HISTORY of AdDU-HS

The Ateneo de Davao is one of the nine schools in the Philippines owned and run by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). The school tradition of total, harmonious formation and personal, academic excellence, product of over four centuries of educational experience of the Society since the establishment of the College of Messina in October 1548, is St. Ignatius' legacy to the religious family he founded in 1540.

At the request of the Most Rev. Luis del Rosario, S.J., Bishop of Zamboanga, the Jesuit Fathers, under the leadership of Fr. Theodore E. Daigler, S.J., took over the St. Peter's Parochial School and renamed it the Ateneo de Davao.

In June 1948 the Ateneo de Davao opened on a six-hectare piece of property in Matina with 71 grades 5 and 6 elementary students and 131 first, second, and third year high school students. The first high school graduation was held in March of 1950.

In 1951 the Jacinto campus was obtained through the generous support of the Most Rev. Clovis Thibault, P.M.E., Prelate of Davao. In July that same year, the college department opened with 130 students. The course offerings were: Liberal Arts, Commerce, Education, Associate in Arts, Pre-Law, Secretarial, Teacher's Certificate.

The grade school moved to the Jacinto campus in 1951 and returned to the Matina campus in 1962. The high school moved to the Jacinto campus in 1962 and returned to the Matina campus upon completion of a two-wing, three-storey building in 1967. The high school turned co-educational in 1977 with 28 girls accepted into the freshman year. In 1977, the Ateneo de Davao gained University status with Fr. Emeterio J. Barcelon, S.J. as its first University President. In 1988, Mrs. Katie B. Delima became the first lay Principal of the high school.

In its ardent desire to ensure quality education, Ateneo de Davao went through an accreditation process by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU). The college was first accredited in 1969, the grade school in 1974 (the first PAASCU accredited elementary school in the Visayas and Mindanao), and the high school in 1975. It attained reaccreditation in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1997 and 2002.

The increasing number of student population in both the grade school and the high school prompted Central Administration to build a five-story high school complex in what used to be the school's backfield. The high school transferred to the new building in June of 1996; its formal inauguration, however, was held the following year on March 12, 1997. The Administration Wing houses the different administrative offices, Instructional Media Center, St. John Berchmans' Chapel, school clinic, and the Student Development Center. The old high school building of 1967 was turned over to the grade school.

The school year 1999 saw the creation of an integrated program of basic education from preschool to high school. To this end, Fr. Edmundo M. Martinez, S.J., University President, appointed Fr. Oscar A. Millar, S.J., Vice President for Formation and Basic Education, and Mrs. Suzette D. Ali?o, Director of Basic Education and concurrent grade school Headmaster and Mrs. Gloria G. Dolar high school Principal.

In 2001, Fr. E. Martinez, S.J., University President, initiated changes in the administrative structure with the abolition of the office of Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs to make sure that the academic leadership becomes the prime responsibility of the Unit Head. The Principal, then, had a direct hand in all matters involving faculty and academics. To help the Unit Head in this task, the positions of Executive Assistant to the Principal and the Year Level Heads were created. In addition, the Committee on Instruction was formed to assist the Principal in upgrading the quality of classroom instruction through class observations/visitations. The position of Assistant Principal for Formation was created to help oversee the activities and processes aimed at the total formation of students - their attitudes, values, behavior, and character. The creation of the Formation Cluster (composed of SDC, CMO, CLE, Sports and Student Activities) was designed to continue and intensify the Jesuit ideals of formation and tradition of excellence.

In school years 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, the high school added more computers for the I.T. program, upgraded the Mathematics curriculum and a consultant assisted in the training of the teachers. It was in 1999 that the high school served as the locus for the Regional Science Training Center (RSTC), the Reorientation of Instruction of Science Education (RISE), and the regional training for public school teachers among others.

Structural and academic reforms were made to respond to the different recommendations raised by the PAASCU Re-accreditation in February of 2002. Dr. Perla E. Funa, Dean of Arts and Sciences, became Vice President for Basic Education and concurrently, the high school Principal. Moreover, Sr. Guia Jambalos, RC was appointed as the Assistant to the President for Formation.

Towards the end of 2004, Fr. Antonio S. Samson, S.J., the second-time President of the University ushered some changes in the curriculum and in the organizational structure. The school made necessary and relevant reforms in its curricular programs beginning with Religious Education and Physical Education, Health and Music. The change in the organizational structure included the revival of the Subject Area Coordinators. In August of 2005, Fr. Irvin B. Salanio, S.J. became the OIC Principal of the high school. The duties and responsibilities of the Subject Area Coordinators and the Year Level Heads were reviewed.

With the appointment of Fr. Anthony C. Pabayo, S.J., as the Principal effective April 2006, the school embraces the three C's, namely: Character Formation, Community Building and the Challenge to be a Better Ateneo. With these thrusts, several changes were implemented. An Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs, the Sports Coordinator, the Assistant Prefect of Student Affairs, and the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Coordinator were appointed. Technology and Home Economics (T.H.E), Scouting and Citizenship Advancement Training (CAT) were revived.

Continuing efforts are undertaken to make the members of the high school community become more cognizant of their role in the formation of the youth.

Following is the list of high school Principals since its foundation in 1948:

Fr. Theodore E. Daigler, S.J.	-	1948 - 1951
Fr. John J. McKeaney, S.J.	-	1951 - 1953
Fr. Martin J. Casey, S.J.	-	1953 - 1955
Fr. J. Hudson Mitchell, S.J.	-	1955 - 1960
Fr. Thomas P. Murphy, S.J.	-	1960 - 1962
Fr. Francis L. Bowler, S.J.	-	1962 - 1965
Fr. Francis C. Dolan, S.J.	-	1965 - 1969; 1971 - 1973
Fr. Juan E. Bonafe, S.J.	-	1969 - 1971
Fr. Ernesto A. Carretero, S.J.	-	1973 - 1976
Fr. Rodolfo A. Malasmas, S.J.	-	1976 - 1982; 1985 - 1988
Fr. Enrique M. Lalana, S.J.	-	1982 - 1985
Mrs. Katie B. Delima	-	1988 - 1999
Mrs. Gloria G. Dolar	-	1999 - 2002
Dr. Perla E. Funa	-	2002 - 2005
Fr. Irvin B. Salanio, S.J.	-	2005 - 2006
Fr. Anthony C. Pabayo, S.J.	-	2006 - 2011
Fr. Micheal I. Pineda, S.J.	-	2011 - Present