The Diocese
Posted: 12/02/2016
Under the direction of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church has 15 Saturday Schools in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Washington. The schools aim to build a foundation for Armenian identity enhancement in Armenian young generation. The Armenian identity is our children’s birth right. We need to cherish it forever.
The Armenian Studies curriculum instills in our youth the knowledge of the Armenian language, history, religion, culture and, most importantly, the Armenian Pride. It is the heritage of each and every Armenian. It is the savoring remembrance of our past, and more importantly, it is the promise of our future.
Saturday Schools’ Mission
Graduating from Saturday school students will:
Have basic knowledge of Armenian language, literature, history and culture
Have a sense of identity and pride in their Armenian ancestors’ cultural heritage
Have the readiness to participate and become leaders in the Armenian community and have
the sense of responsibility to their Homeland Armenia.
All schools are implementing the Armenian Language (Western and Eastern) and History/Culture curriculum prepared by Dr. E. Andreassian. The curriculum is based on California content standards and it provides teachers with instructional methods, lesson plans, instructional strategies and activities. All schools uniform texts and educational materials that have been approved by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and the Education Council of Saturday Schools (SS).
From 2012-2016, four teacher in-service workshops were organized to help teachers implement their teaching the new and innovative instructional methods in the field of education (more than fifty SS teachers participated in yearly workshops).
The following topics were presented:
The richness of the Armenian Language
Presenter:
Dr. Artem Sargsyan
The Role of Teaching the Culture in the Enhancement of One’s Identity
Presenters:
Dr. Vatche Mankerian
Mr. Harut Der-Tavitian
Cultural Programs in Fresno and St. Gregory SS
Presenters:
Principals of the schools
Bloom’s Taxonomy in Planning Instruction
Presenter:
Dr. Ellie E. Andreassian
Multiple Intelligences, Learning Styles, The Brain and Learning
Presenters:
Mr. David Ghoogasian
Principal, Mesrobian Arm. School
Dr. Ellie Andreassian
How to Organize Teaching Based on New Education Approaches
Presenters:
Dr. Armine Movsisyan
Dr. Ellie Andreassian
The Role of Teaching Religion in Identity Enhancement
Presenter:
Mashdots Jobanian
Planning Instruction based on Multiple Intelligences
Presenter:
Dr. Ellie E. Andreassian
Presenters were respected educators and intellectuals from our community who volunteered to share their knowledge and Armenian spirit with our teachers. They were all congratulated and thanked personally by our Primate at the workshop, and later, by official congratulatory letters from the Diocese.
His Eminence is planning a future teacher in-service development workshop for Saturday Schools’ teachers in Etchmiadzin.
Dr. Andreassian visits all schools to observe instruction, evaluate, and offer needed assistance. She tries to be present at Schools’ Christmas and year-end cultural programs.
Education Council of SS
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
Dr. Ellie E. Andreassian
Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Berjekian
Dc. Hovhannes Gumruyan
Mrs. Shake Harutunian
Miss. Lora Kouyoumjian
Mr. Asadour Darakjian
Report submitted by Ellie E. Andreassian, Ed.D.
Chairperson, Education Council of SS
