AJHS welcomes first ever Grade 7 co-ed batch to SY 2024-2025

On 9 August 9 2024, a week after Ateneo de Manila Grade School welcomed girls to Kindergarten and Grade 1 for the first time on 1 August, it was Ateneo Junior High School’s (AJHS) turn to make history with its first ever co-ed batch. More than 2,100 students trooped to Ateneo de Manila Junior High School on that Friday morning for the first official day of School Year 2024-2025. Among the tween and teen learners welcomed were 696 Grade 7 students, 161 of whom were AJHS’ first ever cohort of girls. Making the milestone event more festive were the boys and girls of Ateneo’s legendary Blue Babble Band and Battalion, who banged their drums and vigorously cheered the students on as they arrived on the AJHS campus for day one of the new schoolyear.

As the first bell rang at 7:45 am, the community gathered in the AJHS Covered Courts for the messages of welcome by the principal, assistant principals, and student government chairman, many of whom spoke about the “historic” and “momentous” grace of having the pioneering batch of Grade 7 females. The move is a first in Ateneo de Manila’s nearly 165 years (the school will turn 165 in December 2024) of existence. The speakers also told the students about the many exciting activities and events that awaited them in the months ahead, what was expected of them, and how they could maximize the opportunities that would come their way. The gathering in the covered courts ended with AJHS Chaplain Fr Mamert Mañus SJ blessing the community for the new school year ahead, and with the singing of the alma mater song, “A Song for Mary.”

The students then went to their respective classrooms for the rest of their Schola Brevis sessions.

Prior to the official start of AJHS classes for SY 2024-2025 on 9 August, the grade 7 newbies and a few grade 8 and grade 9 transferees had two days of orientations on 7 & 8 August. Dubbed “MAGISing,” the orientations began with a Mass on 7 August to celebrate the beginning of the historic new school year. This was followed by inspirational messages from school administrators to prepare the community’s youngest learners for life in their new school. In her welcome message, AJHS Principal Gen Sanvictores advised the boys and girls to make the best use of their talents and gifts, to persevere through challenges, and to make friends along the way. 

On day two, 8 August, the orientation included activities like a campus tour and an org fair that were organized by faculty and student leaders. The closing activity of MAGISing was a well-received variety show which featured talented faculty and student performers. 

With the girls’ entrance to AJHS, the University is now officially on track to become fully co-educational in all Basic Education levels by School Year 2029-2030.