Marymount de Santa Barbara, an independent day school for children from kindergarten to eighth grade, is Riviera Ridge School from the 2021-2022 school year.

The name change aligns with the strategic vision and purpose of the school located at 2130 Mission Ridge Road in Santa Barbara, and is essential in clarifying the school’s identity, officials said.

The name “Marymount” had historical ties to a tradition of Catholic education, which created confusion among potential families and others, officials said.

A name change will help clear up the confusion and disassociate yourself from connecting to a brand name that the school is no longer affiliated with, according to the school’s website.

The Riviera School has evolved over the past decades to include all moral and ethical teachings, as well as spiritual beliefs, according to school principal Christina Broderick.

“All of the wonderful things that we have continued to do and have done for 83 years will remain the same, but now the name reflects a name that is not confusing to people,” said Christina Broderick, director of the school. Noozhawk Monday.

In 1938, Marymount of Santa Barbara was founded as a private Catholic school for girls.

The name – “Marymount” – comes from the network of private Catholic schools founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in France in 1849, according to the school.

The name has been affiliated with other Catholic schools across the country and the world, Broderick said.

The school was privately purchased from the Sisters of the RSHM almost 50 years ago and was established as an independent school, run by a board of directors, according to the school’s website.

The school was officially designated as a coeducational day school in 1976.

The new name embodies the school’s academic programs, especially its Kaleidoscope program that gives priority to the study of historical, cultural, ethical and moral perspectives through a reflective vision of world religions.

“This school, as it has evolved over the years, 90% of our current population are not Catholic students and do not choose our school for Catholicism,” Broderick said. “But they choose us for our world religions and comparative religions program called Kaleidoscope, and our social and emotional learning component, which has been in existence since 2007.”

At this time, officials aren’t planning to change the school’s colors (blue and white), or change the mascot, the Mustangs, Broderick said.

“Our intention was to keep everything the same, so that children, families and alumni feel supported that the community and the heart and soul of the educational experience in our school remain the same as what we have been doing since. many years, ”said Broderick. .

The school’s board of trustees, administration members and university leaders embarked on a 10-year strategic plan after obtaining a seven-year accreditation from the California Association of Independent Schools in 2018.

With the completion of the strategic plan, administrators determined it was time to clarify the identity of the school, board chairman Alexis Weaver said in a statement.

“This name change represents the natural progression of the school’s evolution,” said Weaver. “The name of the Riviera Ridge School reflects its idyllic location on the Santa Barbara Riviera and a testament to our local community’s love.

“And, more importantly, while the name of the school changes, the school itself remains unchanged. These are the same amazing teachers, staff and school community who have always been the heart of the school. ”

The Board of Directors chose the new name – The Riviera Ridge School.

The school adopted its new mission, vision and values ​​in 2020 to “reflect the importance of personalized learning, philanthropic studies and to instill the importance of seeking a” purpose beyond the self “in everything. they do and learn, “according to a press release.

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