Seniors serve school as mentors, friends

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

Frank Ho, 9, a fourth-grader at Wai'alae Elementary School, gets help and encouragement from Ed Krentzman, a FELLOWS volunteer. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser FELLOWS Senior Center at Wai'alae School 226-6992

"What are you pouting for?" asked 72-year-old Ed Krentzman as he welcomed Sabrina into his arms.

Sabrina sat on Krentzman's lap, buried her face into his neck and began to whisper her problems at school to him. Krentzman listened and consoled her. Minutes later, Sabrina left for class with a cookie from Krentzman in hand, and a smile on her face.

Krentzman is one of 25 senior volunteers who serve all grade levels at Wai'alae school as tutors and mentors, and sometimes simply as friends, thanks to a senior center on campus known as the FELLOWS program, or Fellowship and Lifelong Learning Opportunities at Wai'alae School. Established in 1997, the center is the only one of its kind on an elementary school campus in the state, said Krentzman, one of its founding members and the program's volunteer coordinator.

"Our mission is to help kids develop," said Krentzman, a resident of Makiki.

The seniors, known around campus as the FELLOWS volunteers, wear several hats; whether it's as a kindergarten reader, a third-grade math tutor or a recess chess competitor, they try to serve as an integral part of the school.

"I think it's the most wonderful thing that's ever happened," said teacher Suzanne Bernstein. "To me it's a win-win situation for everybody."

Bernstein said the program is great for the volunteers because "they feel needed and are needed," for the teachers who need the volunteers' assistance, and for those students who require extra attention for their school work.

"Every school should have a FELLOWS program," Bernstein said. "They really should. It's a wonderful program."

Krentzman is, in fact, acting as a consultant for four other elementary schools that are interested in or are in the process of establishing similar senior centers at their schools, including 'Ahuimanu, Kainalu, Pu'uhale and Le Jardin Academy.

Like the faculty, the students at Wai'alae also appreciate what the volunteers do for them.

"When (Krentzman) helps us, he doesn't just tell us the answer," said fourth-grader Sam Lewis. "He makes us work it out until we get the answer, and if we get it wrong, he'll go over it with us."

But the volunteers sometimes offer more than academic assistance to the children.

"I have some really needy kids as far as family is concerned; there might be a father missing, or they might have low self-esteem or whatever it is, and these people are just wonderful for (the students') self-esteem," Bernstein said. "Just to give them that time of day, their caring, and it's not rushed. It's really beautiful for the kids."

Sabrina said Krentzman serves as a kind of grandfather figure to her.

"I call him Grampy," Sabrina said with a big smile. "At recess, I climb on him and sometimes I mess up his hair."

Krentzman appreciates the affection.

"I've sat in here and a child will come in and just hug me and walk out and never say a word," Krentzman said. "It's just their way of saying, 'We're glad you're here.'"

The only criteria for FELLOWS volunteers is that they be 55 or older, Krentzman said. The volunteers undergo a background check with the police department, are required to take a TB test and receive about four hours of training. The volunteers' schedules vary and are based on their availability. But most work an average of about 2 1/2 hours per week.

Harriet Rechnitz, 63, has been a FELLOWS volunteer for two years. The former school librarian works with kindergartners and first graders, mainly with reading. Rechnitz said seeing the students progress is one of the advantages of being a volunteer.

"They give as much to us as we give to them," the Wai'alae Iki resident said. "We continue to learn, as well. This keeps our minds from going to mush," she added and laughed.

Krentzman also enjoys the perks of his job.

"I never had kids," he said, "but now I've got 400 of them."