Hosting our Aussie friends

The eighth annual Costa Mesa-Wyndham, Australia Sister-City Education Exchange got off to a wonderful start this week with the arrival of Australian educators Jane Motley and Diana Pongrac.

Motley, a primary reading and transition from pre-school to kindergarten specialist, and Pongrac, a primary art specialist and classroom teacher, will spend two weeks in Costa Mesa learning about our education system and sharing information about theirs.

In the days since their arrival, Motley and Pongrac have spoken at the Harbor Council PTA and been introduced at the Costa Mesa City Council. They enjoyed a warm welcome to Costa Mesa at a dinner attended by committee members and hosts and Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustee Serene Stokes and her husband, Sid, active members of the Newport Beach Sister-City Assn.

The Aussie educators were also guests of the Costa Mesa Lions Club, which gives much financial support to this program.

All visiting Australian educators are hosted by Newport-Mesa school district educators and shadow them in our schools while also enjoying the numerous educational, civic, social and tourist activities planned.

My daughter, Stacy de Boom, the district’s after-school program specialist, is hosting Pongrac, who spent time at Pomona Elementary School with teacher Brittany Emal. Pongrac hosted my daughter during her trip to Australia as an “ambassador” in July 2005.

Motley is being hosted by Victoria Elementary School teacher, and delegate to Australia in 1999, Marilyn Wright and her husband, Bob; Harbor Council PTA President Michele Graham and family; and California Elementary School teacher Cindy Ronquillo and her husband, Ralph.

The Sister-City Education Exchange -- founded in 1997 by Sue Smith, past president of the Harbor Council and Estancia, TeWinkle and Adams PTAs -- promotes greater cultural and educational awareness and understanding of differences while exploring and appreciating the many similarities.

All ambassadors help to fulfill the objectives of strengthening the educational component of the Sister-City agreement between the city of Costa Mesa and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District with their counterparts in Wyndham, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. The adult exchange was expanded last year to include students with Estancia High School serving as the host high school.

Four students from Estancia -- Carolina Barnes, Kirsten Miller, Chad Kunert and Taylor McClanahan -- represented Costa Mesa for three weeks in Australia in July 2005.

On Jan. 17, three students, accompanied by their vice-principal and a teacher, arrived from Australia and are being hosted by Estancia educators and families. The students are staying with a different host family each of their three weeks.

The Estancia Associated Student Body, under the leadership of Art Perry, has assisted with securing hosts and ensuring that the exchange students are exposed to the abundance of activities available to high school students at Estancia. The exchange students will shadow their host student’s academic class schedule during the school days and will participate in myriad activities planned for them, according to Smith.

Program coordinators Dave Brees, retired Estancia High School teacher; Sue Smith; and committee members Pat Courter, retired California Elementary School teacher, and Lisa Freeman, Grant Estancia graduate; along with Estancia Principal Tom Antal, Estancia Vice-Principal Sean Boulton, former ambassadors to Australia and parents of student ambassadors invite you to join us during our visitors’ stay in our community.

For more information about the Costa Mesa sister city program, contact program coordinators Sue Smith by e-mail [email protected] or Dave Brees at [email protected].

AMERICAN LEGION TO RAFFLE CAR FOR CHARITY

The American Legion Post 291 will be raffling a brand new 2006 Scion on Feb. 11 at the post’s annual Valentine’s Day sweethearts ball.

The winner of the car, donated by Huntington Beach Toyota, also receives all taxes, license and registration fees associated with it. Insurance is not included.

Proceeds from the raffle benefit Veteran Administration medical centers, Girls State, Girls Nation, women’s shelters, programs for drug and alcohol abuse, Children’s Miracle Network, Red Cross and support for our troops overseas.

Tickets for the car raffle are $10 each and are available at the American Legion office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and at the bar after 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. The post is at 215 15th St. in Newport Beach. For more information, call (949) 673-5070. Winners need not be present to win.

Tickets for the sweethearts ball may also be purchased at the office and bar. Cost for the event is $30 per person. Attendees need not be American Legion members to enjoy this dinner and dance event featuring the Don Ross Band and Rose. Proceeds from the ball will go to the Edna Cannedy Scholarship Fund.

FASHION SHOW TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CHILDHOOD RESPIRATORY DISEASE

The American Legion 8/40 Salon 163 will be hosting a fashion show and luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 28 at the Legion Hall, 215 15th Street in Newport Beach. Proceeds from the event will go to children with respiratory diseases and a nursing scholarship for a student specializing in treating children with respiratory diseases.

Fashions from Drapers and Clothes for the Soul will be featured. The cost of the event, catered by CIGI’s, is $20 per person. Membership in the American Legion is not required. For reservations, contact Su Eling at (714) 330-2662.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council:

Happiness and self-confidence come naturally when you feel yourself moving and progressing toward becoming the very best person you can possibly be.

-- BRIAN TRACY

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

MONDAY

6:30 p.m.: The 35-member Harbor Mesa Lions will meet at the La Capilla Mexican Restaurant in Huntington Beach.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 45-member Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise will meet at Five Crowns Restaurant for a program by on labor law, the employer’s side (www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org).

Noon: The 15-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa will meet at the Clubhouse at South Coast Plaza.