, One Mission—and that when we remain rooted in faith, prayer keeps us connected to one another and to the One who guides our work.

Please keep the Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle in your prayers throughout this school year. We will be praying for you, too.

We are exploring a Weekly Snack Pack option for families who would like to add a daily snack to their student's school day.

Families would have two options:

• Snack Pack – $5 per week: One snack per day for five school days.

• Snack + Drink Pack – $10 per week: One snack plus juice or water per day for five school days.

Payment would be made weekly by families choosing to participate.

Before launching the program, we need to know how many Mustang families would be interested.

🍎 Interested? Take Our Quick Poll!

Please take a moment to complete our short Snack Pack Interest Survey:

This is an interest survey only. Completing the form does not commit your family to purchasing a Snack Pack.

Once we determine whether there is sufficient family participation, we will provide families with information regarding the program start date, ordering, and weekly payment.

Your response will help us determine whether we can bring this convenient option to our Mustang families!

We are excited to announce that our regular school lunch service begins Monday, August 31!

Families who would like their child to purchase school lunch may place their orders directly through AnyTyme Services.

👉 ORDER SCHOOL LUNCH HERE

Student lunches are $8.00 per meal.

Please make sure your child's lunch order is placed in advance. Students who are not purchasing school lunch should bring a packed lunch from home.

The Weekly Snack Pack described above is separate from the regular lunch program and will be offered only if there is sufficient family interest.

Take a look at what's cooking! Our September 2026 Lunch Menu includes a variety of meals throughout the month, beginning with spaghetti on August 31 and continuing with options such as chicken tenders, hot dogs, hoagies, chicken nuggets, hamburgers, General Tso chicken, chicken Alfredo, pizza, baked chicken, popcorn chicken, baked ziti, homemade macaroni and cheese, and more.

Please note that the menu identifies Monday, September 7 as a no-school holiday.

As we settle into our regular school routine, please remember that all students are expected to report to school each day in the full Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle uniform.

Our school uniform is an important part of our Mustang identity and helps establish a sense of belonging, pride, responsibility, and readiness to learn.

Families, please help us by checking each morning that your child is wearing the appropriate:

• School uniform shirt and required bottoms

• Uniform shoes and socks

• Belt, when required

• School sweater or approved uniform outerwear, when needed

Students should arrive fully dressed in the appropriate uniform for the school day. Non-uniform sweatshirts, jackets, and other clothing should not replace required uniform pieces during the school day.

Thank you for helping us establish strong expectations from the very beginning of the year. When our Mustangs look ready for school, we are one step closer to being ready to learn!

Did you know that the Academy has a school store with gently used uniforms available for purchase?

Families are more than welcome to stop by and browse our available uniform items to see if we have something that will fit your child. Sizes and available pieces vary depending upon current inventory.

Purchasing gently used uniforms is a great way to save money, keep extra uniform pieces on hand, and give previously loved uniforms a new Mustang home!

Please stop by the school office if you would like to visit the uniform store.

“Increase our faith!” — Luke 17:5

Our virtue for the month is Faith.

As we begin this school year, we encourage our Mustangs to think about what it means to trust God even when we cannot see exactly what lies ahead.

Families, continue the conversation at home by asking your child:

“How did you show your faith today?”

Faith grows when we practice it—in our prayers, our choices, the way we treat others, and the way we trust God.

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Mark your calendars! We are looking forward to bringing our Mustang community together for our Back-to-School Family BBQ on Saturday, September 12.

This will be an opportunity for our students, families, faculty, and staff to enjoy fellowship, meet other Mustang families, strengthen relationships, and celebrate the beginning of our new school year.

🐎 We hope to see our Mustang families there!

Although the Academy provides student school supplies, families are encouraged to help us keep our classrooms clean, healthy, and well stocked throughout the year.

We Welcome Donations Of:

• Disinfecting wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Facial tissues
• Paper towels
• Lysol or other disinfectant spray
• Plastic forks
• Plastic spoons

Families who purchase an approved donation item may be eligible to have the purchase count toward their family's annual volunteer service requirement.

🧾 Keep Your Receipt!

A receipt or other proof of purchase MUST accompany your donated items in order to receive volunteer service credit.

Volunteer credit for eligible physical donations is calculated according to the documented value of the donation:

Donation Value Volunteer Credit

✅ How to Receive Your Volunteer Credit

1. Purchase an item from the approved/requested donation list.
2. Keep your receipt or other proof of purchase.
3. Submit the receipt with your donated items.
4. Enter your eligible volunteer service credit into Track It Forward within 30 days.

Please remember: Simply dropping off an item does not automatically generate volunteer service credit. The school must be able to verify the value of the donation.

Families should also remember that no more than half of the annual family service-hour requirement may be fulfilled through approved physical donations.

Thank you for sharing your time, talent, and treasure in support of our Mustang community!

Monday, August 31

🍽️ School Lunch Service Begins

Saturday, September 12

🎉 Back-to-School Family BBQ

Please continue to read the Mustang Messenger and other school communications for additional September dates, activities, and important reminders.

Thank you for the wonderful energy, patience, flexibility, and support you have brought to the opening of our school year.

These first days remind us that a school is so much more than a building.

It is a community.

We are grateful to have your family as part of ours and look forward to everything God has in store for the Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle this year.

May God continue to bless our students, families, faculty, staff, parish, and the entire Academy community.

One Body. One Mission.

Rooted in Faith; Growing in Excellence.

🐎 Go Mustangs!

As we begin the school year, staying informed is important.

Families should regularly:

• Log into the FACTS Family Portal
• Read the weekly Mustang Messenger
• Follow the Academy on social media
• Visit our school website
• Keep up with the school calendar
• Read school emails and announcements

Please make reading the Mustang Messenger part of your weekly family routine. It will be one of our primary ways of sharing important announcements, reminders, upcoming events, opportunities, and celebrations.

Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle
9473 Annapolis Road
Lanham, MD 20706

📞 (301) 577-9412

🌐 www.academy.stmatthias.org

Rooted in Faith. Growing in Excellence.