2011_10 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper October 2011

              October 2011
Hye Sharzhoom
7
Thank You Annual Fund Donors
(received as of
September 28, 2011)
Friends Supporters
Arnold & Dianne Gazarian     Kathleen Demerdjian
c, Archie & Kathy Zakarian
Sponsor J
Daughters of Vartan,
Grand Council, Fresno
ASO, From Page 1
interesting activities for the year,
stated ASO President Vartush
Mesropyan.
The first event of the year
took place Saturday afternoon,
October 1. Members and friends
joined together for a fun-filled
"Game Day," which was a way
to get all members and students
who are interested in the club to
get acquainted with one another
and meet the executives. "Game
Day" included a variety of games
such as "Water Balloon Toss,"
"Marshmallow Whipping Cream
Game," and a "Toilet Paper
Wrapping" contest.
"Game Day was our first
event and since we had a lot of
freshmen it was the perfect way
to get everyone to mingle and
get to know each other," said
Mesropyan. "We had a good
turnout, everyone had a good time,
and it was quite successful."
"This year there were more
interesting games planned than
there were in previous years, more
participation, and it was really
fun to feel like a child again," said
ASO member Lilit Grigoryan.
"The Marshmallow Whipping
Cream game was a bit too messy,"
said Mesropyan with humor.
"What I really enjoyed about
'Game Day' was being able to
socialize with the ASO outside
of school. I am also glad I went
because I met a lot of new people
that day," stated Armen Arikian.
With such a successful turnout
for "Game Day," ASO is excited
to announce other activities they
have planned for the months to
come. Along with hosting fun
events, ASO also takes pride in
their involvement in volunteer
work. On Saturday, October 15,
ASO participated in the 2011
Walk of Life for the Armenian
Bone Marrow Donor Registry. In
addition, on Saturday, November
5, members are encouraged to
take part in assisting at the Charlie
Keyan Armenian Community
School Banquet. These volunteer
opportunities give members and
interested students the ability
to interact with the Armenian
community.
ASO is also proud to announce
their upcoming Annual Car
Wash to be held from 11:00AM-
4:00PM on Saturday, October 22,
at the Viktoria's Place restaurant
parking lot.
In addition, ASO will proudly
participate in Fresno State's
International Culture Night to
be held on Sunday, November
1, where the ASO will present a
program of Armenian cultural
dancing and music, wearing
traditional costumes.
There are a lot of activities
planned to make a successful
year and students are encouraged
to take part in ASO. Take the
opportunity to meet new people,
learn about the Armenian culture
through Armenian cultural based
events, and enjoy a good time.
"There are many new people
and we just have a lot of fun
together" shared Ani Grigoryan.
So don't miss the opportunity to
join the fun at the next event.
Mamikonian, From Page 1
School of Music, continuing to the
Moscow Central Music School,
the prestigious Tchaikovsky
Conservatory, and the Piano
Academia in Imola, Italy.
He was the winner of
the World Music Masters
Competition in Monte Carlo in
1992—a prize reserved only for
previous winners of international
competitions. He has performed
at countless prominent venues
around the world including the
Musikverein (Vienna), Carnegie
Hall (New York), Wigmore Hall
(London), and the Kennedy
Center (Washington D.C.). He
has appeared with countless
world-renowned symphonies,
and has recorded extensively
for radio and television. He
has gained worldwide attention
and recognition for his
"elegant technique and superb
musicianship."
The audience watched with
great pleasure,  as Mamikonian
skillfully played each note. The
music seemed to consume him
at times, tower over him, and
proclaim its victory. At other
times, Mamikonian seemed to be
the master, commanding the notes
to play. Nowhere was this clearer
than in Bach's "Chaconne in D
Minor." Struggles manifested
themselves with clear crescendos,
a battle between good and evil,
and in the next instance the music
would decrescendo to a soft
murmur.
Following his final number, a
standing ovation congratulated
and praised the talented musician,
and he humbly indulged the
audience with two encores, the
last of which was a new rendition
of Aram Khachaturian's "Sabre
Dance," that Mamikonian himself
had arranged.
Lost in the dynamic world of
Mamikonian's music, it was easy
to forget about the real world, to
lose oneself in the colorful images
created by the flittering notes.
Armenian Studies Program
5245 N. Backer Ave., PB4
Fresno CA 93740-8001
www.armenianstudies.csufresno.edu
New Principal at Keyan Armenian Community School
in
Andrew Esguerra
Staff Writer
As the Charlie Keyan Armenian
Community School continues
to thrive and expand, active
Armenian community member
and former educator in the Fresno
Unified School District, Zaroohi
Der Mugrdechian, took the reins
as principal from former principal
Sophie Mekhitarian this summer.
As an Armenian Community
School graduate, I talked with
Principal Der Mugrdechian
about the school and about her
plans for the coming year.
What  is your vision  for  the
school?
I would like to see the school
gain accreditation from the
Western Association of Schools
& Colleges (WASC). We already
have scheduled an initial visit
[by the WASC committee]
to the school for early 2012.
Gaining accreditation will help
get the school's name out in the
community for the quality of the
education it delivers and help
earn grants to cover operating
costs and special projects or
programs unique to the Charlie
Keyan Armenian Community
School. Increasing the school's
recognition and offering quality
programs are also goals of mine.
How do you plan to achieve
these goals?
Our teachers are going to go
through training, in-services,
conferences, and various classes
provided    by     CI o vis     Unified
L. to R.: New CKAS principal Zar Der Mugrdechian, with pre-
Kindergarten teacher Annette Agulian, right, and student
Julie Sabiljian, center, ringing in the new school year.
School District to help improve
their teaching skills.
I would like to get the students
more involved with outreach
projects with the community.
Some examples would be
wrapping presents for needy
children during Christmas time,
or participating in the Armenian
Bone Marrow Donor Registry
(ABMDR) Walk of Life in
October.
I would also like to encourage
parents to be more involved in
the activities with the school [and
their child's education] that will
in turn make the school an even
better place.
What important information do
you think people should know
about the school?
This is a private school
completely      independent      of
government funding that gives
students an excellent education
and also prepares them for success
in continuing education and life
beyond that. It also provides a
strong emphasis on the Armenian
culture, language and heritage.
How can the public support the
continuation and growth of the
school?
The public is welcome to
participate in our activities and
programs, which are excellent
and engaging for all. We always
w el c om e donati ons, c ontri buti ons
of property, or voluntary service
and we put on great fundraising
functions such as our banquet in
November and our Crab Feed in
February. Every dollar contributed
to the school is tax deductible and
goes to the sole beneficiaries, the
students.
Thirteenth Annual Armenian Film Festival
Spring 2012
(Date to be Announced)
Sponsored by the Armenian Students Organization
and Armenian Studies Program
First Call for Entries
Entries are being sought for the Thirteenth Annual Armenian Film Festival
to be held on the California State University, Fresno campus.
Films made by Armenian directors/writers, or films
with an Armenian theme are being sought.
Films up to 1 hour in length.
Films may be in any language (with subtitles), English preferred.
Films may be on any topic, Armenian theme preferred.
Film must be in video (NTSC)/DVD format.
Please send the video/DVD to:
Armenian Film Festival
c/o Armenian Studies Program
5245 N Backer Ave. PB4
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
Hye Oozh - Saturdays 9:00 AM - Noon
90.7 FM-KFSR
Hye Oozh is 90.7 KFSR's weekly program dedicated
to contemporary and traditional Armenian music and culture.
Current Hye Oozh DJs:
Tatevik Ekezian • Vartush Mesropyan • Marine Vardanyan