Meet the Salas Family: New Faces at St. Ann School!

A Warm Welcome to the Salas Family
We are excited to introduce one of the newest families to join our St. Ann community—Michelle and Abel Salas, along with their two wonderful boys, Mateo and Charlie. Their journey to St. Ann's is full of love for education, faith, and family, and we can’t wait for you to get to know them better!

From Middleton to McFarland
Michelle, originally from Middleton, and Abel, from Nicaragua, now call McFarland their home. They are the proud parents of Mateo, who has just started kindergarten, and Charlie, their energetic 2-year-old. The Salas family also owns a business, UpnetWI, in nearby Stoughton, making them a dynamic part of the community both professionally and personally.

Finding a Home at St. Ann's
So, what brought the Salas family to our school? Michelle and Abel attended the open house during Catholic Schools Week back in January, and it didn’t take long for them to realize St. Ann was where they wanted to be. They were immediately drawn to the warm sense of community, the strong faith-centered approach to education, and the lively energy of our new principal, Mrs. Stano. They were also charmed by Mrs. Matz's kindergarten class, where a tortoise named Iggy even makes an appearance!

A Faith-Centered Education
"We knew we wanted a small Catholic school for our kids, where faith is at the center of everything and where they can make lifelong friends,” Michelle shared. “Being a bilingual household, we were also thrilled that Spanish is offered from kindergarten through 8th grade!”

Transitioning to Kindergarten
As with many first-time school parents, the first month was a big transition for Mateo, especially since he didn’t attend 4K. In just a few weeks, Mateo has gone from learning to write his name to confidently asking to recite prayers like the Our Father and Hail Mary at bedtime. As any kindergartener might, he did try to negotiate his way out of Sunday Mass after having already attended on Thursday, but the family laughs it off as part of his new school routine.

Mateo's School Experience
When asked what he loves most about school, Mateo excitedly shared that recess is a big hit—and so is free time! He's also been impressing his parents by eating hot lunch, happily finishing his peas (even though he didn’t like them at home!).

Building Community Connections
The Salas family has also noticed the strong sense of community here at St. Ann’s, from the amazing energy of the staff to the involvement of the parents. Mateo is already benefiting from the school's buddy mentorship program, where each kindergartener is paired with an 8th-grade student. The special connection Mateo has with his 8th-grade buddy has made his early school experience truly memorable.

Looking Ahead
As they continue to settle in, Michelle and Abel are looking forward to deepening their ties within the St. Ann community. "We love the Catholic foundation and the sense of belonging here,” Michelle said. “We can’t wait to watch our boys grow up with a faith-based education and be a part of something special."

A Bright Future Together
We are so excited to have the Salas family as part of the St. Ann community, and we know they will bring their own special warmth and spirit to our school. Welcome, Salas family—we can’t wait to see what the future holds for you at St. Ann!