St. Matthew School’s new mural design incorporates elements of its vision and mission statements and depicts worship, service and academics. St. Matthew School replaced all of its chairs over the summer, worked with artist Dean Kiradjieff to refresh its walls, and updated its library to accommodate new technology. CHARLOTTE — A new mural in the cafeteria at St. Matthew School offers a bright, beautiful reminder of the role faith plays in the life of the school community.
Artist Dean Kiradjieff, a parishioner at St. Matthew Church, put in 65 hours of work over the summer to create the mural that greeted students when they returned to class in August.
The mural is part of other recent updates to the school. Thanks to funds raised by the PTO and support from St. Matthew Parish, the school library received a complete overhaul including removal of the circulation desk, all new furniture, technology updates and a fresh coat of paint.
New chairs were purchased for every classroom in the school, offering a new look as well as improved seating for students. The chairs were selected for their ergonomic shape and other features to “help maintain correct back posture while encouraging natural body movement – improving alertness, concentration and well being,” said Principal Kevin O’Herron.
The school PTO approached Kiradjieff to paint the mural after O’Herron asked if it would be possible to brighten up a plain white wall in the cafeteria.
Kiradjieff is no stranger to painting murals for his parish. Several years ago, he painted a Noah’s Ark theme in the church’s nursery.
The vision for this mural came from elements of the school’s mission and vision statements, which were revised by the long-range planning committee of the School Leadership Council during the 2024-2025 school year.
“The goal was to bring the mission and vision to life in a very Catholic way that kids would relate to,” Kiradjieff said. “I wanted to make it colorful and fun, and to also create something beautiful.”
The artist sat down with his wife Diane Kiradjieff, director of religious education for St. Matthew Parish, and sketched the mural, which incorporates images of the church and school with portrayals of Catholic worship, service, academics and fun daily activities familiar to every child. He showed it to PTO Presidents Kristina Villella and Cameron Jung.
“I was speechless when I saw the sketch, and I immediately thought this is going to be a teaching tool for everyone who sees it,” Villella said. “I knew the Holy Spirit was involved with this because we had just completed the (school’s) mission and vision statements.”
Kiradjieff started work on the mural June 28 and finished Aug. 14.
At the center of the mural is an image of the school topped with a large, radiant monstrance, representing Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist and His role as the center of both the Catholic faith and everything that goes on at St. Matthew.
“I wanted it to be front and center, the first thing that catches your eye,” Kiradjieff said.
Written out are the seven virtues, which students focus on throughout the school year.
To the left of the school is St. Matthew Church and to the right is a house, symbolizing the two other places that have the most influence in the lives of students.
Service plays a big role at St. Matthew School, and the mural depicts annual projects to help needy families at Christmas and feed the hungry.
The mural is encircled by images of the globe and words from Matthew 28:19-20, which begins: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” reminding students to take what they learn at St. Matthew and share it with others.
Scattered throughout the mural are 20 hidden crosses painted onto the figures, a fun element that young children especially enjoy finding.
The mural is in a section of the cafeteria where parents sit when they come to eat lunch with their kids.
“If parents eat with their children, they sit surrounded by the mural, and it’s a great reminder of why they send their kids here,” Jung said.
The PTO prepared a description of the mural that hangs next to it so people who view it in the future will understand the symbolism, Vilella said.
“It’s really such a joy to have this mural here,” she said. “It feels like something that should have always been here, because it really describes what this school is all about.”
— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy C. Hull
CHARLOTTE — For the first time, Our Lady of the Assumption School students gathered in their new Marian Garden — an amphitheater designed for reflection, prayer and community.
To begin October, the month of the Holy Rosary, students came together to pray a living rosary, deepening their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Thanks to the diversity of the student body, the rosary was prayed in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tigrinya, Burmese, Hakha Chin and Arabic — a true reflection of the school’s universal Catholic faith.
— Troy C.Hull
