Saint Jude Catholic School (Manila)


Saint Jude Catholic School , is a Roman Catholic private school located in the district of San Miguel in Manila, Philippines, adjacent to Malacañang Palace. It offers trilingual education in English, Chinese, and Filipino. The coeducational school, run by the Society of the Divine Word, teaches Nursery, Preparatory, Elementary, Junior High School and Pre-University: Senior High School and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It is the oldest of the two Judenite institutions in the country. The school draws inspiration from the life and works of the institution's patron saint, Saint Jude Thaddeus. The school was founded by Chinese priests, Rev. Fr. Peter Yang, SVD and Msgr. Peter Tsao, SVD and later joined by Msgr. Tchou who died on November 7, 2008.

Vision and Mission

Vision

A leading Chinese-Filipino Catholic school, Witnessing to the Word in the World, preparing students for life through Christ – centered education and integral human development for social transformation, under the patronage of Saint Jude Thaddeus.

Mission

As a SCHOOL, we are committed to provide quality and relevant education that promotes discipline, humane values, holistic development, service and excellence.
As a CATHOLIC SCHOOL, we are committed to be rooted on gospel values
As a CHINESE-FILIPINO SCHOOL, we take pride in our unique cultural heritage to become responsible citizens of the world.
As a SCHOOL OF THE SOCIETY OF THE DIVINE WORD, we live out prophetic dialogue and proclaim the Kingdom of God's love.

Campus

The Saint Jude Catholic School campus in the district of San Miguel in Manila is composed of four buildings on a lot. These include the Prep School Building, the S.J. Building, the Fr. Peter Yang Building and the new Fu Shen Fu Building. The National Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus is located within the school's campus.
Sports facilities on campus include a basketball stadium, badminton and volleyball courts, covered courts, ping-pong tables and a gym. The basketball stadium has a seating capability of 1,200 people and a regular-sized court that can be used for sporting events, and other activities. The new Fu Shen Fu Building was finished on December 2006. It houses a volleyball court and three badminton courts, a fully air-conditioned chapel, three computer labs, a dance practice facility, and also includes the residences of the priests/principals.

History

Saint Jude Catholic School was opened in July 1963 by Fr. Peter Yang, SVD, to reach out to the Chinese community of Manila and shepherd them into God's fold. Its early years saw an enrollment of 192 boys and girls in the preschool and first grade levels taught by nine teachers: Ms. Rosa Chua, Ms. Josefina Uy, Ms. Angelina Onglatco, Ms. Rogracia Sunga, Ms. Corazon Sevilla, Ms. Amelita Simon and others.

Academics

Admission

Admission to Saint Jude Catholic School is competitive. All students enter Saint Jude as nursery students. The acceptance rate is around 12%. Transfer students are accepted, but are required to undergo an entrance examination.

Pre-University Programs

Saint Jude Catholic School offers two pre-univesity programs: Senior High School and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Senior High School Education

Saint Jude Catholic School offers Senior High School education. They offer academic strands such as ABM, STEM specialized in Engineering, STEM specialized in Biology, and HUMSS.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Saint Jude Catholic School is an IB World School and offers the Diploma Programme.

Activities

Saint Jude Catholic School activity groups include Christian Communities, Student Governments, Performance Groups, Publications, and Sport teams. Saint Jude also has the only Drum, Bugle and Marimba Corps in all the Filipino-Chinese Schools. The students can join Citizens Army Training and the Saint Jude Scouting Movement.

Sportsfest

Sportsfest is an activity wherein high school students compete in sports and cheering. Usually occurring after the third quarter periodical exams, some of the sports that can be joined are badminton, ping-pong, chess, swimming, volleyball, etc. Each sport is divided into Division A and Division B, with varsity members joining the former and barred from the latter for equality's sake.

Sports

The school offers athletics programs for members of its community.
Every year, the SJ alumni compete in sport tournaments. Everyone, including the public, may use Saint Jude's sports facilities upon obtaining permission to do so from the school.

Basketball

The SJCS Basketball Team competes in different basketball league such as the MMTLBA: FCAAF; MSSA; MASA; FCABL and the most anticipated PCYAA also known as the Ching Yuen.

Badminton

The Saint Jude Badminton team has been the three-time defending champions of the Metropolitan Amateur Sports Association.

Swimming

The Saint Jude swimming team is the Green Mariners. The Green Mariners have expanded their team to a club, the Manila Torpedoes. The Manila Torpedoes Club competed with tougher swimming teams around NCR and the other regions; the team garnered many awards and championships in the duration of its existence as a team.

Taekwondo

The school has a Taekwondo team that first competed on in 2008 in Milo Little Olympics, but lost. In 2008, also in Milo Little Olympics, three people competed and two won with one silver medal and a bronze medal. They also joined a Hwoarang-Do competition where everyone got a medal.
In the 2009 Milo Little Olympics, the school won three bronze medals. They joined the 41st WNCAA in 2011 and won 2 gold medals and 1 silver.

Cheering

The Saint Jude Cheering Squadron are the five-time defending champions of the Tiong Lian Cheering Competition. The Seniors Cheering Squad has represented the school every year.

Volleyball

The volleyball team of the High School Boys Division has joined many competitions mainly Milo Little Olympics, MASA, and the Chinese Federation.

Football

The school has two teams, the girls' team and the boys' team. The boys team is categorized by age and department. The U15 team have won multiple competitions and they attained a silver in the 75th WNCAA held in 2016. The girls' team is new and is currently recruiting.

Notable alumni