Los Angeles, With the pomp and circumstance of its traditional Opening Ceremony, TCA Arshag Dickranian School re-opened its doors for its 34th consecutive scholastic year to its students on Monday, August 25, at 8:30 a.m.
The guests of the event included Archpriest Manoug Markarian, Pastor of St. John Church, School Benefactor Mr. Hmayak Baltayan, TCA Board Member and former ADS teacher Mr. Vatche Semerdjian and TCA Boatd Member Mr. Kevork Keushkerian. Among the ADS Board Members attending were Chairman Mr. George K. Mandossian, Vice Chair Mr. Parsegh Kartalian, Treasurer Mrs. Angine Garibyan, PTO Liaison Mrs. Shirley Kandralyan and Alumni Liaison Dr. Lisa Meneshian.
The Opening Ceremony took place at the School courtyard, where students ranging from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade gathered under the supervision of their teachers, along with the presence of dedicated parents.
Dr. Lisa Meneshian, who was the MC of the event, welcomed students, teachers, board members and guests and asked them to rise for the renditions of the US, Armenian and School anthems. She then invited Archpriest Manoug Markarian to the podium. Father Manoug first conveyed the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, and then started the ceremony with his prayers, blessing attendants and the new scholastic year. Next, MC Dr. Meneshian, an ADS alumna who was the first student to register at TCA Arshag Dickranian School when it was first founded in 1981, shared the memory of her registration at the School where she first met Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. George K. Mandossian, and had a picture taken with him. She proceeded by inviting Mr. Mandossian to deliver his message on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
Mr. Mandossian greeted the students, parents, teachers and guests, and noted the exciting developments that took place at the School during the summer vacation, such as the installation of a security surveillance system throughout the School campus to ensure efficient safety measures and upgrading teachers» kitchen to a brand new one, which was a donation from parent Mr. Gagik Kniazian and the labor Mr. Andy Asatryan of Apple Home Developer Inc. Mr. Mandossian thanked Mr. Kniazian and Mr. Asatryan for their generous effort in supporting the School. Another highlight of Mr. Mandossian’s speech was thanking high School art history teacher, Mrs. Polet Zargarian, and middle & elementary School art teacher, Miss Ani Vardanyan, for adding creative artwork to the walls of the courtyard with the help of students from 5th through 9th grades. He proceeded by inviting those students to the podium to thank them for dedicating their time during their summer break to paint and complete the murals. Mr. Mandossian concluded his speech by wishing everyone a productive year and reaffirming the Board’s pledge to face all challenges with resolution to serve the community for years to come.
Next, Dr. Meneshian invited Principal Dr. Manoug Seraydarian to deliver his speech. Dr. Seraydarian greeted the attendants and welcomed the students to the new academic year and reminded all of the importance of the roles knowledge, education and discipline play in our lives. He continued by introducing the new teachers, the new addition of a Dean of Students at TCA Arshag Dickranian School and the shift the School has made in the textbooks to be used this academic year, in compliance with new standards of education. Following Dr. Seraydarian’s speech, tenth grade students Lily and Ani Sarafian delivered two heartfelt recitations of the poems «Hayots Lezoun» and «Keechenk Payts Hayenk» by Barooyr Sevag, igniting an air of commitment within the hearts of the attendants to work on the betterment of their education in order to serve their Armenian community. First grade students then released balloons with the colors of the Armenian flag and sounded the first bell of the School day.
In conclusion of the program, MC Dr. Meneshian wished everyone a fruitful new scholastic year and asked parents and guests to enjoy the refreshments and the assortment of cookies served by the PTO, while students headed to their classrooms to attend their first lesson of the year.
Located at 1200 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, the TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School is a federally tax exempt, Pre-K to 12th grade private educational institution. For more information visit www.dickranianschool.org.
