Saint James High School 4.85

Saint James High School began as an elementary parochial school, St. James Elementary School, in 1939. After a couple of years in operation, war broke out, and the school was temporarily closed. When the war was over, the parish school was reopened, this time to answer the town's felt need for a secondary school, so that in 1948, the elementary school became St. James High School.

St. James High School is named after the town's patron saint – St. James the Great. It started as an elementary parochial school in 1939. After a couple of years in operation, war broke out and the school was temporarily closed. When the war was over, the parish school was reopened, this time to answer the town's felt need for a secondary school. By 1947, the school opened its doors to high school students and came out with its first batch of graduates in 1950.

It was largely through the efforts of Fr. John Ruyter of the Missionary of the Sacred Heart Congregation that the primary school was founded and through the efforts of Fr. Adriano Steejer, MSC, the high school. For the first five years of its operation, the principalship was held by Mr. Jose D. Cuyos with Fr. Martin Weistende, MSC, as the director. After Mr. Cuyos, the RVM sisters managed the school with Sr. Sofia Alaan as the principal.

When the sisters left after five years, the running of the day to day school activities was given to Mr. Nestorio Cloribel as the principal, with Fr. Mateo Van Santvoord, Fr. Jose Van den Berg and Fr. Andres Gysberts as directors – during the years of his incumbency as principal – 1956–1971. In 1971, there was a change of principal, with Fr. Andres Gysberts still as the director and Mrs. Necita Radaza-Lim principal. In 1976 the Filipinization Act was passed banning foreign nationals to run schools and business. Thus in June 1976 Mrs Necita R. Lim was appointed Directress by Bishop Carmelo Morelos D.D. while at the same time serving still as Principal of the school up to her retirement in 2005. On June 2005, Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos appointed a new Director in the person of Rev. Fr. Loven E. Tutas, the young and energetic parish priest of Buenavista and an alumnus of St. James High School and a native of Buenavista. On June 2006, Ms. Aida K. Kuizon was appointed by the Bishop as the new principal upon the recommendation of the new parish priest.

From a modest building of light materials, to its present concrete one, St. James High School has come a long way. It is now the proud alma mater of the countless professionals, town officials, and respected leaders and members of the community of Buenavista and its surrounding barangays.

It can now boast of its complete school plant – laboratories, mini-gym, canteen and students study court. After the painting of the school in 2002, with fund source coming from alumni and parents, the school is now working for its PAASCU accreditation. It is hoped that the parents, alumni, teachers and students will cooperate in this venture which will be their source of pride in the future. The school is very grateful to its founding fathers – the MSC priests namely: Fr. John Ruyter, Fr. Adriano Steejer, Fr. Martin Weistende, Fr. Mateo Van Santvoord, Fr. Jose Van den Berg, Fr. Andres Gysberts.

They all have the welfare of the school at heart, from providing material help, to the spiritual and moral shaping of the students, teachers and the community of Buenavista who send their children to St. James High School and believe in the capabilities of the faculty in giving their children the best secondary education.