PRESS RELEASE
FRIENDS OF THE CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN LIBRARY
2474 Ridgeview Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90041-2945 U.S.A.
Contact: Sylva Natalie Manoogian
Tel/FAX: 1-323-254-4892
E-mail: hyesearch@...

SRBOTS TARKMANCHATS SCHOOL BEGINS ITS NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

Tuesday, September 3, 2003, was the day when Armenian boys and girls
of Jerusalem relinquished their summer fun, donned their uniforms,
and returned to the rigors and discipline of student life at the
Srbots Tarkmanchats (Holy Translators) School inside the St. James
Armenian Convent in the Holy City. His Beatitude, Archbishop Torkom
Manoogian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, was there to bless
the opening of the new academic year.

The children started to arrive early, with shiny scrubbed faces, new
backpacks crammed with books, notepads, pencils, and who knows what
else. Their shoes were shiny and their socks clean for the moment.
The little ones were wearing red aprons with white collars, the older
girls in dark plaid pleated skirts, white blouses, and dark vests,
and the boys in navy pants and white shirts. It was all spit and
polish, new haircuts, and big smiles. Some of the children seemed
relieved that the long summer was over; others huffed and puffed over
the fact that it was starting all over again.

When the bell rang, the students filed inside and took their seats in
the auditorium on the first floor. The place was full, their teachers
were all there, and there were also a few parents, especially those
whose children's first day at school was just beginning.

Soon the sound of the kawasses, pounding their staffs on the
cobblestones leading to the school, announced the arrival of the
Patriarch. Inside, the restless children settled down and when
His Beatitude entered the auditorium, they all rose and chorused,
"Asdvats oknakan, Srpazan Hayr.-God be your helper, Holy Father."

After offering words of welcome, Fr. Teodoros Zakarian, the School's
superintendent, invited His Beatitude to speak to the students.
In his remarks, the Patriarch gave fatherly advice regarding the
importance of education and emphasized that the way one sits, stands,
talks, behaves toward friends, teachers, parents, are equally part of
being a cultured person. He said all this with a benevolent smile,
and a gentle touch, as the children hung on to his every word.

His Beatitude acknowledged twelve upper grade students, Armen Alemian,
Garine Antreassian, Bedig Baghamian, Seto Balian, Levon Deldelian,
Avo Kopoushian, Lara Koutoujian, Kevork Krikorian, Zohrab Krikorian,
Arpiag Nakkashian, Kevork Nalbandian, and Natalie Zakarian, who had
spent several hours the day before, helping to organize the books
in the new school library, under the direction of their teacher,
Miss Anahid Ohanesian. "These students took time on their vacation
day to help establish this new library, which will provide a place
in the school where the students can cultivate their reading skills
and appreciation for life-long learning," said His Beatitude.
"They were enthusiastic and persistent in their work. This is the
first step in helping to make the Tarkmanchats School Library a
vital part of the educational program for our young generation, in
preparation for achieving higher academic, career, and life goals."
Each student came forward to receive a certificate of appreciation
for his or her participation as a Tarkmanchats School Library Aide.

Mr. Yeghia Dickranian is the principal of the School, which was
established as a co-educational institution in 1929, as envisioned by
Patriarch Yeghishe Tourian of blessed memory. "The school provides
a relaxed, comfortable, atmosphere, which is more conducive toward
learning," said Mr. Dickranian. "We hope nothing will disturb the
smooth, peaceful progress in this environment."

There are 130 Armenian students from Pre-Kindergarten to 11th Grade
enrolled at the school this year. Next year, the 12th grade will
be added, paving the way for students to make the transition toward
university. There were 12 students in the last graduating class,
and this year 12 pre-kindergarteners entered. Thirty teachers,
half full-time, and the other half part-time, serve as faculty.

The students take classes in all academic subjects, and study four
languages, Armenian, English, Arabic and Hebrew. The students must
pass the General Certificate of Education in order to graduate. Those
with outstanding academic records usually enter Hebrew University,
or some other institution of higher learning. Others may enter the
working world.

The assembly ended with the singing of the Hayr Mer, the Lord's
Prayer, and a blessing of dismissal by His Beatitude. The starting
bell summoned the children to their classrooms, and so began the
2003-2004 academic year at the Srbots Tarkmanchats School of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem

__________

Sylva Natalie Manoogian is the Armenian Patriarchate's Library
Consultant and Director for the Revitalization of its Calouste
Gulbenkian Library and has just returned from a 6-week stay at the
Patriarchate. She is currently a PhD candidate in Information Studies
at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Photographs available in jpeg format upon request.