On Sunday, June 16, Father's Day, the Kirikian Armenian School held its year-end hantes and graduation. Under the loving gaze of teachers, parents and family, the students marched in a procession to inspiring Armenian music. A highlight of the procession were the graduating seniors who marched in each holding hands with a graduating kindergartner. The contrast of their blue and white gowns signified their level of achievement.

After the students lined up on stage, Dr, Levon Capan, Director of the Junior Religious Choir conducted and accompanied the students in singing the Hayr Mer and other Armenian Liturgical music. Mrs. Ani Capan, Principal of the Kirikian Armenian School followed with her address. In her remarks she said that the purpose of the school is to transfer knowledge of the Armenian language and heritage to the new generations. She said that this year’s hantes was dedicated to the fathers of the students of the Kirikian Armenian School and mentioned some of the new innovations initiated at the school this year such as the Chess Club and the Chamber Music Orchestra. She invited all Armenian children in the community to join the Chess Club as well as the Chamber Orchestra. She ended her comments by urging that families speak Armenian in the home to reinforce what is being learned in school.

Mrs. Capan recognized the work and assistance of her wonderful teaching staff and numerous parent volunteers who help weekly or on special projects. The volunteers were Jane Torigian, Maral Kalishian, Diana Bourghol, Gayle Saraydarian, Shirley Ann Kalaydjian, Nina Kerdasha, Nadine Mekjian, Talar Sarafian, Karen Arslanian, Tania Vartanyan, Talin Kupelian, Vicken, Bedian, Aram Setian, Vicken Demirjian, John Torigian and Paul Bourghol.

She also recognized the assistance of alumni who helped out assisting the teachers in the classrooms. They were Tyana Keshishian, Arianna Cruickshank, Katya Kupelian, Vehanoush and Carla Sabbagh, Nairi Arslanian, Samantha Khorozian and Seta Kelly.

One the most enjoyable segments of the hantes is the performance of the Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten students who sang adorable children’s songs with pantomime movements. They always receive the warmest reception from the audience. The Kindergarten graduation followed with V. Rev. Fr. Papken Dz. V. Anoushian distributing the diplomas and gifts to all the Kindergarten students. They are Arev Colakian, Ara Hajinlian, Alek Kalishian, Alex Kuruzian, Arlen Morales and Daniel Tavitian.

The first through sixth grades performed spirited traditional Armenian folk dances in their new costumes under the direction of Simone Shenloogian and Kristen Doramajian of the Antranig Dance Ensemble. The beautiful new folk dancing costumes were designed and decorated by Marie Zokian. Materials and decorations were donated by Sirvart Demirjian. Poems were recited by the second, fifth and sixth grades. A well-received funny skit involving a “village girl vs. a city fellow” followed, performed by Nairi Arslan and Allen Festekjian. The piece was ably directed by Sirvart Demirjian. A surprise presentation prepared by Maro Hajakian and her students highlighted Principal Ani Capan’s biography on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of her tenure at the Kirikian Armenian School. The children warmly conveyed their appreciation for her dedication to all the students and the school over so many years and presented her with a commemorative plaque.

The new Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Diana Bourghol performed “Kele Kele” by Gomidas Vartabed with fine execution taking into consideration age of the children. The group received warm applause from the audience.

The seventh grade graduation followed. Each graduate performed a specific talent. Nairi Arlsan and Gabriella Bagdat performed on the Viola and flute, Nrani Bedian and Julia Vartanyan recited “Garod Hye Lezoo,” Talar Arslanian, Lina Ariyan and Celine Belekdanian preformed “Naz Bar” dance, Armen Panossian performed on the violin, Nishan Torigian read “Azkapanian”, Alec Jamgotchian played the baritone horn and Anabelle Cruickshank played “Akvarel” by Parhutarian on the piano. Several students participated in the farewell address. Talar Arslanian and Lina Ariyan gave farewell address in English, Armen Panossian in Armenian and Gabriella Bagdat, also in Armenian, completed the address thanking all the teachers, and Principal Ani Capan, for their work and dedication and promised to be proud Armenians and to keep the Armenian language and heritage alive.

The students received their diplomas, plaques and gifts from Fr. Papken, Principal Capan, and seventh grade teachers Talin Manukian and Arsho Sabbagh. The sixth graders also received their history medals based on the 100 question Diocesan History Test.

Ani Capan invited Fr. Anoushian to give his address while at the same time thanking him for his devotion, participation and teaching the students at the Armenian School as he personally teaches Armenian Apostolic Faith, himself. What an amazing benefit for all the students to receive religious teaching directly from a Dzayrakooyn Vartabed with the extraordinary knowledge and faith Hayr Soorp has.

In his remarks, Fr. Anoushian stated that the Kirikian Armenian School is the best Saturday School in the region with the highest amount of students, a staff of twenty-five teachers, with a multitude of subjects, rich curriculum, enriching activities and a dedicated group of parents and volunteers ensuring its outstanding success. He noted that Mrs. Capan has added many innovations such as the Chess Club, Chamber Music Orchestra, “Sharagan” Religious Choir, and a special Armenian Conversation teacher for the non-Armenian students and many others, making to the school an exceptional institution. Through these innovations, Fr. Papken’s goal is to expand the school’s extracurricular activities so that any child attending will find something interesting in Armenian Culture offered at the Kirikian Armenian school making it more attractive to a larger group of Armenian children. He also remembered the sad loss of Mr. Garbis Kirikian, school benefactor for whom the school is named, and the loss of teachers Siranus Gulbenk and Araxie Diratzouian. He thanked all the teachers and Mrs. Capan for their dedication, important work and wished everyone good health, happiness and success and prayed that God bless everyone.

Following Fr. Anoushian’s remarks all the students returned to the stage for group singing of rousing Armenian songs which was the culmination of the hantes. The chorus singing is directed by Mrs. Mary Zokian and the piano accompaniment is performed by Mrs. Artemis Arlsanian. The “Jashagehtsook” prayer was led by Fr. Papken following which, everyone joyfully adjourned to Mekhjian Atrium for refreshments, congratulations and farewells.

The 2013-2014 school-year will begin on Saturday, September 14, 2013. All children are warmly welcomed. Please contact Principal Ani Capan about school registration information, the Chamber Orchestra and Chess Club.

Kirikian Armenian School Celebrates 50 Years Students Participate in End-of-Year Hantes
By Taleen Babayan

This year the annual hantes at Kirikian Armenian School was like no other. Not only did it mark the school’s end of the year cultural program, it was also a time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the school and to pay tribute to its historic past.

As alumni, parents and teachers gathered on Sunday afternoon, June 13 at St. Thomas Armenian Church in Tenafly, New Jersey, they were greeted by over 100 Armenian school students, from nursery to the seventh grade, who entered Saddler Hall to the patriotic song, “Garmeer, Gabooyd, Dziranakoyn.” The students took their places on the stage, which was flanked by two large banners of every Armenian school graduate’s favorite characters, “Ara” and “Maral.”

The afternoon also paid homage to long-time Armenian educator Ms. Sylva Der Stepanian, the brainchild of the Armenian school curriculum – now widely used in Armenian schools around the world - which in the 1970s introduced the popular “Ara” and “Maral” characters. Serving as one of the first principals of Kirikian Armenian School, Der Stepanian’s efforts and dedication laid a strong foundation for educating generations of Armenian-Americans over the next four decades.

Siblings Shahe and Katia Jebejian, emulating “Ara” and “Maral” in dress and character, welcomed everyone to the program – to much fanfare - promising an afternoon of song and dance and many other Armenian cultural elements.

In her welcoming address, Ani Capan, principal of the school for the past 25 years, said it was a memorable day for the Kirikian Armenian school community. She noted the most-recent successes of the school, with its record-high enrollment of 135 students - vowing to “double this number” in the future. She credited the teaching staff’s hard-work in providing quality Armenian instruction to the students week after week.

Commending Capan and the teaching staff for their dedicated service to the school, Very Rev. Fr. Papken Dz. V. Anoushian, Esq., pastor of St. Thomas Armenian Church, said, “they are all deserving of our applause and our respect, because they have given respect and love to our church and to our school.”

“Before they leave Kirikian, our students have to be proud of the Armenian Church, language, culture, history, and of our mother Armenia,” he said.

A testament to Fr. Anoushian’s words was the 50th anniversary reunion committee, who had diligently been preparing for this milestone since last year. Sarkis Jebejian, Esq., chairman of the committee, said the members were proud to contribute to this memorable occasion.

“We realized that we had very important memories of our childhood here,” he said. “We didn’t just learn to read and write or dance here. We learned to be good Armenians and to be good people.”

He expressed his gratitude to Capan and to all the teachers for their continued support and commitment to the school. “I was so proud watching a committee of former students, full of enthusiasm, helping the school to organize this 50th anniversary,” Capan later said. “They made us feel young again and look to the future with renewed hope.”

Throughout the afternoon, each of the grades presented various aspects of Armenian culture, including poem recitations, dance, song and theater. Graduation ceremonies for the kindergarten and seventh grade classes also took place. In her farewell speech, seventh grade graduate Carla Sabbagh reflected on her and her classmates’ time as students at Kirikian Armenian School and the valuable lessons they learned that they would carry with them in their futures.

Another highlight of the afternoon was a video presentation tracing Kirikian Armenian School’s history from its beginnings to present-day, filled with footage and photographs of students and teachers from the past 50 years.

Following the hantes, the celebration continued in the adjacent atrium. Rose-filled vases adorned with Armenian letters served as centerpieces, reminding former students about their lessons of the “ayp, poo, pen.” A life-size cut-out board of “Ara” and “Maral” was also on display where many children posed for photographs with the beloved characters.

As different generations of alumni, teachers and students gathered together, they enjoyed conversation, Armenian food and the cutting of the celebratory cake.

Reflecting on the end of the year hantes and reunion, principal Ani Capan said she is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Armenian School for over 30 years both as a parent and as a principal.

She also expressed her appreciation to everyone involved in making both the hantes and the reunion come to fruition.

“A success of 50 years does not come to realization by itself,” said Capan. “Unity with one single goal and working hand in hand is the secret of all success.”

• Sarkis and Artemis Arslanian “Reading Award”

• Dr. Harout & Shake Mekhjian “Spelling Award”

• Aram & Madlen Setian “Hasmig Nishanian Outstanding Student Award”

• Dr. Levon & Ani Capan“Seta Sahinyan/Yavru-Sakuk History Award”

• Shakae Shahinian “George Shahinian Perfect Attendance Award”