“Good morning Manoogian students and staff! Pareelooys Manoogianee ashagerdner yev osootseechner!” The familiar greeting echoes through the halls as teachers hush their hyper students and awaken their drooling ones. The building stirs as one entity; preschoolers and seniors alike await adventure and revelation. So begins a typical day at Manoogian.

My school is a diverse family – a community in the truest sense of the word. As an institution propagating the Armenian heritage, Manoogian offers a cultural pathway for me and other children of the Armenian diaspora. However, the breadth of the student population is what fuels its progress. Our classrooms are enriched by Chaldeans, Ukrainians, and Persians, among many others. My friends and I like to call ourselves “honorary members” of our respective nations. The cuisines, phrases, and customs that we share every day encourage us to value both individualism and open-mindedness.

Besides thriving in its cultural diversity, Manoogian is distinguished in its status as a pre-K to 12th school. A large proportion of every graduating class is composed of students who first attended the school in their diapers.

In the twelve years since I immigrated to the United States, Manoogian has shaped my present identity. My teachers and peers have propelled my transformation from a shy toddler to an active participant in the lives of fellow students. A privileged member of groups like NHS and student council, I partake in the collective effort to enhance the limited resources of our small charter school.

This spirit of contribution and learning will continue to motivate me in my future pursuits. Like many of our former students, I will return to visit Manoogian with the nostalgic gratitude unique to its graduates.

Southfield, Michigan A.G.B.U. Alex & Marie Manoogian SchoolDecember 2012

Armenia Tree ProjectOn October 11, 2012, Jeff Masarjian, Executive

Director, and Jason Sohigian, Deputy Director, of the Armenia Tree Project, accompanied by field worker Alla Sahakyan from Yerevan, Armenia, visited the Manoogian School. Ms. Sahakyan presented students in upper elementary and middle school a power point presentation of present-day Armenia. All three answered numerous questions regarding life and the environment in Armenia. The school contributed $500 from JAGBU sales toward the further growth of the “Manoogian Forest” in Armenia. Students went home much more enlightened about issues concerning clean air, water, and soil.

My Second Home by Lilit Kazazian (12th Grade)

Louise Manoogian Simone Honored

National Honor Society Induction

PTO News

New Teachers

On October 24, 2012, the following High School students were inducted into the Manoogian Chapter of the National Honor Society: Oleksandra Sakhapova (12th), Dunia Atcho, Myroslav Grygorkiv, Celine Hana, and Viken Yeranosian (11th), Natalie Arslanian, Nikole Davtyan, Michelle Hami, Mariya Nakonechna, and Elleanna Saco (10th). The selection was made by a faculty council and is based on character, scholarship, leadership, and service.

The A.G.B.U. Manoogian School PTO held its first 2012-2013 meeting on September 20, 2012. Serving as Co-Presidents this academic year are Mrs. Nazelli Basilisco and Mrs. Silva Sagherian. Welcoming remarks were made by Ms. Dyana Kezelian, Elementary and Middle School Principal, and Dr. Hosep Torossian, High School Principal. Head Teacher, Mrs. Sonia Kalfayan ran the meeting which coincided with Curriculum Night with all

teachers and a fair number of parents in attendance. Activities planned for the academic year include the traditional once a month hot lunches and pancake breakfasts, as well as the once a week bagel and muffin sales, and a monthly pizza lunch, primarily for elementary students. The two major fundraisers are Vegas Night and the Silent Auction. Stay tuned for more updates and please get involved!

Mrs. Louise Manoogian Simone, daughter of our school’s founders and benefactors, Alex and Marie Manoogian, and former President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, has become the first recipient of the “Knight of Holy Etchmiadzin” Pontifical Medal, bestowed upon her in New York City on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012, by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The prestigious award is in tribute to Mrs. Manoogian Simone’s numerous contributions to Armenia’s national and church life. Mrs. Manoogian Simone, in her own right, is a benefactress of our school, magnanimously investing, along with her brother, Mr. Richard Manoogian, in the extensive renovation of the main, existing structure, and in the construction of a new library and pre-school, as well as a state-of-the-art high school.

Dr. Anca Stefan was born and grew up in Bucharest, Romania. She earned her Baccalaureate degree from the “Sf. Sava” National College, and then her Licentiate (a 5-year degree) and Master’s degree from the “Politehnica” University of Bucharest. After working in the software industry for about a year, she decided to put herself through more schooling and pursued a doctorate in biomedical engineering from Ohio State University. Dr. Stefan has also received a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and is a certified secondary teacher. She has taught many college courses, as well as high school mathematics and science. She has also written software to help students understand unfamiliar concepts. She is now enjoying her time teaching physics, chemistry and computers.

Mrs. Elizabeth Mack, the new art teacher, holds degrees from Michigan State University, the College for Creative Studies, and Madonna University. She spent years as a creative designer at General Motors Design Center working in graphic, exhibit, and industrial design. She also actively exhibits her own personal art creations in painting, drawing, and multi-media, both locally and nationally. “I am so honored to be teaching at the A.G.B.U. Manoogian School and look forward to a wonderful and creative year, both in K-12 visual art and in high school yearbook classes. Thank you for allowing me to teach your children!”

Ms. Karineh Toukhanian is the new Fourth Grade teacher. She is a familiar face at the school, having graduated in the Manoogian Class of 2000 and having served for the past six years as an Elementary aide. Ms. Toukhanian is a Wayne State University graduate with a degree in Elementary Education, concentrating in the Language Arts. She plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Elementary Psychology at Eastern Michigan University.

Cultural Event

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The Library Gets a Facelift

On October 25, 2012, combined Armenian Independence Day and Armenian Cultural Month celebrations were held for Elementary students in the morning, featuring not only popular songs and recitations, but also a hilarious fifth grade play, “A Drop of Honey,” directed by Mr. Avedikian, and for Middle and High School students in the afternoon. Members of the Senior class paid homage to the celebrated Armenian poet/minstrel Sayat Nova on the 300th anniversary of his birth. The program was coordinated by Mr. Avedikian. Mrs. Toumajan’s eighth grade class recited a dramatic poem, “We are together, we and our alphabet.” High School Principal Dr. Hosep Torossian gave an interactive presentation on the creation of the Armenian Alphabet, informing the students that Armenians are the only people who honor their translators with a special holiday, celebrated in Armenian schools, churches, and communities throughout the world.

Just prior to the Presidential Election which took place November 6, 2012, Mrs. Karakosian’s tenth grade Social Studies students participated in a spirited debate. Having researched the positions of the two candidates, half the class spoke in support of the Republican Party nominee

Mitt Romney, while the other half defended the incumbent, President Barack Obama. Unlike the campaign, the students were very cordial and polite toward each other. For Middle and High School students this was a great learning experience in participatory democracy.

Thanks to the efforts of former Kindergarten teacher turned Librarian, Elementary Computers teacher, and director of testing, Mrs. Seran Tcholakian, the library has received a facelift. All the English language books have been reshelved so books can now be found conveniently. Soon, the rich Armenian collection of Armenian language books will follow suit.

Visit Manoogian School’s Web Site: www.manoogian.org

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDSouthfield, MIPermit No. 314

A.G.B.U. Alex & Marie Manoogian School22001 Northwestern HighwaySouthfield, Michigan 48075

Piano Competition

Meeting Peter Oundjian at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra

In a competition involving over 200 piano and vocal students from Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties, first grader Philip Lupas, piano student of Ms. Gail Gebhard, won third place in his age division at the MAC Open Invitational Fall Classic held at the Evola Music Store in Shelby Township on November 4, 2012. Bravo, Philip!

As the famous first chords of Aram Khachaturian’s Masquerade Waltz resonated through Orchestra Hall, Manoogian juniors and seniors watched and listened in awe. On November 30, the director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian-Armenian Peter Oundjian, visited Detroit to conduct the music of Khachaturian, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky. From the melancholy violin of Khachaturian’s Nocturne to the folk tune of Tschaikovsky’s “Little Russian” symphony, Oundjian impressed all with his passion and skill. The audience was likewise captivated by the performance of renowned pianist Joyce Yang in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. By his own request, the conductor met with our group after the show. His personality proved to be as vibrant as his stage presence had suggested.

A memorable photo taken with Maestro Peter Oundjian after the DSO concert last week. Our thanks to field trip leader Mr. Avedikian!