History & Legacy
Established in 1874 as St. Mary's Seminary in East Providence by the Sisters of Mercy, St. Mary Academy – Bay View commenced its journey as a private school dedicated to the education of young women. This emphasis on all-girls education stems from the visionary belief of Catherine McAuley, the esteemed founder of the Sisters of Mercy, who asserted that "there is nothing more conducive to the good of society than the education of young women." Over time, ongoing research has consistently reinforced the value of this principle.
In the year 1874, under the direction of Mother Mary Bernard Read, the Sisters of Mercy procured the Howard Mansion in Riverside, Rhode Island, with the intention of establishing a boarding school exclusively for girls. Sister Mary Juliana Purcell was appointed as the first directress, assuming responsibility for students ranging from five to eighteen years of age.
Tragically, a fire ravaged the nineteenth-century building in 1948, necessitating the construction of the present complex. Thus, on January 31, 1949, St. Mary Academy – Bay View commenced its inaugural session within the newly erected high school building.
In January 1967, St. Mary Academy – Bay View underwent separate incorporation. Consequently, the entire elementary school relocated to St. Joseph Hall in 1968, while the boarding school ultimately closed its doors in June 1979. Although the elementary school had been coeducational for numerous years, the formal phase-out of boys' education took place in 1970 when grades 7 and 8 were integrated into the high school. By the academic year 1995–96, the elementary school no longer included boys among its student body.
In the spring of 1991, following a year of meticulous preparation and evaluation, the United States Department of Education bestowed the esteemed recognition of a Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence upon St. Mary Academy – Bay View. Given the continually increasing caliber of students, the curriculum underwent progressive enhancements, resulting in the removal of level-three placements by 1996–97. The Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence designation was subsequently renewed in June 2002.
The Board of Trustees was established in June 1991, and during that same year, a proposal advocating for the consolidation of the elementary and high schools into a singular institution, encompassing pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 under the leadership of a president, was presented to the board. This proposal materialized into reality as the elementary and high schools merged into a cohesive entity. The inaugural president, Elizabeth A. McAuliffe, RSM, Ed.D, was appointed in the spring of 1994, assuming office in the following autumn and receiving the formal investiture in the subsequent spring.
In the spring of 1996, St. Mary Academy – Bay View witnessed the historic appointment of Colleen Gribbin, a laywoman (a Mercy Associate), as principal of the Middle and Upper Schools. This development coincided with the establishment of a novel focus—the Middle School concept. Following extensive engagement in workshops and courses, the Middle School officially materialized in September 1996.
As part of Bay View's former strategic plan, Bay View 2000, a comprehensive facilities study commenced in September 1997, resulting in the formulation of master facilities plan for the entire campus. Executed in multiple phases, the initial stage encompassed the construction of an Athletic Wellness Center, serving the physical education and athletic programs for students ranging from preschool to grade 12. Subsequent phases involved renovating and relocating the dining room and Upper School Library and the creation of a new Mercy Hall main entrance and reception area.
In July 2017, Sister Marybeth Beretta, a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, assumed the role of the third president of St. Mary Academy – Bay View. Throughout her six-year tenure, Sister Marybeth admirably led the Academy through the profound challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her noteworthy enhancements to the campus included extensive beautification efforts, such as the installation of the statue of Catherine McAuley at the entrance, a comprehensive campus revitalization with new classroom furniture, and the completion of the state-of-the-art Barbara A. Papitto Science and Innovation Center. Furthermore, Sister Marybeth skillfully guided the Academy through the ten-year New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation process and played a pivotal role in developing a strategic plan for the Academy's future.
In 2021, following the retirement of Collen Gribbin, the Middle and Upper School principal, the Academy transitioned to a single principal model. After careful evaluation by a search committee, Sister Marybeth appointed Dr. Marcela Rossi, Ph.D., as the new principal overseeing the entire Academy, spanning from Pre-K to 12th grade. Driven by her own experiences of receiving an all-girls K-12 education, Dr. Rossi values the intellectual curiosity, exploration, discovery, and reflection that can flourish within a learning environment tailored exclusively to young women. With a Ph.D. in Applied Biological Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Physics with a minor in English Literature from Fordham University, Dr. Rossi's expertise extends across multiple disciplines. Furthermore, her fluency in English, Spanish, and French enhances her ability to engage with a diverse student body. Possessing almost 25 years of educational experience, Dr. Rossi joined Bay View after serving seven years as the Pre K-12 Head of School at an international private institution.
Ms. Amy Gravell '93 assumed the role of the Academy's fourth president in July 2023. A native of Rhode Island and a proud alumna of the Academy, Ms. Gravell brings a wealth of nonprofit leadership and community experience, having previously served as the Managing Director of The Gamm Theatre and the Associate Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. Committed to leading Bay View towards its 150th anniversary and beyond, Ms. Gravell upholds the cherished legacy of fostering academic excellence and empowering young women, embodying the enduring tradition of the Sisters of Mercy.
About the Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an international Catholic religious order of women who influence and serve in education, healthcare, low-income housing, social services, social justice, and advocacy work. As part of Mercy Education System of the Americas (MESA), St. Mary Academy - Bay View cultivates connections with a vast international network comprising 40 distinguished high schools, 20 esteemed elementary schools, as well as 17 prestigious universities and colleges, all of which are sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy.
The historical origins of St. Mary Academy - Bay View can be traced back to 19th century Ireland, a time when Catherine McAuley, an Irish heiress, demonstrated her remarkable vision by establishing the House of Mercy in Dublin on September 24, 1827, coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Mercy. The primary aim of this establishment was to provide a sanctuary for women and girls, where they could seek refuge and receive an education.
Catherine McAuley possessed an enlightened perspective that recognized the transformative power of education for women, enabling them to effect meaningful societal change. She firmly believed that every young girl deserved access to education regardless of social standing. In 1831, Catherine took the momentous step of becoming the inaugural Sister of Mercy, dedicating her entire life to serving the underprivileged.
Nearly two centuries have elapsed since Catherine's noble efforts. Yet, her indelible legacy remains through the works of Mercy that continue to place the education of women and girls at the forefront of its mission.
For more information, visit www.sistersofmercy.org.
Our Campus
Located at 3070 Pawtucket Ave in Riverside Rhode Island, Bay View’s grounds are composed of St. Joseph’s Hall, McAuley Hall, Mercy Hall, and our Athletic Wellness Center. In 1874, the Howard Mansion in Riverside, Rhode Island, was purchased by the Sisters of Mercy, under the direction of Mother Mary Bernard Read. The mansion was to be opened as a boarding school for girls. Fire destroyed the 19th-century building in 1948, prompting the construction of the present complex. St. Mary Academy – Bay View opened for the first session in the present high school building on January 31, 1949.
Our Name
Opened as St. Mary’s Seminary in East Providence, Rhode Island, by the Sisters of Mercy in 1874, St. Mary Academy – Bay View began and continues as a private school for young women. To this day, the Sisters of Mercy continue to sponsor Bay View as a Catholic, all-girls Academy. The focus on single-sex education is rooted in the belief of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, that: “There is nothing more conducive to the good of society than the education of young women.”
Our Mission
In the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, we foster academic excellence in an innovative and creative learning environment in order to empower each student, from preschool through grade twelve, to be a confident, independent, compassionate and socially conscious young woman who fully lives her faith.
Academy Mascot
Bengal Tiger
Academy Colors
Blue and Gold
Academy Songs
In the 1940s, a recent graduate of Bay View, Eileen McSoley, took a job as the new physical education instructor of the school. Her legacy to our herstory is important. She was not only the very first laywoman to work at the school, but she also reworked the lyrics from a popular song from the 1945 film, The Bells of St. Mary, and gave us the beautiful, tear-jerking alma mater we proudly sing today.
But before “The Bells of St. Mary,” there was the original alma mater:
Our dear alma mater, how truly we love you. And cherish fond memories, for years still to be. Your help and your guidance are precious and hallowed. O Bay View, we salute you. And as now we depart from your sheltering care, hold all memories within your fond keeping. O Bay View, Bay View, we salute you.
- “Dear Catherine McAuley (The Girls of Bay View)”
- “Let the River Run”
Academy Yearbook
The McAuleyan
Academy Traditions
Newcomers’ Welcome
At the culmination of our fall Spirit Week, Newcomer’s Welcome is a time when we welcome all of our new students, faculty and staff to campus. Students dress in their class colors, participate in Battle of the Classes, perform skits and receive Spirit Awards.
Mercy Day
The traditions begin annually on September 24 as Mercy students join the worldwide Mercy community in celebrating Mercy Day. This celebration commemorates the date on which Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, opened the House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland to shelter, feed, and educate women and girls.
Manhattan at the Bay
Manhattan at the Bay, or Cabaret as all true Bayvettes know it, is a volunteer-driven fundraiser centered around a cabaret-style, musical production. Cabaret brings the brilliance of the Broadway stage to Bay View, it features a montage of musical favorites amidst sparkling costumes, dazzling dance, and grand settings. The three-day springtime event, is one of the school’s largest fundraisers of the year, with all proceeds benefiting the girls and young women of the Academy.
Alumnae Weekend
During alumnae weekend, hundreds of women return “Back to the Bay” to celebrate with their fellow Bay View sisters. The weekend includes a number of special events such as the Alumnae Mixer, Alumnae Liturgy, Senior Pinning Ceremony and Alumnae Brunch.
Senior Pinning Ceremony
Every year during their last week on campus, seniors gather with their parents, teachers and alumnae to celebrate their class and to be welcomed to the St. Mary Academy – Bay View Alumnae Association. Each senior is given a Bay View pin, placed on them by an alumna, in celebration of their graduation and entrance into the eternal Bay View sisterhood.
The pin you will receive today is a replica of the St. Mary Academy – Bay View seal; thousands of Bay View women before you have received this same pin—it is one of the many things that bind us together, not only as alumnae but in our promise to live out our lives as compassionate, independent, socially conscious women of Mercy. Following your pinning, we will all stand in another tradition that binds us together—the singing of “The Bells of St. Mary.”
Class Day
Class Day is a time for our community to celebrate our seniors and for them to reflect on their time spent at Bay View. The class history is read, awards are distributed and performances by select seniors are dedicated to the class. In the end, the traditional senior tie-dye is passed down to the upcoming senior class and a new group of girls join in the alumnae sisterhood.
Prayer in the Garden
During the months of May and October our Lower School students, teachers and parents/guardians come together in our Prayer Garden to pay homage to Mother Mary. Each day, one grade has a turn leading their friends in prayer, pledge and announcements.
Grandparents Day
Each spring, the St. Mary Academy – Bay View Lower School celebrates Grandparents’ Day. For some grandparents it is their first visit to our school, for some it’s a daily visit to pick up their granddaughter, and for others it may bring back memories from when they went to school here at Bay View.
Senior Tie-Dye
A long-standing tradition at Bay View, tie-dying your class color is one of the many perks that come with being a senior at Bay View.
Honor Guard
Bay View’s honor guard, started back in the early 2000s, gives our Lower School, Middle School, and Underclasswomen the opportunity to wish the seniors well on their last day on campus. The girls line the outdoor walkway as the seniors, dressed in cap and gown, process into the auditorium for the last time.