De La Salle Santiago Zobel School
The De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, also referred to by its acronym DLSZ or De La Salle Zobel, is a private Catholic basic education institution for boys and girls run by the Philippine District of the De La Salle Brothers in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, Philippines. It was opened in 1978 by the De La Salle Brothers because of the increasing number of students in the grade school department of the former De La Salle College in Manila.
Background
The first De La Salle School in the Philippines, De La Salle College was opened on June 16, 1911, on Calle Nozaleda in Paco, Manila, at the request of the Archbishop of Manila, Jeremiah James Harty to the Brothers of the Christian Schools. It is interesting to note that Archbishop Harty had a very close affinity to La Salle since he was educated in his elementary and high school years in the U.S. in De La Salle Christian Brother-run schools. In 1921, the school moved to its present site on Taft Avenue and the De La Salle Brothers have since opened schools in Green Hills, Mandaluyong; Antipolo, Rizal; Lipa City, Batangas; two schools in Bacolod; Iligan City, Lanao del Norte; two schools in Dasmariñas, Cavite, and the De La Salle–Santiago Zobel School in Alabang, Muntinlupa.History
De La Salle–Santiago Zobel School, a member-school of De La Salle Philippines, Inc., was established on March 29, 1978, after it was decided that the elementary department of De La Salle College be moved to a location that is more suitable and conducive to learning. A high school department was also formed to assure the graduates of Zobel's elementary department of placement in secondary education.The school is located in Muntinlupa's Ayala Alabang Village and was made possible through a joint donation of part of the campus's eleven hectare lot donated by the Ayala Corporation and the Madrigal Family, with the rest of the lot acquired through financing provided by the Filipinas Life Assurance Company. The school's location in Southern Metro Manila also helps in achieving the government's goal of dispersing educational institutions over the Metro, as well as the goal of the Brothers in the Philippines of making their resources available to as many communities as possible.
De La Salle Zobel opened in June 1978 with an initial offering of Prep to Grade Six Levels. The Grade School Department became fully operational when Grade 7 was added in June 1979 and in June 1980, the High School Department opened, initially without Freshman classes. It became fully operational in June 1983. Br. Raymond Bronowicz FSC, then the Vice-President for Administration of De La Salle University, was appointed as Zobel's first director.
Departments
The management of Zobel is divided into seven departments, all reporting directly to the President, Br. Bernard Oca FSC. These are the High School Department, the Grade School Department, the Academic Services Department, the Administrative Services Department, the Lasallian Formation and Mission Department, the Human Resource Management and Development Department, the Finance Department, and the Br. Rafael Donato FSC Night High School Department. The Quality Assurance and Management Office directly under the President is a sub-group composed of the Internal Auditor, the Compliance Officer, the Project Management Officer, and the Strategic Planning Officer. The school's Technological and Vocational School is a sub-group under the BRafeNHS Principal.Academics
Two main departments make up the academic structure of Zobel, the Grade School and High School Departments. The Grade School curriculum is structured into six learning areas: Mathematics, Science, Language, Reading, Filipino, and MAKABAYAN, the component subjects of which are Christian Living, Social Studies, Computer Science, Music and Art, Physical Education, and Home Economics and Livelihood Education.The High School curriculum, on the other hand, is composed of ten subject areas, which are: Christian Living, English, Araling Panlipunan, Filipino, Science, Math, Music and Art, Physical Education, and Technology and Home Economics.
The school also encourages its students to participate in academic contests, which serve as enrichment opportunities. Zobel has been a consistent top performer in academic contests such the Metrobank-Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines-Department of Education Math Challenge, the Discovery Channel Whiz Quiz Contest, numerous De La Salle University Contests, and the Inter-school Computer Science QuizBits Contest of the Philippine Science High School, among others.
Performing arts
With the thrust of supporting the holistic development of students, Zobel further developed the intellect and artistry of its students with the establishment of the Angelo King Center for the Performing Arts in 2000, which is housed in the school's Center for the Performing Arts Building. Since its establishment, the Center has organized yearly Performing Arts Festivals which have showcased the different performing arts groups of the school. These groups include the DLSZ Symphony Orchestra, the DLSZ Strings, the DLSZ Band, the DLSZ Chorale, the Rondalla Ensemble and in addition, the Center continues to hold yearly productions of hit musicals, a tradition started during the early years of Zobel.It has also hosted a number of performing groups from De La Salle University such as the DLSU Pops Orchestra, the DLSU Chorale, and the Chamber Ensemble. Activities, which have been organized at the Center, have been facilitated by highly acclaimed organizations including the UP Theater Arts, CenterStage, Ballet Philippines, Philippine Madrigal Singers, Philippine Ballet Theatre, and the Royal Academy of Dance. In 2002, the Center for Performing Arts was on national television weekly venue-hosting GMA7's popular quiz show, LG Quiz. In 2003, Don Randi, an American jazz musician held a jazz and fusion clinic and concert at the Center.
In 2004, recognizing the role of the Center in promoting culture and the arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines officially designated DLSZ Center for Performing Arts as the "CCP of the South." A marker bearing such recognition was unveiled at the lobby of the Center by then CCP President Nestor Jardin, DLSZ's Br. Jaime Dalumpines, FSC, DSLZ-DIPS Director Amanda Boyles, and the head of the Center, Albert Madrigal.
In 2009,
Athletics
Zobel's varsity team, the De La Salle Junior Archers, is De La Salle University-Manila's junior representative to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines while its women's team, the Lady Junior Archers, is De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's representative to the Women's National Collegiate Athletic Association. During UAAP Season 68, the Junior Archers won its first UAAP Basketball title when it swept the UPIS Junior Maroons, 2–0. It was also La Salle's first Junior's Basketball title in either the NCAA or the UAAP since the De La Salle Greenies of De La Salle College High School won the championship in the NCAA in 1955 which was captained by La Salle Basketball Hall-of-Famer Kurt Bachmann. The De La Salle Lady Junior Archers, on the other hand, have been the WNCAA Junior Division Champions for eight straight years, from 1993 to 2000 and again in 2004. Zobel's varsity team for Football on the other hand wins many tournaments and leagues.Learning Resource Center
The school currently has 3 Learning Resource Centers, one each for the Prep Level, the Grade School Department, and the High School Department, that provide both conventional print and non-print materials to the school community. In addition to these Centers, the school also maintains an Archives unit that is also under Learning Resource Center; the Archives is located at the St. La Salle Building.The Jacobo Santiago Zobel Memorial Library is the school's primary library and serves the High School Department. The library has two main sections, print and non-print. In 2005, it served 1,128 students, 89 faculty members, 13 administrators, and 82 co-academic personnel.
The Antonio Montemayor Anievas Library serves the Grade School Department and is located just across the Santiago Zobel Memorial Library. It is the second biggest library on campus and has organized various programs, which serve to inculcate the love of reading for the Grade School students such as the Book Lovers and Catch Them Read Programs.
Division 1 Library
The Division 1 Library serves the Prep levels as well as Grades 1 through 3 of the school. It is located in the St. Br. Miguel Hall and is the newest library on campus. This library was first housed at the Prep Building, which has since been demolished and replaced by the Br. V. Felix Masson and Br. Miguel Halls.Adult Night High School (BRAFENHS)
The Adult Night High School was opened as a form of outreach to the underprivileged who would want to finish their high school education. It was established during School Year 1997–1998 during the term of Dr. Judith Aldaba. Classes were first held at the Putatan Elementary School and were composed of 69 students in two freshman classes with ages ranging from 14 to 41. Classes were relocated to the Alabang Elementary School during the following school year. In 1999, classes were held at the main campus of De La Salle Zobel.Campus
The campus is situated on an irregularly shaped lot located at the heart of the Ayala Alabang Village. The campus's master plan was designed by the firm of architect Francisco Mañosa. In the master plan, the main objective was the creation of a unified learning environment, with the school grounds having a countryside atmosphere. In this view, alterations to the natural elements of the lot were kept at a minimum.When the school opened in 1978, there was only one building available for use, the St. La Salle Building, then called the "Main Building". At present, the campus is composed of a number of structures which have been necessitated by the burgeoning school population. The following major buildings are found on campus: