  St. Mary's Academy of Carmen formerly Cathedral School of Technology is a Filipino, Catholic co-educational school owned and managed by the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM).   ==History==     St. Mary's Academy of Carmen was founded in 1963 by the late Archbishop James T.J. Hayes, S.J., D.D. to answer the need for Catholic families with low income.  The first RVM community was affiliated to Lourdes College RVM Community with Mother Maria Virginia Banes, R.V.M. as the local superior. The school was named Cathedral High School, initialluy offering first year and second year with an enrollment of 498 students.   Through the generosity of Atty. Rodolfo Pelaez, the owner of Liceo de Cagayan, (now Liceo de Cagayan University)Cathedral High School was allowed to use its building from 7:30 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon. For two years the school carried the name Liceo de Cagayan High School. The school's first principal was S. Ma. Rosario Carino, R.V.M. and was succeeded by S. Ma. Diosdada Loquellano, R.V.M.  The RVM sisters were compelled to build a four-storey concrete building when the enrollment increased to 997 students from the first year to fourth year levels. The school has an area of 54, 266 sq.m., located along Villarin Street, near the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, a walking distance from J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital.  In school year 1977-1978, the school was renamed to Cathedral School of Technology with the recognition of its Two-Year Agricultural Technology Course. The short-lived Home Technology course was opened in 1979.  The prospect for expansion as a technology school was seen when the school acquired a farm lot of 36 hectares in Bulao, Iponan of this city. A one-classroom building was constructed in 1991 for the practicum of the Agricultural Technology students.A Two-year Computer Secretarial major in Office Management was offered in school year 1994-1995.  Responding to the challenge of providing quality education, the school started dreaming of having the school accredited as early as 1980. On October 30-31, 1995, a team of six members from Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) visited the school for its Preliminary Survey. The team recommended the school for formal visit which took place on October 20-21, 1997. The school was granted Level I Accreditation in April 1998.  In school year 1998-1999, LC-TVET was transferred to Cathedral School of Technology. This has allowed Cathedral School of Technology to reach out to the out-of-school youth of Cagayan de Oro City.  In September 12, 1999, Cathedral School of Technology was renamed to St. Mary's Academy of Carmen. The renaming was made in response to the RVM Congregational mandate of renaming all RVM schools to St. Mary's as an act of thanksgiving for the Jubilee Year and for stronger bonding of the forty nine RVM owned and managed schools, six RVM administered Diocesan schools and seven overseas mission formal schools.  Another formal accreditation survey was conducted in February 5-6, 2001. The school was granted Level II accreditation. The resurvey visit done in February 13-14, 2006 was successful as the school was able to maintain Level II re-accreditation status for another five years. At present the school is working for the Level III status.  The school confidently moves on in its teaching apostolate perceiving the hand of God in the different events and endeavors it undertakes. St. Mary's Academy strongly upholds the belief that Christian can provide the leadership to bear witness in their lives sound moral values and principles thus, hopes to carry out its mission in forming the total person and developing their clients' potentials in the pursuit of its mission to serve and build the Kingdom.  ==Vision and Mission== We, the community of St. Mary’s Academy, bearing the Ignacian – Marian identity, witness to the loving compassion of Jesus and participate in the transformation of society into new paths through academic excellence and humble service.  We commit ourselves to: • promote a culture of peace and responsible leadership through holistic development of persons; • pursue academic excellence through innovative programs and interactive learning activities; • live the Catholic Christian faith in the spirit of solidarity, service and charity.;    ==Organizations== Student Body: *Marian Student Government (MSG)  Religious Club: *Mother Ignacia Club (MIC) *Knights of the Altar (KOA)  Cultural: *Dance Troupe *SMA Glee Club(SMA Choir)  Co-Curricular Activities: *Homemakers and Art Lovers Club (HALC) *Young Math Wizards (YMW) *Earth Savers Club (ESC) *Samahang Filipino (SF) *English Society (ES) *Young Nation Builders Club (YNBC) *Newbies Circle (NC)  Interest: *Book Lovers Club *Sports Loves Club *Marian Ember - Official Student Publication of SMA of Carmen  Other Organizations: *Peer Facilitators Organization (PFO) *Boys and Girls Scout  ==See also==  * Cagayan de Oro City * Religious of the Virgin Mary * Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo * Educational institutions in the Philippines  ==References==   ==External links== * Religious of the Virgin Mary Official Website * St. Mary's Academy Student's Website         Category:Roman Catholic schools in the Philippines Category:Educational institutions established in 1963