St. Matthew’s Parish School Details Plans to Return in Fall 2026
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
The Parish of Saint Matthew resumed weekly worship at its home location on Bienveneda Avenue beginning Sunday, October 19, while St. Matthew’s Parish School announced plans to return for the start of the fall 2026 academic year.
“This return marks another significant milestone since the Palisades fire for St. Matthew’s, led by its ‘Return to Bienveneda Task Force,’” read a statement from the parish, which is located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue, about the return of weekly worship.
The decision-making task force was formed by members of the governing bodies of both The Parish of Saint Matthew and St. Matthew’s Parish School so the two entities, which share the Bienveneda campus, could work together to “reopen the campus safely and bring our community together again for the worship, educational instruction, ministry activities, outreach and fellowship that define us.”
Following the Palisades fire, structures that were deemed a total loss included the rectory and associate rectory homes, Frost Administration Building, 200 (kindergarten) Building, and 300 (lower school and library) Building, according to the task force on March 12. Rental properties at 1023 and 1017 Bienveneda Avenue, owned by the school, were also deemed total losses. The 400 Middle School Building was “partially damaged.”
Still-standing structures on the campus include the church, Parish Center, Founder’s Hall, Mill Building, pool structures, 1026 (young adult residency home) and 1027 (head of school home) Bienveneda Avenue, 500 Middle School Science/PIRL Building, 600 Middle School Building and athletic offices, Sprague Gymnasium, and the early childhood center, though the playground was partially damaged.
The parish has congregated at its partner church, St. Augustine by-the-Sea in Santa Monica. The church will continue to offer its space for activities that “cannot yet” be hosted at the Bienveneda campus.
“While the church sanctuary doors will be open wide, all other areas of the campus will continue to be off limits as remediation progresses in thoughtful stages,” the statement continued. “During this transitional phase, all visitors will be required to stay within posted boundaries for safety considerations.”
Additional programming, including St. Matthew’s Music Guild concerts, are anticipated to return to Bienveneda in December.
Photo courtesy of Katie Convoy
St. Matthew’s Parish School revealed its plan to return to the Palisades campus in fall 2026 during events hosted at its temporary Santa Monica location by Head of School Alley Michaelson and Campus Development Partner Will McGregor, who both graduated from the school with the Class of 2002.
McGregor, of The McGregor Group, showed “detailed architectural plans,” which included “visuals of their remediated and enhanced structures” and “temporary structure developments” that will be in place for the school’s return in fall 2026.
“Today marks an important milestone in our journey home,” Michaelson said. “Every single child—early childhood through eighth grade—returning to the Bienveneda campus will have a brand-new classroom space. Whether in existing buildings or temporary campus structures, student spaces will be immaculate, reflect our mission and standards, and feature significant upgrades and enhancements.”
Temporary structures have been “thoughtfully designed” in order to “minimize student proximity” to ongoing construction, as well as “preserve the natural beauty and intimate scale that makes St. Matthew’s feel like home.”
The school’s early childhood program—which starts at 2 years old and goes through pre-kindergarten—kindergarten and first grade will occupy a “new village of temporary classrooms” on Sprague Terrace that have “age-appropriate playgrounds” that will be “seamlessly integrated into the rest of campus” until the permanent structures are built. The permanent location of the future early childhood center is “currently under consideration as the long-term campus development plan is established.”
At print time, a representative from the school said grades two to four would “most likely” be occupying the 400 Building for the return to campus.
“This wing of classrooms, along with all other existing classroom spaces on campus, will be completely remediated and renovated with new ceilings, floors, fixtures, doors etc.,” according to the school. “This classroom wing will also include newly added exterior balconies that will serve as an outdoor patio and classroom space, all to be ready by fall 2026.”
The school’s Booth Science Building and Keck Middle School Building are currently in the process of receiving “full remediation and interior upgrades,” which include new flooring, ceiling, cabinetry, paint and furniture.
“Our future will honor our rich history while creating cutting-edge facilities that will serve generations of St. Matthew’s students to come—providing the academic excellence and safe, joyful learning environment they deserve,” Michaelson said. “This is about more than rebuilding a campus; it’s about restoring the heart of our community.”
Over the course of nine months, in partnership with two industrial hygienist firms, the Return to Bienveneda Task Force was responsible for “overseeing the testing and associated remediation of the grounds.”
“Testing protocols included over 75 comprehensive samplings of air, water and soil across exterior grounds and building interiors both before and after remediation, going above and beyond the recommended testing panel,” according to information from the school. “Existing buildings will be refurbished with new flooring, ceiling fixtures, cabinetry and doors to ensure porous surfaces that are susceptible to toxins have been removed. Additionally, safety and filtering equipment and technology, including HEPA vacuum cleaning, MERV 13 air filters, and local air purification systems and monitors, will occupy all interior spaces.”
After the Palisades fire, St. Matthew’s, which has roots in the Palisades dating back to 1949, has operated at two temporary locations in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles that were up and running by the end of January, transforming them into “vibrant, inspiring spaces” with “world-class facilities, where full academic programming continues seamlessly.”
A full set of updates from the Return to Bienveneda Task Force, as well as additional information about worship accommodations, is available at stmatthews.com. Additional information about the school can be found at stmatthewsschool.com.
