Cumberland Courier Newspapers, Australia
April 3 2010

Expansion the only hope for St Gregory’s

03 Apr 10 @ 09:46am by Stacy Thomas

ST GREGORY’S Armenian School’s population has dropped to just six
students this year and the rising costs of transport have been blamed.

The majority of the students travelled from the Fairfield and Lidcombe
area, but bus companies rarely cross regions, meaning private buses
had to be chartered.

At one point in 2003 the Beaumont Hills school had 330 pupils. In
2010, its 25th year, the lonely half dozen are taught in the one
classroom.

Board member Michael Ghougassian said the school once used 13 buses
but parents were paying $3500 a year per child.

`That was on top of school fees, so we decided to reduce our fees, but
it wasn’t enough,’ he said.

`The reason for the bus company raising costs was diesel, green slip
rise and class 1B annual licence fees.’

Mr Ghougassian said it was heart-breaking because many families at the
school were on the poverty line.

`Our families are one of the lowest and poorest, we’re non-selective
but have achieved high results on myschool.com.au in the NAPLAN
tests,’ he said.

As an independent Christian school, St Gregory’s has provided a niche
education for children of Armenian immigrants.

`They’ve been getting their 4Rs – Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and
Armenian. We do not tolerate drugs, smoking or junk food.’

Acting principal Daniel Ghougassian said expansion may be the school’s
only hope.

`We have plans that have been approved to expand our operation to
accommodate high school students,’ he said.

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