Northview — When Diane Stanko, a member of the Northview Senior Citizens, answered the call to help a district math class with a project, she didn’t expect to find a deep, personal connection among the high-school freshmen.
And yet, within a half hour of meeting and chatting with ninth-grader Grizzy Pérez Sánchez, that’s exactly what happened. Grizzy’s assignment was to interview Stanko about important milestones in the woman’s life, but the two quickly connected over something deeper: their shared Catholic faith.
“We just immediately bonded,” Stanko said. “(Grizzy) was so interested in my life and how I grew up, and knowing about what was important to me. … It was awesome. Immediately, I was like, ‘I love this girl.’ And I really do.”
Their meeting was part of a bigger project in Grizzy’s freshman Math on Mainstreet class at Northview High School. Each student paired up with a Northview senior group member to interview them about their life, and design and build a wooden plaque celebrating those key life events.
Students also practiced data collection and statistical analysis by asking their partner what things cost “back in the day,” as the saying goes, like the price of a gallon of gas or the going rate for an hour of babysitting.
“This project was a combo of the math skills needed to create the plaque, which we’d been learning in the first half of the class, and the soft skills in terms of business: pricing, customer service, interacting with people,” said teacher Taylor Jolliffe. “It was amazing to see them interacting with adults who are a couple generations removed from them and carrying on a conversation. I feel like that was actually a really big feat for a lot of them, because students are so used to using their technology.”
Realistic Math
Offered as an option for students who may not thrive in a traditional math classroom, Math on Mainstreet is a hands-on class combining algebra, technology and business concepts, offering real-world applications to learn and grow math skills.
“Education-wise, what I really love about (Math on Mainstreet) is that math, to these kids, is way more than just some worksheet with numbers on it,” said teacher Andrew Otten. “If they want this design on (the plaque), how do they measure this so that it fits? How do they figure out the right settings for the equipment? … It makes math feel a little more realistic.”
The plaque project gave students a chance to incorporate everything they’d learned thus far this year to create a “product” for a “customer,” Jolliffe said. That included applying measurements to their design, listening to the customer, determining a price based on raw material costs, using design software and laser cutters to make the plaque and creating invoices.
They also got to show off those skills to their older partners, which boosts confidence, Otten said.
“With the laser cutters … I heard a bunch of seniors asking them questions on how it works and if (the students) can teach them how to use it sometime,” Otten said. “That tells the kids that they have this valuable skill. That makes them feel like they did something worthwhile (and) gives them a little bit of pride.”
‘Simple, but with meaning’
Grizzy said she came up with the design idea for Stanko’s plaque shortly after learning that they shared a common faith.
“We were both kind of talkative and we bonded over being Catholic really quickly,” Grizzy said. “I started talking about how I’m going to do my confirmation and First Communion this year, and there was so much we wanted to talk about. I think she’s a really great person.”
Grizzy decided to display the important events of Stanko’s life — things like her baptism, First Communion, high-school graduation and marriage — as Stanko’s “road to Jesus” on the plaque.
“I had this idea of making the cross really pop out, so that it’s going to be the most noticeable thing on there,” Grizzy said. “I made the cross in wood using LightBurn (software), and then for the cloth I made it a separate piece out of vinyl.”
The end result, Grizzy said, is “simple, but with meaning.”
“I know it looks kind of basic, but each of these (inscriptions) tells a specific moment of her religion and things that have impacted her the most,” she explained.
Stanko said she was “blown away” by the plaque and how carefully Grizzy highlighted her faith and life events. She plans to display it prominently in her home “so I can look at it every day.”
‘A lot of purpose’
The two plan to stay in touch; they’ve exchanged email addresses, bracelets and key chain charms to remember the other by. Grizzy invited Stanko to her confirmation, and Stanko gave Grizzy a Joan of Arc charm in honor of the saint she’s chosen for the special occasion.
“I think we really connected in a way that makes me feel like there’s a lot of purpose and divine intervention there,” Stanko said. “I believe I’ll be a part of her life for a long time and she’ll be a part of my life. She’s a special person.”
Jolliffe said the plaque project was something she’s wanted to do for a while and it was “gratifying” to see a math class help create new friendships.
“Bringing our community together and having those intergenerational connections is just so neat to see,” Jolliffe said. “It’s not every day, especially as a teacher, where you feel that rewarding sense of your work.”
Added Grizzy: “Sometimes school can be a really great part of your life, because you never know what the outcome of something is and what special people you can meet through school.”
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