Our New College & Career Center

The White Building at Saints has undergone a remarkable transformation with the addition of our new College & Career Center. The center now features a beautifully restored fireplace, not only bringing charm to the space but also symbolizing the institution's commitment to nurturing the aspirations and dreams of its students. This revitalized hub will undoubtedly serve as a beacon of inspiration and guidance for generations to come.

Grandparent's Day

On Friday, September 8th, Saint Raphael Academy celebrated Grandparent's Day in style! Our students and their grandparents came together for a beautiful Mass followed by a delicious breakfast in Alumni Hall.

The atmosphere was filled with love, laughter, and special moments. It's heartwarming to witness the strong bonds between generations within our school community.

A big thank you to all who joined us and made this day so special. Until next year, let's continue to treasure the love and wisdom of our grandparents.

Hannah Guevremont '24

What year are you in at Saints? I am currently a senior at Saint Raphael Academy. My favorite part about being at Saints is the welcoming community around me, along with the wonderful faculty and staff that help and support me daily. 

What is your favorite class at Saints and why? While I've had many amazing classes at Saints, it is hard to pick just one favorite. I would have to say either Spanish or science classes are my favorite. I am currently in Spanish 5, the highest level that Saints offers, and I thoroughly enjoy this class because I get to challenge myself in various different way by learning a new language, while also learning and celebrating new cultures. Also, the science classes that I have taken at Saints, biology, chemistry, and physics have been some of my favorite as well. This is because I hope to graduate and major in nursing, and eventually become a diabetes educator to help children with diabetes, just like myself! 

What activities are you involved in at Saints? Outside of classes at Saints, I am a part of varsity volleyball, the Kindness Club, Lasallian Youth, the Drama Club, and I am a part of the National Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, and the National Thespian Honors Society! Outside of school I do lots of community service, I have had 3 self-led food drives donating over 30,000lbs of food to the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, along with this I have spent countless hours as a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) advocate. I have raised over $30,000 with my walk team, "Hannah's Knights" and I even had the opportunity to participate in the JDRF Children's Congress this year. This opportunity included a trip to Washington DC, where I had the chance to talk to Congress about insulin affordability and the renewal of the Special Diabetes Program which allows funding for diabetic research. I am looking forward to a wonderful year and I cannot wait to see what senior year brings!

Sharbel Mikhail '24

What year are you in at Saints? I am a senior in the class of 2024. 

What is your favorite part of being a student at Saints? My favorite part of being a student at Saints has to be the faculty and the administration, and the way they put their full support behind me in my projects, extra-curriculars, and passions. 

What is your favorite class at Saints and why?

My favorite class of all time at Saints is AP Human Geography with Mr. Kirejczyk which I took my sophomore year. I still believe it is a class that everyone should take because it offers such a holistic study of the modern world, teaching us seemingly unrelated topics from the establishment of suburbs and the medieval feudal system all the way to the development of language. 

What activities are you involved in at Saints? I am involved in the Varsity Football team as a lineman, the SRA Culture's Club as a co-chair, and soon enough model legislature when we get that started.

Can you tell us something about your activities outside of Saints? Outside of Saints, I engage in both academic and recreational activities. I enjoy researching and creating proposals for my dream start-up company, and for fun I absolutely love swimming, soccer, and football. 

Morgan O'Brien

How long have you been a teacher at Saints?  This is my second year at Saints! 

What classes do you teach, and can you tell us a little about the Benilde program? I am a guidance counselor and the director of the Benilde program. The Benilde program is designed to help students who need extra support or have an IEP/ 504 plan to be more successful in the classroom. We work on things like time management skills, study skills, and organizational techniques, etc. We really focus on the details because I believe it is the little things that directly relate to academic excellence. 

What is your favorite thing about working at Saints? My favorite thing about Saints is the close-knit community and family feel. I have the best coworkers and students! 

What activities are you involved in outside of teaching? Outside of the classroom I love to coach and play basketball. Coaching boys basketball year was one of the highlights of my school year. 

Mitch Carvalho

How long have you been a teacher at Saints? My teaching career at Saint Raphael Academy began in March of 2022. I was extremely fortunate to begin my teaching career alongside very talented and passionate educators who made the transition of teaching high school manageable. The 2023-2024 school year will be my third year of teaching Physical Education in Alumni Hall.

What classes do you teach? I am one of two Physical Education teachers at Saint Rays. I also teach Freshman Health and Freshman Study Skills. I would argue that I have one of the best jobs on Walcott Street. There is always so much passion and energy brought to Alumni Hall for Phys. Ed. each day that it makes leading the students an exciting and rewarding experience. 

What is your favorite thing about working at Saints? My favorite thing about working at Saints is having experienced how tight knit the community is. The administration, faculty, and staff here really look out for one another. That foundation of kindness and compassion is passed down to the students and that's how we're able to thrive as a high school. I am blessed with the opportunity to work with my mother who works as the School Nurse at Saint Rays. It's really special to share a work environment with her and to see her on a regular basis. Nurse Kathy is also a top fan of the baseball team, Coach Sarr and I appreciate the love!

What activities are you involved in outside of teaching? Outside of teaching, I am an assistant coach for the hockey and baseball team. There is nothing better than spending quality time with the students you teach, practicing and playing the sport you share a love for. It's very special to witness the growth and maturity of students into young adults. The hardest part about coaching/teaching is having to let go of the seniors when it's time for them to graduate. However, I look forward to the athletic seasons and championships that Saints has ahead!

Kathy Freeborn '87

Can you tell us about what you did after Saints and what you currently do? I graduated from Saints in 1987 and attended URI. I did not become a Registered Nurse until much later in life, however I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare so once I discovered nursing, I fell in love with it!

What are some of your favorite memories about your time as a student at Saints? My favorite memories from my time as a student at Saints are the football games, pep rallies, and dances. I remember the caring staff and the great sense of community that Saints still has today!

Do you have any friends from your time at Saints that you’re still in contact with? YES! I am in weekly contact with my best friends from Saints! We make time throughout the year to get together. Social media has also been helpful to reconnect with classmates that I have lost touch with.

How long have you worked at Saints and what made you want to work here? This is my 4th year working as the school Nurse. I immediately felt right at home coming back on campus. I wanted to work here because of the great administration, faculty and students that made me feel welcomed all over again. I have really enjoyed helping the Saints community in any way that I can and seeing the students grow has been my favorite part of working here!

Saints Wedding!

Liz LaRose (Class of 11') and Daniel Hayes (Class of 08') were married on June 15, 2023 at Mount Hope Farm Cove Cabin in Bristol, RI surrounded by their friends and family with a picturesque view of the Rhode Island waterfront. In attendance were approximately 20 Saints alumni, spanning classes from the first graduating class with female students in 75' to the 07' football team that went 13-0 and landing themselves the State Division 1 Championship! While we were not high school sweethearts, it was so special to start our marriage celebrating with our tight knit Saints family, honoring the community that brought us together. We could not have asked for more beautiful weather and feel blessed to begin this new chapter!

What's New?

As Saints continues to build and strengthen our alumni network, we want to keep you updated with the latest news and events from our school. Equally, we are eager to hear from you and learn about your achievements, milestones, and life events such as weddings, new additions to your family, and career successes. Your stories inspire our current students and remind us of the incredible potential that lies within our alumni community.

You can update us by sending an email to mcolvin@saintrays.org. Feel free to include any photos or videos that you'd like to share, and we may feature your updates in a future alumni newsletter!

In addition to sharing your news, we also invite you to reconnect with your alma mater. You're always welcome to come take a tour of campus, attend alumni events, or even consider becoming a mentor to current students who can benefit from your wisdom and experience.

Saints Class Reunions are back!

A few photos from the class of 1997, 2002, 2008, 2012 & 2013!

Register For Your Upcoming Reunion!

Let's make these reunions a blast by uniting once more as the extraordinary Saints community. Your presence is what will truly make these events shine!

• Reconnect with classmates from your era.
• Share stories, laughter, and memories that time can't erase.
• Immerse yourself in nostalgia with photos and memorabilia displays.
• Make new memories and rekindle old friendships.

If you're up for a reunion in 2023 and still have not schedule one, contact mcolvin@saintrays.org and we will help you plan one!

If your class year ends in 4 o 9, you will be up for a reunion in 2024! Let's start planning!

Saints International Program

Saints is fortunate to welcome international students in addition to our domestic students for the 2023-2024 school year. We hope you will consider opening your hearts and homes to host an international student for a semester or complete year. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce a student to life in the United States while your family learns about another culture. We have many opportunities coming up this year and in the near future including students from Spain, China, and Brazil. We are fortunate to work with many agencies and would be happy to connect you with one of them that will be sending students to Saints. If you are interested but unable to commit to an entire school year, there is also a need for Welcome Families. These are homestay families that host students for a shorter period. This occurs when there are unexpected circumstances and homestay families need to leave the area, or students are attending Saints for just a few short weeks. If you would choose to commit to an entire school year in the future, you would be well prepared! If you know someone outside the Saints family that is interested in hosting a student, please feel free to have them contact me. I would like to answer any questions you may have by phone, email, or in person. Our international program is growing, and we need the help of our Saints community to continue providing this amazing experience for all our students.  

In partnership,  

Bethany Couto | International Student Coordinator 

bcouto@saintrays.org | 401-723-8100 ext. 118 

United Way

Did you know that you can designate Saint Raphael Academy as the beneficiary of your United Way gifts? United Way brings people together to build strong, equitable communities where everyone can thrive. As one of the world's largest privately funded charities, United Way serves 95% of U.S. communities and 37 countries and territories -- making life better for 48 million people every year. Through United Way, communities tackle tough challenges and work with private, public, and nonprofit partners to boost education, economic mobility, and health resources. Your support empowers people across the world to succeed in school, get on solid financial ground and live healthier lives. United Way is the mission of choice for 1.5 million volunteers, 6.8 million donors, and 45,000 corporate partners in more than 1,100 communities worldwide.

Make a Gift Tax-Free With an IRA

A Tax-Saving Way to Help

Saint Raphael Academy

Make a difference today and save on taxes. It’s possible when you support Saint Raphael Academy through your IRA.

A Special Opportunity for Those 70½ Years Old and Older

You can give any amount (up to a maximum of $100,000) per year from your IRA directly to a qualified charity such as Saint Raphael Academy without having to pay income taxes on the money. Gifts of any value $100,000 or less are eligible for this benefit and you can feel good knowing that you are making a difference at Saints. This popular gift option is commonly called the IRA charitable rollover, but you may also see it referred to as a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD for short.

Why Consider This Gift?

• Your gift will have an immediate impact at Saints, allowing you to see the difference your donation is making to the school and our students.
•   Beginning in the year you turn 73, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD).
• You pay no income taxes on the gift. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions.
• Since the gift doesn’t count as income, it can reduce your annual income level. This may help lower your Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security that is subject to tax.

For Those 59½ Years Old or Older

If you’re at least 59½ years old, you can take a distribution and then make a gift from your IRA without penalty. If you itemize your deductions, you can take a charitable deduction for the amount of your gift.

At Any Age

No matter your age, you can designate Saint Raphael Academy as the beneficiary of all or a percentage of your IRA and it will pass to us tax-free after your lifetime. It’s simple, just requiring that you contact your IRA administrator for a change-of-beneficiary form or download a form from your provider’s website.

Important Note: Many popular retirement plan administrators assume no obligation to notify a charity of your designation. We encourage you to reach out to us as we would love to talk to you about your intentions to ensure that they are followed. You can also make us aware of your plan by clicking on the following link to our Give page and providing your information. Planned Giving - Saint Raphael Academy (saintrays.org)

On behalf of all of us at Saints, we thank you for your consideration and generosity.

Once A Saint, Always A Saint!