St. Mary Academy - Bay View

Infobox Private School
name = St. Mary Academy - Bay View
established = 1874
type = private, all-girls, college preparatory
religion = Catholic
head_name = Principal(s)
head = Colleen Gribbin (High School)
Cynthia Lorincz
(Middle School)
Cynthia Lorincz Elementary School)
city = Riverside
state = Rhode Island
country = United States of America
campus = approx. 20 acres of land with regulation size softball field, soccer field, tennis courts, recreation area, 4 buildings, 2 parking lots
enrollment = 1110+ (total)
faculty = 56 (High School)
18 (Middle School)
24 (Elementary School)
athletics = 15 sports, 11 teams
mascot = The Bengal
colors = Navy, Varsity Gold
Brother School = Bishop Hendricken High Schoolhomepage = [http://stmaryacademy-bayview.org/matriarch/default.asp stmaryacademy-bayview.org]

St. Mary Academy - Bay View is an all-girls Catholic School grades k-12 located in Riverside, Rhode Island. It was founded by the Religious Sisters of Mercy in 1874. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.

History

St. Mary Academy-Bay View was founded in 1874 by the Sisters of Mercy. Originally, the elementary school was co-ed, the high school all girls. The single-sex education was based on the teachings of The Religious Sisters of Mercy. Founder, Mother Catherine McAuley, believed that "There is nothing more conducive to the good of society than the education of women." In the spring of 1991, the United States Department of Education recognized St. Mary Academy-Bay View as a Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence. St. Mary Academy-Bay View was renewed as a Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence in 2002. St. Mary Academy-Bay View's brother school is Bishop Hendricken High School, an all boys school.

The School

Mission

We maintain that the Bay View community continues the pursuit of truth and excellence through intellectual and spiritual integrity; that the quality of excellence and honesty permeate the person and communal dimesions of the community in its educational, governing, and managerial labors.

We affirm a special focus for the empowerment of women. We value their potential role as leaders who will contribute to the alleviation of society's ills. We educate them to be receptive of their full potential, to develop their potential without fear of failure and to embrace struggle as integral to the process of development.

We value opportunities for expression and development of aesthetics and creative arts. We assert that the larger world and our own activities be viewed holistically, fostering unity, interdependence and mutuality of all beings; and that following from this we reach out to the neighborhood and local and global community.

Campus

The St. Mary Academy-Bay View campus is twenty acres found on Pawtucket Avenue in Riverside, Rhode Island. There are four buildings, St. Joseph's Hall, Mercy Hall, McAuley Hall, and the Athletic Wellness Center.

Traditions

*Newcomers' Welcome- the last day of spirit week. Each class dresses in their assigned colors (high school: blue, green, pink, and red; middle school: orange, purple, and yellow). Seniors wear clothing that they tye-died at a previous party. Out of respect and tradition, only seniors wear tie-dye. For seniors, the day often begins with a tailgate very early in the morning. The upper-classmen put on skits.
*College Bowl- has come to be known as Bengal Bowl. Originally students were allowed to wear a sweatshirt/t-shirt from any college, however, the attire is now St. Mary Academy-Bay View. Each class puts together a bowl team which compete against each other and finally against a team of faculty.

Athletics

In recent years, St. Mary Academy-Bay View has experienced great success in athletics. In 2006, the varsity basketball team won the Division I State Championship for the first time. It was also the basketball team's second consecutive year winning the Central Division Championship. The basketball team returned to the state championship in 2007, however they lost by one point to LaSalle Academy. In 2005, the hockey team won the State Championship in only its fourth year of competition with a near perfect record. The hockey team renewed their victory in 2008 with a win against Lincoln School. In 2004 and 2007, the swim team won the Division I State Championship. The swim team was the State Runner-Up in 2005 and 2006. The cross country team was fourth in the state in 2004, and continued its season into the New England Championships for the first time in many years. In spring of 2007, the Bay View varsity softball team won its first ever State Championship in Division 1 Fast-Pitch Softball. The Bengals continued to play strong into the new school year, capturing the Division 2 Soccer State Championship in 2007 as well.

Manhattan at the Bay

Since 1983, the Bay View Players of St. Mary Academy-Bay View have been performing a cabaret show at the school's annual Manhattan at the Bay event. The show is the main attraction for this fundraising event that generates around $100,000, all of which goes directly to the school. Over 150 St. Mary Academy-Bay View students participate in the performance as singers, dancers or members of the technical crew. A small number of male students from local high schools supplement the cast. The show is directed by the school's Fine Arts faculty and supported by a small army of parent volunteers. The result is a high caliber performance featuring exceptional ensemble, solo and dance numbers; students help build the sets and run the lighting and sound during the show. Manhattan at the Bay includes nine performances of the cabaret over one weekend at the end of April. In addition, classrooms throughout the school are set up with various themes and provide food, drinks and other entertainment.

The Manhattan at the Bay cabaret production has contributed to St. Mary Academy-Bay View's reputation as one of the top theatre programs in the state. The Bay View Players have received numerous awards at the state Drama Festival over the years. They have performed at the Providence Performing Arts Center, the now-defunct Warwick Musical Theatre, and the American School in Paris. The St. Mary Academy-Bay View chorale has also received considerable recognition: the group has performed in Italy and appeared as the backing choir for shows at the Providence Performing Arts Center, including the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and for singers Judy Collins and Clay Aiken.

In 2008, Manhattan at the Bay and the Bay View Players Cabaret celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Cabaret.

Over the past 14 years, Bay View has applied for the National Highschool Theatre and Music award. On their 25th anniversary, they won the award and are honored with a trip to Edinburgh, Scotlandto perform in the international music festival.

Notable Alumnae

*Francesca Simone ('03), Miss Rhode Island 2008
*Danielle Lacourse ('04), Miss Rhode Island USA 2007, 1st Runner-Up at Miss USA 2007
*Elisabeth Hasselbeck ('95), "Survivor (U.S. TV series)" contestant;a co-host of ABC's "The View".
*Maureen McKenna Goldberg ('69), Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
*Lt. Col. Martha McSally ('84), US Air Force pilot, first woman to fly a solo combat mission, highest ranking woman in the United States Air Force. She won suit against the Department of Defense after she was required to wear a burka while stationed in Saudi Arabia.
*Eileen S. Naughton, Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

Bay View in Fiction

Bay View was referred to on the show, Brotherhood (2006 TV series), when a character's daughter attended, "St. Mary's Academy at the Bay View." The portion of the show which occurred at "St. Mary's Academy at the Bay View" was filmed at Bay View.

External links

* [http://stmaryacademy-bayview.org/matriarch/default.asp St. Mary Academy - Bay View website]

* [http://www.bayviewcabaret.org Bay View Cabaret 25]