 Imagine children from over 32 different countries coming together in one building to learn. It's a typical day at St. Kevin School in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
What began in 1946 as a school with two first grade classes has grown into an ethnically and culturally diverse school with an enrollment of over 400 students as well as a 30 member faculty. St. Kevin School was and is an anchor institution in Dorchester.
The composition of the student body includes Afro-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Asians, Haitians, Dominicans and Central and South Americans. Ninety-nine percent are children of color. Among the faculty can be heard accents from Puerto Rico, Cape Verde, Dominican Republic, England and Haiti.
Sister Theresa Kramer, a Sister of Charity and nine year veteran at St. Kevin, says the diversity among the students and staff creates a very special school. "There's a really nice school spirit at St. Kevin," says Sister Theresa. "The children are so happy to be here."
The school, which was initially staffed by five Sisters of Charity, presently has four Sisters of Charity on staff including the principal, Sister Paula Kelley, who has spent over 25 years at St. Kevin.
St. Kevin has two classes of each grade starting with K1 to grade eight. As well, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the "Ministry Fund" by the Sisters of Charity, there is a new after-school program to complement one already in place. This new program offers tutoring from Boston College students to children in grades six through eight. It also provides a safe location where students can receive the additional help needed to keep up with their studies.
Sister Theresa, a native of Dorchester, is currently the assistant principal at St. Kevin, as well as a part-time teacher and Director of the new after-school program. There are 36 students in the program. The children come from 2-5 pm, Monday through Thursday to get help with their homework, assistance in preparing for their exams, as well as encouragement to do their best in school.
Spending time with students and supporting them as they face the challenges of school has always been Sister Theresa's favorite part of being a teacher: "The children surprise me everyday...how excited they are when they do learn something new or catch on to something they've been struggling with."
Sister Theresa says she always has former students coming back to visit her and to thank her for the encouragement she gave at St. Kevin and many of the other schools in which she's taught. "A lot of my former students say 'thank God you made me do this,' or 'thank you so much for showing me that.' It is so nice to hear people praising their Catholic education."
St. Kevin's combination of school and after-school programs significantly impacts the whole community. Sister Theresa's love of improving the minds of young children through her work at St. Kevin is one of the many examples of the powerful work of the Sisters of Charity. She, like many of the Congregation's members, has spent most of her life assisting children, bringing them knowledge, self-confidence and love as a devoted teacher; truly something to embrace!
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