A circus-like classroom

Marisa O’Neil

Like many other local schools, Costa Mesa’s newest one meets in a

mobile classroom -- but it has way more perks.

It overlooks an equestrian center and has a low student-to-teacher

ratio and no tuition; and a native speaker teaches French lessons.

But if you want your child to go there, you’ll have to run away

and join the circus.

Cirque du Soleil pitched its trademark blue and yellow big top in

town earlier this month for its latest production, “Varekai.” And

when this French-Canadian circus comes to town, it brings with it

acrobats, clowns, musicians, support staff -- and their children.

“As a teacher and a parent, I think this school is excellent,”

said Canadian Pam Dyment, who is a former teacher and whose two

children go to the school. “They get so much one-on-one attention,

it’s like being in the best private school possible. And it’s free.”

On the tour, eight children age 6 to 15 go to the school five days

a week. Two teachers lead them in math, sciences, home economics,

history, physical education and English and French -- Cirque du

Soleil’s official languages.

With a multicultural cast in the show -- performers from Russia,

Georgia, Spain and many other countries -- the school must cater to

English-language learners. Through immersion and personal attention,

students get up to speed quickly, teacher Paul Champaign said.

“When you’re teaching one-on-one, you see them progress so

quickly,” Champaign said. “They’re like sponges.”

Eight-year-old Salome Tetvadze from Georgia knew no English a

little more than a year ago. Now she speaks English without an

accent.

“How about ‘hello?’” 6-year-old Canadian Janie Drouien asked her.

“Well, yeah!” Salome assured.

“And ‘goodbye,’” 6-year-old Sasha Rissouev, from Russia, added,

then tapped his head. “And ‘head.’’”

“Oh, yeah,” Salome said with a casual air.

Often, teacher Christine Chandonnetsaid, the children learn to

speak so well that they serve as interpreters for their parents,

chattering away in English at them after school. Some, like Sasha,

speak three languages.

When school is at a circus, no one wants to skip physical

education class. No surprise considering they get to ride horses,

play tennis, jump on trampolines and even learn to juggle.

But learning in a school that moves every two or three months

means the dreaded chore of packing. To make things easier, almost

everything in the room is set up in mobile crates. Even the desks are

made from road cases.

Traveling for a year or more at a time, however, can take some

adjustment for the older students, who miss their friends back home.

“I like my old school,” said Dyment’s 10-year-old son, Jonah

Petruic. “I had so many friends.”

“I like this better,” said 15-year-old Natalya Ohorilko from

Ukraine. “You get more attention from teachers so it’s easier to

learn English and French. And you get to travel. My friends think

it’s cool.”

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.