National, International, Armenia, and Community News and Opinion

10 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008CommunityCultural Day celebrated at Chamlian Armenian SchoolOver 70 first andsecond graderspresentedtraditionalArmeniancostumes fromvarious regionsin Armenia.GLENDALE, Calif – On Sunday,November 2, 2008, the ChamlianArmenian School in Glendalemarked it’s annual Cultural Day.The Armenian Cultural Day showcasedthe school’s dedication to thepreservation and promotion of Armenianculture and heritage. Theteachers in the Armenian Departmentworked tirelessly to preparetheir students. This year’s event includedthree sets of performanceseach lasting for two-hours in theschool auditorium. The programconsisted of songs, dances, recitals,short-plays, and the school choir.Over seventy first and second graderspresented traditional Armeniancostumes from various regions inArmenia.While the show was going on inthe auditorium, outside, students,teachers, parents, and familymembers spent their time in thecarnival-like atmosphere enjoyingArmenian cuisine and music. Thisevent was entirely sponsored andorganized by the Armenian Departmentand the Chamlian ParentSupport Committee.This year, the Parent InvolvementProgram (pip) was introducedat Chamlian ArmenianSchool. This program encouragesevery family to donate 40 hoursof their time in volunteer services.Rita Kaprielian , the vice principalat Chamlian and the person whoinitiated the Parent InvolvementProgram said, “Over the years, wehave been fortunate to have receivedoutstanding support fromour parents. They have always beengenerous in supporting us withtheir resources, their talents, andtheir expertise. We believe that ourparents will welcome the programas an opportunity to become evenmore involved with the Chamliancommunity. We are pleased to witnessthe program working so successfully.”There was a large turnout of volunteer parents at thisevent.The school has set up a websitewhere all volunteer service opportunitiesare posted for parents toview. The interactive website enablesthe parents to sign-on anytime and select service opportunitiesthat work best with theirschedule and abilities. The onlinesystem automates communicationbetween school administration,various event committees, and parents.Located in the foothills of Glendaleand La Cresenta, California,the school provides the ideal settingfor an excellent learning institution.With 500 students in gradesone through eight, Chamilan isParents volunteering their time to the Chamlian Armenian School.Judge Zaven Sinanian appointed to California Judges Associationone of the eight schools under theauspices of the Board of Regents ofthe Western Prelacy of the ArmenianApostolic Church. Chamlianis recognized not only as an Armenianschool, but also as an excellentlearning institution with thehighest standards of academic excellence.Chamlian was establishedin 1973 and has been accredited bythe Western Association of Schoolsand Colleges since 1983. Chamlianis also the only school in the regionthat teaches both Western andEastern Armenian.LOS ANGELES – The HonorableZaven V. Sinanian, currently sittingas a trial judge in the Central District,Stanley Mosk Courthouse ofthe Los Angeles County SuperiorCourt (lasc) was recently electedby his colleagues to the ExecutiveBoard of the California Judges Association(cja). He was nominatedto the Executive Board by theLASC’s current Presiding Judge J.Stephen Czuleger. The swearingin ceremony took place on September27, 2008, in Monterey, Californiaat the State Bar Annual Conference.Judge Sinanian was appointedto the bench in 2002 by GovernorGray Davis, following 13 years withthe Attorney General’s office in California.He was elected to anotherterm on the bench by the voters ofLos Angeles County in 2004. Priorto moving to the Stanley MoskJudge Zaven Sinanian.courthouse, in 2007, he was thefirst judge of Armenian descent tobe appointed site supervising judgefor the North Central District, Burbank,which has a large Armenianpopulation.“I am humbled and honored bythis appointment, and will do mybest to represent the constituentsof the California Judges Association,”said Sinanian.In 2005, Sinanian was appointedto a three-year term on the CaliforniaJudicial Council AdvisoryCommittee on Access and Fairnessby Ronald George, Chief Justiceof the California Supreme Court.He has worked diligently in thatcapacity to implement changes tothe court system that would benefitthe public and increase accessto justice.In addition to his work withthe Judicial Council, Sinanian,is a current member of the ExecutiveBoard of the Los AngelesCounty Bar AssociationLitigation Committee and wasformerly a member of the lascExecutive Committee, which isthe policy making arm of thecourt.Sinanian is a past Chairman ofthe Armenian Bar, and continuesto participate in seminars, paneldiscussions and continuing educationclasses for attorneys conductedby that organization. In 1992, hetook a one-year sabbatical to travelto Armenia where he served as theCounselor to the Minister of ForeignAffairs, who at that time wasthe Armenian Bar’s founder, RaffiHovannisian.Since his appointment to thebench, Judge Sinanian has mentoredstudents and young professionals,many of them Armenian,who aspire to enter and succeed inthe field of law. He has regularlywelcomed law students for externshipsin his department and hasadvised young lawyers on careerdevelopment issues. He has beena guest speaker and lecturer at conferencesorganized by the ArmenianBar Association, and has continuedto be involved in Armeniancommunity affairs.The cja was established in 1929and is the professional associationrepresenting the interests of thejudiciary of the State of California.It is the nation’s largest professionalassociation, representing2,600 active and retired Californiajudges, justices, commissionersand referees. Its mission is to preserveand promote the integrityand independence of the state judiciary;uphold the quality of justiceand foster public confidence inthe courts; support and enhancethe well-being and effectiveness ofits active and retired judicial officers;and strengthen relationshipsamong the three branches of government.