KZV Newsletter - April

8/14/2019 KZV Newsletter - April

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KZV Armenian School, SF, CA © 20

Editorial Board

Adina Haun, Editor andTrends in Education

Yeprem Mehranian,Administration Speaks

Tutu Heinonen, NewsAround the School

Garine Panossian,Armenian Corner

Hasmik Mehranian,Layout/Publisher

Dear KZV Parents,

As the school year 2009-10begins to appear on the

horizon, KZV will have tomake sure it has a budgetthat can withstand thechallenges of theeconomically tumultuoustimes our communities arefacing at the moment.During this process, it isimportant that both theAdministration and SchoolBoard remain fullycognizant of the need tostrike a balance between

the school’s educationaland financial well-being.Moreover, it is equallyimportant that thoughtfulcooperation amongst allKZV’s adult constituents,

dministration SpeaksLooking AheadBy Dr. Yeprem Mehranian

Just as Paulo Freire’sPedagogy of the Oppressed was designedto liberate individuals andsocieties from injusticeand inequality, the goal ofspirituality in educationhas been to liberateindividuals from the notionthat all problems can be

including administrators,school board members,teachers, parents, donorsand supporters, remain

the paramount maxim ofour actions.

From my viewpointeffective cooperationmeans that the broadergoals and objectives ofthe school and itscommunity override short-term disagreements ondetails of priority.Disagreements, however,are an integral part ofhuman attempts atcommunication and assuch unavoidable. Whatmatters is not why buthow we disagree. All ofthis with the aim in mind

of enabling KZV to continwith its mission of offeringwell-rounded educationaland cultural experience toits students and theirfamilies.

On May 4-5, 2009, the KZOffice will mail out nextschool year’s (2009-2010registration packets. Ther

you will find a letter, whichdelves into the details of tchanges we are anticipatand the rationales behindthem. These changesencompass a broad rangeof issues—fromorganizational to curriculato financial—and will effecour pre-school; our classsizes (teacher-studentratio); the ArmenianDepartment; subjects sucas music, art, and physicaeducation; school securityand, aspects of our middlschool.

Cont. on pag

solved and happinessachieved solely through

material and technologicaladvances. This erroneousviewpoint undermines theneed for individuals todevelop positive innerqualities. Our society hasachieved a high level ofmaterial comfort, yet therehas not been acommiserate lessening ofinner dissatisfaction.

Both these approachescomplement each other in

the pursuit of furtheringdemocratic ideals, agreater sense ofcommunity, and thecreation of life-enhancingvalues in the world.

Cont. on next pag

Trends in EducationSpirituality in EducationBy Adina Haun

"The sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darknesmere being." - Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections

Special Points of Interest:

• Looking Ahead: …details of the changeswe are anticipating andthe rationales behindthem… will effect our pre-school; our class sizes(teacher-student ratio);the ArmenianDepartment; subjectssuch as music, art, andphysical education; school

security; and, aspects of our middle school.

• Trends in Education: Our society has achieveda high level of materialcomfort, yet there hasnot been a commiserate

lessening of innerdissatisfaction.

• Alumni News – RaffiBandarian: The kids hadgrown so much since Ihad last seen them, butthe teachers hadn’t agedone bit!

April 2009

Issue # 8





ApriPage 3 of 7

The co-operation between 6th and 7th grade continues with a new book andunit. Dr. Mehranian, Mr. Armstrongand Ms. Heinonen are reading thebook Three cups of Tea by GregMortenson and David Oliver Relin withthe 6th and 7th graders. The focusduring this new unit is on the EnglishLanguage Arts aspect, such ascomprehension and different literaryelements and techniques found and

used in the book, and Social Studiesfacets such as history, geography,language, and the politicalenvironment.The reading of Three Cups of Tea iscomplemented by the school widePennies for Peace fundraiser headedby the Student Council.

News from Around the School

Pennies for Peace and Three Cups of Tea

By Tutu Heinonen

News from Around the School: continued

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,

, 1.5

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April Page 4 of 7

I attended KZV from 1995 to2005. After I graduated KZV, Ifelt sad to leave the communityand family I had been a part offor most of my life, but at thesame time I was excited to moveon to high school. I was confidentthat I would excel in high schoolbecause of the amount ofknowledge that I had gathered,skills I had learned, and sense ofpride that I acquired from KZV.

What makes KZV special is thefamily oriented atmosphere andthe closeness between thestudents and staff. The teacherswere like second parents, andyour classmates were likebrothers and sisters. We all weretogether in and out of school;whether it was Homenetmen,AYF, church or other Armeniancommunity gatherings andactivities. I made friends for life

at KZV. Trips like 5th gradeOutdoor Education, Yosemite,and Washington DC made useven closer.

I am thankful that KZV taught meeverything about my heritage. Iam glad that I know thethousands of years of Armenianhistory, how to read, write, andspeak Armenian, and Armeniantraditions. Now that I am in high

school and I have met manypeople from different cultures, Ireally see why I am lucky to haveall of the knowledge about myheritage. Many people that Ihave met from other cultures andethnicities know hardly anythingabout their heritage. Whenothers ask me about myheritage, I am glad that I canexplain to them anything they

want to know aboutArmenians, and I am proud ofthat.

After I graduated KZV, Iattended City Arts and TechHigh School. I am graduatinghigh school this June and will

attend San Francisco StateUniversity in the fall. As a partof my 12th grade year, it is arequirement to intern at a placeof your choice. The internshipis called a “Work LearningExperience” or WLE. My lastyear’s WLE was at theExploratorium, where I workedin the workshop where theexhibits were made. I helpedmake some exhibits that were

being shipped out to variousscience museums around theworld. I also worked in themuseum itself as an“Explainer”, or tour guide, andoperated some of the exhibits.

For this year’s WLE, Ivolunteered at KZV. I washappy to volunteer at KZVbecause it gave me a chance

to give back to thecommunity that has done somuch for me and made mewho I am today. It was apleasure to help thestudents and teachers who Iwas with when I was at

KZV. The kids had grown somuch since I had last seenthem, but the teachershadn’t aged one bit! I wasvery happy to work at KZVfor my WLE. It was also apleasure to meet Dr.Mehranian. He helped meso much during my WLE atKZV. We discussed myschedule and variousprojects, tasks, and ideas

he had that we could workon together and everythingwent smoothly. He is anexcellent principal and I wasimpressed by hiscompassion for thestudents. I would like tothank Dr. Mehranian andthe staff for welcoming meback into KZV to help. Itwas a great experience.

lumni News

Raffi Bandarian



ApriPage 5 of 7

rmenian Corner



Page 6 of 7

Hello again, parents!

As we all know, April is avery important month for allof us.

We first celebrated Easter.On our Easter celebrationday, we arrived in our finest

Easter clothes ready for abig day. We colored Eastereggs and had a great timeon our PreK Easter egghunt! We then had ourEaster party with lots ofwonderful goodies providedby our dear room mothers. Itwas such a fun day and agreat way to start off ourEaster vacation.

We returned to school readyto “Learn As We Play”. Incontinued celebration ofspring, we have decoratedour classrooms withbeautiful ladybugs, flowers,and plants! We water ourplants every day and as aspecial treat, we arewatching our caterpillars

growing bigger and strongereveryday. Our teacher hasread the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, to usand we are so excited thatour caterpillars will turn intobeautiful butterflies just likethe caterpillar in the book!

As we approached the commemoration of April 24, thechildren were taught that it is a very important day inour Armenian history. As we grow older, we will learnmore about this important day but in the meantime, weshould be proud of our Armenian heritage, proud thatwe attend an Armenian school, proud of our beautifullanguage, and always be proud to celebrate our culturethrough beautiful songs and poems.

Until May…

News from Around the School: continued

Pre-K NewsKnarik Shahijanian, Pre-K Director



ApriPage 7 of 7

KZV Armenian SchoolKZV Armenian SchoolKZV Armenian SchoolKZV Armenian School

825 Brotherhood WaySan Francisco, CA 94132

PHONE: (415) 586-8686FAX: (415) 586-8686

E-MAIL: [email protected]

We’re on the Web!

See us at:

www.kzv.org

Editorial Board Notes:

The Editorial Board welcomes comments and suggestions from all readers. We areespecially interested to receive feedback on the new addition to each newsletter, Quote of theMonth (under the masthead).

Thanks!

dministration Speaks: continued Looking AheadBy Dr. Yeprem Mehranian

As is the case with mostprocesses of change, weexpect a complex mix ofadvantageous anddisadvantageous outcomes toensue from the decisions wehave had to make inpreparation to meet the

challenges ahead. What isclear in all of this is that wehave had no choice but totrim our budget on theexpenditure side.

What is also clear is that indoing so we have madecertain to take allprecautionary measures toensure that the curtailmentsdo not undermine theeducational quality as well asprofessional integrity of theservices you have come toexpect of KZV.

Lastly, what remains in thebalance is that the two goalsof increasing enrollment andsecuring sources of fundingwill have to become the mainfocal points of the drive to

stabilize the schoolfinancially, thereby creatingfuture opportunities foreducational innovation andexcellence.

In the wake of receiving theaforementioned letter, therewill be an opportunity for all ofyou to meet and discuss theschool’s plans for next year

when we hold our lastsession of “Meet withAdministration” night, on May15, 2009, at 7:30 pm. Weencourage you to attend thismeeting and allow themembers of the KZVadministration and schoolboard an opportunity torespond to your questionsand receive your ideas andsuggestions. Until then,please also make sure tocomplete and submit the briefonline survey sent to yourecently by Ms. Bavoukian,KZV Community OutreachCoordinator.

We look forward to ourcooperation during theremainder of the currentschool year.

Documents

KZV Newsletter - April