Already into its 84th academic year, St. Stephen’s Armenian Saturday School will continue to hold its classes remotely at least until the second week of January as the response to the health
emergency evolves accordingly.
The school concluded its previous academic year with a year-end graduation ceremony on June 13. In a unique year where every activity was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the premises were closed and lessons conducted virtually.
At the year-end graduation ceremony, the School Board gave an honorary plaque to each graduate, who received other gifts as well.
Students were also granted a number of awards by the Armenian Relief Society. The ARS Leola Sassouni and Shoushi chapters’ $500 scholarship was awarded to Ani Manjikian. The Leola Sassouni chapter’s $500 scholarship was awarded to Emin Aprahamian. Every graduate also received a $25 Hairenik Bookstore gift card by the ARS Social Service Committee.
In addition to it, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian presented each graduate the book “Commentary on the Nicene Creed,” by the late Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian.
Twelfth grade graduates are: Emin Aprahamian, Ani Ganjian, Ani Manjikian, Alex Markarian, Jack Nagashyan, Vicky Bazarbashian, Narine Berejiklian, and Rosaline Sarkisian.
The school will hold classes via videoconference until Saturday, January 9, following which it will assess the situation in accordance with the CDC guidelines.
10th, 11th, and 12th grade registration was held late August. We then registered them with AVC (Armenian Virtual College) based in Armenia through ANEC Siamanto Academy. Siamanto Academy classes started Sept. 26, 2020 virtually. It is held every Saturday from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm.
The Saturday School curriculum consists of Armenian language, history, as well as Armenian songs and dances. The students are learning their forefathers’ language, history, culture and traditions through newly published textbooks and workbooks. The school also provides notebooks, folders and other school supplies to each student.