Colegio De Sta. Rita
February 2007

Quality Christian education and service pioneer

Colegio de Sta. Rita (CSR) in San Carlos City in Negros Occidental has a colorful history starting in the 1930’s.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

It all started when the Augustinian Recollect Missionary Sisters of the Philippines headed by the late Rev. Mother Presentacion de San Jose sent Mother Rosario de San Luis Gonzaga to San Carlos City to organize the school. Encouraged and supported by the Most Rev. Leoncio Ria, who was then Vicar Provincial of the Recollect Fathers, the pioneering Sisters drew plans for its opening in 1933. Rev. Fr. Manuel Gomara, then parish priest of San Carlos, gave the approval and initiated the construction of a three-storey semi-concrete building.

In August 1933, the first group of Missionary Sisters headed by Rev. Mother Asuncion de San Jose, together with Rev. Mo. Pilar de San Jose and Mo. Mercedes de la Sagrada Familia as companions and co-workers, were assigned to San Carlos to start kindergarten classes. Those early years were difficult beginnings for the school but the Sisters were sustained by Rev. Fr. Manuel Gomara and the family of Doña Eusebia Broce de Vicente. The kinder school was housed under the convent.

The Colegio De Sta. Rita in San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.The following year, 1934, a permit to open complete primary classes was worked out. The four classes were housed at the old residence of Mr. Florencio Broce. At the end of the school year, the primary classes were given government recognition.

The years 1933 to 1939 were very trying years but replete with satisfactory results. It was during these years that primary, intermediate and secondary courses were added with government permits and recognition. Rev. Mo. Rosario de San Luis Gonzaga was directress and principal of the school until 1938 when the Colegio de Sta. Rita turned out its first high school graduates.

Through Mother Rosario’s untiring efforts, other courses were opened, among them: Associate in Arts (General AA); Liberal Arts (AB; BSE, BSEEd, BSC, HE) and Collegiate Secretarial Science (CSS).

Rev. Mo. Carmen dela Sagrada Familia was the Mother Superior during the war years, 1941-1944. During those years of turmoil and uncertainty, she nevertheless proved herself equal to the task.

Liberation was followed by a period of reconstruction. The school buildings were rebuilt; books and other essential equipment were secured.

The early part of the 60s saw the construction of a two-storey annex building, replacing the one-storey asbestos-walled building used for high school classes. Later in the decade, a three-storey concrete main building was erected. This has since undergone many renovations and expansions to meet the needs of the students.

The 70s was characterized by a big advancement in courses offered by Colegio de Sta. Rita. In the first semester of SY 1974-1975, the school opened its program for Master of Arts in Educational Management. Thirty students composed the first batch of enrollees. After a few years, the enrolment swelled to more than a hundred, some even coming from the nearby towns. In March, 1978, CSR produced its first two MA graduates.

The next decade, the 80s, ushered in great technological advances. A high level of interest in computers grew among the students. Thus, the school converted a portion of the third floor of the main building into an air-conditioned room and equipped it with IBM computers. Computer was then added as a subject to the curriculum.

The 90s began with the improvements in both facilities and academic offerings – Accountancy, Midwifery, Nursing Aide, and Computer courses. The library acquired more books; the Science Lab and the HE rooms underwent renovation; an Audio-Visual room was opened; a Speech Lab was installed; the CAT and CMT offices were built; and the canteen was given a much-needed facelift. To top it all, the AR Sisters started the construction of another three-storey building with a roof garden beside the outdoor stage in February 2002.

During the Easter of 2001, however, fire broke out in the campus and destroyed the elementary school building. Renovation of the building was immediately undertaken to serve the pupils for at least one school year. Nonetheless, the General Council decided to expand at its six-hectare lot at the St. Vincent Subdivision. In February of 2002, the school was blessed by His Excellency Most Rev. Jose F. Advincula, D.D., bishop of San Carlos. The prep, elementary and high school students moved to the new campus during the same school year, leaving the main campus for the college and the graduate school.

PRESENT TIMES

Colegio de Sta. Rita (CSR), named after the famous Augustinian "saint of the impossible," keeps its vision alive by producing God-loving, community-oriented and competitive Ritarians. It continues to provide quality Christian education anchored on Christian values formation and service.

Today, CSR keeps up with the new technology without neglecting the basic needs of man. Paramedical courses like Midwifery, Nursing Aide and Care giving were added to its offerings with authority from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Government recognition were also received for the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT); Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS); Computer Programmer and Computer Technician courses.

In line with its vision to be community-oriented, the school adopted Barangay Rizal by assisting the poor residents there to be self-sufficient, through livelihood program, economic skills, catechism, computer literacy for out of school youths, and other training programs. Moreover, the school’s Credit Cooperative launched in the 90s, has steadily grown through the years. Today, CSR Credit Cooperative’s housing project known as "St. Rita Homes" with its 14 housing units finished and occupied by the faculty members, staff and alumni, stands as a testimony of the faculty’s smooth interpersonal relations with the alumni, parents, government officials and other organizations.

In its effort to improve the quality of education, continuous acquisition of books are done and upgrading of teachers’ qualifications are given importance. Teachers are helped to finish their graduate studies. The school made an arrangement with the Philippine Normal University at Cadiz City in Negros Occidental for the Masters Degrees of the teachers and with God’s grace, eight of them graduated with the degree of the Master of Arts in teaching with mathematics as major field of concentration last April 1, 2006. Presently, some teachers are enrolled in universities to upgrade themselves. Moreover, the Basic Education department, the College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and the College of Commerce are working for PAASCU Accreditation.

With the transfer of the Basic Education department to the new and well equipped extension campus in St. Vincent Subdivision, renovations and improvements were done in the main campus: additional facilities, renovation of the school chapel, the directress and registrar’s office, the audio-visual room, conference room, H.E. and Home Management room, canteen area, bulletin boards, covered walk, restrooms, improvements in the physical plant and the ongoing renovation of the faculty room and other beautification projects. The Basic Education department, too, had its share of improvements, particularly in

the acquisition of additional facilities, the construction of the beautiful Home Economics building, the sports oval, and two basketball courts (project of the Parents – Teachers Association (PTA).

Today, CSR, with its 74 years of fruitful service to the people of San Carlos City and the neighboring cities and towns, is preparing for its 75th Diamond Jubilee celebration. Rich in history and fortified decade after decade by its honorable forebears, the school continues to pursue its teaching mission in San Carlos City. Thus, from its humble beginnings, the past is always with it, the present is but the fulfillment of the aspirations, the dreams and visions of those who came before the pioneers. Colegio de Sta. Rita, the pioneer of quality Christian education and service, has, indeed, gone a long way and continues to prosper and gain prestige, dedicating herself towards academic excellence through the core values of "Patria, Virtus and Scientia."

FLAGSHIP COURSES

Colegio de Sta. Rita in San Carlos City, Negros Occcidental is composed of the Graduate School, the College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Information and Technology, College of Commerce, and the Paramedical Studies Department. All these colleges are located in the main campus at Atienza Street, in front of the city plaza and beside the Sac Carlos Borromeo Cathedral. The Basic Education Department (Elementary and High School) is located in St. Vincent Village, New Tibucco Campus, San Carlos City sprawled on a six-hectare lot owned by the Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters.

The CSR Graduate School aims to develop and enhance every student to become skillful, knowledgeable and competent in the different endeavor they encounter in their professional life, having in mind the laudable vision of the school – God-loving, law abiding and globally competitive. The graduate students are prepared to do scientific research and contribute to the pool of knowledge and realization of the school’s vision, cognizant of the community problems as well as socio-economics and cultural values of the country but tempered with Christian values in keeping with the school’s vision.

At present, the Graduate School offers the degree Masters of Arts major in Educational Management, Filipino and Guidance Counseling.

The College of Education aims to provide quality and effective teaching in order to attain good passing percentage results in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). This will help them become competent professionals in the fields of education, develop God-fearing and honest citizens who could effectively guide, lead and direct people towards a wholesome and progressive community and country and to produce quality graduates through the school’s vision. At present, the College of Education offers the following courses and majors: Bachelor in Elementary Education major in General Education; Bachelor in Secondary Education major in English, Filipino, Mathematics, Guidance and Counseling, and Home Economics and Technology.

The College of Liberal Arts aims to instill in the minds of the students good Christian and moral values which will develop good citizenship and healthy community environment. It inculcates in the minds of the students the love of country and national heroes as well as rekindle patriotic ideas to produce upright citizens. At present, the College of Liberal Arts works in consortium with St. John Mary Vianney seminary of the Diocese of San Carlos and offers Bachelor of Arts degree majors in Philosophy, English Language, Filipino and Social Science.

In accordance with the mission statement of CSR, the programs of the College of Information Technology are designed to facilitate the human development of the students who demonstrate interest and use of new tools that link them globally, like the Internet, specifically, interest in the pursuit of academic excellence for sharing and mutual caring, understanding and acceptance of the school’s Christian approach to IT and proficiency in all subject areas especially in programming language and system analysis. The College of Information Technology offers Bachelor of Science majors n Information Technology and Computer Science and two two-year course in Computer Programming ad Computer Technician.

As an agent of social transformation, the College of Commerce commits itself to strengthening the moral fibers of the community as it works to propagate the teaching mission of the school. It envisions to produce competent Christian business professionals ready to serve the humanity. The college offers a curricular scheme that provides quality business education in the fields of business management, financial management and finance management accounting. The College of Commerce prepares the students to be equipped with the generally accepted principles and practices of modern business, based on the current needs, economic and technological changes, be proficient in techniques and administration skills in business operations; have the knowledge and understanding of the business environment and operation, analytical tools in solving problems and decision-making. the college trains business leaders who will assure economical, efficient and profitable business operators and serve the community in the business world based on Christian principles of social justice and economic responsibility. The college offers the degree Bachelor of Science in Commerce majors in Business Management, Financial management and Financial Management Accounting.

The Paramedical Studies Department provides students with solid foundation of healthcare principles to prepare them to meet the challenges of tomorrow. It offers a two-year program in Midwifery, a one-year program in Nursing Aide and a six-month program in care giving.

CSR ARSC, soaring high!

This school year, the Augustinian Recollect Student Crusaders (ARSC) chapter of San Carlos is exerting its utmost efforts to achieve the ideals of Father St. Augustine.

The implementation of the ARSC philosophy, its vision and mission is achieved in the TQM process, through activities that aim to develop the spirit of the true ARSCian.

Officers of the chapter perform their responsibilities and duties by being good role models in the school community, showing other students how to follow the correct and wholesome attitude.

Action plans were developed and organized by the officers during ARSC’s first meeting. These plans are implemented through open communication with the student body because the organization believes that each student has the right to know ARSC’s activities and plans. These plans aim to develop virtues, like the trash can project which instills values of cleanliness, proper trash segregation and most importantly self-discipline.

CSR has been active in Christian evangelization, not only in school but throughout the city. Recollections and evangelization seminars for the students are held, as well as catechist training for public school. These activities have seen majority of the students internalizes God’s words and now they are starting to lead good Christian lives.

From Tuesday to Friday, worship is held in every classroom while a general worship is held every Monday for the whole campus. To improve the worship method of the students, they are taught to share properly and class monitors have been assigned to check on them.

Christian values have been integrated into the lessons and subjects. This is done to help each student understand the importance of being good in all aspects. This activity increases the students’ knowledge about God as well as their desire to know Him more.

In the Clubs and Ministries, the students are taught to be responsible with the tasks given them. For example, every month, a certain club is assigned for the monthly convocation. In this particular event, students from different year levels come together to help in setting their monthly plans, assuming the task given to them, thus allowing unity, teamwork and cooperation. This can lead them to Christ’s path as an avenue to harness their skills and mold their personalities.

The ARSC has made a huge impact on the lives of the students as it shows the importance of being a good role model, how to take responsibilities, the value of unity to accomplish a given task and follow instructions. For the officers, the development of their loyalty and love for the school itself. CSR San Carlos is, indeed, producing Christ-centered students.

Source: Manila Bulletin Online

 
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