School News

 

06/28/2008

 

  8th Grade Graduation 2008                                                                                                     

 

   

 

 

06/26/2008

 

  Ferrahian 2008 Senior Graduation                                                                                           

 

Though the temperature soared over 100 degrees, over 1000 parents, community representatives, guests, faculty, and students filled the school’s gymnasium to witness the high school graduation of 62 young men and women.  The excitement was palpable on June 22 as the Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School Senior Commencement Exercises took place.

 

The program began with the blessings of Rev. Razmig Khatchadourian, followed by the welcoming remarks of Mrs. Caroline Wolsky.  The ceremony continued with the farewell remarks of 11th grader Michelle Shahbol and the farewell and goodbye remarks of 12th grader Andre Aroyan.

 

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Garo Kassabian of the Class of 1983.  His inspiring speech included a memorable video presentation of enthusiastic messages from the alumni that captured the students as well as the audience. Mrs. Lisa Gaboudian of the Board of Regents and Mr. Toros Kejejian of the School Board passed on their encouragement and well-wishes to the graduates, who are preparing for the next phase of their lives. The graduates were also greeted by the the president of the school Alumni Association, Mrs. Monica Patanian, who on behalf of the group announced a donation of $20,000 for the renovation of the school gymnasium.

 

The program continued with presentation of academic and monetary awards led by Ms. Seta Khajarian, and Miss Anni Bertizlian.  The School Principal, Mr. John Kossakian briefly conveyed his heartfelt address to the students and invited His Eminence Arch. Moushegh Mardirossian to pass his blessings on to the students.  Finally, the Prelate and the Principal conferred the long awaited diplomas to the students.

 

06/24/2008

 

   Co-Curricular Teachers Appreciated                                                                                                             

 

 

Alfred Mardoyan has been a treasure at Ferrahian for over 20 years, bringing his knowledge of music and song to the classroom.

During lessons, he accompanies students with his portable organ as children sing traditional and seasonal songs from their Song Books. Although he has influenced and inspired students of many generations, very few are aware of his rich, vast background

as a world renowned maestro and musician.

   
 

Lilia Margaryan’s name is synonymous with dance, rhythm and fun. She has been a part

of the Ferrahian Faculty (both campuses) for a number of years and had the benefit of working with students on different grade levels and dancing abilities. Her enthusiasm

and energy are an inspiration to the students and faculty alike. Her talents range from choreography to dance to costume design. She is very knowledgeable in traditional Armenian song and dance routines
   
 

Rafi Hagopian, or “Baron Rafi,” as everyone fondly refers to him, is a walking encyclopedia of technological knowledge. In addition to introducing and reinforcing computer skills in our students and preparing the elementary students for the challenges

of middle school, he is always available for assistance and a quick Q and A with the staff. He has instilled a love of computers in everyone from K to the most senior of faculty and staff.
   
 

Arshag Markarian joined the faculty this year as the Physical Education Instructor for grades K-5.

In addition to coaching the Armens Teams, he brings with him his medical expertise as a Certified X-Ray Technician and Medical Assistant.
   
 

This year marked a big change for Talin Ordekian, as she was promoted from part time Art Teacher to a full time faculty member.

In addition to teaching Science and Social Studies to the First Graders, she also continues teaching Art to all K-5 students.

 

 

 

  Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary School Celebrates 5th Grade Culmination                              

  06/24/2008

 

By Azniv K. Sahakian

 

Father’s day is usually the day to acknowledge and show appreciation for dad and all he does for us. But some fortunate fathers had more than their day to celebrate. Along with their families and friends, they gathered at the Encino Campus Avedissian Hall to proudly watch their fifth graders’ Culmination Ceremony on stage.

After Father Razmig Khachadourian’s prayer, and Mistress of Ceremonies Marlene Karagoulian’s opening remarks, the children entertained their loved ones with such enthusiasm that all the teachers backstage were cheering and singing along.

Teachers Ashkhen Papazian and Anita Aghamanoukian praised the children’s hard work throughout the year, followed by words from Principal John Kossakian praising not only the children, but the hard work and accomplishments of the faculty, staff and administration.

He especially acknowledged the dedication of co-curricular instructors Lilia Margaryan and Alfred Mardoyan, thanking them for the hours and hours of practice and preparation they poured into making the Culmination such a smashing success.

Before students were handed out awards by Elementary Director Adrinee Aroyan, each of the fifteen girls and seventeen boys recited, in Armenian, a brief biography of world renowned Armenians.

It was a proud moment for teachers and parents as the children spoke firmly, confidently, standing in front of the large screen displaying their photo and name.

Everyone agreed that the accomplishments our students had achieved this year was most indeed commendable.

 

 

 

  Iym Kyrkes Project (7th Grade)                                                                                                                

  06/13/2008

 

 

 

 

06/12/2008

  Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony                                                                                    

 

By Azniv K. Sahakian

 

    Future teachers, contractors, doctors, lawyers, police officers, firefighters, veterinarians, car salesmen, dancers, artists, a train conductor, a spy, a pilot, a boxer, a tennis player, a Rite Aid cashier, a singer, a surveyor, a chef, a chiropractor, a mommy, and a

Hye Kach soldier all gathered on stage on Sunday, June 8th, 2008, to perform at the Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary School Kindergarten Commencement.

Parents and family gathered at the Encino Campus to watch 46 adorable five (5) and six (6) year olds deliver an outstanding performance of dance, song and poetry.

The 1 ½ hour program commenced with the Armenian/U.S. Anthems, followed by Rev. Razmig Khatchadourian’s invocation and Emcee Linda Dukmajian’s opening remarks.

Applause filled the hall when Mrs. Carmen Der Garabedian’s students, adorned in full traditional costume, entered the stage. Each intricately detailed garment was generously designed and sewn by Armik Shahbol.

They were followed by Ms. Linda’s “Artsakh” dancers, jumping, hopping and swaying to the music. All the dances were choreographed/taught by dance instructor Ms. Lillia Margaryan, and the songs/lyrics by music instructor Alfred Mardoyan.

Principal John Kossakian delivered his message to the graduates, congratulating parents and families. After receiving their diplomas and posing with the principal, each cap and gown clad kindergartner walked up center stage and proudly announced to everyone what his/her chosen profession would be in the future.

Elementary Director Adrinee Aroyan invited kindergarten teachers Ms. Carmen and

Ms. Linda, kindergarten assistants Aznive Markarian and Maggie Yahyayan, co-curricular instructors Rafi Hagopian, Mr. Mardoyan, Arshag Markarian, Ms. Lilia and Talin Ordekian on stage to publicly acknowledge their hard work and dedication.

By the end of the program, the soon to be first graders had displayed their talents with flying colors and melted everyone’s hearts with their sweetness and innocence. Our future is most certainly in good hands!

 

 

06/09/2008

  Holy Martyrs ARS Ashkhen Pilavjian Preschool Year End Program                                          

 

 

As a tradition, end-of-year programs are the perfect culmination for an exciting school year. This year, however, the Holy Martyrs ARS Ashkhen Pilavjian preschoolers, faculty and administration exceeded all expectations with their full scale musical production of Hovaness Toumanian's “Chari Verje”.

On Sunday, June 1, more than 800 parents, friends and community leaders watched with eagerness and admiration as three and four year olds displayed their talents of singing, dancing and being adorable on stage.

Singing sensation, and music teacher, Araksia Varderessian created and arranged the score, as well as oversaw all details of the production for the musical version of the famous fable.

The children had been practicing and preparing since December, 2007, including making several trips to a recording studio to record the songs. The elaborate costumes and set design were lead by the talents of Peggy Ishkhanian, Ashot Dourian, Gilbert Baghramian and Sarkis Azaian.

“The smashing success of our program was due to the combined efforts of our faculty, staff, parents, and, of course, our hard-working children,” said Preschool Director Vehik Gabrielian. “We are so proud of our little ones' accomplishments and thankful for everyone's support.”

CDs and DVDs of the musical will be available for sale in the next few weeks.

 

 

 

  Ferrahian High School Celebrates May 28: Armenian Independence Day                           

 

 

              

 

              

 

Hovig Keushgerian

 

Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School held their annual assembly to celebrate May 28, the day of Armenia’s first independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1918.

After many centuries of being under Ottoman rule, and dealing with grueling oppression, abolished rights, and the devastating Genocide of 1915, the people of Armenia shouted in one voice that they would not vanish without a fight. Armenians won the battles of Sardarabad, Gharakiliseh, and Pash-Abaran. Armenia was free at last to claim itself internationally as an independent and sovereign nation, on May 28, 1918.

Ferrahian Student Council senior members organized this momentous celebration. Several pictures of fedayees, generals, and intellectuals, were presented to the student body. We honored their bravery and patriotism for the Independence we celebrate today.  Student Council presented the historical background of the road to independence, its significance, and how it affects us today. They made one thing very clear; however, every Armenian owes his or her own life to all these individuals who fought with every ounce of strength, with every fiber of their being, to make our country free and sovereign in 1918. The seniors were followed by junior high students, who presented a patriotic dance, clad in the colors of the Armenian flag. As a surprise, special guest Karnig Sarkissian, renowned patriotic singer, entertained the student body with songs dedicated to our war heroes, soldiers, and the ARF. In closing, Sarkissian spoke to the seniors, conveying the importance of not only reaching higher levels of education, but returning to our roots, meaning our Armenian schools, to teach what we learned and keep our youth from assimilating. “These institutions are really all that we have, and our Diaspora cares for them immensely,” he explained. We raise the red, blue and orange tricolor high and proudly as we celebrate Independence Day.

 

 

 Ferrahian Elementary Year-End Program                                                                 

 

               

 

Outstanding Performance by Elementary Students at Ferrahian

By Sima Taslakian

The 4th Annual Ferrahian Elementary Year-End Program was as colorful as ever.  Our vibrant elementary students   performed   dances and sang   in Armenian and English for their proud audience. Mrs. Adrinee Aroyan the Elementary School Director gracefully introduced the students and their performances throughout the evening. It was a phenomenal presentation on behalf of the elementary students and their teachers.

Following the Armenian and American national anthems, Principal John Kossakian gave an insightful speech on the importance of keeping Armenian children in Armenian schools, where at an early age they form bonds that last a lifetime and can make a difference in our community.   Mr. Kossakian also made a reference to the outstanding improvements made at the North Hills campus throughout the year. He emphasized the need and importance of keeping our students   Armenian, and thanked all the teachers and staff for their dedication and support of our community.  

The children’s true talent and dedication was shown through their graceful dance.  Ms. Lilia Margaryan’s costumes and choreography were lavishly noticeable.  Mr. Alfred Mardoyan had successfully taught the second, third, fourth, and fifth grade students several Armenian songs. The artworks exhibited around the auditorium were due to the hard work of Ms. Talin Ordekian, art teacher, who worked tirelessly with every grade in order to get each student’s work finished and posted.  

The remarkable performance this year was the result of the instructors who worked around the clock to make sure everything was perfect, and of the students, who spent much time and effort practicing and memorizing various songs and choreography.  Our gratitude goes out to the following individuals:  Ms. Ordekian, art teacher, Ms. Lilia Margaryan, dance teacher, Mr. Mardoyan, music teacher and all the teachers for their hard work throughout the year. “This performance was a unique opportunity to showcase the cultural wealth of our community and the hard work of our students and teachers,” said Mrs. Adrinee Aroyan Elementary School Director. 

 

 

Dr. Kaiser Visits Ferrahian High School Students                                    

 

By: Hovig Keushgerian, 12th grade student

 

Dr. Hilmar Kaiser, a very serious and knowledgeable historian, presented a photo exhibition, followed by a very inspiring and down to earth lecture to Ferrahian High School students. The photos in the exhibition were all the result of Kaiser’s unrelenting and rigorous work in updating and researching archives from around the world that have any information regarding the Armenian Genocide and Turkish history during World War I. Armed with high resolution photos and immense knowledge, Kaiser was able to dissect and analyze piece by piece every photo in the exhibition, paying close attention to details and their implications. Details that would have been invisible to the untrained eye were explicitly pointed out to the students and teachers present in the room. Just listening to Dr. Kaiser’s insightful explanations was spellbinding, because not only were the details remarkable, but every point that he made was backed by undisputable proof. “My job is just like genetics,” Kaiser said, “you can assume nothing. You know only what you know and start from there. This is real work.”

After the exhibition, Dr. Kaiser entertained a very rapid and robust question and answer session with the students. Two questions that kept arising were if the guest lecturer was any part Armenian and what inspired him to be so involved with the Armenian Genocide. “I am pure German. What inspires me is that this is a political issue and a major human rights issue. [After all,] this genocide was committed by a modern state and a modern state is what governs us. If we are to let this go, we will be permitting this type of behavior around the world.” As the question and session answer became more involved with the students, Dr. Kaiser became more expressive and passionate. One question that was posed was, “In your opinion, where do you see the Armenian Diaspora 100 to 200 years from now?” “In my opinion, the Diaspora will not survive outside the homeland, may it be in Europe, USA, or the Middle East. If Armenians have any hope of preserving their identity, it will be back on your ground. You can join Armenian organization like the AYF or the ARF to do real work that will keep the community alive. It is harder to be an Armenian than an American. You have had things taken away from you that you must fight to keep and preserve. The future is in the youth. If you do not literally take over the community, you will not survive.” Dr. Hilmar Kaiser most recently published an introduction and provided commentary in a book entitled "The Memoirs of Abram Elkus: Lawyer, Ambassador Statesman." Abram Elkus was the American Ambassador to Turkey following Henry Morgenthau.

 Science Fair Scientific Minds At Work                                                                 

Science Fair is a well established school-wide extracurricular activity here at Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary and Ferrahian High School.  All middle school and high school students, who are enrolled in a science class participate in this highly educational and rewarding extracurricular activity. 

The purpose of the Science Fair is twofold.  Its primary objective is to teach the students how to plan, design, execute, and complete a task with limited assistance from teachers and parents, and secondarily to provide an opportunity for students to apply and to bring to life the scientific method much discussed in their science classes.  Additionally, the Science Fair program embodies several of our school’s goals, briefly, to graduate students who are critical thinkers and problem solvers, to graduate students who are life-long learners, to graduate students who are effective communicators, and who are responsible citizens.

The preparations for the Science Fair begin early in the academic year and come to fruition during the third quarter.  Traditionally, our school’s Science Fair is held early in March with the display of all the projects in the school’s gymnasium and their subsequent judging by engineers and scientists from Rocketdyne, the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA), and perhaps school alumni.  This year we were proud to have Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian, a 1996 Ferrahian graduate, amongst our judges. The winners of the school’s Science Fair then have an opportunity to participate in the Armenian Science Olympiad sponsored by AESA at the end of March, and later in the Los Angeles County’s Science Fair program held in April.

This year the judges had to choose the winning projects from amongst 43 middle school and 70 high school science projects.  Winners were chosen from each grade level, in addition to, an overall winner from middle school and high school levels.   

Of the winning projects 5 projects from the high school and 3 projects from the middle school were entered in the AESA sponsored Armenian Science Olympiad.  Two group projects performed by the AP Physics and the AP Environmental Science students won “Honorable Mention” status and a $50.00 cash prize.     

At the Los Angeles County Science Fair, where hundreds of middle school and high school students participate, we entered three group projects and one individual project from the high school level.  The individual project performed by the 11th grade AP Chemistry student, Carol Torrosian, titled: “ Removing Fluoride Ions From Solution Using Magnetic Particles”, was chosen for an award by the LA County’s Science Fair judges.  Her standing as a winner will be revealed in the evening of April 18, 2008.

 

 

  Ferrahian Students Demand Justice (April 24, 2008)                                          

 

 

 

On Thursday, April 24, at 1:00 p.m., over 120 students from Ferrahian School grades 10-12 were present at the Montebello Monument to commemorate the 93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.   The students, united paid their respect to the 1.5 million Martyrs of 1915 by placing a wreath at the Memorial Monument.

The Genocide Monument is designed to memorialize the innocent victims of this the first genocide of the 20th century. This particular site teaches that understanding the Armenian Genocide is an important step in preventing similar tragedies from occurring in the future and that those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.  After a heartfelt moving service, the students paid their condolences to the million and a half Armenians that lost their souls in 1915.

Following the emotional ceremony the students took part in the AYF-organized protest in front of the Los Angeles Turkish Consulate demanding justice for the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. Ferrahian students joined the AYF organized protest, by demanding acceptance of the Armenian Genocide. The protest was held in the late afternoon at 4:00 p.m. and lasted for two hours.

The Genocide of the Armenians by the Turkish government during World War I represents a major tragedy of the modern age. In this the first Genocide of the 20th century, almost an entire nation was destroyed. The Armenian people were effectively systematically eliminated from the homeland they had occupied for nearly three thousand years. This annihilation was premeditated and planned to be carried out under the cover of war.

We are the united front for the future of the Armenian race. With this we will bring the Turkish government to recognize the Armenian Genocide once and for all.

 

 

 

 

 

  Ferrahian's First Annual Middle School Spelling Bee                                  

    Ferrahian Middle School students were excited to participate in their 1st Annual Ferrahian Spelling Bee, organized by the English Department.  Mrs. Sandra Halajian and Ms. Jasmine Pogosyan coordinated the event and enrolled the school with the Scripps National Spelling Bee program.  The Spelling Bee was held in the Avedissian Hall at Ferrahian on February 15, 2008.

    Prior to the actual spelling bee, middle school students were provided with a list of words sent from Scripps and participated in classroom bees.  After classroom eliminations, 24 finalists ranging from sixth through eighth grades stepped up for the final spelling bee challenge.  It was an exhilarating sight to see these students compete for first place.  All were positively supported by their peer audience, who were engaged in the assembly through a PowerPoint presentation which showcased the contestants' spelling words on a large, overhead screen.  One student from each grade level remained for the final round.  With anticipation growing, sixth grader, Shawnt Karakozian, seventh grader, Alexia Vartanian, and eighth grader, Alec Semerjian battled for the title.  Alec proudly finished the competition in third place, Shawnt enthusiastically ended up in second place, and after properly spelling “virulent,” Alexia was the first-place winner of the spelling bee.  All participants of the spelling bee received certificates of achievement, second and third place winners were each awarded a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card, and Alexia took home a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card and a one-year subscription to Britannica  Online Encyclopedia, compliments of Scripps.  Alexia continued on to participate in the next round at The Daily News sponsored spelling bee.  

 

 

  Armenian Quiz Bowl - 2008                                                                          

   

    The 2008 Armenian Quiz Bowl was held on April 13, 2008 at Ararat Home. Ferrahian students won third place, falling behind Armenian Sister's Academy, second, and Chamlian, first.
    The Ferrahian participants were Alec Semergian, Armen Mayelian, and Khajag Kamarian. The team coach was Mrs. Seza Kurdian. The day was filled with intense competition as all the participants tried their hardest to represent Ferrahian.
    The school received $500 for the third place win and each participant received a mug and a pin. During the last three years Ferrahian 8th graders ranked first twice and second position once.