CORONA DEL MAR : Tour of Renovated Lincoln School Held

Kathy Vescera entered the second-grade classroom at Lincoln Elementary School and headed straight for the book collection. Other children were equally curious, playing on new swings, fiddling with new computers and thumbing through brand-new textbooks.

Hundreds of children and their families on Wednesday toured the newly renovated elementary school, a former junior high school, which opens this year after being closed for six years.

Nearly 90% of the 530 children enrolled in the school were students at Harbor View Elementary School last year. Others are transferring from Eastbluff Kindergarten Center and Andersen Elementary School.

“None of the kids have been in this school before,” said Missy Mittman, president of the school’s Parent-Faculty Organization, as she pointed some parents in the direction of their child’s classroom.

The school is divided into two different campuses. Kindergartners and first-, second- and third-graders occupy the front half. The rear of the school houses students in grades four through six.

“This school is bigger and brighter than Andersen,” said 10-year-old Dimitra Havriluk, who said she is looking forward to starting school Sept. 10.

“We’re looking forward to bringing our daughter here. We have very high expectations,” said Vescera’s father, Larry.

The tour was held to help parents and students become acquainted with the campus, its teachers and principals, said Bruce Crockard, principal for Lincoln’s fourth, fifth and sixth grades.

The principal for the younger students is Diane Alexander. She was principal at Eastbluff, which is now being used by Coastline Community College.

Students attending Lincoln live in Big Canyon, Irvine Terrace, Balboa Island, Eastbluff and Belcourt. Most will be bused to school.