Wheeler School is a private school located on the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The school serves students from the nursery level through twelfth-grade.
In 1889, an art school for girls was established by Mary C. Wheeler, an artist and activist from Concord, Massachusetts.[3] In 1900, adding an academic college preparatory curriculum to her art instruction, Mary Wheeler accepted ten female students as boarders and officially founded The Mary C. Wheeler School. A building on Brook Street was purchased, in 1898, to house girls enrolled in the preparatory program for her Cabot Street School.[4]
In 1910, Hope Building was constructed to provide living and dining facilities required by a growing student body and faculty. In 1912, the original Fresh Air Building was completed, though it was later rebuilt. The Mary C. Wheeler School thus became one of the first American schools to use the principles of Maria Montessori in its kindergarten instruction. Wheeler also purchased the Froebel Kindergarten School which admitted boys into its pre-primary grades until the 1950s.[4]
The daughter of a farmer, Wheeler acquired a 78-acre (32ha) farm and house in Seekonk, Massachusetts in 1912–13. She subsequently purchased an adjoining farm and buildings, bringing the total land holdings to slightly more than 120 acres (49ha). At one point, she advertised her school in Vogue as the Mary C. Wheeler Town & Country School.[4]
Mary Helena Dey was hired in 1914 to reorder the school’s curriculum. As a result, the school became a pioneer in the educational theories of John Dewey. Through Dey’s contacts, such notables as Carl Sandburg came to campus to meet with students or, in Sandburg’s case, deliver the graduation address.[4]
The first Wheeler Field Day was celebrated in 1915, and is the oldest continuously-celebrated tradition at the school.[4]
Middle years: 1920-1980
Wheeler died in 1920 at the age of 73. In her will she established a board of trustees to oversee the school. Mary Helena Dey, who had studied under educational theorist John Dewey at the University of Chicago, was named headmistress. In the mid-20s, the farm facilities were expanded at a cost of $4,400 to include a field hockey field and two tennis courts. The “swimming hole” was enlarged and deepened. Later an arboretum, featuring several hundred unusual plants and trees, was established at the farm in Dey's name, but has been lost to time.[4]
In 1940, Mabel Van Norman was appointed the third headmistress on the retirement of Dey, Van Norman continued the school through the years of World War II and spent time visiting war-torn schools in the Netherlands and Belgium which Wheeler students helped to support with food and supplies. In 1950, she was succeeded by S. Rowland “Rowly” Morgan, Jr.[4]
Morgan became the first male to lead the school and a residence was purchased, at 211 Hope Street, to provide a home outside of the girls' dormitory for his family. In 1952, the Wheeler Annual Fund was established to support the school through donations by alumni, family and friends.[4]
In 1968, Hugh A. Madden was named headmaster. Coeducation was approved for the lower grades in 1973, and expanded to include the entire school in 1975. The name of the school officially changed to The Wheeler School. The boarding program was phased out in 1979.
Modern-era
Gilder Center for the Performing Arts and Prescott Library
William C. Prescott, Jr. succeeded Hugh Madden as headmaster in 1980.[4]
The Hamilton School at Wheeler opened in 1988 to its first group of 35 students in grades 1-6.[4] In 1990, a new library was constructed. The building was designed by Schwartz/Silver Architects of Boston. A large division of the library is named in memory of third headmistress Mabel Van Norman.[4]
WELH-FM (Wheeler's radio station at FM 88.1) went on the air in 1994 at the end of a 10-year process begun as an Aerie[clarification needed] student project. As of 2006, the station broadcasts Spanish-language programming in the morning and a golden oldies format in the afternoon, and the station streams via the internet. Students also use the facilities to record news programs and interviews.[4] Since October 8, 2011, WELH has broadcast programming from Rhode Island Public Radio.[5]
As of October 2014 the school[when?] has nearly 800 students[6] with 200 faculty and staff. In addition to its main campus in Providence, the school has a 120-acre (49ha) farm facility for athletics, the Sixth Grade Farm Program, summer camp, ropes course, sports programs and environmental research.
In 2014 the school dedicated a new 18,000 square foot performing arts center featuring a stepped seating auditorium, five new performing arts classrooms, studios, and storage spaces.[7]
In 2017 Allison Gaines Pell became the Head of School.[8]
Notable alumni
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(March 2018)
Scott Carney (b. 1978) - American investigative journalist [9]
↑ "Mary C. Wheeler". Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 31, 2023. Mary Colman Wheeler was an educational innovator, a visionary, an artist, and an activist for human rights. She was also the founder of the Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, R.I.
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island. The population was 75,604 at the 2020 census, making the city the fourth-largest in the state. Pawtucket borders Providence and East Providence to the south, Central Falls and Lincoln to the north, and North Providence to the west. The city also borders the Massachusetts municipalities of Seekonk and Attleboro.
Rhode Island College (RIC) is a public college in Rhode Island, with much of the land in Providence, and other parts in North Providence. The college was established in 1854 as the Rhode Island State Normal School, making it the second oldest institution of higher education in Rhode Island after Brown University. Located on a 180-acre campus, the college has a student body of 9,000: 7,518 undergraduates and 1,482 graduate students. RIC is a member of the NCAA and has 17 Division III teams.
The Providence Country Day School is a co-educational independent school founded in 1923. Located in East Providence, Rhode Island, United States, it serves 375 students in grades PreK through 12. The school has no religious affiliation and has been co-ed since 1991. It has maintained accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleagues (NEASC) since 1952.
Classical High School, founded in 1843, is a public magnet school in the Providence School District, in Providence, Rhode Island. It was originally an all-male school but has since become co-ed. Classical's motto is Certare, Petere, Reperire, Neque Cedere, a Latin translation of the famous phrase taken from Tennyson's poem "Ulysses", "To Strive, to Seek, to Find, and Not to Yield". It has been rated "High Performing and Sustaining" by its performance in 2005 on the New Standards Reference Exam, placing third in the state. The school also made Newsweek's America's Best High Schools of 2012 with a 99% graduation rate, 95% college bound, an average SAT score of 1578, and an average AP score of 2.8. Classical High School stands roughly at the intersection of the Federal Hill, West End, and Upper South Providence neighborhoods.
St. Mary Academy – Bay View is an all-girls Catholic school, serving girls and young women from pre-school through grade twelve. Bay View is located in Riverside, Rhode Island. It was founded by the Religious Sisters of Mercy in 1874. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.
The Gordon School is a coeducational, independent school located in East Providence, Rhode Island. Students are educated from nursery through eighth grade. It is located on a 12-acre (49,000 m2) site.
The East Side is a collection of neighborhoods in the eastern part of the city of Providence, Rhode Island. It officially comprises the neighborhoods of Blackstone, Hope, Mount Hope, College Hill, Wayland, and Fox Point.
Pilgrim High School is a suburban high school in the Pilgrim Park neighborhood of Warwick, Rhode Island. It is a part of Warwick Public Schools. The school is single-storied and features multiple hallways for specific subjects. Multiple renovations occurred in the school, most recently in 2016, before the consolidation process began. The school logo is the shape of an American Revolution soldier head formed by the words "Pilgrim High School Patriots", although the letter "P" in the official colors is used for most athletic teams.
Our Lady of Fatima High School (FATIMA) was a Catholic, co-educational school in Warren, Rhode Island, operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.
Rhode Island Public Radio, doing business as The Public's Radio, is the NPR member radio network for the state of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Its studios are in the historic Union Station in downtown Providence. The network airs a format of news and talk from NPR, APM, PRX and other sources, such as Morning Edition, On Point, KERA's Think and All Things Considered, as well as extensive local news coverage.
WELH is a radio station owned by The Wheeler School of Providence, Rhode Island. Originally signing on in January 1995 with a pop alternative format and a line up of student DJs, WWKX veterans including Kickin Al Snape, a young Robby Bridges and others as "WELH: Taking Music to New Heights". In 1996 the station moved to a modern rock format programmed by student DJs as "Extreme 88", and later jazz and oldies, eventually offering programming from various groups. From October 8, 2011 until September 30, 2021, WELH broadcast programming from Rhode Island Public Radio. Beginning in October 2021, the station has broadcast a primarily classic alternative format supplemented by radio shows from Wheeler School students on weeknights and electronic dance music during portions of the weekend.
WPVD is a public radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. It is owned by Rhode Island Public Radio. The station simulcasts WNPN 89.3 FM.
The University of Rhode Island (URI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Kingston, Rhode Island, United States. It is the flagship public research as well as the land-grant university of Rhode Island. The university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". As of 2019, the URI enrolled 14,653 undergraduate students, 1,982 graduate students, and 1,339 non-degree students, making it the largest university in the state.
Gayaza High School is the oldest all-girls boarding secondary school covering grades 8 to 13 in Uganda. The school is Church-founded, government-aided and accredited by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports.
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra (RIPO) is a professional orchestra in Rhode Island. Following the death of music director Bramwell Tovey in 2022, Tania Miller was named Interim Principal Conductor. Francisco Noya holds the title of Resident Conductor. Founded in 1945 and based in East Providence, Rhode Island, its performing home is Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. Along with the annual Rhode Island Chamber Music Concerts and the Providence Singers, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the best examples of classical music companies in Rhode Island. RIPO is the country's largest combined professional orchestra and music school.
Rocky Hill Country Day School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school located on 84 acres along the Potowomut River and Narragansett Bay in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. It educates in grades nursery through grade 12.
Westerly High School is a public high school located in Westerly, Rhode Island, United States. The school is part of Westerly Public Schools.
Mary Colman Wheeler was the founder and first head of the Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island.
Margaret Burnham Geddes was an American architect, urban planner, and activist who worked in Providence, Rhode Island. She designed several early modernist houses in southern New England with partner J. Peter Geddes and worked as a planner for the Providence Redevelopment Agency.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
