St Michael Academy
Location
Catarman , Northern Samar , 6400  Philippines
Information
School type	Private Dominican
Motto	"In the Service of Truth"
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Established	1946
Status	private, sectarian, non-stock secondary school
Authority	Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena - Philippines
Principal	Sr. Enriqueta B. Arnaiz, OP
Teaching staff	34
Enrolment	760
Language	English; Filipino
Nickname	Michaelians; SMAers

St. Michael Academy, a private, sectarian, non-stock secondary school, is the first and the only Catholic learning institution estabilshed in the heart of Catarman, capital town of historical Northern Samar, owned by, and under the supervision of, the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena - The Philippines; thus, the only Dominican educational institution found in the Samar - Leyte region operating since 1946.

History

In Catarman, Northern Samar, the very first educational catholic was established last June 1946. This favored the request of Most Rev. Miguel Acebedo D.D., the bishop of Calbayog to the priories General of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Rev. Ma. Natividad Pilapil, O.P.

She sent Mo. Teresita Hacbang , O.P., Sr. Rosa Santiago, O.P., and Sr. Magdalena Quisay, O.P. Who pioneered in the Administration of Saint Michael Academy. With them in the newly organized Board of directors were: Parish Priest Fr. Potenciano Ortega, Atty. Mariano Singzon, Don Ignacio Lahorra, Senior Francisco Arraiza, Senior Bernabe G. Figueroa, Judge Alberto Lim and others who contributed in planning for the first school year. They used the residence of Mr. Balite and Ms. Fulgencia Cardenas. The Bishop leased a parcel of the land the present site next to the church was a two-storey building was constructed.

In its early year of operation the school offered elementary, secondary, and college courses, and after three years, Saint Michael Junior College successfully produced 21 Graduates in Associates of Arts, 28 Graduates of Elementary Teacher Courses and 17 graduates of Secondary Courses.

However the college course only lasted for a year, later the elementary course was phased out while the secondary its offering solely for secondary level up to the present.

To keep fit with the new educational trends and ensure effective and quality education, steps toward ongoing developments in all aspects the school have been initiated. This move has been reinforced by the several recognitions garnered by the students and the school itself. The school had undergone CEV -1 in 1995 and CEV – 2 (Congregational Evaluation Visit last February 2000). Toward the end of SY 2003 - 2004 – the ESC Certifying Team from DepEd Regional Office evaluated the school in all areas of operation and rated SMA as one of the excellent schools in Region VIII.

The latest innovation of the school is the integration of Computer Education in the curriculum with Internet access from first year to fourth year levels. Likewise, the school adopted the Basic Educational Curriculum (BEC) with Religion / Values Education as the core curriculum being a Catholic and Dominican. Hopefully, in the near future, SMA will become a PAASCU Accredited school with the able assistance of SMA Family Council, SMA Alumni Association and all the Staff and the Students.

References