Sophia Welcomes New Trustees

We are excited to announce Joy Fox has been elected President of the Sophia Academy Board of Trustees effective July 1. Joy, is a resident of Warwick and CEO of Clarendon Group. Joy succeeds Alison Eichler, of Providence, as she completes a four-year term. 

Head of School Maura Farrell said gratefully: “Alison’s relentless work to make connections for our school, shared leadership approach, and unwavering support for the mission has propelled us forward. In her time as Board Chair, Sophia Academy has leapt forward financially and programmatically. Our profile is more visible than ever. Our Board is actively engaged and humming as a team. We are completing our 20th year and just graduated our 250th student. We’re all truly grateful for her leadership.”

The Board also elected three new trustees: Lil O’Rourke of Providence, President of URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement; Nealisse Morillo, MSW, of Warwick, Sophia Academy Class of 2010; and Rebecca Webber, of Providence, General Manager at CIC Providence. Lara Couturier, of Barrington, Principal of Washington, D.C., based HCM Strategies, was elected Vice President, and Janet Hasson, of Boise, ID, a consultant, was elected Treasurer. 

“We are grateful to these community leaders for their contributions to our school, and their willingness to deepen that dedication,” said Maura Farrell. “They come to us from a diverse array of careers and experience, and are united in their passion for Sophia’s mission. We are excited about the vision, strategic strength, and expertise they will bring to the school as we approach our 20th anniversary and plan for the school’s next phase.” 

From left to right: Joy Fox, Lil O’Rourke, Nealisse Morrillo ’10, and Rebecca Webber.

COVID-19 and Health Issues - 8th Grade Seminar Project

Every year, the 8th grade class at Sophia Academy participates in a Seminar where they choose a topic they are deeply passionate about. This year, our class chose the focus issue of “Racism and COVID” and how that impacts access to personal protective equipment (PPE) in Rhode Island. Like many important matters in the world, this is an issue that is particularly important and should be talked about. We found that if people did not have access to PPE, their health was put at risk. 

We decided on this project because we wanted to help raise awareness of this issue. Our purpose was to show how COVID-19 is affecting people of color, especially their health.  We created surveys, drafted emails, and put all our effort into this project because we are passionate about equality and access for all people. 

As you can see, most of the people who did our survey answered by saying that they do have trouble accessing PPE. With this information, we concluded we needed to find a way for people to receive free PPE. Thankfully, we were informed about the Rhode Island Juneteenth event which provided us a venue to give out free PPE to people.

Juneteenth is a celebration that commemorates the June 19, 1865, emancipation of enslaved people throughout the United States of America. Juneteenth RI’s mission is to “collectively celebrate African American liberations, accomplishments and contributions through education, effective communication, inner strength and endurance through observance of Juneteenth;” specifically stated in their website. For more information regarding the organization, here is their website: https://juneteenthri.com/  

As part of our action plan, we will be giving out bags filled with PPE to people at this event on June 19, 2021. We are proud to be able to give one hundred people free PPE! 

Rosalina and Jayda with the hand sanitizer that was donated by Mr. Rob for the event

About Seminar

Our Seminar teachers, Ms. April and Mr. Rob, made sure that we understand and can distinguish between individual and systemic root causes of current issues. When working on this project, we learned the basic structures and functions of the executive and legislative branches of state and local government, and utilized the “Advocacy Hourglass” and “Participatory Action Research” to identify decision-makers and influencers who have power over our issue, and invite and interview guest speakers.  

Our class split into three groups to work on various aspects of the effects of COVID and racism, and all engaged in gathering information and research to test our assumptions. We are grateful for the opportunity to do something positive for our community. 

Written by the 8th Grade Covid Handy Helpers: Rosalina, Jayda, Brianna, Jodie, and Yealea

Creating a Platform for the Future

From our Head of School, Maura Farrell:

Even as our small and mighty community has worked through the challenges of the pandemic over the past 15 months, we've kept our sights on the future. In June, we will graduate our 250th student. In September, we will celebrate our 20th anniversary. The time is right to create a platform for the next 20 years.

Throughout this academic year, a Task Force of Trustees and staff led a process to craft Sophia Academy’s first Vision Statement, reconsider our Mission Statement, and refine our Guiding Principles, seeking input from faculty, staff, alumnae, and parents along the way.

Our Vision Statement describes the world we want to see, the world in which we imagine our graduates thriving, and the world we are working to help create.

Our Mission Statement conveys our core purpose. It helps us to make decisions about how we will use resources and measure impact. It should engage all members of our community – students, faculty, families, volunteers, trustees, donors, and the larger community. It should evoke the vibrancy of the school and the agency of our students. It should be aspirational, hopeful, and inspiring.

Our Guiding Principles provide a common understanding of social justice, the idea on which our school was founded, and unify our curriculum, classrooms, professional development, and programs.

Our community engaged in deep, robust conversations about these essential statements. I’m grateful to all who participated for their passion and thoughtfulness. These dialogues have yielded a tremendous result while reconfirming our vital purpose.

I am pleased to share Sophia Academy’s Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles:

OUR VISION

An equitable world where girls and women

are seeking fulfillment, realizing their dreams,

and inspiring others.

OUR MISSION 

Sophia Academy engages girls from low-income families  

on a joyful quest for self-discovery and opportunity  

through a middle school education grounded in social justice. 

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Sophia Academy was founded on the idea of social justice, which informs every aspect of the school. We define social justice as equity in education, wealth distribution, opportunity, access, and privilege.  

We teach through a social justice lens: In all disciplines, we value multiple perspectives; we discern whose voice is heard and whose voice is silent; and we address the systems that cause injustice and inequity. 

We create a safe space for girls: Through social/emotional learning, wellness, and restorative justice, we create a safe, culturally responsive community.  

We practice resilience: We understand that adversity is a part of life; we teach and model the tools and habits to name, process, and grow from challenge.  

We are student centered: It is our responsibility to help each student draw forth her inherent wisdom, entrusting her to embrace her own intellectual growth.   

We are gender responsive: As a girls’ school, we form deep relationships and affirm each student’s unique identity and voice. 

We have an intellectually engaging and holistic curriculum: We employ research-based best practices in middle school education that encourage meaningful reflection and prepare our graduates for the world. 

We cultivate leadership: We help our students advocate for themselves, for one another, and for a just society, and we provide them with opportunities to lead within the school and community. 

We engender lifelong learning: We deliver a wide array of on- and off-campus experiences which promote active learning, and inspire our community to engage as learners and teachers. 

Only Rain Down the Stormdrain!

This spring, the fifth grade science class was treated to a unique lesson that culminated in three community murals now located on Elmwood Avenue for all to see!

Science teacher Alyssa Wood worked with the Providence Stormwater Innovation Center and artist Katie Gui to teach students about water quality, runoff, and stormwater science through a series of virtual workshops, with the support of additional partners: The Audubon Society of RI, Partnership for Providence Parks, and Ximedica.

After learning about natural water filtration systems, their importance, and the animals that call Narragansett Bay home, the fifth grade flexed their artistic muscles. They discussed how they can make an individual impact on improving the local water cycle as they worked with Ms. Katie to apply their new knowledge to design three public murals. You can view these murals on Elmwood Avenue at the intersections of Adelaide Ave, Reservoir Ave, and Atlantic Ave.

Fifth grader Jo-Liyah reflected on the project, saying: “Art is one of my favorite subjects, and I really had fun with Ms. Katie and my classmates. It was pretty fun to see all of our drawings in the mural and how they came together. All the stuff we learned about water, Narragansett Bay, rain, impervious and pervious surfaces – that’s pretty cool to know...and I can share it with the community outside of Sophia!”

The mural project will be celebrated at the Rain Harvest Arts Festival in Roger Williams Park on June 12, where our students will be featured in a video highlighting their work.

Pictured left to right: 5th graders Azmyralda, Megan, Jaylyn, Tehillah, Aliana and artist Katie Gui with one of their finished murals along Elmwood Avenue.

Sophia Announces 2021 Women of Wisdom

Sophia Academy is thrilled to be celebrating Stacey Abrams, Toots Zynsky, and Latsany Lopez as our 2021 Women of Wisdom. This honor recognizes women who exemplify Sophia’s core values of courage, responsibility, respect, and peace. 

“Despite the tremendous challenges of the past year, we have so much to celebrate,” said Maura Farrell, Head of School. “Stacey, Toots and Latsany have inspired our Sophia community, and this is our way of saying thank you. Thank you for fighting for justice for all. Thank you for supporting girls’ education. And thank you for modeling true leadership for our students. We are thrilled to celebrate the groundbreaking ways in which our Women of Wisdom have created positive change using their inherent talents and wisdom – just as we hope our students will one day.”  

The event will feature interviews from the three honorees, conducted by Sophia students and WPRI’s Kim Kalunian. Hosted by WPRI’s Ted Nesi, the event will be on May 3, 2021 at 6p.m.

Attendance is free, but advance registration is required. Please visit the Women of Wisdom Celebration page to reserve your ticket and submit a story for the Who’s Your Woman of Wisdom Campaign. To date, our community has submitted the stories of 87 personal women of wisdom. 

Past Women of Wisdom honorees include Suzanne Murray, Joan Wernig Sorensen, Anne Szostak, Liz Chace, Suzanne Magaziner, and Sister Mary Reilly. 

Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams is a renowned voting rights activist, politician, lawyer, and a New York Times bestselling author. Sophia is honored to recognize Stacey for her tremendous commitment to social justice and for her work to promote fair elections.   

Toots Zynsky

Toots Zynsky is an internationally acclaimed artist based in Providence, who is celebrated for her use of color and innovative process of manipulating glass in distinct and unique ways. Sophia is honored to recognize Toots for her political activism, commitment to providing high-quality education to all students, and her dedication to the mission of Sophia Academy.

Latsany Lopez, Class of 2015

Latsany Lopez is sophomore biotechnology major at the University of Rhode Island. A graduate of Sophia Academy and Classical High School, Latsany is the first Sophia alumna to return as a mentor. Sophia is honored to recognize Latsany’s academic accomplishments, and selfless support of Sophia students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Many Thanks to our Sponsors!

This event is made possible by our many sponsors. Please visit our sponsor highlight page for the full list of generous sponsors: https://www.sophia-academy.org/21wowsponsors. We are grateful for their support!

If you are interested in a Women of Wisdom sponsorship, please email Tom at tkerrvanderslice@sophia-academy.org for more information.

Sophia Presents At National Coalition of Girls Schools’ Symposium

On February 2, Head of School Maura Farrell, Director of Middle School Melissa Moniz, and SophiaCorps member Diamond Rivera ’12 presented at the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools’ Virtual Educating Girls Symposium, Building Inclusive, Anti-Racist School Communities. 

Their presentation, entitled “Reflecting Wisdom in the Girls – Designing Around Lived Experience,” shared how Sophia Academy designs our educational approach to reflect and celebrate each student’s identity. The workshop used programs and practices built at Sophia Academy, such as SophiaCorps, to exemplify this immersive strategy.  

Ms. Farrell and Mrs. Moniz guided attendees to consider students’ contexts (racial backgrounds, neighborhoods, family life, gender, educational histories, etc.) as the initial step before designing any curricula or lessons. They guided participants through the ‘Who before What?’ framework, focusing on students’ contexts and acknowledging each girls’ inner wisdom in order to create an educational space that is relevant, engaging, and joyful for all students.  

Mrs. Moniz impressed the impact this makes on a girl’s middle school education:  

“With her at the center, she is encouraged to challenge what she reads, hears, and sees, she is given the tools to express herself in ways that fits her. And she discovers and embraces her unique gifts, alongside her Sophia sisters. She recognizes that she is valuable and worthy of relationships where she will uplift, and she will be uplifted as well. 

There is no joy like the joy one feels when one becomes aware of and finds strength in the color of her skin and the roots of her hair.” 

Ms. Rivera shared her experience at Sophia, citing the difference she experienced when she transitioned into 5th grade at Sophia Academy. She shared how the comfort and freedom of recognizing shared life experiences with both peers and teachers allowed her to find comfort in her own experience at its core: “It was because of the enrichment happening at Sophia and the relentless efforts about caring about the girl as an individual, more than as a number, that had me ready to bust out of the Sophia bubble and do so well [after 8th grade].” 

The presentation challenged participants to consider further incorporation of social justice materials that support and empower young women of color, leaning into challenging issues of racism, sexism, and poverty. 

Finally, they presented on Sophia Academy’s new SophiaCorps program to encourage attendees to consider their schools’ impact upon the wider world. Recognizing the challenges of their own communities, how can their missions be widened beyond their four walls? For Sophia, that was recognizing the need for more teachers of color in Rhode Island, providing students with the opportunity to learn from educators who understand their lived experience and connect to their cultural strengths and beliefs. 

Sophia Featured on National Podcast

Our Head of School Maura Farrell recently shared Sophia Academy’s bold philosophy of education on the National Coalition of Girls Schools podcast alongside Head of School Jadi Taveras from Esperanza Academy (MA). Ms. Farrell discussed how Sophia Academy is replacing traditional educational constructs with a holistic approach that values our students’ experiences, their agency, and places relationship first. Give it a listen!! 

Sophia Academy ensures that in face of all challenges, students receive an education that is filled with rigor, support, and joy. 

As Maura Farrell concluded in the podcast interview:  “Success for Sophia Academy is each graduate following the pathway that she chooses to follow, and that she is engaged in the community and fulfilled in her relationships and career.” 

Thank you for helping us ensure that every Sophia Academy student can determine her own pathway to success.  

 You can listen to it on the NCGS website here or find it via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play.

SophiaCorps: Extending the Mission

We are delighted to welcome four SophiaCorps members to our team of teaching professionals this year! The pilot year of the SophiaCorps program was launched this fall in partnership with the Notre Dame Mission Volunteers and AmeriCorps, and has already reaped rewards.

SophiaCorps members supervise students while teachers virtually stream into the classes, helping create self-contained groups. All four are Sophia Academy graduates, providing an additional path to supporting the growth of alumnae.

“We see it as a way to extend our mission and to develop a public purpose by sharing our social justice driven curriculum, responsive teaching practices, and holistic approach with people who aspire to work in schools or youth development programs,” says Maura Farrell, Head of School. “The best part is that they connect so beautifully with our students, who can see themselves and their futures in these strong, dedicated, accomplished mentors who are pursuing their own passions and contributing to the community.”

The members of the inaugural class of SophiaCorps are: Kia Lebron '14; Diamond Rivera '12; Katherine Tejada '16; and Yanelly Tejada '13.

“When I graduated from Sophia Academy, I realized that I had discovered I was worth the effort, and when I went to other schools without the same values I got upset because I knew what I was receiving did not match what I was worth,” shares Diamond Rivera. “Part of the reason I returned to the school is to help each girl know that she matters.”

Please join us in welcoming Kia, Diamond, Katherine and Yanelly!

Katherine Tejada '16

Kia Lebron '14

Diamond Rivera '12

Yanelly Tejada '13

"I feel happy and proud that we are making a change in this world."

A Historic Moment

Students, faculty and staff came together this morning to recognize a historical moment in our country’s history. This past Saturday, Kamala Harris became the first Black American, Asian American, and woman to be elected to the second highest office in the United States. This was prefaced by news that Rhode Island elected the most diverse group of state legislators in Rhode Island’s history last week; Maria Rivera has become the first woman elected Mayor of Central Falls; and Tiara Mack became the first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to the State Senate. 

For Sophia Academy, an all-girls school delivering a social-justice education to a student body where over 90% identify as women of color, this is a uniquely notable moment in history for our students. As Sophia Academy Head of School Maura Farrell shared with students, these are major steps forward and cause for celebration for all women, girls, and our country as whole.

What this means to our community:  

Kashley (sixth grade): “I feel happy and proud that we are making a change in this world. And that maybe soon, one day, all women, all women of color, and all people of color, we will make a big change: that everything will be equal for each other with no differences.” 

Mia (sixth grade): “I feel confident that people are going to keep fighting for women’s rights and that there will be more freedoms for us women. Women know what it’s like not to have freedom and women will provide for gender equality more than men, because women already have that experience.”

Saige (sixth grade): “I feel really good and confident about it. When we grow up, we want to be confident women that can do anything that we put our minds to, and we can prove to men that we’re not just someone to push around or phonies.  I want to be a successful, proud woman [because] I am Black.”

Aurie (sixth grader): “With Kamala as the Vice President, she can be a louder voice than us and stand up for us. I think it will make all people of color, women and different races feel safe.” 

Sa’qure (sixth grade): “Its not only Black people going through struggles – there are a lot of other races out there that go through the same things. Just because girls go through different routines as boys, doesn’t make it so that they can’t do this, because they do that. If you put your mind to it, you can do it. And if a person puts their mind to it, you can’t judge them if you told them they can do it.” 

Sister Mary, Founder: “Isn’t it incredible? Joe Biden made a deliberate choice – he made a historical moment. To look up and see her, our girls must see pieces of themselves in her. When Kamala first spoke after accepting the nomination, she was the only one who mentioned the Beloved Community.  It was really beautiful to see that combination of people and backgrounds on that stage Saturday night.”

Image: Designed by Sophia Academy Class of 2020 to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment.

Giving Voice: Circles of Support

Amidst great uncertainty, children across Rhode Island returned to school in September. They entered familiar buildings to find alien circumstances. Buzzing hallways, casual hello’s during passing periods, social encounters at lockers, spontaneous gatherings over lunch, and games at recess have been replaced by strict processes and diagrammed movements. Meanwhile, many students remained as virtual learners, observing their friends and peers on screens from afar.

Everything has been scripted, sterilized, and separated for safety’s sake. It continues to feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and unnatural—because it is.

We need to create space to talk about this change with our students.

This is a time that requires us to act on behalf of our youth and to recognize the importance of their overall wellness. At Sophia Academy, many of our families were already managing financial hardship prior to the pandemic; the last months have piled on additional concerns: illness and loss, unemployment, food and housing insecurity, increased community violence.

Those of us who have embraced educating our youth must address the newness of our world, not just academic losses. More than anything, the value of school this year lies in working diligently and intentionally to provide children space to share about their lives, mourn what once was, and prepare for what is.

Those conversations do not happen in a single meeting, or through texts, emails, and slides. Rather, they occur through prioritizing relationships and holding regular and consistent spaces for students to process, verbalize, and integrate their experiences. The emotional impact of this pandemic is not yet fully understood and may not be for some time. We must work to lessen whatever negative emotional impacts will surface by providing the time and space to share and witness.

Last year at Sophia Academy, we created Student Support Circles. Co-led by a clinician and a restorative justice instructor, Circles became an essential and welcomed addition to the weekly curriculum. In the spirit of caring for our students’ social and emotional well-being and mental health, these intentional conversations fill an often-overlooked segment in the world of adolescent development.

Each group was designed to provide the structure and safety needed to withstand powerful emotions, to approach and address peer conflict and to share hidden traumas and stress. Talking about our inner lives is a skill that must be taught and learned just like math and science. These circles provide a structured space for our students to practice and to avoid internalizing the stress and trauma they have experienced. Mental wellness shifted from an add-on or opt-in service and transitioned to an integral part of their educational experience.

It is essential for every school in Rhode Island and beyond to create these spaces for students to share their feelings and experiences. Adopt them as part of advisory, home room or even in a classroom setting. Ask students to listen to each other, to find commonality, and to voice how their lives have changed. Let us meet this challenge head on and find opportunities to establish something that will inevitably make our educational spaces better for everyone.

Written by Rose Randall-Hicks, MSW, LICSW, Director of Student Support at Sophia Academy

Note: Interested in learning more about the impact of social emotional learning on a student’s success? This recent study, focusing in on 9th graders in Chicago Public Schools, examines the causal relationships between social emotional indicators and their longer term effects on student development.