HISTORY OF SAINT MICHAEL ACADEMY
Saint Michael Academy was started as a learning center, offering only Preschool programs under the management of Mrs. Irene L. Juan, an educator, assisted by her husband, Mr. Alfonso B. Juan, also an educator and a retired employee of the Central Bank of the Philippines. The good chemistry of the couple in terms of the school’s educational and financial management helped a lot in its growth despite the limited resources.
The school, founded in 1983, was named in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, the name also of the subdivision where the first branch is located. It began to offer three preschool programs: Nursery, Kindergarten and Preparatory with 50 pupils registered on its first year of operation. From then on, it maintains 250 enrollees a year.
Having no grade school program, the Prep graduates went to enroll to known accredited schools in Caloocan, Quezon City and Manila such as Lourdes School, Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, De La Salle University, Notre Dame and OLGA. While the others pursued their grade school at St. Mary’s College-Meycauayan, St. Paul Bocaue and Meycauayan College.
In 1992, due to pressing demands of parents, the school opened its Grade I class with 45 pupils and Grade 2 with 7 pupils, sharing one classroom.
In 1993, additional facilities were added with 4 classrooms for Grades 3 and 4. In 1994, additional classrooms were built for Grades 5 and 6. In 1995, another five classrooms and one computer room were constructed.
Through patience, hard labor, enthusiasm, perseverance and communal efforts of the parents, administration and faculty as well as the support staff, other facilities were improved and innovative equipment were purchased.
In a quick span of four years, the Grade School population had increased to 400 pupils, a number representing the continuing trust of the parents of its sound instructional program and dedication of the faculty in pursuit of quality learning. Thus in 1995, before the first elementary graduation, the school has been granted recognition by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports. In 1996, the first batch of elementary graduates proudly marveled on stage with 100% of them passing the now defunct National Elementary Achievement Test (NEAT).
The following school year, the school was so embark on yet another milestone, for 1997 was the year when SMA opened its doors to high school students. It was an offer for SMA grade school graduates and transferees alike to continue receiving quality education and a high chance of landing on a better college education. When the first batch of nine high school graduates graced the stage to receive their well-earned diploma in 2001, little did they know that their batch would be the start of something big. For last school year’s high school batch (mere three batches later) produced 36 graduates, a big leap from the first nine.
With the school’s continuous expansion in terms of enrollment figures and facilities, the upgrading of academic and non-academic programs are closely studied and reviewed to enhance growth in quality learning and to develop leadership potentials, proper attitudes and values which would lead to the formation of a well-balanced individual, useful and productive citizens of tomorrow.
