Students get real-life lesson in California missions

Deirdre Newman

NEWPORT BEACH -- The father of California who established the mission

system along the coast made a guest appearance in a fourth-grade

classroom at Eastbluff Elementary School on Friday.

Father Junipero Serra, dressed in an authentic Franciscan priest

frock, captivated the nearly 40 fourth- and fifth-graders who recently

completed a study of the mission period.

“It makes it more real for the kids,” fourth-grade teacher Maggie

Kenney said.

The students have examined the mission period for the past month,

including visiting the early Spanish settlements and making intricate

models of them.

The idea to bring Father Serra -- otherwise known as John Mione, a

living history docent from Mission San Juan Capistrano -- to the

classroom originated with fourth-grader Corey Cano, who asked her family

friend to help her as an extra-credit project.

Mione obliged and regaled the curious class about the trials and

tribulations of the Spaniards as they sought to beat the Russians at

staking a claim to California and spread Christianity to the Native

Americans.

“We thought we were more intelligent than the natives,” Mione said.

“But we needed them more than they needed us. We pulled the wool over

their eyes.”

Mione enlisted the students in his reenactment -- using the students

to play the parts of soldiers and Native Americans.

“It was very cool. I learned a lot,” said Codi Clausen, 9.

“I liked that he had some expression in his voice and how he knew so

much,” said Andrew Conger, 10.

After Father Serra said adios to the students, they got a serving of

pozole -- a midday staple at the missions consisting of pork and hominy.

“It’s a little spicier than the soup I’m used to,” said Coby

Ashendorf, 10. “It’s good.”