SAINT MARY’S ACADEMYY of Rosario, La Union was established by then Parish Priest, Fr. Mac Villanueva in 1947. It started as a parochial school with only a total of 52 students (1st and 2nd years) in a rented two-storey house. Two years after, its first 12 graduates came, the school with total a total enrollment of 153. The following year, a four temporary classroom building was put up, materials of which were all donated by the Ammunition Depot at Concepcion, Rosario La Union.

 

It was in the early 50’s that the Bishop donated the new school site, thus, a new two-storey building was erected. From then on population growth spiraled so high that 1963, it went up to 688 students. By 1969, enrollment went down to 26% due to the presence of the newly opened public school aside from the other four high schools in the municipality, one private and three government schools all adjacent to each other. It was then in 1974 that enrollment increase was significant and impressive at 12% thus bringing the total enrollment that year close to 492. This may be indicative of the significant percentage of the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) qualifiers. Year to year there was a slight increase of the enrollment coming in to the school to study.

 

In 1980, through the initiative of the principal, Mrs. Cecilia N. Rivera the private lot adjacent to the school was bought and turned out to be beneficial to the school. In 1986, the school saw another event. That was the tearing down of the whole school building which was dilapidating already to only one-storey and extending towards the southern end of the school grounds with a total number of 12 classrooms and a multi-purpose shed. The parish priest, Rev. Fr. Arnulfo Tagorda, spearheaded this project. Sources from the re-construction came from funds of the two (2) big and strong associations of the school, the Parents-Teachers Association and the SMA Alumni Association.

 

The socio-economic status of the family ranges from very low to normal such that some parents work as farmers (40%), factory workers (20%), professionals (338%) and no fixed income (2%)

 

Year to year, a lot of accomplishment came after the other, thereby giving a lot of honor, glory and fame attached to ST. MARY’S ACADEMY’S name. In the late 19689, the RLUA-USA donated the new basketball court, which served beneficial not only to students but to the community as well. Thanks to the then president, Mr. Chris O. Tacto. A lot of generous benefactors came to help poor but deserving students for scholarships enjoying full tuition fee free.

 

Each school year opening, a slight increase in enrollment is seen. Again, this is an indication of the relevant curriculum, Christian values formation rooted in Christ and competent and committed teachers ready to serve.

 

Year 1999, the new Bishop Monsignor Antonio R. Tobias DD made a new breakthrough. Dominican Sisters of Blessed Imelda Congregation came in to help the school and parish in the evangelization. It was through the Reverend Sisters that students had the great chance to enrich their faith more through the relevant Religion classes. Sr. Bertila Boscardin OP and Sr. Benedita Noguiera OP were the two first group of Dominican sisters who set foot in Rosario.

 

Aside from the enrichment of curriculum, physical facilities also improved. The Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) Room was restricted and were tiled. Cooking Equipment Facilities were all procured, others donated by the alumni. The Library room was also tiled and acquisition of new books was made. Some books were also donated by an Alumnae in the United States. The Science laboratory made a new facelift too. Its floors were tiled. Cabinets to house the new apparatuses were constructed again with the help of alumni. New and modern science apparatuses were donated.

 

The computer laboratory room is another new breakthrough. It was an air condition room; the units were donated by alumni. There were 27 computer units and 3 units of DLP Projector to be used for its Computer Aided Classes. Thanks to generous and kind hearted alumni.

 

And to its Administration of school, the Commission on Diocesan Schools made a reshuffle of principals among the different schools adjacent to each other. Year 2003. Mrs. Nida B. Martinez was transferred to ST.  MARY’S ACADEMY OF AGOO and Mrs. Brenda Ochoco took over the leadership of the school until 2007. That same year Mrs. Nida B. Martinez came back to the school after a four year stint in SMA Agoo and served SMA Rosario up to the present time. Mrs. Ochoco on the other hand went back to her same school in Tubao, La Union.

 

Year in, year out, several innovations cropped up to better improve the instruction. Teachers were sent for several INSET training and seminars to hone skills, update and upgrade professional growth and learn new trends and strategies to further enhance academic excellence. Today, teachers continue to update themselves by attending Masteral classes, a tool to a better and upgraded professional competency. The present lines of Faculty Members are licensed teachers as required by the government.

 

The year 2012, the school saw another improvement in its facilities. The much-awaited covered court showed light as the Phase 1 came to reality. The Phase 1 is the Stage complete with cover and this amounted to Four Hundred Eighty- Six Thousand Pesos (486,000.00). Thanks to the generosity of the SMA Alumni Association headed by Mr. Mart-lino E. Valera and the SMAPTA headed by Ms. Gloria O. Nidoy for forging together and each association promised a 50-50 share of expenses. Of course, lest the school will ever forget the donation given by Mrs. Josephine Balderas-Balquiedra amounting to P50,000.00 and Mrs. Wilma Boado-Salvador who also gave P50,000.00 on the first phase and still promised to give again for the Phase 2! The school is hoping for the next year to come. The school is rich enough of graduates who are so concern with the welfare of the students and willing to extend a helping hand to their Alma Mater.

 

The Diocese on the other hand started working on the construction of the eastern wing of the school building with inclusion of the Boy’s and Girl’s comfort rooms. The school appreciated the move as this would mean better classrooms and facilities for the clientele. The school continues to dream. Dream that would make this school one of the best schools if not in the diocese at least in town.

 

The School Year 2013-2014 gave the school another improvement in facilities. The Class Batches 80, 84, 86 and  89 donated for the floor tiling of at least Five (5) classrooms. Likewise the Homeroom PTA donated one LED TV, amplifier and speaker in all  the classrooms. The construction of the Industrial arts room is now underway; hopefully, it shall be finished before the end of April 2014.

 

The Industrial Arts rom was completed at the start of the School Year 2014-2015. It served as room for workshops for TLE subjects. However, it was used as temporary classroom to accommodate the three sections of the Fourth years during that time. More classroom improvements and projects were accomplished with the help of the PTA and Alumni for the next School Year.

 

There was a transfer of Administrative duties and responsibilities during the School Year 2016-2017. Mr. Tirso D. Laconsay, a faculty member was appointed as Officer-In-Charge of this school. He replaced Mrs. Nida B. Martinez who retired after a fruitful and dedicated service to the CDS System especially to SMA Rosario.

 

The GENYO E-Learning System was integrated as an important tool in the Teaching-Learning Process of the Learners. The students were given the chance and experience 21st Century Learning. It really helped the teachers as well as the students in their lessons.

 

It was also the implementation of the Senior High School which is part of the new K to 12 Program. This covers kindergarten and 12 years of basic education to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship. Senior High School is two years of specialized upper secondary education; students may choose a specialization based on aptitude, interests, and school capacity. The choice of career track will define the content of the subjects a student will take in Grades 11 to 12 SHS subjects fall under either the Core Curriculum or specific Tracks ( ABM, HUMSS, STEM and GAS) (http://www.gov.ph/k-12/}

 

The school offered General Academic Strand. This strand is for learners who are not yet decided on what course to take in college. It is possible that the learner will be given bridging courses to assess his/her preparedness for the field of study he/she will choose in the future. General Academic Strand will present the option for students to take their electives from specialized subjects of any other stands

 

It also marked the start of the SHS Voucher Program. This program is intended for Grade 10 (Junior High School) completers who wish to pursue Senior High School (SHS) education in non- DepEd Schools such as Private High Schools, College and Universities; Local Universities and College (LUC);. Public JHS students – will receive 100% of the voucher amount. ESC JHS students – will receive 20% of the voucher amount. At present, there are 40 Qualified Voucher Recipients among the 41 enrolled learners.

 

To augment the faculty, the school hired the services of part time teachers. Mrs. Nida B. Martinez, ((the former Principal) Mrs. Luzvimin E. Lalata, (former faculty member, Mrs. Sherell L. Aday (former faculty member), Miss Shien Halog (former student) and Mr. Romeo Dumaguin, (former faculty member and the current Principal of SJBLC of Caba willingly shared their teaching experience, expertise and knowledge to the Senior High School students.

 

To accommodate the Senior High School learners, a new 2 storey-building was constructed. It will house 2 Junior High Classes and Grades 11 and 12. The new building will be ready for occupancy for the coming September 2017. This was made possible through the efforts of the CDS Administration headed by the late Bishop Rodolfo Beltran, DD, SMA PTA and Alumni. The SMA Alumni Association shared Php 200,000.00 while the PTA also shared Php 200,000.00 which came from the Fund-Raising Activity last February 27. The SMA Alumni Association also shouldered the renovation/repair of the Demonstration table of the Science Laboratory amounting to Php 55,000.00

 

The outpouring of support to SMA continues as more alumni as well the PTA involved themselves in the different projects/activities and programs of the school. Truly, all parents, alumni and faculty proved once again their willingness to help our school. This is all because this is where their children and grandchildren come to school and they just want the best for all.

 

A students’ lounge was put up to cater to the comfort of those learners  who want to study outside their classrooms.

 

There was a plan that these very active Alumni officers  would organize a grand alumni homecoming to raise more funds to continue putting up the last three phases of the covered court. There would be a popularity contest and coronation night would follow.

 

These did not materialize anymore because that was the time of the corona virus outbreak in the whole world. We were all paralyzed. It also added to the paralysis of this project the reshuffle of the diocesan principals. There was a revamp of school assignment of Mr. Tirso D. Laconsay, the then principal of the school, and Mrs. Elizabeth F. Diso of St. Mary of the Sea  Academy in Sto. Tomas, La Union.

 

Being new in our town, Rosario, she could not also make moves to follow up what Mr. Laconsay had started. She is still in the process of building camaraderie among the townspeople. She has started reaching out, making her first moves to the Parents- Teachers Association Officers. She is already tapping our  very accommodating municipal mayor Bellarmin Flores II, especially on financial support.

 

Hopefully, after this pandemic, the SMAAA ( St. Mary’s Academy Alumni Association ) will start to grind again to finish what it had started.

 

Speaking of pandemic, it really gave, and still, is giving a lot of changes. In our school. The Diocesan Schools of La Union really thought of additional educational materials to augment the absence of the face to face classes. Since the school is offering blended learning, there is a need for the school to be at par, if not better than other schools. So, there was an introduction of the LMS for the junior high school and Genyo for senior high. So, online classes are conducted twice a week so as not to be a very heavy burden for parents to buy loads for their children. There is also the introduction of the FOLLET for students to access the use of the library even if they are in their own homes.

 

The school is always free from virus because we clean and disinfect it regularly. Safety protocols are observed all the time.