Armenian Night a success

[Guest]

Armenian Night a success

Keppel PTA holds orientation for Armenian families.

 

By JUDY SECKLER

 

 

MARK KEPPEL ELEMENTARY -- Judging by the rush of humanity toward the

signup sheets at the end of the evening, Keppel PTA's Armenian Night was a great

success.

It was the organization's first attempt to gather Armenian parents to discuss the

subject of school involvement and participation.

The meeting was conducted almost exclusively in Armenian. Keppel PTA President

Elaine McCoy won a round of applause from parents for her short introduction in the

language.

Assistant Supt. Alice Petrossian followed with prepared remarks spoken in

Armenian, her native tongue. She was accompanied by a slide show that illustrated

many of the school programs needing parent volunteers.

In a rousing and emotional presentation that was often punctuated by applause,

Petrossian appealed to the ethnic pride of her people to become involved in their child's

education.

"It was a very effective pitch,' parent David Bogosian said. "People were very in

tune with what she had to say."

About 75 audience members listened attentively as Petrossian outlined ways for

parents to lend a helping hand. As a room rep they could help teachers plan classroom

parties for occasions like Valentine's Day, raise money for school equipment like

computers, buy scrip at neighboring markets where a percentage of the money would

be donated to the school, volunteer time to run school programs like the drill team or

the school year book and simply attend PTA meetings.

American schools are run in a democratic way, and the schools want to hear your

voice, Petrossian told her audience.

Bogosian said many people at the meeting were not used to helping. In Armenia,

their former frame of reference was a "model of noncooperation" toward education.

"I've never been to a meeting," parent Narine Keleshyan said. "I got a lot of

information."

Keppel second-grade teacher Julie Avedissian said the meeting seemed to open the

door. Parents felt more at ease being at meeting conducted in their own language, and

determined to step up their participation, she said.