Still Doin' the Math
After Sister Beverly Ann Fries
retired from a 52-year career, teaching math to junior high students in
Catholic schools, she finds herself, again, in the midst of young people
trying to master basic mathematic concepts and skills. This time, though,
she is volunteering at an alternative school.
"When I retired, I thought to
myself, 'I can't stay in the Mother House and twiddle my thumbs; I have to
do something of value,'" she recalled.
After some encouragement from
a friend in St. Cloud, Sister Beverly called Lutheran Social Service's
Foster Grandparent Program, to see if there was some work she could do
with children.
Mary Flynn, LSS' Foster
Grandparent Manager, said that the first visit was to the Day Care
operation at the Eastside Neighborhood Services Center, two blocks from
Sister Beverly's home. "When we walked in, I sensed immediately that this
was not the place for her," Flynn said. "I think she had her mind set on
older children."
Down the hall from the Day
Care is Menlo Park, an alternative Minneapolis public school that caters
to high school students who have difficulty in traditional high schools.
Flynn decided to find out if there were opportunities there for Foster
Grandparents.
There was a perfect
opportunity - for Sister Beverly, as well as for the students she has
tutored this year.
Working in a group of six or
seven, Sister Beverly keeps each one working on math problems. "How are we
doing?" she asks of one. "Keep going," she encourages another. "Got it
now?" she says as she shares smiles with a girl who is struggling with
polynomials.
"I love doing this!" Sister
exuded. "It's a great feeling to know that you are helping someone learn -
and helping them pass their graduation tests. And because I am a
volunteer, I don't have to be responsible to the parents."
Sister believes that the Menlo
Park students have the desire to succeed, but that many had gotten off to
a rough start. "Some of them are struggling, but I still have to keep
pushing them as I can't let them give up on themselves."
Bruce Graff, volunteer
coordinator of the Menlo Park School and a retired Minneapolis
teacher/administrator himself, said that one-on-one tutoring and coaching
is the only way to operate in this school. "We have erratic attendance
patterns, and various grade levels, so traditional classroom instruction
in math won't work here," he explained. "The beauty of having someone like
Sister Beverly here is that she has extensive knowledge and can relate,
one-on-one. Plus, she works with the students four days a week so there is
consistency. We are thrilled to have her working here. Our math scores
went way up as a result of Sister Beverly's tutoring."
When asked about surprises,
she said that she wasn't used to hearing students use inappropriate
language in school. "But when I asked the students not to use
inappropriate terms, they complied."
"If you are helping someone,
they know it. And they usually cooperate."
Sister Beverly's advice for
prospective Foster Grandparents: Do it because you love it. "And because
you will be doing something of great value," added Bruce Graff.
As volunteers, Foster
Grandparents receive a small stipend, and serve in schools and day care
centers across Minnesota. For additional information, call 1-888-205-3770.
