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:

sp?evid=48

Website of the School:

(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):
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)

Phot o gallery – Part I (2.31 MB)
-1.pdf

Photo gallery – Part II (2.22 MB)
-2.pdf)

Index (2.45 MB):

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