Disclaimer: CTTO from the original post https://rooseveltcollegesanmateo.weebly.com/history.html
Roosevelt College San Mateo (formerly known as Dona Aurora High School) , is conveniently located in San Mateo town proper, behind Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu Church.
RC San Mateo traces its establishments in 1949 in a rented Spanish building across the public market in barrio Guitnangbayan. It was envisioned by Mr. Irineo M. Cruz and was concurred in by Mr. Deogracias dela Paz, President of Roosevelt Memorial High School. Its beginnings had the able support of the late former San Mateo Mayor Esteban Florencio, his municipal secretary Seven no Alvarez and Mr. Cerefino Torres, a former Principal of SMES and two able lawyers, Atty. Bartolome de Vera and Atty. Sixto Natividad.
Atty. Natividad was designated the first director with 63 pioneer students. In 1950, the name of the school was changed to Dona Aurora High School in memory of the late Dona Aurora Quezon, a former first lady, who was a social worker and an educator. DAHS directorship was first signed to Mr. Ricardo S. Cruz, a board member and a native of San Juan Rizal. A year after, Mr. Luis P. Guevarra succeeded Mr. Cruz. He served the longest from 1951 – 1973. He saw the transformation of the community and the growth of DAHS, thus, paving the way for its new site behind the Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu Church in 1954. Mr. Guevarra was succeeded by Miss Zenaida S. Soriano who knew the mission for which the school was established. In 1980, Mr. Cresencio T. De Asis succeeded Miss Soriano. Under his leadership, the schools population grew and additional facilities were constructed. In 1984, a reorganization of the schools structure was made by Mr. Romeo P. Dela Paz, President of Roosevelt College System. It necessitates the transfer of Ms. Soriano back to DAHS as directress. School Year 1993 – 1994 marked the transfer of Mrs. Emcarnacion who opted to retire from the active service.
With Mrs. Bernardo at the helm, the school move on to accomplish Roosevelt College System’s continuing mission and vision, that is, Quality Education.
Miss Lourdes B. Quioge, upon assuming directorship in SY 1995 – 1996, carried on the continuing mission and vision of RCS, this time, “Quality Education: Our response to sustainable Development.”
School year 1993 – 1999 gave birth to Roosevelt College San Mateo, a new name given to Dona Aurora High School, for the school to be recognized as part of its Mother system, the Roosevelt College System. This new name was made through the consensus of the Board of Trustees and with approval of its Alumni. The school still carries its continuing mission and vision, this time through the new director Dr. Rosalina q. Parra. In year 2000, dr. Rozalina Lorlyn R. Travina replaced Dr. Parra, as directress of the school when the latter resigned, Mrs. Clarita S. Zantua replaced dr. Travina in year 2002 ad acted as school director up to 2009.
Over the years, the school has undergone massive infrastructure improvement. With the demolition of the old building, the campus can now take pride of its open and spacious area for sports, social and extracurricular activities. It also provides a new vista seemingly ushering a new era for Roosevelt College San Mateo.
It has also undergone academic changes and developments. Facilities were purchased and updated upgraded to enhance the teaching-learning processes. Cunicular offerings were attuned to the demands of the times to make it more relevant and will make graduates globally competitive. The delivery of the knowledge and skills requires the teacher undergo training to cope with changes in technology and relevant updates in all subjects.
Educational computing, better known as computer education is a success to Roosevelt College, if one measures the extent of the syllabi which includes internet lesson; MS Access, Basic and Advanced Multimedia workshop, Advanced PowerPoint, Networking, and Turbo Pascal programming.
Offering trigonometry and calculus as required subjects enhance teaching of Mathematical concepts in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year levels is something Roosevelt College is very proud of. Such is computer based teaching or CBT. Likewise, Science and English courses have made use of computers in the teaching learning process. This is known as computer aided instruction or CAT.
The first of its kind in the municipality of San Mateo is the speech laboratory, which the school recently acquired. The Teachers in English were trained to make use of this facility to produce students with a culture of good spoken English. The Science laboratory has been modernized as part of the ongoing improvement of facilities of Relevancy.
Student activities in the form of contests, debates, expositions, and plays were organized to further the development of cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills. Hand in hand with these skills is the inculcation of positive values for character formation. It is this schools strong belief that knowledge and skills without a strong foundation of values will produce half baked individuals. Hence, the inculcation, formation and clarification of values are incorporated in all subjects.
In School Year 2009- 2010, Mrs. Norita L. Lachenal, former SIMSDO Suprevisor of Mathematics, was promoted as Directress of the school vice Mrs. Zantua who was transferred to RC Cubao. This School year also marked the 60th Foundation Day Anniversary of Roosevelt College San Mateo.