Experiences in the public school, awareness of the felt needs of the community residence, and the growing desire to reach out more gave birth to the concept of putting up a kindergarten school in Rosario, Batangas - the hometown of the spouses Architect Magtanggol C. Calderon and Mrs. Araceli Calderon nee Agoncillo, the school administrator and director.
With the consciousness to serve the community through a Learning Institution, the construction of the first school building in G. Recto Street, begun on April 10, 1984. Despite the fact that the rest of the family members were reluctant and withdrawn, overtly opposing to the idea, the construction went through. Nevertheless, the formidable challenges were overcome, through the lending hands of the couple's immediate families and friends.
The first year of the school saw only one teacher, Teacher Cely herself, and the two nieces as teacher aides - Mrs. Editha Aquino and Mrs. Jocelyn Morada nee Mendoza. In the morning of July 10, 1984, the first Parents' Conference took place, it was followed by the school blessing in the afternoon. Came March 1985 when the first commencement exercises were held, the pioneer group of 75 pupils were very much applauded and commended. It was also on this occasion that the opening of the levels 1 and it was formally announced.
In the second year, two fresh graduates from St. Bridget's College were accepted: Mrs. Janet Mosca nee Ilagan, and Mrs. Marissa Magbuhat nee Evangelio. The subsequent years saw the increase in enrollment rate. The growing number of faculty and students testified to the growth of the new school. As such, the administration deemed it proper to transfer to a bigger place where a bigger populace could be accommodated. Since then, the school stood on the grounds of J. Belen Street, the place where the first batch of Grade Six students graduated in 1990 and the pioneer group in 1991. This is an account of the early years of the Sto. Niño Formation School.
In consonance with the continuous learning processes, and true to its objective of providing quality education, secondary education was offered in 1995 in the bounds of the Science Curriculum supplemented by co-curricular and extra curricular activities. Henceforth, the school came to be known as the Sto. Niño Formation and Science School.
It was in the year 1999 when the school celebrated its 15th Foundation Anniversary and when the graduation rites of the pioneer group of the secondary level took place. The same year marked academic triumph as manifested by the NEAT and NSAT results. (The NEAT RECORD registered 100% passing and has maintained very high scores, the lowest of which was 83% and the highest was 97%. While the NSAT had 97% for the highest score and the lowest at 84%). SNFSS was even included in the list of top 100 schools in NSAT National Level, in the years 2001 and 2002, where it ranked 73rd and 25th respectively.
On the 23rd year of the school, June 2006 marked a very significant legacy in the town of Rosario. The genuine commitment to serve the community and to reach the underprivileged paved the way to offer the HIGH SCHOOL - NIGHT CLASS. The seventeen pioneer students and the one hundred forty one benefited by the program for cultivating the MINDS, tendering the HEARTS and most of all, one being transfiguring LIVES.
As of this date, the school continuously takes pride in bringing honor and prestige not only to the town of Rosario, but to the whole province of Batangas. Truly, the academic community lives up to the SNFSS ideals and aspirations offering all achievements to His Holy Name and Glory.
Ever committed in undertaking the vision and mission, the school professes to operate, in the spirit of love, whose end products bear the Sto. Niño Culture - a culture of excellence.......... And that's for 25 years.
Source: Write-up authorised by School Director Araceli Agoncillo Calderon and presented by Student Services Officer Marissa Evangelio Magbuhat to this blogger on November 19, 2007.
