Sr Lucina retires after 57 years outstanding service to DCP

{module_photogallery,36859} This week marked the final day for Sr. Lucina Montague who attended her final ever Board of Governors meeting bringing to a close her fifty-seven year relationship with the school as teacher, principal and governor. Sr. Lucina Montague first arrived in Dominican College, Portstewart in 1962 as a newly qualified Home Economics teacher. Despite remaining in post for just one short year, the school, made a deep impression on her. Sr. Lucina was delighted to return to Portstewart in 1974 as Dominican Principal a role she would retain until 1986. This was a period of change and challenge for the school which had become a co-ed school in 1968. Sr. Lucina described the “amazing experience” of leading the school at this time and how she viewed the school as a place of faith, fun and friendship which always placed the needs of the child first and foremost. She described the late 1970s as a period when the school saw the school’s future enhanced by a combination of a fantastic staff all working together, a series of curricular initiatives and the ability of the school to attract new pupils. She described how many of these qualities are visible today as the school again moves through a carefully planned transition away from academic selection. Within a few short years Sr. Lucina returned to maintain her connection with Portstewart in her role as a member of the Board of Governors. Again as a school governor, Sr. Lucina helped steer the school through another period where its future was uncertain and expressed her delight at how the school has continued to flourish through a period of change and challenge. She inspired our current staff to continue to enjoy working together to maintain the ethos and culture of the school telling them “it was great to have been a part of this school”. Sr. Lucina concluded by stating, “Don’t think you have seen the last of me! I hope to return in the future for school shows, concerts and special occasions”. Mr Michael Fleming, Chairman of the Board of Governors, thanked Sr. Lucina this week on the occasion of her final Governors’ meeting explaining how he would personally miss her sagacity and experience as a governor and paid tribute to her fifty-seven years of outstanding service. On behalf of the Dominican staff and governors, Mr Fleming presented Sr. Lucina with a small token of our appreciation for her wonderful service. Sr. Lucina has, throughout her fifty plus years of service to our school community, instilled the values of the Dominican ethos, inspired and enriched young people, contributed to the education- in its academic, pastoral, spiritual and extra-curricular sense and led by example. As a school community of staff, parents and governors we salute the work done by Sr. Lucina and wish her a long and happy retirement as we endeavour to continue to build on her legacy. Sr Lucina is pictured at her retirement today