CKACS elementary students marked the beginning of Spring by taking part in the annual Peach Blossom Festival at CSUF.

The festival was created 52 years ago to expose young people to literature and to give them the opportunity to perform before an audience.  The event attracts about 6,000 students from schools throughout the Central Valley.  For the CKACS, which was represented by grades 1^st thru 6^th, the festival is one of numerous community gatherings where the school showcases its talent. 

Among the best performers at the CSUF Speech Art Theater were Maida Derkalousdian's 1^st graders, who recited Obedient by Shel Silverstein.  Afterwards, festival judges commented on the obvious preparation, teamwork, and great timing shown by the group.  Students from Barbara Moosakhanian's second grade class then took the stage for their presentation of Bobbi Katz's The Runaway, which was also well received by the review panel.   

Across campus at the Satellite Student Union, Taline Tanossian's 3^rd and 4^th graders performed their selections Somebody's Mother (anonymous) and All Things Bright and Beautiful by Cecil F. Alexander.  Teachers from all classes helped their students to memorize these poems-which, in some cases, were quite lengthy-as well as to bring their words to life in their recitation.

Led by Jackie Williams and Armenian language instructor Maral Markarian, the 5^th and 6^th graders gave their dual interpretation of Hovaness Toumanian's The Dog and Cat (Shoun yev Gadoon), with part of the class reciting an English translation of the poem and the other following with the original Armenian rendition.  A festival judge remarked that even though she did not know Armenian, the expressiveness of the Armenian version conveyed the words and meaning of the poem.

Although the Peach Blossom Festival is non-competitive, judges evaluate groups on such factors as voice clarity, and creativity, with the CKACS students receiving excellent and superior marks for their performances.