HISTORY
De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ) is a member of De La Salle Philippines’ (DLSP) network of 16 Lasallian schools in the country and that of the greater Lasallian East Asia District (LEAD), the newly restructured juridical and canonical Province of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in the Pacific Asia Region. Inaugurated on May 15, 2011, with Br. Edmundo Fernandez, FSC as the first Visitor, LEAD is composed of seven sectors or countries, namely, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
DLSZ was established on March 29, 1978, to meet the objective of moving the elementary department of De La Salle University-Manila to a more conducive and suitable learning environment with a high school department to assure grade school graduates of placement for secondary education. The school opened in June 1978 initially with Prep to Grade 6 levels. With the addition of Grade 7 the following year, the Grade School Department became fully operational in June 1979. In June 1980, the High School Department opened with four freshmen classes and became fully operational in June 1983. Since then, DLSZ has been producing outstanding Lasallians who are responsible citizens in the service of church and country. Located at the heart of Ayala Alabang Village, DLSZ answers the educational needs of southern Metro Manila for quality comprehensive basic education.
The first De La Salle School in the Philippines was opened on June 16, 1911 in General Luna, Paco, Manila at the request of the then Archbishop of Manila. In 1921, the school was moved to its present site on Taft Avenue. The Brothers have since opened schools in Alabang, Muntinlupa City; Antipolo, Rizal; Bagac, Bataan; Malabon; Greenhills, Mandaluyong City; Biñan, Laguna; Dasmariñas, Cavite; Lipa, Batangas; Bacolod, Negros Occidental; Iligan, Lanao del Norte; Ozamis, Misamis Occidental; and Bislig, Surigao del Norte.
The main purpose of every Christian school according to St. John Baptist De La Salle is to rear children in accordance with the teachings of Christ as found in the gospel. Thus, DLSZ, as an academic community, fosters not only academic excellence but also the spiritual and moral maturity of the individual.
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
De La Salle Santiago Zobel School is a dynamic learning community that promotes the attainment of developmental and holistic learning. As a Catholic school, it draws inspiration from the ideals and teachings of St. John Baptist de la Salle. It participates in the ministry of evangelization of the Church and social transformation. In this regard, it enables the learner to realize the gift of salvation of Christ, the need to become accepting of others, and to grow as a socially responsible individual.
The DLSZ Curriculum is designed towards the formation of the whole person in a continually changing environment. It fosters academic excellence as well as emotional, social, physical, moral, and spiritual development of the person. It makes use of integrative and holistic approaches to help the students relate their learning with life’s experiences. As such, the curriculum equips the learners with essential skills and values to competently deal with the socio-political, cultural, economic, and religious conditions of a society venturing into a growing global community with its fast-paced technology.
As a Catholic school with an integrated curriculum and through the creation of a learner-centered environment, the school engenders learners who are reflective, creative, critical, and resourceful problem solvers. Through his/her interaction with the learning environment, the young Lasallian develops his/her physical, intellectual, social, emotional, moral, and spiritual dimensions. In the process of learning, he/she becomes an active participant in his/ her own total formation.
DLSZ educators possess the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes to effectively facilitate learning among the students. Grounded on a thorough understanding of their specialization, the educators are also lifelong learners, constantly retooling themselves and exploring various strategies for the development of their students and themselves, as learners and persons.
Our other stakeholders – the parents, alumni, partner organizations and communities, and external benefactors – provide healthy and enriching interactions and environments that assist the school in its task of forming Lasallians who are to become men and women of integrity with a strong sense of purpose in life and a firm conviction to serve and live a moral Catholic Filipino Christian life.
The De La Salle Santiago Zobel Grade School and High School Departments are committed to providing students with a strong foundation for elementary, high school education and post-secondary life and learning as they strive to lead the learners to: 1) fully understand and perform their Christian and social responsibilities; 2) gain meaningful self-realization through the balanced development of their mental, spiritual, psychological and physical capabilities; 3) develop and foster harmonious human relationships; 4) contribute to national goals according to their age and abilities.
The Grade School Department is divided into the Lower Grades and the Upper Grades. Pre-Kinder to Grade 2 pupils belong to the Lower Grades while Grade 3 to 6 pupils are part of the Upper Grades.
Thus, the Grade School (GS) curriculum is structured into 12 learning areas, namely: Language, Reading, Filipino, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Christian Living, Music, Art, Physical Education and Health, Computer Technology, and Home Economics and Livelihood Education. Whereas, the High School Curriculum is composed of 10 subjects, namely: English, Filipino, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Christian Living, Music, Art, PE and Health, and Technology and Livelihood Education.
The High School fully subscribes to the K to 12 Curriculum and complies with the requirements of progressivist and constructivist education. The Junior High School, Grades 7 to 10, will be in the Alabang Campus while the Senior High School, Grades 11 and 12, will be in the Vermosa Campus in Imus, Cavite. Since Academic Year 2018-2019, the SHS Vermosa Campus offers the ABM, HUMSS, and the STEM strands of the Academic Track and the Arts and Design Track, with a focus on Visual Arts. The High School Curriculum is enhanced and is aligned with the DLSZ Vision Mission, the Lasallian Guiding Principles for Educational Experiences, blended learning goals, 21st century learning skills, and the Philippine Catholic Schools Standards.
VISION AND MISSION
De La Salle Santiago Zobel School is an educational community of De La Salle Philippines and the worldwide system of Catholic institutions founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle committed to the formation of youth. DLSZ aims to form Lasallian Achievers for God and Country who live the Gospel values in the light of the Lasallian tradition of the guiding principles of faith (religio), zeal for service (mores), and communion in mission (cultura).
The community is committed to the pursuit of Lasallian excellence through a world-class learner-centered environment that promotes relevant and progressive learning through a holistic formation that would lead to the transformation of society.