From the Desk of the Elementary Vice Principal Marie Stuart

CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH

May’s Character Trait is “Citizenship.” Students are learning what it means to not only be

a good citizen at school, but also in their community and the world. Here are some of the

character traits your children are learning and how you can extend this learning at home.

A good citizen is someone who:

cares about the feelings and rights of others

shows concern for the safety and well-being of others

stays informed about issues and voices their opinion

votes

conserves resources and follows the 3 Rs-- reduce, reuse and recycle

uses their skills to make a better community

What can parents do at home?

Read the article on Global Citizenship to see how you can help your children be good

citizens as part of the global community. Together we can make a difference!

Below are some examples of “Citizenship” at work at AGBU MDS!

GLEE CLUB GIVES BACK TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

On Thursday, May 30, our Glee Club, under the direction of Arus Andreassian, will

perform for the Etchmiadzin Children's Fundraising event at the Braemar Country Club in

Tarzana. All proceeds will help the children in Armenia currently enrolled in this program.

If you would like more information, please contact Lisa Truisi at LTRUISI@AOL.COM.

STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS

For Earth Day on April 22, the student council launched its recycling campaign. Every day

at both elementary lunches, student council members are giving up part of their lunch

recess to showing their fellow students how to recycle their plastic bottles. This is a

small start to a great push to get the whole school recycling next year! In the words of

Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can

change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." The Student Council is

committed to making this work, and with your help we can. Please remind your children to

recycle everyday!

LETTERS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

5th graders in Mrs. Ohoorian classes wrote persuasive letters to President Obama asking

him to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Click here to read the letter the students

received in response. Can you imagine how excited they must have been to get a letter

from the President?!

A.G.B.U.

MARIE MANOOGIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 6844 Oakdale Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91306

Phone: (818) 883-2428

www.agbumds.org

Volume 1, Issue 12 May 24, 2013

MISSION A.G.B.U. Manoogian-Demirdjian School is a K-12 college-preparatory institution dedicated to academic excellence and Armenian cultural awareness in a safe and supportive environment.

Through effective teaching and technology-integrated education, all aspects of the curriculum—academics, athletics, and visual and performing arts—are implemented. The school strives to

instill in all students a lifelong commitment to learning, character growth, and community service to ensure the development of the whole person.

School Closed—Memorial

Day 5/27/13

Elementary Titans Awards Grades 3-5 at 8:05 AM,

Grades K-2 at 8:50 AM,

Agajanian Auditorium 5/30/13

Elementary Awards Assembly

(Character Trait & Hye

Vokee), Wear Spirit T-Shirts Grades 3-5 at 8:05 AM,

Grades K-2 at 8:40 AM

Agajanian Auditorium 5/31/13

5th Grade Commencement,

4:00 PM, Nazarian

Center 6/2/13

5th Grade Students ONLY—No

School 6/3/13

5th Grade Field Trip

Sacramento 6/4/13

Last Day of School, Dismissal

Schedule: K-5 at

12:00 PM 6/5/13

Word of the Week

CITIZENSHIP

Quote of the Week

"The most important thing

an institution does is not

to prepare a student for a

career but for a life as a

citizen."

Frank Newman

Looking Ahead

AROUND SCHOOL!

Volume 1, Issue 12 – April/May, 2013 Page 2

EARTH DAY PROJECTS

On April 22 , AGBU MDS kicked off Earth Day with various, fun and educational projects.

First grade sponsored the Recycle Relay, a very energetic way to recycle and reuse items!

Second graders in Mrs. Lorena’s class used the Dr. Seuss' book, "The Lorax" to show the

importance of conservation. Students then wrote a paragraph entitled "What can we do to be

kind to the Earth?"

The Kindergarteners and Fifth Grade buddies watched a short

documentary called Landfill Harmonic, which focuses on a small

town in Paraguay whose community creates musical

instruments from its trash. This is a very poor town and they have

learned to create something beautiful from nothing. We

challenged our students, in honor of Earth Day, to work together

to create their own musical instruments from their own recyclable materials. The students

lived up to the challenge and

demonstrated their creativity flawlessly. Please click on the link below to see why the students were inspired to do

this! Landfill Harmonic

ELEMENTARY AWARDS ASSEMBLY At the April 24 Character Awards Assembly, Mrs. Stuart awarded certificates to forty-four KN – 5th grade students

who were selected by their teachers for best exemplifying the character pillar DECISION-MAKING. Here are a few

ways the students demonstrated their decision making skills at school. “He continues to learn from past decisions and

make smart choices moving forward.” “She has proven that she understands the importance of following through on

making ‘better choices’.” “He is very driven academically and his actions and wise decisions, have also affected others

in making better choices.” “He is working very hard and striving to make good decisions in everything he undertakes.”

“His decision, to work hard and be a conscientious student, has helped improve his grades and behavior.” “She shows

good decision making in participating more and more in class; she has made great progress.”

Congratulations to the following students for demonstrating what good decision makers they can be! KN: Angelina

Babayan, Kyle Chilingirian, Arame Gabrelian, Kevin Jemjemian, Neshan Kevonian, Brendon Najarian, Julia Tanielian; 1st:

Raffi Abrahamian, Nareg Avakian, Grace Balasian, Matthew Maybalian, Arman Nalbandian, Nicole Zibdea, Andrew

Zoryan; 2nd: Erika Assatourian, Natalie Basmadzhyan, Arek Haddadian, Michael Martirossian, Ava Nersesian, Jacob

Meyer, Danielle Robinson; 3rd: Andre Ajemian, Matthew Arakelian, Christopher Gharibian, Stella Maissian, Lana

Safarian, Christopher Tahmassian, Jacqueline Zoryan; 4th: Daniel Baghdasarian, Daniel Bebekian, Patrick Celik, Pierre

Keusseyan, Jonathan Philiposian, Sevana Aivazian, Vartan Arjikyan, Eddie Mgdesyan, Andrew Tinkjian; 5th: Colette

Kevorkian, Kevin Elyasian, Natalie Havanjian, Talia Festekdjian, Gregory Nalbandian, Michael Keshishyan

Thirty-three students were also awarded the HYE VOKEE certificates for promoting the Armenian spirit at school.

Congratulations to the following students for demonstrating their Armenian spirit! KN: Mykah Arakelian, Lillian

Gedikian, Mitchel Ghotanian, Melanie Minassian, Aiden Najarian, Brendon Najarian; 1st: Anthony Arakelyan, Sarin

Mamian, Gerard Sinanian, Andrew Zoryan; 2nd: Alex Ashikian, Erika Assatourian, Natalie Basmadzhyan, Alex

DerManuelian, Arek Haddadian, Vana Hovsepian, Nicole Shakhikyan, Artem Sarkissian; 3rd: Charlie Aprahamian, Lily

Haruttiunian, Gabreila Klijian, Zaven Joukjian, Alexandra Kojoglyan, Andy Mahserejian, Jacqueline Zorian; 4th: Alex

Aksoy , Shaunt Dermenjian, Anthony Culhaoglu, Nicholas Mihranian, Jonathan Philiposian; 5th: Daniel Andrikian, Bella

Chouchanian , Christian Dermanuelian, Tina Festekdjian, Michelle Gelejian, , Marc Kafadarian, Sinti Sargsyan, Nikita

Tanielian

Հայոց Ցեղասպանութիւնը անգամ մը եւս նշուեցաւ մեր վարժարանէն ներս զանազան միջոցառումներով:Երեքշաբթի Ապրիլ

23-ի առաւօտեան Մանկապարտէզէն մինչեւ տասներկրորդ դասարանի աշակերտութիւնը հաւաքուեցաւ Նազարեան

մարզասրահ:ՀԲԸՄ-ՀԵԸ Լոս Անճելըսի Սան Ֆերնանտո Հովիտի Սկաուտները կատարեցին դրօշակի

արարողութիւն:Արժանապատիւ Տէր-Շնորհք Աւագ Քահանայի առաջնորդութեամբ հոգեհանգիստի պաշտօն մը

կատարուեցաւ,որմէ ետք Արժանապատիւ Տէր-Հայրը իր պատգամը ուղղեց աշակերտներուն,քաջալերելով զանոնք,որ

յառաջդիմեն իրենց ուսման մէջ եւ արձանագրեն բարձր յաջողութիւններ,որպէսզի անմահացնեն վերապրողներուն

յիշատակը:Վարժարանիս Տնօրէն՝ Պր.Յակոբ Յակոբեան նոյնպէս խօսեցաւ աշակերներուն:Ան իր խօսքին աւարտին

առաջնորդեց աշակերտները կրկնելու Պարոյր Սեւակի խօսքերը՝«Կանգ,պիտի լինենք ու դեռ շատանանք»:Աշակերտները

դուրս ելլելով իրենց բերած ծաղիկները դրին դպրոցիս «Հրապարակ»ին մէջ զետեղուած Ծիծեռնակաբերդի Յուշարձանին

կրկնօրինակին մօտ:Երրորդ դասրանէն մինչեւ Հինգերորդ դասարանի աշակերտները ժամը տասին հաւաքուեցան

Աղաճանեան Սրահ,ուր ելոյթ ունեցան մեր դպրոցի «Կլի Քլապ»ի եւ «Ռիքօրտըր Քլապ»ի աշակերտները,իրենց

ուսուցչուհիին՝ Օր.Արուս Անդրէասեանի առաջնորդութեամբ:Այնուհետեւ Պր.Ստեփան Փարթամեանը աշակերտներուն

խօսեցաւ եւ power pointով ներկայացուց Ամերիկայի վերապրող հայերուն ստեղծագործութիւնները եւ

յառաջդիմութիւնները:Իսկ կէսօրէ ետք,Մանկապարտէզէն մինչեւ հինգերորդ դասարանի աշակերտները հաւաքուեցան

ուսուցչարանին մօտ իրենց պահանջատիրական թղթիկներով եւ արշաւեցին դպրոցէն ներս արտասանելով

պահանջատիրական կարգախօսեր:Անոնք ուղղուեցան դէպի Հրապարակ,ուր երգեցին հայրենասիրական երգեր,յետոյ

դիտեցին ՀԲԸՄ-ՀԵԸ -ԼԱ -ՍՖՀ-ի հովանաւորութեան տակ գործող Գէորգեան պարախումբի աղջիկներուն ելոյթը,Օր.Սոնա

Գէորտեանի առաջնորդութեամբ:Խանդավառուած այս բոլորէն,աշակերտները շուրջպար պարեցին յուշարձանին շուրջ

փաստելով իրենց վերապրումը,հայ ժողովուրդի յաղթանակն ու ապրելու կամքը:Վարձքը կատար բոլորին:

Click here for additional photos.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMERATIVE - APRIL 23

Announcements!

Volume 1, Issue 11– March 8, 2013 Page 4

REMINDERS:

After School Enrichment Classes End Next Week!

Staggered Pick-Up Next Week!

K-2 at 3:10 PM and Grades 3-5 at 3:20 PM

Be sure to use and display the new parking passes you received in the mail. If you did not receive one,

please contact the office.

Parent Satisfaction Survey

Thank you in advance for completing the Parent Satisfaction Survey. It closes May 30, so there is still time to com-

plete it if you have not already done so. The purpose of the survey is to measure the extent to which our parents

feel our school is meeting their child’s needs and how successfully we are achieving our Mission. Please take the time

to complete the survey on Survey Monkey. All surveys are anonymous. Your time in doing this is greatly appreciated.

If we have a representative number of surveys submitted, we will be able to disseminate the results to you in the

Fall.

Link for Parents in Grades K-2: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/k-2ndgradeparentsatisfactionsurvey

Link for Parents in Grade 3: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3rdgradeparentsatisfaction

ART FOR EDUCATION For the second year in a row, our students participated in the Artwork for Education Program!

Proceeds from this year’s funds were allocated to the Preschool and Elementary music

divisions. The school purchased rhythmic instruments, a keyboard and music posters to be

used by all the students. The students are very excited and are enjoying using these

instruments with the guidance of their music teacher Ms. Arus Andreassian.

Our sincerest gratitude goes to Dr. Odet Gevorgian and Mrs. Melina Ghotanian for their hard work in organizing this

program. We appreciate the fact that they understand and know how valuable and important music is in all of our lives.

MUSIC EXTRAS

On Tuesday, May 21st, the Recorder Club students had a recital for their parents after

school. The students were well prepared and very enthusiastic. They had worked very hard

with their teacher Ms. Arus Andreassian. Congratulations to them!

On Wednesday, May 22nd the Glee Club students had a wonderful performance for their

parents after school when they performed a program consisting of eight Armenian and

English songs. It was an uplifting experience for all.

Congratulations to them and their teacher Ms. Arus Andreassian.