PRESS RELEASE
CHARLIE KEYAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Contact: Randy Baloian at [email protected]
Zaroohi Der Mugrdechian, Principal
108 N. Villa, Clovis, California 93612
Tel: 559-323-1955
Fax: 559-323-1959
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ckacs.org/
KEYAN STUDENTS JOURNEY TO ARMENIA
For students of the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School, the
images of the homeland that were previously limited to books and the
walls of the classroom came to life when they journeyed to Armenia
this past Spring break. CKACS Principal Zar Der Mugrdechian and
parents accompanied the 5th and 6th graders on their tour of the
Republic of Armenia.
Among the more memorable stops were school sites at Karin, Dzovinar,
and Digranashen. At the Armenia Tree Project's nursery in Karin the
CKACS joined with students from Yerevan School #135 to prepare
saplings that will eventually be planted throughout the country as
part of the project's reforestation effort. At Dzovinar, CKACS and
the town's students exchanged greetings in the community church before
venturing outside to play in the snow. The CKACS group also enjoyed
the hospitality of the school's principal, staff, and students at
Digranashen, located only a few miles from the border between Armenia
and Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan).
In Yerevan students met with parliamentarian and political activist
Raffi Hovanissian during his hunger strike staged in the square of the
great Opera Theater. Hovanissian, a Fresno native and the republic's
first foreign minister, emerged as Armenia's primary opposition leader
after a hotly disputed presidential election in February.
The CKACS group visited the country's major cultural sites - including
Sartarabad, the Madenataran manuscript repository, the National
Museum, Dzidzernagapert (the Genocide Memorial and Museum), Yeraplur
(the veteran's cemetery), and the Sassoontzi Tavit statue. Also on
the itinerary were such centuries-old churches and monasteries as
Etchmiadzin, Khor Virap, Lake Sevan, Noravank, and Keghart. On the
road to Gyumri, CKACS stopped to see the Varaz Samuelian Cultural
Center in Artik. A long-time resident of Fresno, Samuelian was a
noted artist and sculptor as well as friend to author William Saroyan.
Students and parents additionally attended a performance of the State
Dance Ensemble and watched Team Armenia square-off against the Czech
Republic in a World Cup qualifying soccer match.
The CKACS looks forward to 2015 when the school will make its next
trek to the homeland.
CHARLIE KEYAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Contact: Randy Baloian at [email protected]
Zaroohi Der Mugrdechian, Principal
108 N. Villa, Clovis, California 93612
Tel: 559-323-1955
Fax: 559-323-1959
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ckacs.org/
KEYAN STUDENTS JOURNEY TO ARMENIA
For students of the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School, the
images of the homeland that were previously limited to books and the
walls of the classroom came to life when they journeyed to Armenia
this past Spring break. CKACS Principal Zar Der Mugrdechian and
parents accompanied the 5th and 6th graders on their tour of the
Republic of Armenia.
Among the more memorable stops were school sites at Karin, Dzovinar,
and Digranashen. At the Armenia Tree Project's nursery in Karin the
CKACS joined with students from Yerevan School #135 to prepare
saplings that will eventually be planted throughout the country as
part of the project's reforestation effort. At Dzovinar, CKACS and
the town's students exchanged greetings in the community church before
venturing outside to play in the snow. The CKACS group also enjoyed
the hospitality of the school's principal, staff, and students at
Digranashen, located only a few miles from the border between Armenia
and Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan).
In Yerevan students met with parliamentarian and political activist
Raffi Hovanissian during his hunger strike staged in the square of the
great Opera Theater. Hovanissian, a Fresno native and the republic's
first foreign minister, emerged as Armenia's primary opposition leader
after a hotly disputed presidential election in February.
The CKACS group visited the country's major cultural sites - including
Sartarabad, the Madenataran manuscript repository, the National
Museum, Dzidzernagapert (the Genocide Memorial and Museum), Yeraplur
(the veteran's cemetery), and the Sassoontzi Tavit statue. Also on
the itinerary were such centuries-old churches and monasteries as
Etchmiadzin, Khor Virap, Lake Sevan, Noravank, and Keghart. On the
road to Gyumri, CKACS stopped to see the Varaz Samuelian Cultural
Center in Artik. A long-time resident of Fresno, Samuelian was a
noted artist and sculptor as well as friend to author William Saroyan.
Students and parents additionally attended a performance of the State
Dance Ensemble and watched Team Armenia square-off against the Czech
Republic in a World Cup qualifying soccer match.
The CKACS looks forward to 2015 when the school will make its next
trek to the homeland.