History of Little Angels Saturday School

“Little Angels” Saturday School was founded in 2000. In 2010, with the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, the Saturday School was reorganized and began to operate under the auspices of St. Leon (Ghevontiants) Armenian Cathedral.

Close to 300 students between the ages of 6-14 are enrolled in the school.

Throughout the seven-year educational program (taught in Eastern Armenian), students are taught various courses ranging from the instruction of the Armenian alphabet to Armenian literature, history, culture, and music. The curriculum meets the Common Core State Standards of the State of California. The highly qualified instructors routinely participate in workshops and seminars organized by the Headquarters of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

The ten-month academic year commences in August and ends in May. School uniforms are mandatory, and the dress code is enforced. Classes begin at 9:15 a.m. with a spiritual message and end at 12 noon. The curriculum is based on the public school textbooks authorized by the Ministry of Sciences and Education of the Republic of Armenia. The institution works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Sciences and Education, as well as the Ministry of the Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia.

In 2015, the Cathedral's Saturday School was recognized as the Best Saturday School in the Diaspora and was awarded the Top Prize and a Certificate of Excellence in an annual contest organized by the Ministry of the Diaspora, in collaboration with the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians in Russia. Throughout the year, Little Angels Saturday School hosts several festivities as well as cultural and social events and functions. The certificates of graduation presented to the students are recognized as second foreign language certificates by state colleges. Registration for the following academic year begins in July.

For more information, please contact the school’s administration. The contact details are below.