Bay View Strategic Plan 2023-2026

THE CAREFUL INSTRUCTION OF WOMEN

For 148 years, St. Mary Academy-Bay View has lived its dynamic mission by striving to empower each of our students to become confident, independent, compassionate, and socially conscious young women of faith. As the celebration of our 150th anniversary draws near, we seek to boldly blaze the trail toward our next 150 years – paving a future path that is groundbreakingly innovative, yet firmly rooted in the rich tradition of Mercy, service, and leadership that sets our school apart.

To guide us in this exciting journey, Bay View partnered with the national Catholic school planning firm, Meitler, to engage in the strategic planning process and determine the most impactful ways for our school to advance as a leader in all-girls education. Our strategic plan is a missiondriven, creatively structured and purposeful roadmap that will assist in guiding us to our ultimate objective: preparing our students for a lifetime of success as Mercy women in a world that needs them more than ever.

Throughout this important work, we will continue to engage as many of our stakeholders as possible in our collective efforts to enhance the holistic, Mercy education that is the soul of our Academy and the foundation for our flourishing future. All because we are dedicated to the inspiring wisdom of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, who believed that:

“No work of charity can be more productive of good to society than the careful instruction of women.”

OUR MISSION

St. Mary Academy - Bay View is an independent, Catholic school serving a diverse population of girls from preschool through grade twelve. In the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, we foster academic excellence in an innovative and creative learning environment. We are committed to empowering each student to be a confident, independent, compassionate and socially conscious young woman who fully lives her faith.

MERCY EDUCATION CORE VALUES

Compelled By Mercy

Mercy students, in the spirit of our founder Catherine McAuley, are steadfastly determined to take Mercy into an interconnected world. Our shared sense of social consciousness is fortified by universal empathy and a conviction that all are worthy of God’s mercy. This deep awareness and compassion move us to take principled action and serve the needs of others.

Educational Courage

Mercy students welcome the challenge of pursuing their full potential in a culture of excellence, critical thinking, and curiosity. Their multifaceted journey builds character while it builds essential skills. Our holistic program expects engagement, a thirst for knowledge, and personal responsibility, while preparing students to thrive for a lifetime.

Inspired By Faith

Mercy students become living models of faith and forceful advocates for Gospel values. Grounded in our Catholic identity in the Mercy tradition, we welcome all faiths and are strengthened and shaped by these relationships. As we pursue a personal relationship with God, we strenuously follow Jesus Christ’s example of social justice, love, and service.

Principled Leadership

Mercy students are poised to lead with their unique gifts. Prepared with an ethical and moral compass, we put Mercy values into action and work assertively for what is right. We’re equipped to make difficult choices,

learn from our mistakes, and develop high emotional intelligence. As an international community, we’re confident in our ability to make a positive difference and push for systemic change.

A Voice for Dignity and Respect

Mercy students honor the intrinsic value of the individual and recognize God’s presence in each person. We embrace a global vision, value differences of opinion, and are unafraid to confront hostile or hurtful attitudes. By standing up for those who can’t, we go beyond acceptance to ensure everyone feels recognized and heard.

PROFILE OF A MERCY GRADUATE

A comprehensive review of feedback from our many stakeholders has led us to a set of clear and specific objectives and strategies for achieving them – five pillars that will serve as guideposts as we blaze new trails for future generations of students at Bay View:

1 . STRIVING HIGHER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

At Bay View, we know that reaching for even greater heights in academics requires innovative enhancements to our curriculum, an ever-creative approach to teaching and learning, and the ongoing development of our faculty.

To achieve our academic goals, we will:

• Implement a curriculum that is future focused, experiential and innovative across the three divisions of the school.

• Provide high quality curriculum and expert instruction in the Lower School so that all students are equipped with strong foundational skills in math, reading and writing.

• Innovate the Middle School curriculum with coursework that deepens students’ understanding of the world while learning how the Mercy Critical Concerns can shape a global community.

• Launch new Scholars Programs (e.g. Global Citizen or Public Health - Life Science Scholar) in the Upper School. Students may earn a scholar designation for deeper learning and commitment to the Mercy Critical Concerns through coursework, research and community engagement.

• Enhance and expand cross-disciplinary and applied learning in STEAM by offering field-based placements, working as research partners with higher education, and introducing engineering coursework.

2 . RE-IMAGINING OUR PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT

Thanks to the stewardship of many, we are blessed at Bay View to have an expansive campus that is home to three schools within one Academy. As our curricular and extracurricular programming expand to meet the needs of our students, we will ensure that our campus and facilities continue to support the entire student experience.

In our ongoing efforts to improve our campus, we will:

• Develop a multi-year facilities master plan.

• Prioritize and guide improvements, renovation, and new construction projects for the future, considering potential ways to reimagine our facilities and existing footprint.

3. INVESTING IN WHO WE ARE

As a Mercy school that cares deeply about all members of our community, we know that there is nothing more important than our people – our students, staff, alumnae, parents, friends, and supporters – and the connections we all have to one another.

To help us strengthen what it means to be a member of the Bay View community, we will:

• Explore opportunities and resources that promote an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion among our Bay View community and beyond.

• Attract and retain passionate and effective faculty and staff by offering competitive salaries and benefits.

• Provide professional development opportunities to keep pace with 21st-century educational trends and challenges.

4. PURSUING THE NEXT GENERATION

Like all schools, we understand that our future vitality depends on the health of our enrollment – recruiting and retaining the next generation of Bay View girls and young women who are the motivation for all that we are and do.

To ensure that we are effectively attracting and retaining students, we will:

• Create an internal marketing team inclusive of outside parties with expertise in marketing to develop a Marketing and Communications plan and support the Admissions team with marketing, advertising, and recruitment.

• Establish an Alumnae and Parent Ambassador network interested in bringing in new students.

• Conduct satisfaction surveys with parents and students every three years.

5. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

As we engage in the strategic planning process, we recognize that our forward-thinking and ambitious goals are dependent upon the financial health of our Academy for years to come.

To help us with financial planning and to secure our sustainability for the future, we will:

• Launch a Capital Campaign in celebration of Bay View’s 150th anniversary to build a healthy endowment that supports the capital needs of the Academy.

• Expand the Annual Giving program.

• Maintain our five-year financial projection by updating funding assumptions and increasing factors for annual budget planning.

• Stimulate a culture of giving among our community members who love and care deeply about our school.

COLLABORATIVE ACTION PLANNING COMMITTEE

Sister Marybeth Beretta, RSM President

Dr. Marcela Rossi Principal

Mary Ann Snider Vice Principal of

Academics and Curriculum

Jan

Cooney Director of Admissions and Marketing

Alison Croke

Dr. Kimberly Hill Janson

Board of Trustees, Alumna –Class of ‘90

Board of Trustees, Alumna –Class of ’87, Parent ’16

Erin Hanna Dir. of Institutional Advancement, Alumna – Class of ’98, Parent ‘35

Heather Luiz Board of Trustees, Alumna –Class of ’94

Claire Denault Spanish Teacher, Grades 6-12

Courtney Bianchi English Teacher, Grades 9-12, Parent ’18, ’20, ’22, ’26

Valerie Briden Comp Science Teacher, Grades 6-12, Parent ’15, ’18, ’24

Heather Cameron Grade 5 Teacher, Alumna –Class of ’94

Martha Venter Math Teacher, Grades 6-8

Bill Goodwin Science Teacher, Grades 9-12

The outcomes and objectives of Bay View’s strategic planning process are the result of various resources and collaborations:

• A Strategic Planning Committee was formed by the Board of Trustees in 2021.

• Surveys were disseminated to current families and alumnae to gather feedback about their experiences at Bay View.

• The Board of Trustees and school leadership met with the strategic planning firm, Meitler, to review the data collected and recommendations for the path forward.

• The Strategic Planning Committee determined goals and action steps to achieve them in consultation with school leadership.

• An Implementation Plan has been put in place to assign Strategic Plan responsibilities (within the Administrative Team) and a timeline for each action step.

All-Girls. Catholic. Independent. College Preparatory. Preschool–Grade 12. 3070 Pawtucket Ave, Riverside, RI 02915 | 401-434-0113 bayviewacademy.org