| Saint Mary's Academy | |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Ne Ardua Terreant", (No Task is too Difficult) |
| Established | 1969 |
| Type | Private school |
| Principal | Gp. Capt. (R) Cecil Chaudhry |
| Admin. staff | 150 |
| Students | 2500 |
| Location | Rawalpindi, [Tulsa Road, Lalazar], Pakistan |
| Website | www.sma.edu.pk |
St. Mary's Academy (or SMA) is a private English-medium school located in the heart of Rawalpindi, Pakistan.[1]
In its Senior Cambridge curriculum, St. Mary's prepares students for the University of Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examinations.
The academy has switched over to the GCSE and GCE system from the University of Cambridge, but the Religious Studies (except Islamic Studies) examinations are marked by the EdExcel Board. In addition, the school is a Fellowship Centre for Cambridge International Examinations. [1]
The school has a higher secondary college which offers F.Sc, I.Com and ICS sports.
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St. Mary’s Cambridge School was established by the Mill Hill London Catholic Fathers in March 1949 as a missionary school for the Catholic diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi. Rev. Fr. Thijssen became the founding principal and the school commenced in the new Holy Family Hospital Building, Saidpur Road. Later on, the Sisters of the old Holy Family Hospital were shifted to the new hospital building and the old hospital building was given to the Diocesan Board of Education to operate St. Mary’s Cambridge School.[1]
In January 1956 St. Mary’s School, Chaklala was established, educating boys until 1964 when it was handed over to the Pakistan Air Force.
The school is affiliated with the Rawalpindi Examination Board.
With the increasing demand for enrollments and the need for a boys school in the Cantonment area, St. Mary’s Academy was established at Lalazar in 1962 with a senior section accommodating classes from Class Six to Matriculation and Senior Cambridge. Whilst the senior Cambridge students transferred from the St. Mary’s Murree Road, that site continued to operate offering matriculation classes. The founding Principal at Lalazar was Rev. Fr. Patrick Byrne, whose dream it was to eventually provide a comprehensive educational system from Nursery to A Levels and graduation. In 1966 the junior section commenced operation and in 1998 A level classes were added. For a few years, girls were also enrolled in the junior primary classes. Currently girls are enrolled in A Level classes.[1]
St. Mary’s Academy offers classes from Prep to Matriculation, A Level and F.Sc.
In 2007 the school introduced first year college classes for the graduating matriculation class. The plans to commence nursery classes in 2008 has been completed and now there around 50 students in the Nursery section.
The school is under the management of the Diocesan Board of Education of the Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi. The board has schools and other educational institutions in the northern Punjab and NWFP.
Saint Mary's Academy is located on Tulsa Road in Lalazar, Rawalpindi.[1]
The campus is situated on 53 acres (210,000 m2), and is the largest school in the Islamabad-Rawalpindi region. [1]
There are three main buildings. One building houses Grade 1 through 6, with a playground for elementary students. Another small and utility-based building has been constructed for the Nursery Section. The main building houses the administrative offices, Bursar's office and Principal's office. Grades seventh through tenth, as well as the Cambridge curriculum hold their classes.In the new block there is library that can accommodate 150 students, and a conference room attached to library. There are two science laboratories and two computer laboratories. There are hostels for residential students.[1]
There are courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis and badminton. Field sports like soccer, cricket, and hockey are played. There are separate grounds for football, hockey and baseball and another ground is under construction to accommodate a full-size cricket field.[1]
St. Mary’s Academy offers classes from Prep to Matriculation and A Level.[1]
In Feb 2010, HSSC students arranged for the first time a mega olympiad in SMA which featured film making, futsal, gaming, fashion fiesta, car show, thooso, a concert (Josh & Roxen) and many more.
Extra-curricular activities include cricket, hockey, track, shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, long, jump, and high jump. The three fields (two hockey and one soccer) serve as track on the periphery (400 m) and a cricket stadium with a brick pavilion and viewing arena.[1]
Intramurals are held between five houses. The five Houses are:[1]
The school hosts the Saint Mary's Academy Model United Nations SMAMUN in which schools from all over Pakistan come to participate.
In Feb 2010, F.Sc students arranged for the first time a Mega Olympiad in SMA, which featured film making, futsal, gaming, fashion fiesta, car show, quiz, dinner night, and concert (Josh and Roxen).
The list of societies in St Mary's is as follows:
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