Sr. Marie Cecile is in her thirty-sixth year as Principal of OLS. A member of the Religious of the Divine Compassion, Sister taught first grade at OLS for 15 years prior to becoming Principal. She has her Master’s degree in Reading from the College of New Rochelle, a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Pace University and an Associate degree in Music from Elizabeth Seton College. Her administration certification was completed at Manhattan College and Fordham University.
During her tenure as Principal, Sister introduced the foreign language program in grades 4- 8, the chess club, instrumental music, drama, choral music, girls’ softball and CYO boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. Additionally, she added a full-time learning facilitator, a part-time guidance counselor and teacher aides to the faculty. An anti-bullying program was established with speakers for parents and on-going guidance sessions as well as assemblies for students that continue to focus on this issue. A kindergarten program has been added and an After-School Care Program was initiated.
The facilities have been improved with the addition of a new classroom that houses the 8th grade, new flooring throughout the entire school as well as the installation of wired and wireless internet access, the introduction of computers in the classrooms, and most recently the addition of permanently mounted Promethean Active Panel Titanium 75" Interactive display boards in seven classrooms, and a protable board for the use of the art, music and physical education teachers. In 2016 our entire network was rewired in order to provide better wireless access throughout the building. In addition, there are 60 iPads for the students use, and for our newest innitiative in the 2019-2020 school year we have begun to equip our junior high students with their own device. This program began with our sixth graders and will extend until all middle school students have a one on one device. A new sound system and spotlights were added in the gym and the construction of a new playground and ball field that were completely redone during the summer of 2012. Two automated external defibrillators (AED) have also been acquired for the school and a security system was installed throughout the building with surveillance cameras, monitors and a digital recorder. We’ve added an additional digital recorder in the convent and three new cameras, which will provide surveillance of the science room entrance, the playground area, and the front entry to the Convent. The gym and cafeteria were also added to our intercom system. Under Sister’s guidance Our Lady of Sorrows received Middle States Accreditation and most recently AdvancEd accreditation.
Sister Cecile is a member of the OLS Parents Association. She currently serves as co- moderator of the Student Council.