Mentorship Spotlight: Arianna and Natasha

Sophia student Arianna met her mentor Natasha Liriano at the end of her fifth grade year at Sophia Academy. Now in seventh grade, Arianna and Natasha look forward to their weekly meetings that often involve a competitive game of Uno. Nearly half of Sophia Academy students have mentors as of February 2022, and the program is growing! Here’s what Arianna and Natasha had to say about their relationship:

Arianna, what does having a mentor mean to you?

Having a mentor means a lot to me; I can come to her whenever I don’t want to talk to my family about stuff or just talk about my life in general.  She helps me break out of my shell because I’m not used to meeting new people. She has helped me so much with my social anxiety. 

What have you learned or gained from having a mentor?

I have learned a lot with my mentor. She encouraged me to do better in school and speak my mind when I want and need to. 

Natasha, why be a mentor? Why do you prioritize taking time each week to come to Sophia to meet with Arianna?

I decided to become a mentor because I remembered how helpful it was for me to have somebody to simply talk to and not feel like you have to hold back. Being able to relate to my mentee was a plus, but each week we meet it amazes me at how much we have both grown. We began our bond 2 years ago and can't believe she will be going into 8th grade next year. She has truly become one of my best friends, we share personal achievements together. We celebrate the small and big wins we both achieve. We also push each other to overcome things we struggle with. Mine is accountability for things such as exercising. I tell her to hold me accountable to providing an update at our next meeting and I will hold her accountable for a different goal - It can be academics or it can be doing something she's been wanting to but pushing off.  
 
I prioritize my time with my mentee every week because it's the best part of my week. It helps me check in with her; she checks in with me and she helps push me to reach my goals. We laugh and beat each other in Uno. It's the best time! Sometimes we get caught up and lose track of time. If I can't make it in person, I try to coordinate virtual meetings so I don't lose any time with her.  

Have there been any moments of growth or learning for you through your mentor/mentee relationship? Any surprises? 

In the beginning, Arianna was pretty shy. Slowly, I started opening up to her about my siblings and my struggles and just laughing more with her. This helped her open up to me, and openly talk with me about classes she may be struggling with or even talk about long term goals. I knew we hit a turning point in our relationship when she was honest and open about her opinion on equality.  I loved when we talked about this because there was a certain tone in which she expressed herself in which I loved; she found her voice and it fuels her. Being able to change and make an impact is very big for her, as it is for me. While she may be shy at times, she has so much to offer and she is slowly working towards stepping out of her comfort zone. I love watching her grow into these spaces.  

SophiaCorps is open for 2022-2023 applications!

Help 60 girls soar. Join SOPHIAcorps.

SophiaCorps is a full-time residency that:

• provides hands-on professional development and training in a dynamic school setting

• prepares members for careers and graduate programs in education, youth development, and social work

• provides an Americorps education award, along with stipends to defray living expenses

SophiaCorps members serve as partners to classroom teachers, advisors, counselors, and administrators, working directly with students in one-on-one and group settings. They are mentors, role models, coaches, and tutors who contribute to Sophia Academy’s positive, supportive, strength-based environment. Our team of professional teachers and staff take a relational approach to students and colleagues; the work environment is close-knit, collegial, and open.

Read the full position description on our website.

Learning by Giving

Seventh grade Girls Coalition spent the fall learning about the the plight of women and girls seeking education in Afghanistan, and jumped in to help welcome newly arriving Afghan families in Rhode Island.

Organizing a drive for gently used clothing, school supplies, feminine products and more, the seventh graders inspired their peers with an all-school assembly that taught the 8th, 6th, and 5th graders what they have learned. The drive culminated in December with an ugly holiday sweater contest and pajama day for the entire school.

The seventh grade class surpassed their financial goal by 400%, and collected many, many boxes of items for Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island. Thank you to everyone that contributed to help new families get settled in Rhode Island. Well done Girls Coalition!

Music is a Cultural and Creative Experience

Fifth grader Inallys conducts classmates Kariana (L) and Camila (R) as they play an original composition for their music teacher, Aimee Toner.

On Tuesday mornings, the halls of Sophia Academy echo with the drumbeats of the sixth grade music class as they explore rhythms from around the world. Visit on Thursday afternoons and you will be treated to the sounds of the fifth graders rehearsing musical pieces on the recorder. And on Friday mornings, you might hear ukuleles softly offering a soundtrack to learning from the seventh grade.

With backgrounds in ethnomusicology, music teachers Lon Plynton and Aimee Toner offer students a diversity of music, widening students’ musical worldview and their understanding of how music shapes, and has been shaped, by history and culture. “Students have to know how their unique cultures have contributed to the development of music,” Mr. Plynton shared. In addition to western music, students explore music from Dominican Republic, Africa, Puerto Rico, the U.S., and beyond, diving into the history, cultural significance, and social implications.

Supported by a group of generous donors, Sophia Academy’s partnership with the RI Philharmonic music school began in 2019, growing each year to include a new class of students.

Mr. Plynton and Ms. Toner prefer to start with the students’ strengths, often beginning class with the student’s favorite songs for a practice exercise in conducting and a discussion on their interests. “Each will have a different way to connect to music and get interested. I like to offer different roles and opportunities for conducting, playing, and even composing so that the students can find different pathways to get excited, express themselves, and build their musical skills,” Ms. Toner notes.

At the end of fifth grade, students will have been exposed to musical notation, reading sheet music, composition, conducting, and much more as their curriculum culminates with a performance with the RI Philharmonic and other music classes that have participated in the LinkUp curriculum from Carnegie Hall.

On one sunny day in October, fifth graders experienced the excitement that comes from playing together as they performed “Baby Shark” perfectly in unison on the recorder for the first time. Lessons of teamwork, personal responsibility, and perseverance will stay with them long beyond music class at Sophia Academy.

Read2Succeed Comes to Sophia!

Sophia Academy students spent the summer lost in books while making strides towards their college careers. Read2Succeed (R2S), an innovative summer reading and college scholarship program founded by Ralph and Barbara Papitto, provided each student with six books to read over the summer and a generous $1,000 college scholarship to those who completed a comprehension quiz for each book. Sixteen students earned the scholarship in this inaugural year.

R2S Founder Barbara Papitto stands with fifth grade R2S scholars Maria, Ahmari, Mariah, Herianna, and Camila.

“We know that students who participate in Read to Succeed maintain, and even improve, their reading skills over the summer. We also know how important a Read to Succeed scholarship is to making college that much more affordable for these families,” states Barbara Papitto.

Seventh grader Mia spoke at the Sophia Academy Read2Succeed awards ceremony, saying, “I have always thought that reading was fun, but this program made me appreciate different parts of reading… what I liked about the program was that it made me feel much more productive... I got to take time away from electronics, so I really liked that part of the program.

“Having this scholarship means that I’m preparing myself for college and I am helping my family with the money. I want to go to college because it will really prepare me for the real world and it will help me with my future career.”

Sophia Academy mentor Ting Barnard spoke to the students, sharing her story as a young immigrant from Laos who spent her childhood reading countless books in local libraries, which opened her mind to the wider world.

“We know it is never too early to start thinking about our future and what success means to each one of us. Read2Succeed not only supports reading and comprehension skills; it helps families who see college as part of their success story start that path early. I am so proud of the first group of Sophia students who took on the challenge and proudly shared their experience with their Sophia sisters,” said Melissa Moniz, Director of Middle School.

Congratulations to all of our R2S Scholars!

Favorite Summer Reads from Sophia Academy’s 2021 Read2Succeed Scholars

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
Chocolate Fever
Dancing in the Wings
Efrén Divided
Fire Girl
New Kid
Other Words for Home
Outrun the Moon
Stella by Starlight
Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster
The Color of My Hands
The Giver

Student Agency on the Road to High School

“The student is at the heart of the high school process; their voice is so important,” says Sophia’s Director of Enrollment, Guidance & Graduate Support, Angie Duran. “We offer support through the transition and ideas on where they might be successful, but ultimately it is a matching process guided by the students’ values, skills and personal goals rather than a ‘placement’.”

Choosing a high school is an exciting moment in each student’s educational career. It is also the first time that most students will make a complex decision about their future. Students and families must probe what high school experience is best for them academically, socially, and culturally; they must weigh important factors such as tuition, financial aid, specialized programs, and diversity at the schools they consider. Ms. Duran engages each student and family in a months-long process that guides them in lessons on self-discovery and communicating one’s strengths; there are deep conversations about the environments in which they will be supported and feel a sense of belonging.

Starting in seventh grade, students begin the process of understanding options, attending open houses, preparing for entrance tests and interviews, and working on admissions and financial aid applications.

All students sit for the Classical High School exam, and many take the SSAT and Catholic high school placement test. Ms. Duran personalizes the process for each student, assisted by SophiaCorps member Diamond Rivera ’12 and Sara Poulard, a Providence College intern. These two young women, both first generation college graduates (as is Ms. Duran), bring their own experiences to their guidance of Sophia’s eighth graders. Head of School Maura Farrell and Director of Middle School Melissa Moniz also support the process, particularly during the decision-making phase; ultimately, the choice belongs to the family and student.

Empowered by the knowledge of their opportunities, active in the process, and closely supported in choosing their best option, Sophia students practice being discerning advocates for themselves.

Once in high school, Sophia graduates stay in regular communication with Sophia Academy faculty, sharing updates on their lives, academic journeys, and supporting younger generations of Sophia students – like Latsany Lopez, Class of 2015, and Yeisha Bautista, Class of 2008, who spend an hour each week mentoring a current student.

Last year, the Class of 2021 decided to continue their educational journeys at Blackstone Academy Charter, LaSalle Academy, Lincoln School, The MET, Providence Country Day School, Rocky Hill Country Day School, St. Mary Academy - Bay View, St. Patrick Academy, and School One. The opportunities abound for the Class of 2022!

Jayda Santana and Yarielys Lantigua, both Sophia Class of 2021 (second and third from left, respectively), recently returned to Sophia Academy as ambassadors of St. Patrick's Academy.

Voices on the R.I.S.E

Sophia eighth grader Tailee prepares to share her wisdom on the Young Women’s Panel

From Maura Farrell, Sophia Academy Head of School

On November 5, eighth grader Tailee served as the youngest panelist at the 2021 R.I.S.E Women’s Leadership Conference. Speaking to a packed hall with self-assurance and ease, Tailee shared powerful words that revealed the wisdom she has developed at Sophia Academy: “I believe that success does not depend on your age, education, or financial status. Success depends on belief in yourself, and the consistent actions you take towards your goals.”

Sophia was also well represented by alumna Ashley Ogoffa, now a senior at Lincoln School. I was honored to moderate this conversation among five dynamic young Rhode Island women. As Sophia continues to take consistent action to fulfill its goals, inspired by Ashley, Tailee, and all of their Sophia sisters, I'm proud that we continue to invite and empower the voices of young women.

“I believe that success does not depend on your age, education, or financial status. Success depends on belief in yourself, and the consistent actions you take towards your goals.”

Our goal is to encourage each student to build her curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence, and to use her innate wisdom on her journey. We want each student to be secure in her identity, skills, and right to forge any pathway she chooses as a learner and a leader. I'm grateful to a community of faculty, mentors, donors, and volunteers who work alongside our students and graduates. As we enter the third winter of a global pandemic and experience the ongoing, complex challenges around the world, there is no more important work than ensuring girls and women have the courage, wisdom, and responsibility to believe in themselves and rise to every challenge. The strong voices of the R.I.S.E. Young Women's Circle panel give us hope.

Seventh Grade Begins the Environmental Justice Academy

Written by Alyssa Wood, Science Teacher

This fall, Sophia Academy seventh graders will start the Environmental Justice Academy! The program begins a two-year partnership with Roger Williams Park Zoo (RWPZ) as part of a United Way’s Community Impact Fund Grant. This program is led by Sophia Academy Science Teacher Alyssa Wood, Dean of Students April Samuels, and RWPZ’s School Program Specialist Meg Warburton. Weekly discussion topics will include conversations about racism, injustice, and disparity and equity as they relate to environmental justice and conservation, with BIPOC speakers who are professionals in those fields.

This unique collaboration between Sophia Academy and Roger Williams Park Zoo will provide a brave space for all participants to engage in challenging conversations. As part of Sophia Academy’s innovative science curriculum, Sophia students will have enriching engagement with the Zoo’s campus and classrooms, staff, and animal ambassadors!

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