A night of thanks

Danette Goulet

COSTA MESA -- Teachers go to work every day rarely expecting, or

getting, a thank you for their efforts.

So it was both a surprise and a treat for the 35 teachers from

Estancia and Costa Mesa high schools Tuesday night who were honored at a

teacher appreciation dinner.

“I was especially honored as a first-year teacher, because I’d think

it would be reserved for those teachers who have been here a long time,”

said Rachel Delossantos, a biology and life science teacher at Estancia.

Delossantos was among more than a dozen teachers from each school to

be chosen, somewhat at random, for the honor by students who are also

members of Harbor Trinity Church.

“To me, it’s a chance to show the teachers that we care about more

than just what they do in the classroom,” said Megan Yenny, 17, a senior

at Costa Mesa High School. “So often we’re just in and out of the

classroom without saying, ‘Thank you.”’

Sponsored by the church, the Costs Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Balboa

Instruments, the event began three years ago as a breakfast.

This year, they moved the celebration of teachers to the evening so

more of them could attend, said Ed Fawcett, the chamber’s president and

chief executive.

To thank teachers, students waited on them -- taking their dinner

orders, serving their meals and drinks, and clearing away the dishes.

“All the time they put in planning lessons and grading papers, I think

it’s important to have them here for a dinner to thank them for all they

do for our education,” Megan said.

With the help of sponsors in the community, the students also were

able to hand out envelopes containing gift certificates and raffle

tickets for more prizes.

But what really moved the teachers was not the service or the stuff,

but the students’ speeches of thanks.

“Things like this, no matter how long you’ve been teaching, rekindle

the fire,” said John Carpenter, a life science teacher and science

department chair at Estancia. “It’s a motivator -- it’s definitely a

motivator. We need these things once in a while.”