St. Alphonsus Catholic School
A Century of Catholic Education, Formation, and Mission
HISTORY
One of the great blessings God bestowed on Opon (Lapu-Lapu) was the establishment of St. Alphonsus Catholic School now known as St. Alphonsus Catholic School (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu) Inc. Founded in 1916 by Rev. Fr. Mateo O’ Callaghan, a Redemptorist Father, who named it in honor of their founder, St. Alphonsus de Liguori, the school has been faithfully helping the inhabitants of the island. In 1916, the primary course was opened with 250 pupils and in 1918, the intermediate grades were added, thus completing the Elementary Department.
Desirous of spreading their educational apostolate over the island, the Redemptorist Fathers opened branch schools in the year 1920. They spread through Mactan, Agus, Babag, Sta. Rosa, Kalawisan, Basak, and Pajo. Being mainly supported by parish funds, the school managed to survive into the 1950’s. Gradually, they were phased out due to the newly opened public schools.
In 1921, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters were called to administer St. Alphonsus Catholic School (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu) Inc. In 1929, the Redemptorist Fathers turned over the parish to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC). The Benedictine Sisters continued in administering the school.
As early as 1922, the Secondary Department was opened for first and second year students. St. Alphonsus Catholic School (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu) Inc. continued to operate until the outbreak of the Second World War. Because of this the school was forced to close down. In 1946, however, SACS was reopened.
In 1947 and 1948, Year Three and Year Four were added respectively.
In 1949, SACS promoted its first batch of high school graduates.
In 1966, St. Alphonsus Catholic School celebrated its golden anniversary.
In 1972, a night Secondary Course was offered to Year One and Two. It gradually moved up to five years and produced its first graduates in 1977. However, in 1988, it was phased out.
To meet the demands of the continued increase in enrolment, the school plant which started with a one-story building has been accordingly expanded to a complex of eight (8) buildings.
In 1985, the High School Department went through its preliminary survey accreditation and in May 1990, it was granted an initial accreditation by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU).
In 1991, St. Alphonsus Catholic School (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu) Inc. celebrated another momentous event in her history: her Diamond Jubilee. This is a living manifestation that for 75 years the institution has persistently and unwaveringly committed herself to the program of empowering the young citizens of the community.
In May 2001, the Grade School was awarded certificate of Level I Accredited Status and in May 2002, it was granted Level II Re-accredited Status. Hence, both departments were accredited.
On March 16, 2006, the Grade School Department was granted government recognition to operate a pre-elementary course.
In 2009, with the Benedictine Sisters deciding to focus on their own schools and considering other forms of ministry, the school went through the transition stage. The Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (FDNSC) was invited to work with the Benedictine Sisters. The administration of the school was then under the two religious congregations. Sr. M. Reginalda A. Cortez, OSB acted as the Directress and Principal of the High School Department while the Sisters from the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart took on the other administrative roles.
Since 2010, the DOLSH Sisters have taken the responsibility to manage SACS in accordance with the policies and standards set by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU).
In 2015, the High School Department was awarded Level II Re-accredited Status.
In 2016, SACS celebrated the most significant milestone in her history: her Centennial Jubilee. This undoubtedly striking evidence that for 100 years the institution has perseveringly and steadfastly committed herself to provide quality Christian education for social transformation. More so, the granting of PAASCU Level II Re-accredited Status to the Grade School Department and Level III Re-accredited Status to the High School Department has greatly confirmed the school’s thrust for academic excellence and character formation of the young Alphonsians in her care. In the same year, Senior High School was opened offering the General Academic Strand comprising four (4) sections with 164 students.
In 2017, the Grade School Department was awarded Level III Re-accredited Status.
In 2018, SACS produced the first batch of Senior High School graduates. On June 5, 2018, the application for STEM and HUMMS offerings was approved by the Department of Education.
In 2020, the High School Department has been awarded Level III Re-accredited status by PAASCU. Also, in the same year, the World Health Organization declared a global health crisis. The entire world was affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted to the suspension of face-to-face classes in the Philippines. However, this did not stop SACS to continue its educational mission. SACS adapted the distance learning approach that offered two learning modalities, the online distance learning and the offline or modular distance learning.
In 2021, SACS Grade School Department underwent the PAASCU Virtual Accreditation Program and has successfully sustained its status having been granted another five years of Level III Re-accredited status in January 2022.
In 2022, SACS offered Blended Learning Program as a gradual transition to the full face-to-face classes within the school year as COVID-19 restrictions were eased.
In keeping with the signs of the times, the school continuously evaluates its efforts and updates its master plan in order to make them more useful and relevant and to reflect the changes in the educational needs of the students and the community as well.
PHILOSOPHY
St. Alphonsus Catholic School (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu) Inc. (SACS) is a Catholic school providing kindergarten, elementary, and secondary education (junior and senior high school). Guided by Catholic principles of education, the school responds to the needs of the times by providing an integral education reflecting critical thinking and inquiry, synthesis of culture, and active Christian faith and life geared toward social transformation.
With the belief that every human being has the capacity to think, feel, and act creatively and responsibly in relation to his/her natural, social, and spiritual environment, SACS, is dedicated to the task of forming the young to reach his/her highest and ultimate goal, GOD (Gravissimum Educationis 1: “A true education aims at the formation of the human person in the pursuit of his ultimate end and of the good of the societies.”). To reach the zenith of the goal, the young will be enabled to reflect on himself/herself and see others and all of creation as God’s gift of love. Likewise, the young will be helped to develop critical awareness, wise decision-making, and selfless commitment that will enable him/her to bring into reality God’s reign, which is manifested by a free, just, peaceful, and progressive society.
SACS hopes to attain this by creating in the school community an atmosphere permeated with the Gospel Spirit of Love and Compassion through the integration of the Benedictine Motto of “Ora et Labora” (Pray and Work) and the DOLSH Spirituality of the Heart.
VISION
MISSION
As a Catholic school, we envision a Christ-centered Learning Community where every student’s
mind is challenged to seek what is true,
heart is nurtured to desire and love what is good and holy, and
body is disciplined to express and create what is beautiful and useful.
To attain this vision, we:
provide a holistic educational program which fosters total development of the students,
provide adequate, well-maintained, and upgraded facilities to enhance the whole teaching-learning process,
offer an integral on-going formation program to teachers, non-teaching personnel, and administrators for their personal, professional, psycho-spiritual, and moral development, and
witness to moral and spiritual values that our students become socially aware and actively responsive to the needs of the society, especially the “cry of the poor” and the challenge of taking care of God’s creation.
CORE VALUES
CHRIST-CENTEREDNESS
In witnessing Christ-centeredness, the Alphonsians live a life of faith in God, prayer, love, and compassion.
In the pursuit of truth, Alphonsians manifest equality, honesty, integrity, justice, vigilance, and wisdom.
In expressing goodness to others, Alphonsians show humility, kindness, service, and peace.
With discipline, Alphonsians practice collaboration, commitment, excellence, patriotism, resilience, respect, responsibility, simplicity, and stewardship.
TRUTH
GOODNESS
DISCIPLINE
