CKACS students took part in four commemorative events to honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who perished during the Armenian Genocide.
On April 15, the school held its own remembrance. Students laid flowers on a replica of Tsitsernakaberd, the genocide monument in Yerevan, Armenian. Afterwards, staff, students, and family gathered for a special assembly in Hovannisian Hall, where the students recited poetry and displayed their posters on the theme of the Armenian Genocide. Armenian instructors Maral Markarian and Margarit Doumanyan as well as CKACS Chairman Ara Karkazian took the podium to stress the importance of remembering this most tragic event in Armenian history.
Several CKACS students, alumni, staff, and family attended the annual Armenian Flag Raising at the Fresno City Hall on April 23. CKACS Board Member Vahagn Bznouni, who is also Chairman of Fresno-Etchmiadzin Sister City committee, served as the emcee for the event, and 2nd grader Sevana Wassilian recited a poem. Homenetmen Scouts included 3rd grader Natalia Pilavian and Kindergartener Tro Pivalian. The flag raising event is sponsored by the Armenian National Committee Central California.
On April 25, CKACS students participated in the CSUF Armenian Student Organization and Armenian Studies Program afternoon commemoration with the singing of Mer Hairenik, the Armenian National Anthem. Sevana Wassilian and 3rd grader Hovig Ohanian also recited poetry. CKACS alumni Nareg Apkarian, currently attending Alta Sierra Middle School, joined with other Fresno Armenian students in a reading of William Saroyan's famous excerpt from The Armenian and the Armenian.
Later in the evening, the CKACS students took part in the community-wide remembrance at the First Armenian Presbyterian Church, where they again sang Mer Hairenik. CKACS parent Dzovig Kutumian also performed Hov Arek by Gomidas Vartabed and Somewhere by Leonard Bernstein. The event was sponsored by the Fresno Armenian Inter-denominational Committee.
