SSAM History
- Established: 1961
- Incorporated on: January 11, 1961
- 62 years of Ora et Labora
SSAM HISTORY
St. Scholastica's Academy of Marikina (SSAM) was founded in 1961 in response to the appeal of the alumnae of St. Scholastica's College, Manila who reside in Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, and other neighboring communities for a Catholic School in the vicinity where their children could study.
SSAM is located on a 5.8-hectare piece of land in a hilly, picturesque section of then, Barrio Parang, in the northeastern part of the town of Marikina. The site is within the Marikina Heights Subdivision now Barangay Marikina Heights and was offered to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing by Mr. Jose Tuason, Sr.
Groundbreaking of the first building took place on July 16, 1960 on the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The people who were given a direct hand in overseeing the construction were Sister Silvana Röder, OSB, Architect Imelda Borromeo-Cancio and Project and Structural Engineer Ben Abastillas. Construction of the first phase of the physical plant followed immediately.
Soon after, SSAM was incorporated on January 11, 1961 and the school opened its doors on June 5 with 62 students. The blessing of the new building was held on August 15, 1961, the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, with Cardinal Rufino J. Santos, the first Filipino Cardinal, as the officiating priest. The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, headed by the first directress, S. Irmengardis Kuhn, OSB, sisters from the Holy Ghost College (now College of the Holy Spirit), Maryknoll College (now Miriam College), St. Paul College, Immaculate Conception College and La Consolacion College, students, lay partners, and guests graced this historic event.
In 1962, there were 328 girls and boys from Kindergarten to Grade 7. And in 1963, the high school department opened with 18 freshwomen. Eventually, Grade 7 was phased out in 1979, yet the student population gradually increased and reached 3,387 in 1985. This necessitated the hiring of more teachers and staff, the construction of additional buildings and facilities, and the upgrading of equipment and laboratories. Starting school year 1987-1988, Kindergarten was no longer offered in order to accommodate the additional classroom needs of the fourth grade as it went to a morning and afternoon schedule. Also, SSAM became an exclusive school for girls.
With the steady increase in the enrolment, the following facilities and amenities were added:
The year 2011 marked SSAM's golden year of grace with the theme 50 Years of Benedictine Education in the Ways of Peace: Building the Future.
The administration, headed by the directress, Sister Roseve Balagat, OSB, the SSAM Parent-Teacher Association, and the SSAM Alumnae Association spearheaded the 3-day festive celebration. The occasion was highlighted with a Thanksgiving Mass presided by Father Abbot Tarciso Ma. H. Narciso, OSB of Our Lady of Montserrat Abbey and concelebrated by the priests from different congregations, motorcade, field demonstration, school fair, cultural program, grand alumnae homecoming, and fireworks display. This momentous milestone was graced with the presence of the delegates from the Association of Benedictine Schools, city administrators, heads of neighboring schools, retirees, and representatives of the adopted communities of the Tuason Community Center.
As mandated by the Department of Education, the K-12 Basic Education Program was implemented from Kindergarten up to Grade 7 in 2011. With the program in full swing, SSAM has intensified its preparation for the Senior High School. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on May 28, 2013 to give way for the construction of St. Scholastica's Building with the senior high school classrooms and the following facilities for the different departments: art, music, audio-visual and multimedia rooms, science laboratory, computer laboratories, archives, gymnasium with jogging loop, prayer room, Information Technology Office, and Mother Angelica Theater.
In SY 2016-2017, with 248 Grade 11 students, SSAM fully implemented the K12 Enhanced Basic Education. The school produced its first batch of senior high school graduates in 2018.
To strengthen the foundation of character formation at an early age, the Nursery level opened with 39 pupils in SY 2017-2018. The sewing room was converted to make room for the youngest members of the community. A playground was put up solely for them near their classroom. In SY 2018-2019, Sister Birgitta Building, former Formation House of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, was redesigned to provide additional learning areas for the senior high school students such as the library, science laboratories, art room, and exhibit areas. Likewise, the halls may be used for religious and other school activities.
To further concretize the school's Vision-Mission-Goals (VMG) and the educational thrust of quality and relevant education, SSAM continues to enrich its curricular and co- curricular programs.
It has earned accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) since 1981. At present, it enjoys the Re-Accredited Level III status granted by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP).
From its humble beginnings, SSAM has striven to offer to its clientele the Benedictine tradition of education marked by Christian character formation, spiritual growth, and academic excellence as social responsibility.