Saint Mary's College of Quezon City

St. Mary’s College of Quezon City (St. Mary’s College, St. Mary’s, SMCQC) is a Catholic school for both boys and girls. It is administered by the Religious of the Virgin Mary, the first pontifically approved congregation for women in the Philippines. It is located along Mother Ignacia Avenue, formerly Cebu Avenue, in Quezon City. It provides Preparatory, Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary education.

Background

SMCQC is one of the oldest institutions in the Philippines, being the first pontifically approved congregation for women in the country, that offers formal education for girls in the Philippines. The congregation, originally known as the Beaterio de la Compania de Jesus, was founded in 1684 by Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, a Chinese-Filipino mestiza.

A history tracing back to 1684, Ignacia del Espiritu Santo and her beatas started educating young Filipinas as part of their mission as a foundational community. In 1725, they opened a boarding school for girls which became known as Beaterio dela Compania de Jesus. This also marked the first step towards formal education for the school. The Beaterio was opened to Yndias and Chinese mestizas, as well as to Spanish girls.

In 1901, the Beaterio became a congregation, eleven years after, the school was formally incorporated and the elementary and secondary course was recognized by the government. In 1939, the name Collegio del Beaterio was officially changed to St. Mary's College. The school was PAASCU accredited in 1975 and 1978.

The secondary department used to be exclusively for girls until school year 1997-1998, when it started to accept male enrollees.

St. Mary’s College is the de jure Generalate of all RVM schools in Luzon, and de facto Generalate of all RVM-controlled schools in the Philippines.

Maria Evelyn C. Aguilar, RVM Superior General (2006, 2012) & Sister Ma. Raquel A. Reodica, RVM, famous cancer healer of the Lord , on her Golden Jubilee celebration, Religious of the Virgin Mary Motherhouse

Basic Education Department

• Grades 1-6 or Elementary School

Accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities or PAASCU, St. Mary’s College of Quezon City offers general elementary education geared towards academic preparation for high school.

• Grades 7-10 or Junior High School

Accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities, and certified by TüV Rheinland Philippines, St. Mary's College of Quezon City offers general secondary education geared toward academic preparation for college.

• Grades 11-12 or Senior High School

St. Mary's College Quezon City will offer SHS or Senior High School starting SY 2016-2017.

College Department

Administered by the Religious of the Virgin Mary or RVM, it is the response to the needs of the national and global community. Granted with PAASCU Level II. The school still offers limited course opportunities. College course offerings since 1950 included BSE, ETC, Secretarial, Associate in Arts, Bachelor of Music, Associate in Music, BSEED and other special courses. In 1976, the changing political, socioeconomic and cultural climate led the administrators to temporarily suspend the college. There was also a felt need to concentrate on basic education. In its desire to upgrade the equality of instruction, St. Mary's College embarked on a self-evaluation project which led to a formal application for accreditation through the Philippine Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). The High School department was accredited in 1975 and the Grade School department in 1978. Subsequently PAASCU visit confirmed the quality education offered by St. Mary's College. In 1997, St. Mary's College heeded the request of parents to admit boys to High School. With the continuing improvement in its instruction and services, The Board of Trustees thought it was time to resume the college. Preparations were done; in 2002, St. Mary's College was given the permit to start offering a Bachelor's Course in Communication Studies.

Student organizations

• Barangayette Club

The Barangayette Club is the highest governing student body in the elementary department and is also known as the umbrella of all other club organizations in the Grade School Department. Composed by selected students ranging from Grade 3 to Grade 6, the Barangayette Club is the "elementary version" of the Marian Student Council. Every year, the elections for the club's officers are conducted. Non-winners are still members of the club organization.

• Marian Student Council

The Marian Student Council is the highest student governing body of St. Mary’s College of Quezon City. It promotes leadership and cooperation according to the philosophies and objectives of the school and establishing ideals for the realization of definite goals. It serves as liaison between students and the administration, emphasizing unity and service, leadership and cooperation for the betterment of the Marian Community.

• Scout Community Leaders

The Scout Community Leaders aim to be a paragon of discipline and to be of service to the Ignacian Marian Community. The SCL is a fully developed program of SMCQC from the CAT-I program, which now focuses more on promoting and establishing community service. It provides programs and activities to the Student Body that promotes Discipline, Service, Leadership and Commitment for the benefit of the Ignacian Marian Community. The SCL is currently headed by Mr. Zernan Bawar, Commandant.

Service Units

• Finance Office

The Finance Office is the financial center of the institution where the students’ tuition and school fees for the year are assessed and are paid by the students themselves or their parents or guardians. The Office is located at the Ground Floor of the Assumption Building.

• CIFCOM

Through the Center of Ignacian Formation and Community Ministries or CIFCOM, the school offers our Marian varied programs and services that develop their deeper faith-life commitment in and outside SMCQC community. In addition to the offerings of the Christian Living curriculum in all levels, spiritual and apostolate opportunities like: Eucharistic celebrations, retreats, recollections, confirmations, confessions, reach-out, and other service-oriented activities are provided.

• Clinic

The students’ health is under the care and supervision of a physician, dentist, nurses and other aides. Physical and dental examinations are administered to every student at least once during the school year. The clinic takes care of all minor ailments. Those with serious illness are sent home upon the advice of the physician/nurse and if fetched by parent or guardian.

• YDSO

The St. Mary’s College of QC YDSO caters to the developmental needs of the Marian students beyond the academic dimension by providing services that will help them grow as well-rounded Marian leaders.

• IMC

The Instructional Media Center is composed of the libraries (Grade School, High School and College) and the Audio-Visual Center. The IMC takes care of the print and non-print materials and equipment needed by the teachers, students and other IMC users.

• ITRC

The Information Technology Resource Center takes full responsibility for the operation of the school network, the computer laboratories in College, High School and Grade School Department. It offers internet service, ID processing, data scanning, data request, printing, computer maintenance and repair. It also offers assistance to students and personnel in using the equipment.

Facilities

Notable alumni

• Cheryl Cosim - TV5 Newscaster
• Cherry Pie Picache - Actress and Screenwriter

External links

• St. Mary's College of Quezon City Official Website