St. Mary's Academy of Kidapawan
| SMA-Kidapawan | |
|
Former names
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Our Lady Mediatrix School(1951), Notre Dame Elementary School of Kidapawan(1956), Notre Dame of Kidapawan for Girls(1976), Notre Dame of Kidapawan |
|---|---|
| Motto | Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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("The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.") |
| Type | Private, Sectarian, RVM School |
| Established | 1948 |
| Founder | Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo |
| Principal | S. Ma. Elvira A. Venturina, RVM |
| Location |
Kidapawan City, North Cotabato,  Philippines7°1′6″N 125°5′25″E / 7.01833°N 125.09028°ECoordinates: 7°1′6″N 125°5′25″E / 7.01833°N 125.09028°E |
| Colors | Blue and White |
St. Mary's Academy of Kidapawan (SMA-Kidapawan), formerly Notre Dame of Kidapawan for Girls, is a Catholic educational institution operated by the Religious of the Virgin Mary (R.V.M.) located at the foot of Mt. Apo in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.
The school is also a member of the Notre Dame Educational Association (NDEA), which a network of Notre Dame Schools in the Philippines under the patronage of Blessed Virgin Mary.
The school was founded in 1948 by Rev. James McSorley, OMI, the first parish priest of Kidapawan. Bishop Gerard Mongeau, OMI, the prelate of Cotabato City to which Kidapawan belonged at that time, gave the approval for the opening of the new school.
The Church through Bishop Mongeau and Fr. James McSorley, OMI bought two hectares of thick-forested land for the parish and the school site with an area of 19,813 square meters. The construction of the first high school building was done in the "Bayanihan Style" by the civic spirited parishioners of Kidapawan and nearby parishes.
In the school year 1948–1949, one hundred forty-four (144) students enrolled in the high school from first year to third year. Fr. McSorley was the Director and Mr. Norberto Comendador the principal.
On December 29, 1948, the school was registered in the Securities and Exchange Commission, with the following listed for its Board of Trustees: Rev. Gerard Mongeau, OMI, Rev. James McSorley, OMI and Rev. Robert Sullivan, OMI. The Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws were approved on February 2, 1949. The following school year 1949-1950, a fourth year program was opened with a total enrollment of 264. In March 1950, the first high school graduation was held and Leticia Evengelista, now an RVM Sister, was the valedictorian.
In 1951, Bishop Mongeau requested the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) open an elementary school in Kidapawan, assented to by Rev. M. Ma. Andrea Montejo, RVM, Superior General. In 1951, the RVM Sisters came to Kidapawan and took charge of the school, naming it Our Lady Mediatrix in honor of the Patroness of the Parish in Kidapawan.
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