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STELLA MARIS COLLEGE |
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The
genesis of Holy Rosary began on 3une 16, 1930. Father Henry
Irwin S.I., the parish priest of Oroquieta, converted part of
the Rectory basement into a parochial school and opened the
first and second graders with approximately sixty boys and
girls. The first teachers were Miss Candida Turco (now Mrs.
Blanco and Miss Josefa Racho (now Mrs. Saren). Father Irwin left
Oroquieta the following year. Moreover the school continued to
function under the directorship of the succeeding parish priest.
The Holy Rosary Parochial School had a steady growth, one grade
being added each year. The first Elementary Education took place
in 1937. From
June 1935 until March 1937, two Franciscan Missionaries of Mary,
then stationed in Jimenez came to Oroquieta each morning to
teach at the Holy Rosary School and returned to Jimenez in the
afternoon. In May 1937, seven PMM Sisters came permanently to
stay in Oroquieta and occupied the Rectory as their convent and
school. These pioneer Sisters were: Mother Victores (Superior),
Mother of Good Counsel, Mother St. Emer, Mother Godfrey, Sister
Etienne, Sister Fabiana and Sister Rosa. In
June 1937, the PMM took over the administration of the school
and have directed it since then. Their mission work continued
until the outbreak of World War II when the school was
temporarily closed. The school reopened after the war. The High
School Department was opened in June 1946. The success each year
saw a notable increase in the enrolment, necessitating the
erection of an additional building to house the increasing
population. This additional construction was the Quonset hut,
which today has turned out to be the famous Quonset Auditorium
seeing many organizations and groups from Oroquieta itself and
neighboring towns. In March 1948 the first High School
graduation took place. In 19__, the need for a Boys’ school was felt.
Since the PMM Sisters were only allowed to cater to the
education of girls, the then parish priest, Dennis Murphy,
initiated the establishment of a High School Boys’ Department
of the Holy Rosary School, with 4 students in the First Year.
Classes were held at the ground floor of the oldest Rectory. The
increase of students in the following year later made the
construction of a High School Boys’ Department building
imperative. The cornerstone was laid in 1953. Two years later,
37 boys became the first graduates of the Holy Rosary Boys’
Department. Our
Lady of the Rosary must have been quietly at work during this
time for the school’s development was quite remarkable. While
the Elementary and High School comprise the educational
apostolate of the PMM the moral support and confidence of the
parishioners spurred the Sisters to open higher levels of
learning. The parents convinced the Sisters of the need for a
College Department. In response to public clamor, Holy Rosary
School ramified again. The College Department was born on August
3, 1964 with a total number of 73 students enrolled in the
Liberal Arts, B.S.E. and B.S.E.Ed. courses. During its first
year of existence, the College Department was exclusively for
female students. The following year, with the approval of the
proper authorities, gentlemen were accepted. The
tertiary level grew and survived as the years move on
simultaneous with its growth, other courses were offered. Such
curricular offerings were Bachelor of Science in Commerce, the
Religion Teachers Course (RTC) and Secretarial Course. In
the year 1966 deserves a special recollection. It was a turning
point in the history of the Holy Rosary Girls’ Department.
During this year, the school underwent a change of name. From
Holy Rosary, it was re-christened Stella Maris College. Stella Maris College flourished and continued to attract young hoys and girls into its fold. Another turning point came in 1975, when the High School Girls’ and Boys’ Department merged into one department. At this junction SMC’s history, co-education in all three levels were adopted by the school.
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TERTIARY SCHOOLS |
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STELLA MARIS COLLEGE Telephone Number: 531-1675
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Misamis University- Oroquieta Occidental Misamis Colleges Southern Capital Colleges Stella Maris College |
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