AS THE summer holidays are coming to an end, new principal Sinead Cullen is preparing to take the reins at Mount Lourdes Grammar School.
The Maguiresbridge woman takes over from Mauren McKeever who has retired after 37 years at the school.
Ms Cullen is the daughter of Tom and the late Collette Hughes and a former pupil of Mount Lourdes.
She returned to the school to teach religious education in Mount Lourdes in September 1994 and since then she has held various positions including head of the religious education department and senior teacher with responsibilities for teaching and learning and child protection and safeguarding.
Speaking to the Herald, a delighted Ms Cullen said, “As a past pupil of Mount Lourdes I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to serve the school community as principal. I want to continue the culture and provision in Mount Lourdes that promotes excellence and high quality education, high standards in teaching and learning and personalised learning that enables all pupils to achieve high standards.
“I am really looking forward to helping these young girls realise their full potential and become successful learners, confident individuals and effective contributors to society.”
Ms Cullen is starting her new role on a high as over 83% of A2 students achieved 3 A*- C grades in their A levels, but she admits that she will miss teaching and being at the top of the classroom.
“The biggest change for me will be the actual teaching of the students in the classroom. I will really miss that. I would like to pay tribute to Mrs McKeever and thank her for her expert leadership and dedication to Mount Lourdes over the past 37 years and wish her well in her retirement.
“I am looking forward to working with the senior management, my colleagues, the students and their parents, the Board of Governors and indeed the wider school community to maintain and build upon the high standards already in place,” said Ms Cullen.
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