The Faces of Modern Manhood in Rhode Island

Jesse O. and Ian A., students at the San Miguel School. Photo by Jamie Coelho

When a visitor walks into any classroom at the San Miguel School in Providence, each student will get up from their seat, walk up to the guest, look them in the eye and introduce themselves while shaking their hand. It’s a gesture that feels like it’s from a bygone era. 

The handshake is the signature move at the San Miguel School, an independent, tuition-free Lasallian middle school that provides holistic education for boys from diverse and challenging backgrounds. Brotherhood is instilled amongst all the fifth through eighth graders, who are encouraged to participate in various school activities.

The San Miguel School is a special place “where kids feel seen and feel a sense of belonging,” says Executive Director Mel Bride. “Isolation is very dangerous for young people, as we know. So having the boys with us as much as possible, with great male role models, with teams and activities that boys feel part of, these things help at a time when boys’ self-confidence is very low.”

A tribute to the class of 2023. Photo by Jamie Coelho

The students remain in the same intimate class groups of fewer than eighteen from fifth through eighth grades, and form bonds with each other “as brothers” as well as with their teachers. The youngest boys are paired up with an older student in the school for mentoring, and are also paired with an adult mentor to help guide them through life into high school and beyond. They build a community within the school that feels like family.

“The handshaking is step one to building community,” Bride says.

San Miguel curates various educational and extracurricular activities. The school facilitates an indoor and outdoor Green Team gardening program, has a STEM lab where students can explore robotics and technology, a learning lab for academic support, a music room and a chess team. Students can join sports like basketball, golf, soccer, flag football and crew and participate in programs like building bridges to learn about engineering, competing in a Hackathon that involves computer coding, and leading forensic investigations in science class. 

San Miguel selects a “Miguel Man of the Week,” someone who embodies integrity and respect. “It’s not just about academics, but the person as a whole,” says Jesse O., a student at the school.

“Basically, what happens is if you show great improvement for participation and you’re really focused and helping out, you might win Man of the Week,” adds eighth grader Ian A. 

The mentoring program is key for building the boys’ confidence for the future. “You’ll meet once a week with your adult mentor for lunch and board games,” says Ian A. “You will talk about what’s going on in school, what’s going on in life. And they’re basically there to guide the way.”

AJ Burton, an after-school coordinator at a nonprofit, mentors a San Miguel student. 

“You get a mentee when they’re in fifth grade, and you stay with them all four years that they’re here,” Burton says. “So it’s really awesome to see them grow, because even from last year to this year, everyone has grown in size, but also in personality.”

San Miguel’s graduates have gone on to enroll at La Salle Academy, St. Raphael’s Academy, St. Andrew’s School, the Milton Hershey School, Classical High School, Providence Country Day School, Rocky Hill Country Day School, Davies Career & Technical High School and the Providence Career & Technical Academy.

“Another thing I like about San Miguel is even after you graduate, you’re still a part of the family here, and they still make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to do in high school,” Ian A. says. sanmiguelprov.org