Student Houses: Your home away from home
There is no “sorting hat,” but our inclusive house system is carefully designed to help form friendships and make memories that will last a lifetime. Every student, boarding or day, is assigned to one of our eight residential houses on campus. Each house has three fully trained in-residence faculty members, called houseparents, and five Sixth Form (senior) students who help guide their peers, called prefects.
Whether a boarding or day student, the campus becomes your neighborhood, where everyone you pass says hello and everyone knows your name. Your neighbors are your friends, classmates, houseparents, teachers and coaches. One of the advantages of boarding school is that the day doesn't end when the last bell rings. Together, you will continue traditions—and invent new ones—which make up the fabric of our community life. Plus, your meals, sports and activities are all within walking distance of your house!
Boarding Students
All Third Form boarding girls begin their Abbey career together in St. Mary’s. From there, they may apply to live in Manor House, St. Brigid’s, or St. Benet’s. Similarly, Third Form boarding boys spend their first year together in St. Hugh’s and then live in St. Leonard’s, St. Aelred’s or St. Martin’s. Each house has its unique personality and history, but together, they form a well-rounded, vibrant community spirit that carries into all aspects of student life.
After the academic day has concluded, students have free time to spend with friends, grab dinner, attend a student club, go for a walk, or play games in the Student Center. After day students leave campus in the evenings, boarding students take a few minutes to tidy their rooms before evening study hall commences. Study hall is a structured, quiet time for all boarding students to complete their homework and wind down before bed. There is always a supervising houseparent or faculty member in the house to help with any questions. Students also can study in the house common room or in the library, which is always staffed.
Day Students
Day students also play an essential part in day-to-day student life on campus, attending student clubs and weekend activities. In fact, some day students stay on campus until study hall. Prefects who are day students have a bedroom in the house where they remain when on duty. Day students offer a local perspective to their peers, often inviting friends over for dinner, to a coffee shop, or to explore Aquidneck Island and the surrounding areas. Local Portsmouth Abbey families frequently host boarding students for holidays and long weekends when traveling home is not feasible. They are also the cheerleaders at athletics events!
International Students
We value the different perspectives students from around the world bring to the Abbey. Raven alumni and current students have come to us from Canada, China, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, and Spain, among many others. The International Student Leaders program plans exciting dinners and events for the entire school community to celebrate the cultures and nationalities represented here. Our Head of School and the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs regularly host international receptions for our parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends across the pond to meet and socialize.
Weekend Activities
There are plenty of fun things to do on weekends. Some student favorites include themed dances, trivia contests, grocery bingo, coffeehouses featuring student performances, Winter Semi-Formal, Prom, Springfest, NFL-viewing parties, outdoor movies, dodgeball, and laser tag tournaments. The school arranges regular, chaperoned trips to local attractions in Newport, Providence, and Boston. The newly built Student Center provides comfortable seating, quiet places to study, late-night dining options, foosball and ping pong tables, and a front porch offering 180-degree unobstructed views of Narragansett Bay.
Raven Cup Competition
The Raven Cup is a year-long competition between the student houses. From opening school games and the Head of School’s Run to broomball in the rink and Friday assembly competitions, the Raven Cup strengthens friendships and unifies students to achieve a common goal. Plus, it’s a lot of fun.
