Santa Barbara Catholic School Turns 62!

Principal Sister Jeanette Marie Pangelinan, explains to the students the significance of September 5 in the school’s history. On September 5, 1950, Santa Barbara School opened its doors to 150 students from Kinder to Grade Four.

Santa Barbara Catholic School celebrated its 62nd Foundation Day last September 5, 2012 with a simple but meaningful prayer service in the school’s Petrie Gymnasium. During the school assembly, a historical video chronicling the humble beginnings of Santa Barbara School (as it was called then), to its present successful status as one of the finest Catholic schools on the island, was shown and explained to the student body. Principal, Sr. Jeanette Marie Pangelinan, paid tribute to Fr. Fulgence Petrie, founder of Santa Barbara School, Sr. Redempta Thomas, RSM, first principal, the Sisters of Mercy who have administered the school since its foundation, the past and present teachers, the parents, and the thousands of students who have received their education in the school. Three alumni of Santa Barbara who are currently teaching at SBCS also shared their thoughts and wonderful memories of having gone through the portals of the school. They were: Mrs. Cecilia Padios (Class of ’78); Mrs. Barbara Gonzales, (Class of ’87) and Mrs. Jenice Cabe ( Class of ’92). At the end of the assembly, the whole school community proudly sang the Alma Mater song, “Dear Santa Barbara, Hail O Hail to thee. Spread the fame of your sweet name, Hail!, O Hail! to Thee.”

Santa Barbara alumni and now Santa Barbara faculty members, L-R: Mrs. Jenice Cabe, Mrs. Cecilia Padios, and Mrs. Barbara Gonzales, share wonderful memories about their years of study in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara students proudly sing the Alma Mater Song at the end of the prayer service.