# Joseph Upatham School

Joseph Upatham School (Thai: โรงเรียนยอแซฟอุปถัมภ์), sometimes called "Joseph Upatham School Samphran" (Thai: โรงเรียนยอแซฟอุปถัมภ์ สามพราน) and abbreviated as JS (Thai: ยอ.)), is a private Catholic school in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand under the Education Department of the Archdiocese of Bangkok. Managed by the Archbishop and Pastor of the Archdiocese of Bangkok, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres.
* Founder: Archbishop Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo
* Co-Founder: Rev. Francis Xavier Thongdee Kitcharaen
* Licensee: Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu
The sub district of Tha Kham (usually written Takham), is the heartland of the Roman Catholic Christian religion in Thailand. Michael Michai Kitbunchu, Cardinal of Thailand was born in Sam Phran and many Catholic religious institutes have their convents, monasteries and headquarters in the area and there is also Thailand's major seminary. The largest and most important installation in the Catholic enclave of Tha Kham, (and also in Sam Phran), is the vast campus shared by Joseph Upatham School one of the largest combined kindergarten, primary and secondary schools in the country, the main institution of the 43 schools and colleges governed by the Education Department of Bangkok Archdiocese (EDBA), and the Ban Phu Waan Pastoral Training Centre - a leading Catholic conference and convention centre in Asia. There are several other large private schools in Takham including St. Peter's school (mixed gender, kindergarten and Grades 1 to 9) also governed by the EDBA in the parish of St. Peter, a village and factory community about 2 kilometres from the main highway in the south of Tha Kham, and Marie Upatham, an independent Catholic school for girls in the Takham village of Mor Sii.

## Name

"Joseph" is the name of the patron saint of Archbishop Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo and "Upatham" in the Thai Language means foster. When combined, "Joseph Upatham" means "was fostered by St. Joseph".

## Relations with the Holy See

* 1987: Pope John Paul II presided the celebration of a Mass for Thanksgiving with 23 new priests' concelebrating with him at the closing of the sacred year for Thailand at Joseph Upatham School.
* 2004: Pope Benedict XVI sent a congratulatory plaque to Joseph Upatham School on the occasion of the school's 40th anniversary.

## Notable alumni

* Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit, Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (7 March 2007 – 14 May 2009) and Archbishop of Bangkok (14 May 2009–present)
* Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, Bishop of Chiang Mai (10 February 2009 – present)

## Rector of Joseph Upatham School

Saint Joseph Seminary
| Years in office | Name |
| 1965 | Rev.Fr. Francis Xavier Thongdee Kitcharoen |
| 1965-1973 | Rev.Fr. Michael Huashang Kitbunchu Archbishop of Bangkok(1972-2009)now is archbishop emeritus Cardinal Protopriest(2016–present) |
| 1973-1976 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Sangval Surasarang Bishop of Chiang Mai(1987-2009) now is bishop emeritus |
| 1976-1983 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Pravit Phongviratchai |
| 1983-1992 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Pibul Visitnondachai Bishop of Nakhon Sawan(2009–present) |
| 1992-1996 | Rev.Fr. Peter Surasit Chumsriphan |
| 1992-1999 | Rev.Fr. John Suthep Phongviratchai |
| 1999-2004 | Rev.Fr. Ignatius Adisak Somsaengsuang |
| 2004-2009 | Rev.Fr. John Witchukorn Gatepab |
| 2009-2013 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Prateep Kiratipong |
| 2013-2019 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Chaiyo Kitsakul |
| 2019–present | Rev.Fr. Joseph Vittaya Ladloi |
The Ascension Catholic Church
| Years in office | Name |
| 2006–present | Rev.Fr. Peter Chatchaval Supalak |

## Manager of Joseph Upatham School

School's Directors
| Years in office | Name |
| 1966-1967 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Savieng Surasarang |
| 1967-1974 | Rev.Fr. Muchael Khomthun Mungsommai |
| 1974-1981 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Virasak Vanarotsuvit |
| 1981-1984 | Rev.Fr. Charles Piya Rotchanamarivong(Boonleang Sae-Pang) |
| 1984-1989 | Rev.Fr. Peter Chavalit Kitcharoen |
| 1989-1990 | Rev.Fr. John Baptit Vivat Praesiri |
| 1990-1994 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Vuthilert Haelom |
| 1994-1999 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Suphakij Lertjitleakha(Sae-Lee) |
| 1999-2006 | Rev.Fr. Nicolas Sakchai Saphaphamai |
| 2006-2013 | Rev.Fr. John Baptist Ekaporn Nittayo |
| 2013-2016 | Rev.Fr. Peter Theeraphol Kobvithayakul |
| 2016-2017 | Rev.Fr. Paul Sawong Wijitwong |
| 2017-2019 | Rev.Fr. Joseph Itthipon Srirattana |
| 2019–present | Rev.Fr. John Bosco Suchat Udomsittipattana |
Headmaster of School's College
| Years in office | Name |
| 2006-2013 | Rev.Fr. Emmanuel Sahaphon Tangthavorn |
| 2013-2016 | Rev.Fr. Paul Sawong Wijitwong |
| 2016–present | Rev.Fr. Stefen Weerayuth Kieatsakulchai |
Headmistress of School's Convent
| Years in office | Name |
| 2006-2010 | Sr.Kristoff Paykanan |
| 2010-2011 | Sr.Thérèse de Lisieux Wongcheun |
| 2011-2015 | Sr.Margaret Jittree Rattanawongchaiya |
| 2015-2018 | Sr.Jeanne-Françoise de Chantal Suphen Triwaudom |
| 2018-2019 | Sr.Jeanne-Baptiste Kanjana Sudprasert |

## Curriculum

* Primary Education (Grade 1-6 according to Thai Education)
1.Intensive English Course 2.English Programme 3.Ordinary Programme
* Junior High School Education (Grade 7-9 according to Thai Education)
1.Intensive English Course 2.English Programme 3.Ordinary Programme 4.Science-Mathematics Programme
* Senior High School Education (Grade 10-12 according to Thai Education)
| Majors | Minors |
| Science–Mathematics | English |
| English–Mathematics | Science-Social Studies |
| English | Thai-Social Studies |
| English–Chinese | Thai-Social Studies |
| English–Social Studies | Thai-Computer, Career |

## Memorandum of Understanding

1.since 2001
* Hawthorn-Melbourne English Language Centre, University of Melbourne (Australia)
2.since 2015
* Chinese Language and Culture School of Kunming, China and Chinaviz Language Institute (Bangkok Division)
* Goodwill Chinese Culture Communication Co., Ltd.
3.since 2017
* Stamford International University (Thailand)