PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE 2019-2020

Welcome to St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Saturday School’s 64^th academic year!

Administration and staff are ready and anxious to begin the 2019/2020 school year. Registrations are open online at armenianschool.ca

The first day of school is on September 14, 2019, 9:30am-1:30pm at Forest Manor Public School (please see the school calendar for important dates).

The mission of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Saturday School is “to create an environment where students have the opportunity to connect with and immerse in their Armenian heritage by exploring its dimensions through the study of the Armenian language, literature, history, music, arts and culture”.

Once again, we will continue working with the International Languages Program of the Toronto District School Board (ILE TDSB). We greatly appreciate TDSB’s support and supervision of our morning program. Our teaching staff continues to plan collaborative, interactive, and project-based activities in order to make classes engaging and student-centered.

Together, at St. Sahag & St. Mesrob, we work very hard to improve our Saturday program and to ensure the well being of our students, parents, instructors, volunteers, and staff.

I am grateful for your ongoing support and dedication to making our beloved school a true Armenian community. I appreciate the sacrifices you make for your children through your persistence in helping them reach their full potential. Let us continue working together towards building a school where the environment is always happy and comfortable for everyone, where we come to learn enthusiastically, where our students’ intellect is challenged, and where they develop a keen interest and a deep love for all things Armenian.

We value parents’ involvement in students’ activities, both in monitoring their learning progress and in enforcing the Code of Conduct of the school. Please work with them in order to continue sustaining a community where we come to create, learn, teach, and socialize in meaningful ways, and thus strengthen our Armenian identity.

The Parents’ Council encourages all parents to get involved in the events and activities planned for this year, such as celebrations and special school events, monthly hot lunches for students, lahmajoun sales, breakfast social for parents, Christmas gift drive and party, the Grade 8 Armenia Trip. Let us aim to have parent representatives from each of our classes! Please fill out a Volunteer Form on registration day or download the file from the school’s webpage and email it to us.

I encourage you to check the school’s webpage regularly for activities and important announcements. We will post weekly reminders online in hopes that this will be an easier means of communication between administration and parents.

If you would prefer to avoid the registration rush on September 14^th, please register online. You can sign up your children for extracurricular activities and hot lunches online as well. Payments are accepted through PayPal or in person at the school’s office (cash, cheques, credit cards, or debit cards are accepted).

I look forward to collaborating with you and ensuring a very successful and happy year.

Dr Arpi Panossian Muttart (B.A., B.Ed., TESOL, M.Ed., PhD)
Principal of St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Saturday School

Mission Statement

The mission of the School is to create an environment where students have the opportunity to connect with and immerse in their Armenian heritage by exploring its cultural dimensions including Armenian literature, history, and culture through the study of the Armenian language.

Vision Statement

The vision of the School is to promote Armenian education in order to preserve the Armenian language and culture and to prepare the future leaders of the community who take pride in their Armenian heritage and make valuable contributions within their communities.

Academic Year

The academic year extends from September to June. The school operates a total of 33 or 34 Saturdays. School hours are 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and extracurricular classes from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Finances

A modest yearly fee is collected from parents in order to cover the cost of daily expenses of the school such as materials, equipment, rent, and staff wages. Two yearly fundraising events are organized as well as donations are accepted from community members to further develop and enhance the School program.

Facilities

Forest Manor Public School, located at 25 Forest Manor Rd, Toronto, ON M2J 1M4. The facility is part of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).

Years of legacy

students

0 +

Graduates

ADMINISTRATION & SCHOOL COUNCIL

The Principal of the School is Dr Arpi Panossian Muttart and the Vice-Principal is Mr Ara Ter Haroutiunian. 7 School Council members are appointed to take care of administrative and pedagogical needs of the school in 2019/2020. The School is part of the Canadian Armenian Community Services – Barev Centre, a not-for-profit organization, which is in turn part of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Toronto presided over by Rev. Archpriest Zareh Zargarian.

Dr. Arpi Panossian Muttart, Principal
Ara Ter Haroutiunian, Vice-Principal
Armineh Boyadjian, Treasurer
Mary Darakjian, Parents Committee
Mosi Minassian, Advisor & Yearbook
Elina Sinani Panossian, Advisor
Kristine Khancharyan, Advisor
Arpi Sarmazian, Advisor
Hayk Nar, Advisor

Send us a message – sc@armenianschool.ca

STAFF

The teaching team consists of 26 teachers, 10 teaching assistants, 6 extracurricular instructors and many volunteers.

Marieta Gasparian, Instructor Emeritus
Natalya Navasardyan, Music
Grace Melkomian, Pre-K
Sossi Barounian, Senior Kindergarten
Sona Jorbajian, Junior Kindergarten
Julieta Khachtryan, Ani Pre-K & Junior Kindergarten
Arminé Hovhannisyan, Ani Senior Kindergarten
Lena Torossian, Grade 1
Tamara Shahverdyan, Ani Grade 1
Irma Geukjian, Grade 2
Titar Chorbajian, Grade 2/3
Anna Paytyan Karamian Ani Grade 2
Maria Panossian Abajian, Grade 3
Eliza Badalyan, Ani Grade 3
Loucine Mangassarian, Grade 4
Anna Tonoyan, Ani Grade 4
Maria Bedirian Donoian, Grade 5
Angela Harutyunyan, Ani Grade 5
Betty Panossian, Grade 6
Arminé Zilfugharyan, Ani Grade 6
Vanda Kafessian, Grade 7
Gayané Ispiryan, Ani Grade 7 & 8
Anna Movsisian, Grade 8
Arminé Zirakyan, Secondary
Mosi Minassian, Secondary
Arda Der Hagopian, Secondary

CURRICULUM

The curriculum is developed by Armenian educators and it is reviewed yearly. The administration and the teaching team continually strive to improve instructional materials and methods. The styles of instruction are based on the theories of interactive, collaborative, emergent, and project-based teaching. Classroom instructions focus on Armenian language oral communication, reading, comprehension, and writing. Students are taught Armenian language, history, geography, music, virtues, culture, and community service. Extracurricular activities include chess, drawing, drama, dance, and sports; these sessions take place weekly from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

9:30am - 1:30pm

Regular classes (Language, History and Culture, and Music) will start on September 14, 2019, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, and will end on June 13, 2020.

LANGUAGE

Language is the foundation of one’s identity. The Armenian language program implements the communicative approach of teaching. The overall goal for our students is to develop oral and literacy skills in the Armenian language and to inspire in them the love for the Armenian language. Teachers, students, and parents collaborate to create opportunities for meaningful communication and engagement with the Armenian language.

HISTORY AND CULTURE

The goal is to instill the pride of the Armenian heritage in our students. Armenian history and culture solidify our students’ Armenian identity. Through interactive methods, such as drama and storytelling, teachers engage their students in learning not only the ancient history of Armenians, but also encourage students to learn about their own family histories.

MUSIC

Learning Armenian songs and being part of the school choir is mandatory for all students. Music is part of our efforts to teach Armenian culture and the arts. “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” - Plato

1:30 - 2:30pm

Extracurricular activities (Dance/Drama, Chess, Drawing, and Sports) will start on November 2, 2019, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, and will end on May 23, 2020.

DANCE/DRAMA

Dance and drama are part of our physical education program. This activity provides students the opportunity of speaking Armenian with like-minded peers. Students express themselves not only orally, but are also given the opportunity to enhance their non-verbal communication skills and refine their creativity. Furthermore, students learn public speaking skills and overcome the fear of performing in public.

CHESS

Chess develops logical and critical thinking of students and in turn, expands their capacity to learn. Students learn to concentrate, to be patient, to be courteous, to be responsible, to solve problems calmly, to build self-esteem, to experience the consequences of good and bad decisions, and to set goals and work towards accomplishing them.

DRAWING

Students learn when they are interested and actively involved. Art classes expand imagination and provide students a space to interact with like-minded peers. Students are given the opportunity to learn about Armenian art and develop their own style of expression. Learning to draw is learning to see, understand and make sense of one’s environment.

SPORTS

This program is designed based on the interest of students. Students are given the opportunity to play organized sports, to learn to follow instructions, to compete fairly, to strengthen their muscles, to develop their endurance, to make new friends, and of course, to express themselves in the Armenian language through an activity that they are interested in.

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