St. Louis College, Sao Paulo

St. Louis College, Sao Paulo
Colégio São Luís
Location
Paulista Ave., Sao Paulo, Brazil
Information
Type Jesuit, Catholic
Established 1867 (1867)
Grades K through secondary
Gender Coeducational
Enrollment 2,500
Website SaoLuisSaoPauo

St. Louis College, Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a Catholic educational institution founded by the Jesuits in 1867. Currently it has classes from kindergarten through high school.

History

St. Louis College was the second college founded in Brazil by the Society of Jesus after the suppression. Jesuit priests founded it in Itu, Sao Paulo state, in 1867. In 1917 it was moved to São Paulo, where it is today.

In 1943, the College opened a night school at the secondary level, accommodating 500 students from public schools, many of whom required financial aid.[1] In 1948 one of the first economics schools in the city was opened, then moved to the Jesuit Centro Universitário da FEI.

In 1963 the Jesuits opened the St. Louis Church of Gonzaga, at the corner of Bela Cintra Avenue. Between the '60s and '70s, industrialization accelerated and homes were replaced by office buildings. The old college building was replaced by a high-rise building, which made room for a swimming pool, indoor gym, courts, laboratories, and a circle drive. In 1972 also the College began receiving girls, a novelty among São Paulo schools at the time.[2]

The late '90s saw the construction of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga Church next to the College,[3] along with more classrooms and the extension of classes to kindergarten.

More recently the College has followed the lead of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and implemented the Ignatian pedagogical paradigm. The enrollment of the College has risen to over 2,500 students.[4]

Activities

Family-related activities

Parent-Teacher Association brings both parents and students together to participate in a Saturday breakfast and lecture series on topics relevant to family and school life. Family School finds parents of infants and primary 1 meeting on Saturdays for play and fun with children, joined by an expert storyteller.[5]

Academics

Science Olympiad, geared to students in grades 6 through 9, addresses issues related to the environment, health, and technology. Projects can be developed during class time and medals are awarded.[6] Mathematics Olympiad rewards the ability to use creativity in solving problems. It has a 6th and 7th grade contest and another for grades 8 and 9. Criminology: simulation of a crime scene allows students to act as experts, defense lawyers, and public prosecutors. Biochemical knowledge, mathematics, and sociology are employed as science complements the search for justice in the investigation of crimes. Knowledge Olympiad within the school allows students to showcase their learning through panels and workshops, demonstrations, and works of art and dance. Medals are awarded for the best displays. Model UN is held in conjunction with St. Francis Xavier College, and organized by the students themselves. Young Scientists involves 1st and 2nd year high school students in weekly workshops in the laboratory involving electricity, hydraulics, carpentry, welding, and industrial processes. The group also visits museums and other places to observe technology in practice. Feminist Group meets weekly to discuss issues relevant to women, and another group organizes forums and debates on issues of public interest. Field trips, as to the national legislature in Brasilia, are also scheduled.[7] Jobs Forum is a three-day event in conjunction with St. Francis Xavier College, with more than 100 business professionals available to answer questions and explain the routine, difficulties, trends, and rewards of each career.

Arts

Youth Theatre Connections brings together around 500 students each year, from public and private high schools in the greater Sao Paulo area, and promotes young people's theatre. It is sponsored by Cultura Inglesa, the Brazilian British Council, the Royal National Theatre, and Célia Helena School of Arts, in seven countries around the world (Brazil, England, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Georgia. and Norway). Wanderings Festival features performances by students from the various curricular and extra-curricular dance classes, open to parents and guests.

A weekly film viewing is open to all, followed by a debate on the subject of the film and on the filming techniques used. In a contest on the topic of what kind of world we want to leave our children, those in grade 7 produce works of art to illustrate their hopes and those in grade 8 write a paper that can be argumentative or poetic. There are also regular student-organized events like musical jam sessions in schoolyards.

Pastoral office

Ignatian Week celebrates St. Ignatius of Loyola's legacy to the school with theatre, an art exhibition, a lyric concert, spiritual exercises, and other activities. Urban Mission project finds the high school students volunteering during their July holidays, often at schools, pre-school centers, or homeless shelters. These students overnight at Vila Gonzaga, a farm maintained by the College near the Anchieta highway; they receive guidance and monitoring from adults.

Sports

Sports Festival has for nearly three decades brought together more than 30 schools at Saint Louis College for futsal, football, basketball, volleyball, swimming, and handball, with teams from 6th grade to 3rd year high school.[8]

The architectural achievement of the school's sprorts facilities is showcased by its creators.[9]

Prominent Alumni

References

Coordinates: 23°33′23.67″S 46°39′38.21″W / 23.5565750°S 46.6606139°W / -23.5565750; -46.6606139

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