To the teachers: Thank you

Danette Goulet

COSTA MESA -- Victoria Elementary School teachers basked in the limelight

Wednesday when they were serenaded by Newport Beach musician Mark Wood

with a song he wrote especially for them on Teacher Appreciation Day.

Each year, Victoria Principal Judy Laakso makes this day a special one

for teachers. But this year, after the school was named a California

Distinguished School, she wanted it to be extra special.

She had teachers wear bright blue graduation caps and pronounced them

distinguished teachers to the new tune of “Victoria Elementary,

California Distinguished School.”

“This was extra special because we got the Distinguished School Award

this year,” said school psychologist John Larkins. “But we were a

distinguished school even before the state recognized us.”

Children clapped and sang along and then each class of students roared

with cheers when their teacher took the stage to receive a framed memento

of the day.

They were excited and proud of their teachers.

“She’s very good,” 9-year-old Megan Weir said emphatically of her

teacher, Patty Poveda. “She makes learning fun.”

Megan’s classmate, 8-year-old Eddie MacLeod, was in complete agreement.

“She’s nice,” he said. “Once we had to study division and she turned the

division into a game.”

But Poveda was certainly not the only teacher receiving high praise

Wednesday morning. Samantha Gracier, a fourth-grader, had a few words to

say about her teacher, Marilyn Wright.

“She’s really, really nice -- I mean nice,” she said. “If we need help,

she helps us.”

Parent Sandi Thomas said the students’ positive attitude is always

present at Victoria.

“It’s just a wonderful school, the teachers are incredible,” she said.

“My daughter loves to come to school every day.”

Although teachers were surprised to have a song written just for them,

they said they have learned to expect such things from Laakso.

“Every year she does a ceremony. One year, she made us dance down the

middle [of the assembly],” said Anita Peacock, a first-grade teacher.

“She is very thoughtful.”