Celebration and hope: Celebration and Hope: Halton-Peel Armenian Saturday School marks successful 2023-2024 school year
On May 11, 2024, the Oakville Public Library was host to the year-end show and graduation ceremony for the Halton-Peel Armenian Saturday School (HPASS). Located at 120 Navy Street in downtown Oakville, this school prides itself on its ability to bring together Armenian students from the surrounding area to immerse themselves in language and cultural studies. This school, which has been operating since 2005, is thanks to the continuing efforts of Mano Artinian and Christine Ermarkaryan, two of its founders. The school has seven teachers and multiple alumni volunteers dedicated to passing on their culture and heritage to the new students.
The afternoon began with the students of red, blue and orange classes gathering and doing arts and crafts. Friends and family filled the room to see the students of the school converse while Armenian music played in the background. Arev Arzumanian, a graduate, prepared a speech and offered some departing thoughts in English and Armenian. She reaffirmed how proud she was of her Armenian identity and celebrated the wonderful friends she had made along the way. She pondered why the dialect she spoke at home differed from that spoken in Armenia. To this, she repeated the wise words of her father, who informed her, “We are all the same.” This truly was a highlight of the young graduate’s speech, as dialectal issues have been one of the key issues occupying the Armenian world. Yet, we are constantly reminded of how unimportant these minor differences are by the new generation who continuously look for things to unite us. If there is any takeaway from this graduation ceremony, it is that this school teaches young Armenians to speak their language, be proud of their heritage, and to come together as one.
After the graduation ceremony had ended and photos had been taken, it was time for the singing portion of the afternoon. The school’s music teacher, Rita Merzoian, led the students in the Makar Yekmalyan’s 'Deroonagan Yerk' to start. Upon hearing they would sing 'Mer Hairenik' next, one student excitedly exclaimed he could sing it all by himself. After the opening prayer and national anthems concluded, the students performed Komitas’ 'Shogher Jan' to begin the folk music portion. It was a very difficult piece, but the students mesmerized the audience with this beautiful rendition. Der Myron, who was also in attendance, could not help but smile and sing along the entire time the children sang. In doing so, many others in the audience, including myself, began to sing along. Once the children sang 'Jan Karnoug' and 'Hingala,' the crowd cheered for more, and everyone was delightfully surprised to hear 'Ghapama' would be the encore piece. Naturally, as everyone clapped and sang along with the students, this excellent performance was one of the afternoon’s highlights. Leading the students in the song was the wonderful Rita Merzoian, who later informed me that although challenging, the students were very excited to learn all the songs. And because of these students, Komitas’ music graced the halls of Oakville’s Public Library.
Following the singing performance, Der Myron thanked everyone in attendance and the parents for bringing their children to the school. He extended his heartfelt thanks to the hardworking staff who keep the school alive and preserve the Armenian language and identity. He went on to remind everyone how important that identity is, and the importance of prayer in safeguarding one’s Armenian identity. He encouraged everyone to continue attending the events hosted by the Oakville and Mississauga’s Armenian community. As a small Armenian community, these events have always been a fantastic opportunity to bring together Armenians in the outlier cities of the Greater Toronto Area. In lieu of this, a reception was hosted after closing remarks, and the staff, students, friends, and family celebrated this important day for the community.
Throughout the school year, children at St. Vartan Armenian Church of Mississauga, Canada Saturday School are taught the Armenian language, history and culture in a welcoming environment. The school is housed in the spacious auditorium of the Oakville Public Library’s central branch. Additionally, the students have weekly scavenger hunts and time allotted for computer use. In the fall, the school hosts an outing for the students’ families to play games and enjoy the day together.
During Christmas, the students can paint Armenian ornaments and participate in the school’s festivities. This school prides itself on its ability to educate and create a wholesome environment in which young Armenians can interact.
The new school year begins on September 14, 2024, and runs until May 10, 2025, for students in Junior Kindergarten to eighth grade. Classes start at 10 a.m. and end at 12 p.m. The school also offers volunteer hours for high school students who assist during class. Don’t hesitate to contact info@hpass.ca for more details on registration and volunteering. ֎
