St. Peter Senior High School: A Brief History
St. Peter Senior High School was founded by Bishop Peter Tou Pao-zin of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hsinchu. Appointed by Pope John XXIII in 1961, Bishop Tou recognized the educational challenges in Hsinchu and decided to establish a school. He raised funds through a strenuous tour across Europe and the United States, finally securing enough resources in 1963 to buy land and build the school.
The school’s name, "St. Peter," comes from Jesus' words to the apostle Peter in Matthew 16:18: "You are Peter (Petrus, meaning rock), and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." This name encourages students and staff to emulate Saint Peter's perseverance and to become a foundation for societal growth.
The school was officially approved to enroll students and establish a junior high in August 1964, adding a senior high in 1967. However, the junior high was closed in 1968 due to the government's nine-year compulsory education policy. In 1970, a supplementary school for junior and senior high levels was established to help young people continue their education. In response to the need for professional talent, electrical engineering and general commerce courses were introduced in 1975, followed by mechanical engineering in 1977. These courses benefited greatly from the support of St. Aloysius Technical School and Shu-Guang Girls' Senior High School.
In 1987, the school introduced new curricula, creating departments for electrical engineering, business management, and mechanical engineering. The junior high was reinstated in 1993, and in 2001, the business management department was restructured into data processing. Currently, the school has over 130 full-time faculty and staff, with 53 classes and more than 2,300 students.
Leadership from the Bishops of Hsinchu Diocese has been crucial to the school's development. Bishop Peter Tou Pao-zin founded the school, Bishop Peter Liu expanded it, and Bishop Luke Liu reformed and improved it. Over the past sixty years, various principals have contributed significantly to the school's growth. Father Li Pinghe, the founding principal, laid the groundwork, followed by principals like Auxiliary Bishop Chen Huali, Father He Renlong, and Father Fan Wenzhong, who ensured continuous clergy management.
In 1975, lay principal Mr. Chen Mingqing took over and, through over ten years of dedicated management, doubled the student body and enhanced the school's reputation. For his educational achievements, he was awarded the Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by the Pope. In 1989, Principal Wang Jiayi succeeded him, focusing on stable development and receiving the Order of St. Sylvester. Principal Wang Xinhua, appointed in 2001, institutionalized and made the school's operations more transparent, promoting sincerity, simplicity, and diligence.
In 2013, Principal Chen Fangji became the eighth principal, enhancing the faculty’s responsiveness to educational changes, securing funding for facility upgrades, and fostering collaborations with universities and businesses. In 2019, with the introduction of twelve-year compulsory education, the school integrated new technologies into teaching, earning consecutive outstanding ratings from the Ministry of Education in 2020 and 2021.
The 2023-2024 academic year marks the 60th anniversary of St. Peter Senior High School. Despite future challenges due to declining birth rates and rising individualism, the school remains confident. By adhering to the Church's mission and values, fostering a loving and sharing atmosphere, and nurturing students to become societal contributors, the school will continue to pursue effective teaching methods. Growing together with students and parents, the school aims to build a better society and attract more people to its mission.
