Our Sisters’ School in New Bedford Empowers Young SouthCoast Women

Our Sisters' School in New Bedford has been changing the lives of young women for 18 years, and this Friday the community is invited to see that mission in action. Tobey Eugenio, the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Creative Suite, joined the Southcoast Health Community Spotlight to share what makes the school so special and to talk about the upcoming Festival of Arts and Achievement.

What Is Our Sisters' School?

For nearly two decades, Our Sisters' School has served girls ages 10 to 14 who may not have access to the same advantages as students at neighboring schools. The tuition-free middle school offers small class sizes, a strong STEM education, and a curriculum built around robotics, engineering, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and innovation.

"Community is campus," Eugenio said. "We can be small but mighty, but we're not anything if we aren't part of our own community."

Students stay with the program from fifth through eighth grade, and the support continues well beyond with a graduate program that helps young women apply to high schools, colleges, and even find jobs and internships. One hundred percent of graduates go on to high school and 90 percent go on to college.

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How Does Our Sisters' School Set Girls Up for Success?

The school is built around a set of community core values including excellence, leadership, citizenship, and healthy relationships. Students also learn a shared common language of tools designed to help them navigate the challenges of middle school and beyond. The philosophy is simple. Students are not told what to do. They are given agency, voice, and choice to discover their own path and become changemakers in their community. "We're not the bosses. This is a collaborative experience," Eugenio said.

Festival of Arts and Achievement This Friday in New Bedford

This Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Our Sisters' School is hosting its free Festival of Arts and Achievement. It will have interactive activities for the public to try. Guests can attempt things like coding, 3D printing, science experiments, and more. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell will be on hand for the opening.