St. Mary Academy Bay View celebrates 150 years of empowering women. Open House set.

Open House scheduled for Sunday, October 20, 2024

A century and a half ago, the world was a vastly different place for women. Largely limited to domestic roles and by societal expectations, opportunities for girls were scarce. In 1874, St. Mary Academy – Bay View was founded by the Sisters of Mercy, who dared to challenge the norm, offering a haven where young women could pursue knowledge and develop their intellect.  

Now, 150 years later, the landscape has dramatically shifted, and women have broken through countless barriers. From boardrooms to laboratories, from political offices to athletic arenas, the achievements of more than 10,000 Bay View alumnae are a testament to the school’s enduring legacy. As the longest running all-girls Catholic school in the state, Bay View continues to thrive. The 2024 graduating class achieved a 100% graduation rate, a 100% college acceptance rate, and students received close to $20 million dollars in college scholarships.

For the 2024-2025 school year, Bay View welcomes the largest number of newly enrolled students in nearly a decade, including the largest Grade 9 class since 2018. The admission season for the 2025-2026 school year has just opened, with an Open House scheduled for Sunday, October 20, 2024.  

“Bay View has extraordinary graduates,” said Amy Gravell, president of St. Mary Academy – Bay View and Bay View alumna (Class of ’93). “Judges, CEOs of companies, Broadway stars, scientists, teachers – countless women who have made the world a better place. We are thrilled to celebrate their contributions, as well as the contributions of the girls who are students now and those who will be, well into the future.” 

To mark the 150^th anniversary, Bay View will host a series of events throughout the year, having begun with a Mass at the Cathedral in Providence on September 8th, and continuing with a year-long series of events and activities including: 150 acts of service and 150 acts of kindness by students, and a documentary chronicling the history of Bay View which will premier in conjunction with Women’s History Month. A highlight of the yearlong celebration will be a visit from Dolores Huerta, a renowned civil rights activist, who will speak to Bay View students and alumnae with a focus on the Mercy critical concern of non-violence. 

150th Anniversary Gala

Bay View will hold its 150th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, November 16 at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. All proceeds will bolster Bay View’s Fund for 150: Our Legacy, Their Future, which will ensure that every girl, regardless of financial circumstances, will have the opportunity to benefit from a Bay View education. Alumnae, supporters, partners, and friends are encouraged to attend. 

To purchase tickets to the Gala, or for more information on Bay View’s 150th celebration, visit www.bayview150.org. 

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. Located in Riverside, Rhode Island, Bay View is a member institution of the Mercy Education System, a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy. St. Mary Academy – Bay View is a college preparatory school, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and is a member of both the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). 

About the Sisters of Mercy:  The Sisters of Mercy, an international community of Roman Catholic women, dedicate their lives to God through vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service. For more than 180 years, motivated by the Gospel of Jesus and inspired by the spirit of their foundress, Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy have responded to the continually changing needs of the time. 

Photo: Courtesy St. Mary Academy – Bay View