Mater Dei School (Thailand)
| Mater Dei School | |
|---|---|
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| Location | |
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Pathum Wan, Bangkok Bangkok Thailand |
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| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | Serviam (I will serve) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Patron saint(s) | Saint Angela |
| Founded | 1928 |
| Grades | 3–12 |
| Gender | All-Girls |
| Age range | 06-18 |
| Language | Thai, English, French, Chinese |
| Houses | Blue, Red, Yellow, Green |
| Color(s) | Light Blue and White |
| Affiliation | Ursuline |
| Alumni | Ananda Mahidol, Bhumibol Adulyadej, Kings of Thailand. |
| Website | [1], [2] |
Mater Dei School (abbreviated MD; Thai: มาแตร์เดอีวิทยาลัย; rtgs: Matae-de-i Witthayalai) is a private Catholic School run by the Sisters of the Ursuline Order. "Mater Dei" is a Latin phrase meaning "Mother of God". In 1925, the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union sent four European Sisters to carry out educational works in Thailand at the invitation of Archbishop Rene Perros, Head of the Catholic Mission in Siam.
In 1926, Sister Marie Bernard Mancel, the second superior of the Ursuline Order in Thailand decided to purchase a piece of land of about 18 rai (just under 3 hectares) with a large house. Mater Dei School was therefore set up and was the only educational institution on Ploenchit Road. Its wooden building had two prominent towers, one housing boarding students while another was the residence of the Sisters with a small chapel located inside.
In 1927, the Sisters built a new two-storey school with constructed entirely of teak wood. It was separated by a clean and crystal clear pond from the old building. Classrooms were set up based on the British system, enrolling students from Kindergarten to Form V and comprising two departments- the English and the French departments. The school accepted both day and boarding students and was considered to be the first school to offer Kindergarten level.
February 2, 1928 was designated as the day Mater Dei was officially founded while classes commenced on February 6, 1928 with forty five students. Initially, two Sisters were assigned to accompany the students to and from Rajprasong since the area was rather deserted.
Although Mater Dei was an all-girls school, it enrolled boys from Kindergarten to Primary 2 as well. One of those students was Prince Ananda Mahidol who enrolled in 1930 and was given 273 as his student ID number; in 1935 he became King of Thailand, until his mysterious death in 1946. He was succeeded as King by his brother, Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej, who joined the school in 1932 and was given 449 as his student ID number.
In 1932, there was a change in the curriculum. Students in Secondary school were to learn three languages - English, French and Thai - while those in Primary School would study only two - English and Thai.
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