Miss Mary Wiles
Mary Wiles in her GICC classroom One chilly morning before school in Miss Wiles’ classroom - big and spacious and filled with light - Mary and I are talking hard and fast. You have to talk fast to Mary because at any moment a student could interrupt needing the ministrations that only Miss Wiles can offer. Sure enough, suddenly in the room appears Matthew Anderson, a sweet, big-eyed seventh grader. He stands forlornly and very small in the doorway and stares pleadingly at Mary. “My grandpa died,” his voice trembles. “Oh! Oh!” Mary cries. Immediately she’s across the room gathering the boy in her arms and making comforting noises as he sobs against her. I slip out quietly feeling as if I’ve intruded upon a sacred moment. This is what Miss Wiles does every day, and the rest of us who teach with her take for granted her special role at Grand Island Central Catholic. Mary Wiles is always there, not just for her students but for all of us. We cannot imagine GICC without her calm and quiet