St. Mary's Academy, Guagua, Pampanga

St. Mary's Academy, Guagua, Pampanga, is a Catholic institution administered by the Religious of the Virgin Mary of the Philippines presently known as the RVM sisters. These Sisters belong to the first Filipino Congregation founded by a Filipina, Ven. Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. The order is officially recognized as the first Pontifical Congregation for Women in the Philippines. The school offers Kindergarten, Elementary and High School courses and is co-educational. Piano and Organ lessons are also offered in a separate department.

Contents

History

Established in 1908, the school was named Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In 1955, the petition of Mother Maria Emilia Romero, RVM, then the Vicar General with some of the Alumnae of the school, to reopen the school for the benefit of their children was granted by the Superior General then Rev. Mother Catalina Dychitan, RVM and her council. It started with Kindergarten and a six year elementary course, under the roof of the old convent beside the parish church. The elementary course was duly recognized by the government on June 10, 1956. The school assumed a new name, Sacred Heart Academy. gradually, the High School Department was established on June 13, 1960. Increased in Population paved the way for Adding and improving facilities. In 1958, a two storey High School Building was constructed in front of the new building. Other improvements followed: the construction of the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and the campus gate and again, all these were also made possible through the generosity of the High School Alumnae. A fire of strange origin reduced the grade school building at the church site into ashes on December 26, 1969. This unfortunate event give way to the construction of a two- storey wooden building at lot formerly own by the Cancios in 1970-1971. The elementary grades then transferred to the San Roque Campus in 1971. Then more Improvements followed a three-storey concrete building was constructed in 1988 to house (10) classrooms, the HS facultyroom, the library and more of the offices and labs. The building was named after the founder of the RVM Mother Ignacia. The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo on June 14, 1991 caused much havoc to Guagua and its neighboring municipalities. Despite the situation SMAG still open its door to the victims. then after the tragedy of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo another building was built due to termites infestation of the former grade school building. The school had to borrow money from the comgregation to build a new four-storey building.the building was named Assumption building. It had (20) classrooms, science labs,H.E. room.AVR,Faculty, Canteen, and Comfort rooms and satellite offices.A milestone was made in 1996-1997 the school now accept boys in the first and second year level. SY 1998-1999 saw the first high school graduation of boys. Jubilee year 2000 marked another significant moveof the school. Sacred heart academy was renamed St. Mary's Academy on June 16, 2000 in consonance with the Ignacian bonding of the RVM schools. In answer of the growing population and the needed facilities another four storey building was construct at the lot bought from the Cancios. This state-of-the-art building was blessed on June 6, 2003 and named the Beaterio Building. It houses most of the offices and laboratories namely the guidance office, AVR, Speech lab, Chapel, Library, Computer Lab, Auditorium and it also houses the music department. True to her commitment to continue improving instruction, SMAG ventured into institutional self-survey for accreditation. The school had its visit on 2003. After passing the accreditation St. Mary's Academy of Guagua is the only PAASCU accredited school in the West Central District of Pampanga.

SAINT MARY'S ACADEMY GRADE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

The section names of the Pre-school and Grade school is based on the names of the saints: Junior Kinder Senior Kinder Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6

SAINT MARY'S ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

The High school department sections is based on the Titles of Mary: I. First Year

  a. Our Lady of Miraculous Medal (1st section-MM)
  b. Our Lady of Mount Carmel (2nd section-MC)
  c. Our Lady of Fatima (3rd section-OLF)
  d. Our Lady of Pillar (4th section-LOP)
  e. Our Lady of the Annunciation (5th section-ANOL)

II. Second Year

  a. Our Lady of the Way (1st section-OLW)
  b. Our Lady of Rosary (2nd section-LOR)
  c. Mother Of God (3rd section-MOG)
  d. Our Lady of Guadalupe (4th section-OLG)
  e. Our Lady of Good Voyage (5th section-OLGV)

III. Third Year

  a. Mary Help of Christians (1st section-MHC)
  b. Our Lady of Manaoag (2nd section-OLM)
  c. Our Lady of Lourdes (3rd section-LOL)
  d. Our Lady of Remedy (4th section-OLR)
  e. Mother of Perpetual Help (5th section-MPH)

IV. Fourth Year

  a. Our Lady of the Assumption (1st section-AOL)
  b. Immaculate Conception (2nd section-IC)
  c. Our Lady of Peace (3rd section-OLP)
  d. Our Lady of the Nativity (4th section-NOL)
  e. Immaculate Heart of Mary (5th section-IHM)

VISION

A transformed society witnessing the core values of faith, excellence and service.

MISSION

We, the academic community of St. Mary's Academy of Guagua, Pampanga, Inspired by the Ignacian Marian spirituality commit ourselves to build a Christ-centered community forming leaders who are globally competitive and dedicated to serve others.

School Motto

Initium Sapientae Timor Domini- "The fear of the Lord is beginning of wisdom"

School Hymn (1st)

Hail St. Mary's Beloved school of our childhood Our love will pledge to thee The cradle of Our faith Our home of future bless So as we sing our song of praise To God our hearts we raise We thank you for your loving care And thy gifts rare and dear

Hail St. Mary's Beloved St. Mary's We the children hover around thy bossom free Thy banner blue and white Forever waves on high We give thee our homage Forever will be true

S.M.A. Saint Mary's Academy...

Hail St. Mary's Beloved St. Mary's We the chidren hover around thy bossom free Thy banner blue and white Forever waves on high We give thee our homage Forever will be true Forever will be true... Forever will be true

School Hymn (2nd)

The school we love St. Mary's is her name She stands a statue great and strong She holds our hands and guides us through the world Be keeping us all sound and strong She molds our souls by teaching us the faith She molds our minds and bodies too She's all what a Mother is She's our beloved S.M.A

Let's hold her high and lift her through the heights Let's fight for her and love her all the time Now open your hearts to her Dear S.M.A.

Saint Mary's Academy She's a true Alma Mater, dear Saint Mary's Academy She's a school and a home all in one Saint Mary's Academy Let her blue and her white banner fly Let her live in all our hearts and lips Let Saint Mary's Academy ever live

References