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AbuDhabi: 25th anniversary celebration in Abu Dhabi

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  • AbuDhabi: 25th anniversary celebration in Abu Dhabi

    Azad Hye, United Arab Emirates
    March 12 2006


    UAE Armenians > 25th anniversary celebration in Abu Dhabi

    Azad-Hye, Dubai, 13 March 2006: The Armenian Community School of Abu
    Dhabi celebrated its 25th Anniversary on Friday, March 10, 2006. The
    function took place at `The Club' in Abu Dhabi and the hall was
    packed to capacity with students, teachers, former students, parents
    and friends - some of them from Sharjah and Dubai - who had come to
    participate in this memorable event (about 180 attendants
    altogether).

    The function was held under the auspices of the Catholicosal Vicar of
    Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf Countries, His Eminence Archbishop Gorun
    Babian, who had come from Kuwait especially for this occasion.
    Present also were His Excellency Dr. Arshak Poladian, Ambassador of
    the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Marat Melikian, 3rd Secretary and Head
    of the Consular Office, members of the Armenian Community Council of
    Abu Dhabi, the Executive Council, members of the Community Council of
    the Northern Emirates, the principal of the Ohannessian School of
    Sharjah.

    The first part of the program consisted of an exhibition of pictures,
    posters and handicraft prepared by the students of the school
    especially for this occasion. There was a 25th Anniversary
    commemorative book which was a compilation of two and half decades of
    school activities and achievements (you can download a complete copy
    or selected parts of the book from the links provided below). Mugs
    and caps displaying the 25th anniversary logo, designed by Mr. Raffi
    Simonian, were on sale for a nominal fee.

    Upon the arrival of the guests of honor, Archbishop Babian and
    Ambassador Poladian, the program got under way. After the Hymn of the
    Republic of Armenia, sung by the audience, the principal of 23 years,
    Mrs. Tamar Der-Ohannessian delivered the opening speech, highlighting
    the major role the weekly school plays in the Armenian Community of
    Abu Dhabi. There was a slide show prepared by Mr. Berge Ohannessian,
    one of the former students of the school, which delighted all those
    present, at the same time conveying a feeling of nostalgia, as
    everyone recognized themselves and their children throughout the past
    years. Copy of the slide show was distributed with the commemorative
    book.

    The school children sang and recited in a very well rehearsed manner.

    Ambassador Poladian took the podium to express his heartfelt
    appreciation and delight on this occasion, praising the devotion and
    hard work of both teachers and students. Then, he invited Archbishop
    Babian to present him with the passport of the Republic of Armenia,
    as a token of recognition of his services in Iran and GCC countries
    (Babian has been the Prelate of Isfahan for more than two decades
    before moving to Kuwait).

    The keynote speaker of the day was Archbishop Babian himself, who
    first addressed the children delighting them with his easygoing
    manner, encouraging them to answer his questions regarding how much
    they loved the Armenian school, the Armenian language and their
    fatherland, Armenia. Then, on a more serious note, he expressed his
    appreciation and gratitude to the teachers for their devotion,
    perseverance and patience in the great effort of teaching the mother
    tongue and history, culture and religion to the new generation.

    The names of all the teachers who had taught and still did at the
    school were read, and all those present came forward to receive a red
    rose from the Armenian Community Council.

    Two teachers, Mrs. Arous Ohannessian and Mrs. Tamar Der-Ohannessian
    (the principal of the school), were presented with beautiful framed
    plates etched with the school 25th Anniversary logo for their work of
    over 23 years at the school.

    The ceremony was concluded with a large celebration cake brought to
    the front to loud cheers and singing from the audience. This was
    followed with the ceremonial cutting. Souvenir pictures were taken.

    A sumptuous reception followed the ceremony where everyone had the
    chance to sample great food and conversation.

    It was indeed an appropriate tribute to 25 years of achievement.


    The event as announced in our Events Calendar:

    http://www.azad-hye.net/events/events.a sp?evid=48

    Website of the School:

    http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool

    (You are invited to post your comment in the Guestbook and read the
    comments of graduates and friends of the School)

    The 25th anniversary commemorative book - online version:

    Complete version (7.51 MB):
    http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool/25th-anniver sary-book.pdf

    We have divided the book into four sections to help you to download
    each section separately, if you wish to do so:

    Preface (1.23 MB) http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool/preface.pdf

    Phot o gallery - Part I (2.31 MB)
    http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool/photo-gallery -1.pdf

    Photo gallery - Part II (2.22 MB)
    http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool/photo-gallery -2.pdf)

    Index (2.45 MB): http://www.azad-hye.com/adschool/index.pdf

    The contents of the above commemorative book:

    Page 1: Logo.

    Pages 3-5: Brief history of the school (Armenian and English).

    Pages 6-8: Messages of Archbishops Gorun Babian and Oshagan Choloyan.

    Page 9: Message of Mrs. Tamar Der-Ohannessian, Principal of the
    School.

    Page 10: Message of the founding Principal Sona Badalian.

    Page 11: Co-founder Mrs. Ashkhen Arzoumanian tells the story of
    opening the School.

    Page 12: Alice Ohannessian a graduate of the School interviews
    another graduate Alenoush Shahmirzayan-Seraidarian, on the occasion
    of having the later's daughter registered as second generation
    student in the school.

    Page 13: `My Story', Lena Derohannessian, daughter of the Principal
    of the School and a graduate herself, remembers what school meant and
    continues to mean for her.

    Page 14: `I am an Armenian', by Shaghig Toukhmanian Festekjian.

    Page 15: `My first little Armenia', by Sareen Sanossian.

    Page 16: List of locations where the Armenian school held its classes
    since 1981.

    Page 17: Meeting of the graduates in Abu Dhabi, on 3rd February 2006.


    Pages 19-45: About 130 photos covering school years 1981-2006.

    Pages 46-49: Visitors of the school such as Historian Nikolai
    Hovhannissian (1986), Catholicos Aram I (1988), Poet Razmig Tavoyan
    (1992), Poetess Silva Gaboudigian (1996), Poet Kevork Emin (1998),
    Professor Architect Varaztad Haroutounian, Minister Vartan Oskanian
    (1999) and Bishop Nareg Alaemezian (2001).

    Pages 50-58: Complete list of students and teachers during the last
    25 years.

    Page 59: Gratitude page for those who contributed to the success of
    the Armenian Community School of Abu Dhabi during the past 25 years.

    Pages 60-62: Press clips.

    Pages 63-64: Pamphlets of graduation ceremonies.

    The publication of the book has been made possible by Leon and Tamar
    Der-Ohannessian
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