Caritas Don Bosco School

The Caritas Don Bosco School (CDBS, Don Bosco- Caritas or Caritas; Filipino: Paaralan ng Caritas Don Bosco) is a Catholic co-education institution located in Binan City, Laguna, Philippines. It is overseen and handled by the Sisters of Charity of Jesus, abbreviated as SCG. Caritas Don Bosco School offers pre-school, elementary, and high school education.

History

The congregation of the Heart of Jesus was founded by Italian priests belonging to the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1937 in Miyazaki, Japan. The founder, Fr. Antonio Cavoli,SDB and co-founder, Fr. Vincent Cimatti,SDB named the congregation "Caritas" because it started with the love and concern for the poor people. The love and self-sacrificing work of the Caritas sisters for the abandoned won the hearts of many non-Catholics and led them to God. The small seed blossomed into a fruitful tree that has spread its missionary presence in 11 countries with around 500 Japanese sisters and 500 Koreans.

It was in 1992 that their founder, Fr. Antonio Cavoli's dream was realized. The first work offered to them was to set up a school in response to the growing needs of the new community in Laguna Technopark (Philippines). The Salesian community offered them the parcel of land situated at the junction of Sta. Rosa and Biñan, Laguna. Since the donated land was still bare, the homeowners of Sta. Rosa Village, a village within the vicinity, offered their Multi-Purpose Hall to be the temporary learning site. As a result, a co-educational school was established in 1994. In spite of the inconvenience of incomplete facilities, with the help of the parents and people in the village, the school had a good start. CDBS had a very humble beginnings consisting of 21 pre-schoolers and three Caritas sisters together with two lay teachers. Today, the CDBS family has grown with more than 1,000 in student population and more than a hundred faculty and staff. The Japanese sisters (SCG sisters) are very proud that they were able to put up with the expectations of the Filipinos. They now have eight-) buildings and a chapel named Stella Maris. All these are for the holistic formation of their students.

Grade School Department

The Grade School Department, which is headed by Mr. Mark Sinorjo, holds the largest department of the school in terms of students population. It consists of Preschool to Grade 6 pupils. The St. Joseph's Building houses the elementary classrooms. It is a three-storey building designed with ramps in order to provide easy access from students going up and going down the floors.

High School Department

The High School Department is headed by Ms. Anna Lyn B. Andres (Academics) and Mrs. Carol N. Roa (Student Affairs). The Sacred Heart of Jesus Building houses the High School Department. It consists of two floors and ramps are also present for easy access.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Building--- High School Building

The following are the subject areas that form part of the high school curriculum:

• English
• Araling Panlipunan (AP)
• Christian Living and Values Educations(CLVE)
• Filipino
• Math
• Music
• Drafting
• TLE / Robotics
• Information Technology
• Music, Arts, Physical Educ.,Health
• Integrated Science

Athletics

Caritas Don Bosco School is part of the Don Bosco Athletic Association (DBAA), wherein its other members are the different Don Bosco Schools in the Philippines. Its mascot is Grigio the Greywolf. Hence, called Caritas Greywolves or Don Bosco Greywolves.

CDBS Gymnasium

Chapel

Since the CDBS in a Catholic School, it houses its boat-shaped chapel called the Stella Maris Chapel. It is a two-storey chapel inspired by Noah's Ark. It is open to anyone who wish to spend time with God. Most of the masses are usually held here. While departmental masses which happens every first Friday of the month takes place in the school gymnasium to accommodate larger number of students.

Stella Maris Chapel

Alma Mater Hymn

"Caritas Don Bosco School Hymn"
Refrain:
Hail CDBS alma mater dear!
Hail CDBS our joyful voices hear!
Hail CDBS alma mater dear
Our joyful voices hear!

1. Your sons and daughters stand
Lift up your banner high
Witness to Don Bosco's work
Moving to a new horizon(Refrain)

2. Caritas Don Bosco School
Servant of truth, Light of Christ's love
Bearer of youth's dream
You're a shelter to those in need
To you we pay our gratitude(Refrain)

3. We serve to bring you glory
And your name we save until we die
Hail to our alma mater Caritas(Refrain, 1st Stanza)
Coda:
Witness to Don Bosco's work
Moving to a new horizon

References