International partnerships to strengthen St. Ray’s global views

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PAWTUCKET — Saint Raphael Academy, which educates a diverse local student population as well as international students from China, Spain, Switzerland and other countries, will further diversify its student body with the formation of two new partnerships with Overbrook Academy in Greenville, and Qingdao Grand International School in Qingdao, China. The partnerships will increase opportunities for international understanding and exchange for all students.

In the partnership with Overbrook Academy, SRA will enroll international students beginning with the 2018-19 academic year in grades 10-12, who will live on Overbrook’s campus. SRA will continue the rigorous academic and spiritual development of the girls, most of whom are from Spain and Mexico, throughout their later high school years, while also strengthening their English language skills.

The Grand International School and SRA partnership will encourage international exchange between both teachers and students. Currently, SRA teacher and alum Erika Paiva ’00 is in China teaching at the Grand International School for six weeks. (Follow her blog at https://www.saintrays.org/miss-paiva-goes-to-china/) Beginning with the 2019-20 academic year, the International School will competitively select students to become part of SRA’s Classes of 2020 and 2021.

“Saint Raphael Academy is looking forward to a long and beneficial relationship with both schools,” said Saint Raphael Academy Principal Dan Richard. “This is a wonderful opportunity for all schools involved to work together, and we look forward to continuing these relationships for many years.”

As the world grows seemingly smaller with the abundance of social media, worldwide communication and online videos, teens today are exposed to global events and cultures in real time, as opposed to what was once only learned from a textbook that might be a decade old. And while today’s teens can view and communicate with people in different parts of the world, there is still something missing without face-to-face interaction.