Southfield, Michigan A.G.B.U. Alex & Marie Manoogian SchoolMarch 2016

In mid-April, a group of 28 juniors and seniors, accompanied by Dr. Torossian, Mrs. Toumajan, and Mr. Avedikian, will embark on a ten-day trip of a lifetime to the ancestral Armenian homeland. While there, they will visit ancient churches, monasteries, and fortresses, pay homage to the victims of the Armenian Genocide (this year is the 101st anniversary), pray at the headquarters of the Armenian Church in Etchmiadzin, one of the oldest holy sites in Christendom, take a dip in cool Lake Sevan, and experience the vibrant life in the capital city of Yerevan, just to give a sampling of what to expect.

Families pay for about half of the expenses, while the rest is covered by the school, thanks in large part to the generosity of donors.

This is the team that is building an electric car from scratch. The rules for building the car are set by SQUARE ONE EDUCATION NETWORK which helps fund the project. The idea behind the project is for students to learn how to design and build an electric car that will compete in 2 races in May at MCITY near Ann Arbor, Michigan. The students may use any materials they wish to build the car, but the energy for the car is limited to two car batteries. Each team of students in the class will be responsible for a system such as braking, power train, frame and body, etc. as the car is built. After completion the car will be raced against many other schools in tests of durability and efficiency at the MCITY site. The MCITY site is a 7 million dollar “city” which was built by U of M to test autonomous cars from various car manufacturers.

MAnooGiAn SChoolArmenia Trip Donors 2016

~ $10,000 ~Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation

~ $5,000 ~Mrs. Kayayan in Memory of Mr. Kayayan

Masco CorporationMs. Marie A. Vanerian

A.G.B.U. Special Projects Group~ $2,000 ~

High school student fundraisers~ $1,500 ~

UBS matching donation – Mr. Richard KurjianKnights of Vartan

Mr. & Mrs. Mike and Judy KadriManoogian School PTO

Ms. Helen Hovagimian – Toronto~ $1,000 ~

Mr. & Mrs. Harry and Joanne KaragosianDaughters of Vartan, Zabelle Chapter

Cultural Society of Armenians from IstanbulThe Karagosian Family

~ $750 ~Dr. Rose Berberian in memory of

Judge Y. Gladys Barsamian~ $500 ~

Trinity Transportation Mr. & Mrs. Mike & Maral ArzoumanianGregory Sevag Balian Family Trust D.C.

Vartkess & Rita Balian Family Foundation Inc. D.C.Mr. & Mrs. Mufeed & Ranya Kesto

Detroit Armenian Women’s ClubDr. Nejla Israel and Mr. Fouad Zora

Ms. Janice Torosian~ $300 ~

The Lisa and Brian Meer Foundation~ $250 ~

Mr. Charles Norton - Mason McBrideMr. Osep & Dr. Nadya Sarafian

Mr. & Mrs. Garo & Sona LacinianMrs. Emma Soghoian

~ $200 ~Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Yvonne Korkoian

Mr. & Mrs. Dickran and Anahit ToumajanMr. Karl Leader - Leader Business systems

~ $120 ~Mrs. Susan Fermanian

~ $100 ~Dr. Jack Chelebian

Mrs. Houget MerametdjianLower Huron Supply Company

~ $50 ~Ms. Maral Thomas

Mrs. Nayiri Karapetian

with sincere gratitude total amount – $50,670

Armenia Trip

ElEctric car

Lisa Shekerdemian is the PreK3 teacher and elementary computer teacher. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a major in Early Childhood from Wayne State University. She is also an alumna of our school and was actively involved with her graduating class of 2007. Lisa worked as a teacher’s aide for the elementary, and then left to complete her student teaching at the Early Childhood Center at Wayne State. Lisa is married and has one daughter, Isabel, who will also be attending our Preschool next fall. Lisa is happy to be back in the school and has enjoyed incorporating what she learned at Wayne State into her classroom.

Catherine Fly grew up on Long Island in New York. She received her undergraduate degree from Nazareth College, Rochester, NY in Social Science and Education with a specialization in Learning Disabilities. She got her Masters degree in Education from the State University of New York. For 17 years she worked in Special Education, first as a classroom teacher and then as a Special Ed. consultant teacher. After moving to Michigan and staying home for a few years with her children, she started working in Grosse Pointe schools. She worked as a substitute teacher for 3 years and then as a classroom assistant. Catherine and her husband live in Grosse Pointe and have 4 children. When she is not enjoying time with family and friends, Catherine likes to do yoga, read, cook and work in her garden.

Project lead The Way At AGBU Manoogian School

The AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School of Southfield, Michigan, under the guidance of high school principal Dr. Hosep Torossian became a pioneer this 2015-2016 school year through the initiation of the first Project Lead The Way course offered at any CMU authorized charter school. Project Lead The Way is the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. PLTW is the only STEM education program endorsed by the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. It is offered to more than 450,000 students in 4,700 schools in all 50 U.S. states. There are currently 118 schools in Michigan offering PLTW courses. The initial course at AGBU, titled Project Lead The Way-Human Body Systems, and instructed by PLTW-HBS certified teacher Mae Gosaynie exemplifies student engagement and motivation at its best. Mrs. Gosaynie received her training and certification for PLTW at Lawrence Technological University last summer.

PLTW-HBS through its rigorous yet engaging curriculum introduces students to state of the art equipment and technology such as Vernier Logger Pro Graphing Analysis Software, Inspiration Software, micropipettes, Fetal Dopplers, etc. Through the utilization of this equipment, students gain self-esteem and acquire the skills they will need to become successful in institutions of higher education and in the global economy.

PLTW marks another milestone in our focus on STEM education at Manoogian.

High school Chemistry and Physics teacher Steven Scott has been involved in education for the past thirty years. He grew up in Freemont, MI and graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, where he received his teaching degree in Math and Chemistry. Years later, he earned his M. A. in Science Education at Lawrence Technological University. Mr. Scott began his teaching career at Cooley High School in Detroit, where he worked for five years. Then he taught at five different schools in Dearborn for the next twenty five years. He has been married for 29 years and has three children. Mr. Scott loves building things, particularly electric cars. He enjoys woodworking, metal working, and fishing.

Featuring the new Teachers

Eleventh graders participating in the Detroit Economic Club’s Career Readiness Academy are: Juvael Alisa, Saymon Aoro, Celine Bouery, Cybelle Bouery, Jacob Garabedian, Raghad Israel, Petro Kindratskyy, Aida Moore, Moris Sarkisian, and Armen Vandevelde.

The AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School has been one of the dedicated users of AVC’s Hybrid Education Program since Fall Term 2011. The AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School has successfully incorporated courses of Western Armenian in its academic curricula. In addition, the students regularly sign up for the courses of Armenian Culture (Architecture and Music). Teacher Arshaluys Gharibian values highly the role of the AVC course for the school curricula: “The courses are helping our students to learn Armenian Language, Armenian Architecture and Armenian Music with interesting and well organized lessons. It is easy to use and simple for all ages.”

Student Sergiy Yakibchuk finds the multimedia solutions to learning Armenian Language and Culture very attractive: “AVCAGBU. org is a great Armenian teaching website. It includes interesting facts about Armenian Architecture, Music and more. I think this website is great for beginners who are starting to learn Armenian Language. I love it. Great job AVC!”

Being far from Armenia it is extremely important to keep the ties with the motherland firm. In this sense AVC’s Hybrid Program Social Events are a great help. The students participate in various virtual tours and play online games. These activities are meant to make the learning process entertaining, as well as to connect schools and communities into a larger network of friends around the globe. Michael Sarkisoff, another dedicated student says: “What I like about AVCAGBU is that you can learn almost everything about Armenian Culture, Music, Language at home or at school. It is easy to use and fun at the same time.”

AVC at Detroit’s AGBU Alex & Marie Manoogian School

Vartanants CelebrationVartanants Celebration

From the center for charter Schools – central Michigan University

A.G.B.U. Alex and Marie Manoogian School is the first CMU-authorized charter public school to offer Project Lead the Way. This program is the nation’s leading provider of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs.

The initial course at A.G.B.U., titled Project Lead the Way-Human Body Systems, exemplifies student engagement and motivation. Students take on the role of forensic anthropologists, neurologists, ophthalmologists, and biometric engineers for a total of eleven careers. All projects are real world authentic assessments as they provide students with the opportunity to experience firsthand the challenges faced by these professionals each day in their communities. At the culmination of the school year students have the option to take an outline assessment that may provide them with college/university equivalency credit if they score a six or above on a scale of 1-10.

Good Morning, Baron!I just wanted to update you with a few

things since I last met with you in the beginning of the school year...

I finished my finals with excellent scores and I only have one semester left until I graduate with my Bachelors in Biology. Also, last week I got three really important letters in the mail... I got acceptance into University of Michigan School of Dentistry, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, and Indiana University School of Dentistry!!!!

Even better news, U of M offered me a great scholarship and I am planning on attending school there. I am thrilled and so blessed to get such a precious gift like this for the holidays. My family could not be more proud!

Thank you for all the support you have provided me throughout the years! I wish you and your family a Happy Holiday!!

Sincerely,Sandra Alias

an email from an alumna to Dr. Torossian

Spelling BeeF-R-E-Q-U-E-N-T-L-Y. That’s the word Simon Yeldo, a

seventh grader, spelled correctly to win the Manoogian School Spelling Bee Contest. It was a tough competition between the top spellers of the Middle School. In the end, it came down to Simon and eighth grader Alex Muawad. Back and forth the words flew until Simon managed to eke past Alex.

Students in each grade competed against each other and then the top three winners moved on to the school-wide competition. In eighth grade congratulations go to Alex Muawad who placed first in his class. Levon Saghumyan and Jonathan Avram placed second and third. The seventh grade winner was Simon Yeldo. Second place went to Darron Mirachian and third place to Anthony Shebat. In the sixth grade Taleene Snitgen won the first place slot, followed by Caleb Dan in second and Tiamo Shauya in third.

Simon will now proceed to Oakland Schools headquarters in Pontiac to compete with other Oakland County students. Good luck Simon!

Geography BeeDo you know where the world’s largest road tunnel is

located? (It’s Norway!) How about the hottest inhabited place? (It’s Ethiopia!) These were just two of the numerous questions asked during the Geography Bee competition. The top three students in each grade were: eighth grade – Angela Yuhana (first), Stephanie Yaldo (second), Jonathan Avram (third); seventh grade: Karine Calukyan (first), Artem Belosokhov (second), Layla Souss (third); sixth grade: Devon Kalabat (first), Dymytro Kovalyuk (second), John Derian (third).

These nine students competed against each other to determine the school winner. Angela Yuhana placed third and John Derian placed second. The winner was Jonathan Avram who will go on to the next level of competition.

A hearty thank you goes out to Mrs. Marlene Baker who organized and facilitated both bowls.

Manoogian idolThe annual Manoogian Idol Talent Show was a big hit

with students and teachers. Participating were the following students: twelfth grade – Angelina Antonyan, Selena Cholak, Alexandra Dehnerova, Aram Ferhadson, Nubar Gambourian, Jan Hrant, Kegham Jalhaian, Bianca Kada, Jasmine Kakos, Allan Oganyan, Rita Salim, Isabel Shebat, and Charnell Ware; eleventh grade – Jacob Garabedian and Petro Kindratskyy; tenth grade – Rachel Fullmer, Rachel Garabedian, Meklee Gumma, Carmen Mirachian, and Yasmeen Rayis; ninth grade – Mary Rose Azar, Nayiri Sagherian, and Rose Salatyan.

With Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Novak doing the judging, the winners were announced to thunderous ovation. Mary Rose Azar played Rachmaninov’s “Prelude in C Sharp Minor” exquisitely on the piano, garnering first place. Second place went to Jacob Garabedian who played a contemporary piece, Green Days “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” on the piano. There was a third place tie with Rachel Fullmer singing “Hello” by Adele and Petro Kindratskyy singing and playing a Ukrainian folk song on the guitar. This was a truly enjoyable event, and everyone is already looking forward to next year. Kudos to the organizer, Mrs. Joanna Holsinger.

Festive ProgramsThe Elementary and Middle/

High School song and dance programs were held separately in the Cultural Hall of St. John Armenian Church on December 8, 2015 and February 3, 2016, respectively. Both programs featured a superb choir, trained by choir director and choreographer Mrs. Paulette Apkarian. The Middle School Manoogian Stars included Wella Abdulmassih, Brandon Bercea, Caleb Dan, Anastasia Drazhnovskyy, Cynthia El-Khoury, Kateryna Furda, Katrina Korendiy, Rose Mouradian, Lisa Ogua, Yulia Savulyak, Tiamo Shauya, Diana Shul, Taleene Snitgen, and Sophie Young. The High School Manoogian Stars featured Rachel Garabedian, Shamiran Jeddo, Lerna Lacinian, Nayiri Sagherian, and Rose Salatyan, accompanied on the piano by the multi-talented Jacob Garabedian.

The Elementary, Middle and High School dancers were led by dance director and choreographer Mrs. Nayiri Karapetian and associate dance director Mr. Dikran Callan. The dancers were all dressed in various Armenian ethnic costumes.

They dazzled the audience with their authentic footsteps and graceful movement. As Principals Ms. Dyana Kezelian and Dr. Hosep Torossian

pointed out, the beautiful medley of Armenian songs and dances left an indelible impression in the minds and hearts of all who were present.

1st and 2nd PlACe

3rd PlACe

Visit Manoogian School’s Web Site: www.manoogian.org

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDSouthfield, MIPermit No. 314

A.G.B.U. Alex & Marie Manoogian School22001 Northwestern HighwaySouthfield, Michigan 48075

Canned Food DriveThe National Honor Society sponsored the

10th annual canned food drive at the Manoogian School November 16-20. Over 9,600 food items were donated (a new school record) to the Open Hands Food Pantry in Royal Oak. The senior class brought in 4,030 items, which was the most donated by any class.

Salvation Army Field Trip

National Honor Society members volunteered at the Salvation Army on December 16 by assisting parents and grandparents with selecting Christmas presents for their family members at the Royal Oak location.

Gleaners Food BankNational Junior Honor Society members went

to Gleaners Food Bank in Detroit on February 9 to assist with the “Kids Helping Kids” food program. The students helped sort healthy snacks and fruit items for the after-school packages.

Seniors during canned food drive. >

NJHS field trip to Gleaners. >

NHS field trip to Salvation Army.