Why choose St. Brendan School as your child's educational foundation?

St. Brendan School welcomes boys and girls and their families of all denominations into our Catholic Community, which is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

St. Brendan School does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or national origin. Students whose families are communicants of the parish, or who currently have children enrolled on the school will be given priority for placement. Those from other parishes will be admitted as space becomes available.  The basis for all curricula in the school is directed at mastery of skills and attainment of competence through student learning that is cooperative as well as independent. Focus in all content areas is placed on reading, writing, math, critical thinking, problem solving, and foundational skills that are fundamental and essential in developing each student's ability to achieve at his or her highest potential.

Philosophy

St. Brendan provides a well-rounded education based on firm Catholic faith and morals, united to a strength of character and integrity, so that each graduate will use the talents that are God-given to the best of their ability to meet the challenges of secondary school.

Our Philosophy of Education allows each child to:

Come to know and appreciate his/her place in God's family, the Church, through the involvement of the Parish in the life of the school.

Benefit from the positive atmosphere of the school, and the dedication of motivated and well-trained teachers.

Develop critical thinking skills through the use of up-to-date materials and resources.

Be prepared for secondary education from skills mastered at each grade level.

All Day Kindergarten

St. Brendan's offers a comprehensive all-day Kindergarten program.

Why St. Brendan School Will Help Your Child Succeed Each child learns with the proper support services and interventions.

Children learn the religious values and traditions of the Catholic Church.

Music and Art are taught at all grade levels.

Spanish is part of the middle school curriculum.

Physical Education classes and athletic programs are offered to all students.

The technology curriculum provides students with "hands on" computer experience.

Commonly Asked Questions About St. Brendan School What are the School's funding sources?

The school is funded primarily by an affordable tuition. Options are offered for tuition payments.

Parents are also asked to help in any of two major fund-raisers held each year.

St. Brendan Parish subsidizes all students in the school and offers a parish assisted tuition rate to active parishioners.

How is St. Brendan School governed?

The Pastor of the parish along with the Principal have day to day administrative responsibility for the school. There is also a consultative School Board appointed by the pastor which meets five times per year and is responsible for long-range strategic planning that addresses program, facilities, finance and development.

Call for more information.

To schedule a visit or receive more information, please call the school at (401) 433-1290

School History

After St. Brendan Parish was established in 1909, it became a priority to build a school that would reinforce the Catholic faith in the lives of the children of the parish as well as give them a well-rounded education in all secular subjects. The Third Plenary Council of Baltimore had mandated this a priority in 1884, which recognized that the public school system was neither designed for not capable of strengthening religious faiths in a pluralistic society. To provide Catholic education, funds were laboriously collected for many years at great sacrifice from the meager earnings of the parishioners of the parish.

The need for Catholic schooling had become evident, and in the early 1930's the pastor arranged for many of the parish children to attend St. Mary Academy at Bay View, a small private school staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. These parish children formed a nucleus for the future St. Brendan School. When space became limited at Bay View, the pastor was able to procure the old Turner Avenue School from the City of East Providence, and in September of 1943, six grades were opened in the newly named St. Brendan School. Seven Sisters of Mercy, the first principal being Sister Mary Vincent, staffed it. At this time the Sisters were moved into a newly opened convent across the street from the school and the parish and the school continued to flourish.

In May of 1955, ground was broken for the new, sixteen-classroom school. Construction took an entire year but finally the students and faculty moved into the new school which is the one still in use today. Astonishingly, that first year the enrollment was such that an extra first grade was needed.

July of the following year brought tragedy to the parish. Fire destroyed the roof of the church which had to be demolished and the school gymnasium was used as the parish church until a new church structure could be built.

The first graduation for a class that had completed eight grades at St. Brendan School was held on June 12, 1964. There were now fifteen religious and two lay teachers. Student enrollment in 1966 was 585, an all time high. During 1960 and 1970 the school was supplied by the East Providence School system with three teachers for Math and Science. This was a great help, for religious faculty numbers were declining due to fewer vocations and the fact that religious sisters were branching out into other fields. This decrease in religious faculty continued through 1970 and 1980, until now the entire faculty is made up of lay teachers.

Parishioners continue to give extra help through work with the Parent Council,  which work in conjunction with the faculty for educational improvements and enrichment activities. The first functional School Board was formed in 1998 to meet the needs of the present and provide guidance for the future.