Private Education
Mentors make the grade — and
Saint Mary Academy - Bay View’s new program — Purcell Promise — for ninth graders sets the stage for expanding to more grades in the future
BY MICHELLE MERCURE mmercure@eastbaymediagroup.com
At 150 years old, one private school is unwrapping a gift unlike any other — the
Purcell Promise. The present isn’t a box decked out in ribbon and paper — it’s students, showing up in force to mentor and welcome the newest faces on campus.
In August of 2025, a small group of girls gathered at Goddard State Memorial Park to get to know one another before the school year began. This was the first official step in fulfilling the Purcell Promise — at least in terms of mentorship —
their peers do too
though its origins stretch back further, to a lunch meeting in 2023.
Amy Gravell, the current president of Bay View, met with Martha Murray, a member of the Board of Advisors at Bishop Hendricken High School, along with other colleagues. “I was just so impressed imagining what a program like the Options Program at Hendricken would
“They won’t just have one buddy, they’ll have a tribe. From the classroom to the lunchroom to the playing field, these girls will be surrounded by peers who cheer them on.”
JENNIFER GEARY
RICHARD W. DIONNE JR.
Mentors craft friendship bracelets with incoming students during the Purcell Promise meet-and-greet for the 2025 - 2026 school year at Goddard Memorial State Park.
MENTORS: From a day at the beach to a day at school
From Page 1
look like at Bay View. There had been a lot of conversations about it through the years. I think there was a real desire to add an inclusion program, but the timing was never quite right,” Gravell said of that conversation, which took place shortly after she became president.
Although Bay View already serves a large percentage of students with IEPs or 504s through specialized learning programs, the Purcell Promise will allow the school to accommodate and provide for these students in new ways — ways that trace back to fulfilling the vision of Sister Juliana Purcell, Bay View’s first headmistress back in 1874. “When the school was founded, she was the leader, and she really spoke, even at that time so many years ago, about Bay View being a place for all girls (emphasis on all). This really is the fulfillment of that original goal — something we hadn’t been able to fully
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PHOTOS BY RICHARD W. DIONNE JR.
At the meet-and-greet, the girls giggle and chat as they hike back up the hill from their beach walk, ready to jump into more fun activities together. See
MENTORS: The girls are like a little tribe of their own
realize before,” Gravell said.
Under the guidance of Jennifer Greary, special education and academic support coordinator, and with the addition of a newly hired special education teacher, Purcell Promise students will benefit from small classes, individualized learning pathways, and community experiences. They will also integrate into mainstream courses with support from a new peer mentoring system that mirrors the one at Hendricken.
“They won’t just have one buddy — they’ll have a tribe. From the classroom to the lunchroom to the playing field, these girls will be surrounded by peers who cheer them on,” Greary said.
The Bay View ‘tribe’ walks the halls together
“I was just brought to tears when she was walking the halls and looked at me and said, ‘I’m just so excited that I get to be here,’ and the way she said that, you could tell she had a sadness in her voice
The girls take their time perfecting their friendship bracelets, enjoying the beautiful day outdoors.
MENTORS: Purcell Promise aims to grow each year
From Page 3
— this wasn’t always an option for her,” Gravell said of a student who toured the school to join this new program.
But it’s not just the incoming students who carry this excitement about having an “option.”
Students from the current student body have come out in droves to volunteer as mentors for the incoming class — so many that there’s now a waitlist. Some of the girls selected with the sought-after “option” to become mentors got the chance to meet the incoming students during a summer meet-and-greet at Goddard Park.
Caroline Kanaczet, entering her senior year, is one of the students helping bring the Purcell Promise to life by becoming a mentor. “I know the program will grow very fast,” she said. She may be right in her optimism. In its first year, the program will
include only the ninth-grade class, but as Caroline hopes, the team at Bay View also has “big dreams” for its expansion — ideally adding another grade level each year.
Even though Caroline will only be there for its launch, she’s excited to see how it will reshape the school’s community. “It’s really great that this program lets the different grades mingle with one another for activities like dances and holiday events,” she said.
Jillian Escobar, also a senior and a new mentor, shares this sentiment. “It’s good for the whole school — not just for the new students, but for all of us to learn and connect,” she said.
As the afternoon unfolded at Goddard Park, the girls made friendship bracelets, shared stories, and walked along the beach together as a tribe — a little tribe that will soon be walking the halls of Bay View, fulfilling the Purcell Promise with the start of the 2025–26 school year.
Bonding over bracelets, the girls take time to connect and learn about each other.
RICHARD W. DIONNE JR.
Homeschooling happens everywhere (even at school)
Barrington Christian Academy’s Homeschool Hybrid program gives homeschooling families a flexible way to join school life — and it’s only getting bigger and better
BY MICHELLE MERCURE mmercure@eastbaymediagroup.com
When walls hold more room than students, possibilities open up. At Barrington Christian Academy, that possibility turned into a program born from a need in the ever-growing homeschooling community in Rhode Island — and it’s only getting bigger — and better — with each passing year.
Two years ago, when a middle school science teacher at Barrington Christian Academy walked into Head of School
See HYBRID Page 6
looking ahead to the third year of the
with students at last year’s
work together placing their painted rocks in the school garden. Students often head outside to plant, explore, and engage in hands-on science projects, as STEM is one of the 45-minute enrichment classes available for homeschooling families.
LEFT: Head of School Michael Skazinski proudly engages
Barrington Christian Academy graduation,
Homeschool Hybrid program. RIGHT: Athena Waldron (left) and Aviyah Pelley
HYBRID: The Homeschool Hybrid students fit seamlessly into the class
From Page 5
Michael Skazinski’s office with a bold idea, she didn’t expect it to reshape the school’s future — but that’s exactly what happened. Beth Fisher, a homeschooling mom of five and a teacher, wondered if the academy could create a “Homeschool Hybrid” option — a program that would allow families like hers to participate in school life without committing to a full-time schedule.
That idea excited Michael, who looked around at the space they already had and realized that a Homeschool Hybrid model didn’t require new buildings or major funding.
“The biggest thing that we liked when the idea came up was that it answered the question of ‘What do we do with the space we already have?’ Most programs that might want to expand need to do so by adding space onto an existing building, but we already had space,” Michael said. “It’s like extending your tent pegs. We already had the space and the teachers. We just created an opportunity for more families to experience the school community.”
But because Homeschool Hybrid families need consistency, Michael also asked, “What would the schedule look like?”
Consistency is key
According to Michael, there are two parts to scheduling for Homeschool Hybrid families. For the upper grades, the Homeschool Hybrid program is structured more like a university than a traditional K–12 school. Middle and high school students attend classes on either a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or a Tuesday, Thursday track, with block scheduling in place. “So, for example, if you take eighth-grade science, you know it’s block one, Monday, Wednesday, Friday — it’s super consistent for everyone,” Michael said.
Michael added that many homeschooling parents with kids in middle and high school use the Homeschool Hybrid model to supplement subjects that are harder to teach at home — like math and science. But some students attend simply for the school’s thriving performing arts program — which also cannot be mimicked at home, The performing arts program is also popular with elementary students, who
participate in a slightly different version of the Homeschool Hybrid program.
Michael said, “The elementary Homeschool Hybrid option offers 45-minute enrichment classes in art, STEM, performing arts, or physical education, which families can select à la carte.”
“It’s really about flexibility. We wanted to create options that allow families to blend homeschooling with a sense of community and shared learning,” said Michael.
Classes remain small — capped at 18 students — and Homeschool Hybrid enrollment is only offered once full-time placements are complete. Current Homeschool Hybrid families get priority for returning, and according to Michael, many end up enrolling their children full-time. There are currently 170 fulltime students and 24 Homeschool
Hybrid students enrolled.
Looking ahead …
Now in its third year, the Homeschool Hybrid program is still evolving. One of the main challenges has been figuring out how to communicate with Homeschool Hybrid families without overwhelming them with information meant for full-time students. Part of the school’s current work includes creating a handbook specifically for this group.
The team is also refining communication, admissions, and scheduling while considering future expansion. “Some families have asked about the possibility of an elementary Homeschool Hybrid model, wondering, for example, if all the specials could be scheduled on a single day for a half-day drop-off. That got us thinking about what a Homeschool
Hybrid — or perhaps a co-op — could look like at the elementary level. We’re still exploring the idea, asking questions about feasibility, scheduling, and who would run it. Right now, we don’t have all the answers,” Michael said.
Other schools have even reached out to ask how Barrington Christian Academy built its Homeschool Hybrid model — suggesting this could become a growing trend elsewhere.
“It’s not exactly the traditional idea of Homeschool Hybrid,” Michael said. “It’s really its own model. We’re still learning, but it’s exciting to see how quickly it’s become a part of who we are.” There’s no difference between full-time students and those in the Homeschool Hybrid program — as the program was built not just on the idea of having extra space, but on having flexible spaces.
Aaron Lopez (left), Christian Aguiar, and Harper Ackroyd, last year’s second graders — now in third grade — engage in a volcano experiment, one of many hands-on STEM activities available at the school.
Hop on board — bus service is still available
Enrolling in a private school doesn’t always mean giving up the bus — many Rhode Island districts still provide buses
In Rhode Island, students attending private, parochial, charter schools, career and technical education centers, and schools serving students with disabilities may qualify for free or subsidized bus transportation through the Statewide Student Transportation System. So, yes, the bus is still an option.
This program ensures that students who reside outside their assigned public school district have access to transportation options. Find out how to apply below.
Checklist
1. Attend a private, parochial, charter, or career and technical education school.
2. Live outside the district where their school is located.
3. Reside in a participating school district (see below).
Rhode Island’s statewide student transportation system connects students to schools outside their
4. Travel must be within a designated region (see below) — transportation is
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(or at least east of the Washington Bridge)
Gordon educates young people who know their values and who work to use their knowledge and compassion to make the world a better place.
provided to and from your resident district to another district within the region.
5. Submit a transportation request through the Rhode Island Department of Education's online portal. To request transportation before school begins it’s important to apply prior to the end of July (requests made after this date may still be processed, but service may not begin immediately).
Districts
Barrington
Bristol-Warren
Burrillville
Central Falls
Chariho
Coventry
Cranston
Cumberland
East Greenwich East Providence Exeter West Greenwich Foster Glocester Jamestown Johnston Lincoln Little Compton Middletown Newport North Providence North Smithfield Pawtucket Portsmouth Providence
BUS: Transportation to and from school is still available
From FACING PAGE
Scituate
Smithfield South Kingstown Tiverton Warwick West Warwick Woonsocket
Regions
REGION 1
Burrillville Cumberland North Smithfield Woonsocket REGION 2 Coventry East Greenwich Foster Glocester Scituate Warwick West Warwick
REGION 3 Barrington Bristol Central Falls Cranston East Providence Johnston Lincoln North Providence Pawtucket
Providence Smithfield Warren REGION 4 Charlestown Exeter Hopkinton Jamestown Narragansett New Shoreham North Kingstown Richmond South Kingstown West Greenwich Westerly REGION 5 Little Compton Middletown Newport Portsmouth Tiverton
Thinking of attending a private school comes with many challenges, but transportation doesn’t have to be one of them, as Rhode Island is one of the few states that still offers free bus transportation. Families can submit transportation requests through the Rhode Island Department of Education's online portal.
This information was gathered from the State of Rhode Island Department of Education.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Inspiring the inner promise of each student
Moses Brown provides an education that is time-tested, fully immersive, and ever more relevant to today’s world. Learn more about our distinctive academic, advising, arts, and athletic programs and the people that make our community thrive.
The search for a new school begins now
The school search timeline typically begins a year before enrollment
While each school follows its own schedule, here is a typical admissions timeline.
August (of the year before you want your child to attend)
n Define your ideal school
n Find schools that match your child’s needs
n Research and ask questions of schools on your preliminary list
September
n Attend local school fairs to gather material and impressions from multiple schools
n Browse schools’ websites to learn more about their programs and philosophies
n Request admissions and financial aid material by phone or online
n Review admissions materials to determine which schools to visit
n Create a calendar of pertinent admission and financial aid deadlines for the schools to which you are considering applying
n Ask elementary schools about their test schedules and make appointments
n Register for any standardized tests required for admission
n Review the test websites to learn about procedures and test dates, see sample questions, and purchase test-preparation books
n Call schools to schedule individual tours, class visits, interviews, and “shadow days”
n Take required standardized admission tests
November
n Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests
n Continue to watch for open houses you may want to attend
n Request teacher recommendations from your child’s current school
n Start working on applications, financial aid forms, student questionnaires, and essays
December
n Continue to watch for any open houses or school events of interest
n Request transcripts at the end of your child’s first semester
n Complete applications, questionnaires, and essays
January
n Pay attention to deadlines: Most applications are due in January or February, along with test scores, references, transcripts, and financial aid forms
February
n Don’t miss deadlines: Most schools’ applications are due in February at the latest
n Visit schools and/or have your child participate in a student shadow day
March
n Watch for school decisions starting in mid-March
n Watch for financial aid decisions
n If your student is accepted by multiple schools, decide which school your child will attend
Saturday, October 18
October
n Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests
n Visit schools during open houses, attend information sessions, and take tours
n Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply
April
n Sign and return enrollment contracts and send deposits
May to September
n Attend events and activities for new parents and students
— Courtesy of the National Association of Independent Schools
All Saints STEAM Academy PK-8
Tours available 915 West Main Road $7,615 by appointment Middletown 401/848-4300 allsaintsacademy.org
Antioch School PK-8
Call for a private 618 Rock St., Fall River
tour anytime. 508/673-6767 antioch-school.org
Barrington Christian Academy K-12
Call for tour 9 Old County Road Barrington Schedule a consult. or book online. Barrington 401/246-0113 bcacademy.org
Bishop Hendricken High School 8-12
Oct. 26, 12-3 p.m. 2615 Warwick Ave. (all boys) Warwick 401/739-3450 hendricken.com
Bishop Stang High School 9-12
Oct.
500 Slocum Road Nov. 6,
p.m. North Dartmouth 508/996-5602 bishopstang.com
Community Preparatory
Call for details. 135 Prairie Ave. Providence 401/521-9696 communityprep.org
French-American School of R.I.
a.m.-1 p.m. 75 John St., Providence 401/274-3325 fasri.org
Friends Academy Early
1088 Tucker Road childhood-8 North Dartmouth 508/999-1356 friendsacademy1810.org
Virtual
on
Gordon School Nursery-8
14-19 Family individualized Nov. 14 (Lower and Middle); 45 Maxfield Ave., E. Providence tuition Nov. 1 (early childhood) 401/434-3833 gordonschool.org
The Grace School K-8
(avg.) Virtual tour on website. 1000 Eddy St., Providence 401/533-9100 Thegraceschool.org
Holy Name School PreK-8
850 Pearce St. Fall River, Mass. Tours by appointment 508-674-9131 hnsfr.org
LaSalle Academy 6-12
- $18,120 Oct. 26 612 Academy Ave. Providence 401/351-7750 lasalle-academy.org
Lincoln School 1-12 (girls)
301 Butler Ave., Providence Nursery-K (coed) 401/331-9696 lincolnschool.org
The Montessori Centre of Barrington 18 months
Oct. 25, 1-3 p.m.
Varies depending Enrollment opens Feb. 1 303 Sowams Road through K on age, hours, Barrington program montessori-centre.com 401/245-4754
Moses Brown Nursery-12
- $50,000 Oct. 19 250 Lloyd Ave., Providence 401/831-7350 mosesbrown.org
Ocean State Montessori School
Call to schedule a visit. 100 Grove Ave., E. Providence 401/434-6913 oceanstatemontessori.com
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School
Call for tour 127 State St. Bristol 401/253-8455 olmcri.org
Pennfield School
Nov. 14; Jan. 30 110 Sandy Point Ave., Portsmouth 401/849-4646 pennfield.org School Grades
GUIDE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Portsmouth Abbey School
Oct. 25 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth
401/683-2000 portsmouthabbey.org
The Prout School
4640 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield
401/789-9262
theproutschool.org
Providence Country Day
660 Waterman Ave., E. Providence 401/438-5170 providencecountryday.org
Rocky Hill School
Oct. 19, 11 a.m. 530 Ives Rd., East Greenwich 401/884-9070 rockyhill.org
Sacred Heart School
56 Purchase St., East Providence 401/434-1080 sacredheartepri.com
Sally Borden Program
at Friends Academy 1088 Tucker Road North Dartmouth 508/999-1356 friendsacademy1810.org
School One
220 University Ave., Providence 401/331-2497 school-one.org
St. Andrew’s School
4, 9-11:30 a.m. 63 Federal Road, Barrington 401/246-1230 standrews-ri.org
St. George’s School
372 Purgatory Road, Middletown
401/847-7565 stgeorges.edu
St. Luke School
10 Waldron Ave., Barrington 401/246-0990 stlukesri.org
St. Margaret School
Call for more information 42 Bishop Ave., Rumford or visit website. stmargaretsch.org 401/434-2338
St. Mary Academy Bay View
3070 Pawtucket Ave. (all girls) Riverside 401/434-0113 bayviewacademy.org
St. Michael’s Country Day
Nov. 6 9-11 a.m. 180 Rhode Island Ave., Newport student-teacher 401/849-5970
smcds.org
St. Philomena School
324 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth 401/683-0268 saintphilomena.org
St. Raphael Academy
123 Walcott St, Pawtucket 401/723-8100 saintrays.org
The Wheeler School Nursery-12
216 Hope St., Providence 401/421-8100 wheelerschool.org
The Wolf School
215 Ferris Ave., East Providence 401/432-9940 thewolfschool.org School Grades Enrollment
portsmouthabbey.org
