Inspiring Remarkable Girls Since 1954
WELCOME to FONTBONNE
Inspired by the courage of Mother St. John Fontbonne and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, Fontbonne educates girls to grow into women of strong moral character, grounded in the Catholic social justice teachings, who live by the Gospel values of respect, responsibility, reconciliation and reverence. We are proud of the women we have graduated since 1954. They are faithful, fearless and compassionate leaders defining our future.
Our adult learning community is committed to nurturing the individual girl as a scholar driven to serve others. Our student-centered curriculum allows our faculty to challenge our girls to rise to the expectation of academic excellence while understanding the importance of collaboration and creativity. Through our early college program, we expose our students to learning beyond the classroom, providing opportunities for them to experience the world. Through the access our students have to college classrooms, programming and student life experiences which allow them to use their voice, we are preparing our girls to create her future.
We are proud of a Fontbonne education centered on encouraging our girls to question the status quo and to seek to have conversations every day that challenge them. Our alumnae are women who believe in service to the dear neighbor, using their voice to advocate for themselves and others, while seeking everyday to build a world of unity and inclusion.
As you view our website, I am excited for you to meet our Fontbonne women, learn about a Fontbonne education and understand how you, too, can create your future.
Maura Spignesi
Head of School
mspignesi@fontbonneboston.org
MISSION & HISTORY
A Mission Born From Revolution
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph was originally founded in Lyon, France following the French Revolution. Today, this is our mission:
Fontbonne, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, is an independent, Catholic early college for young women. Fontbonne fosters Gospel values and educational excellence. This inclusive community embraces diversity in many forms. Through the values of respect, responsibility, reconciliation and reverence, Fontbonne promotes growth in spirituality, scholarship, and leadership of young women in the changing world.
History
Fontbonne takes its name from Mother St. John Fontbonne, a woman of faith and courage who re-established the Sisters of Saint Joseph in France after its suppression during the French Revolution.
Under her bold leadership, the first Sisters came to the United States in the early 1800’s. When they arrived in Boston, the Congregation taught in Archdiocesan parochial schools, where they worked with boys and girls of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
The Sisters also began their own ministries across the city. One of the ministries they carefully developed and nurtured became Fontbonne.
Fontbonne Academy opened its doors in 1954 on its current Milton campus. As it remains to this day, the Sisters envisioned it as a Catholic high school for remarkable girls. This school would focus on furthering the Sisters' charism of reconciliation, unity and non-violence through progressive academic programs, spirituality, and dynamic co-curricular activities.
Today, Fontbonne teaches more than 300 girls from more than 40 cities and towns across Greater Boston and the South Shore.
Phone: (617) 696-3241
Fax: (617) 696-7688
Fontbonne is a Catholic, All-Girl, College Preparatory High School and Early College serving students in Grades 7-12 throughout Greater Boston and the South Shore. Inspiring remarkable girls since 1954, Fontbonne is a leader in private school education and a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston.
