GLENDALE, CA–More than 100 ARS Saturday School students from five schools participated in a seminar program held on February 6, 2010, at the Glendale Youth Center. The event organized by the Regional Saturday School Committee was emceed by Kevork Bedigian, principal of the Talin School.
Maestro Alfred Mardoyan led the choir practice session, as the children sang enthusiastically. Nyree Derderian, who chairs the Regional Strategic Planning Committee, presented the history of the ARS in an interactive bilingual manner and then showed a video prepared for the ARS Centennial. Derderian emphasized the role of the ARS in the educational arena, including running the Saturday School, where she noted, not only are the students taught the Armenian language and culture, but they are enriched with the Armenian spirit.
Annie Guiragossian, ARS of Western USA Regional Executive Liaison to the Saturday School Committee, thanked the program participants; and Ung. Sossie Poladian, Chair of the Regional Executive, asked the students to be proud of their heritage and encouraged them to learn and practice using the Armenian language and culture.
In an effort to reach to the student population, Nyree Derderian and other ARS members are visiting day schools and making presentations regarding the ARS and its century-long heritage of service.