A.R.S Private School

About

Academic Excellence, Armenian Education and Exemplary Character Development - It is with this vision that in 1979, the ARS Armenian Private School was established. With its beginnings as a Kindergarten and two elementary classes, today, the institution has grown to one of the largest co-educational and bicultural day schools in North America, teaching students from preschool through grade 12. A nursery program was implemented in 2013 catering to children from 18 months to 3 years of age.

The Armenian language, cultural and religious studies are weaved into the general curriculum in adherence with the Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines. Currently, as Toronto’s only Armenian educational institution, the ARS Armenian Private School boasts a student body of over 600 students and 570 graduates. Many of the graduates are now parents to a new generation of students and hold important positions within the administration, staff and Board of Trustees of the school.

ARS Armenian Private School is committed to providing a balanced and fulfilling learning experience in a secure and nurturing environment that develops academic excellence, leadership, a creative spirit, good sportsmanship and strong communication skills.

We strive to foster the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of all students in keeping with the traditions and values of our Armenian- Christian heritage, while celebrating our Canadian homeland and its multicultural community. We impress upon students the importance of higher education and we instill an appreciation of lifelong learning and a desire to participate in and contribute to the community at large so that students become fulfilled and responsible global citizens.

For more information, please visit www.arsdayschool.ca.

School Board
2018-2019

Vazrig Saraphanian
Chairperson
Juliet Janbazian
Secretary
Melanie Agopian
Treasurer
Hovig Tchamichian
Bookkeeper
Raffi Charchafjian
Advisor
Alfred Boghouzian
Advisor
Hasmig Zarkoian-Shahinian
Advisor
Talin Moushian
Advisor
Houri Chitilian
Advisor


The Roubina Nursery offers a learning program that is consistent with the Ontario Ministry of Education policies. Delivered entirely in the Armenian language, our program is designed to allow the children to learn through play. Play provides the opportunity to experiment, explore, discover and solve problems.  During play time, children have opportunities to talk, listen to and explore the Armenian language. Our nursery accepts children between the ages of 18 months to 3 years.

The ARS “Babayan” Kindergarten consists of our Junior (JK, 4 y.o.) and Senior Kindergarten (SK, 5 y.o.) grades. Students explore numeracy and literacy in both Armenian and English and begin learning French in SK. Half a day is dedicated to each language. The programming allows students to develop their social, critical thinking, language, science, and math skills as outlined in the Ministry of Education Kindergarten curriculum.

The ARS “Kololian” Elementary encompasses our first to eighth grades. The school delivers the Ontario Ministry of Education curricula along with an Armenian program comprised of language, history, science, drama, religion and music classes. Our Core French program begins early in Grade 1 and is taught three periods a week.

Each year’s September, the 7 and 8th graders attend Cedar Ridge Kids’ Camp and participate in overnight Leadership and Team Building program, which is designed to develop knowledge, skills, and spirit that it takes to be a good leader.

Kololian Elementary is home to the school choirs, “The Nightingales of Kantzasar” (Grades 1-3) and “Cranes Choir” (Grades 4-8) and the school band which also includes students from the high school. Students begin to compete in sports tournaments starting as early as Grade 3 in competitions such as track and field, volleyball and badminton.

Established in 2001, The ARS “Lapoyan” High School has credit granting authority by the Ontario Ministry of Education. Students have the opportunity to select from a wide range of courses as they work towards receiving their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Armenian Literature and History and Genocide Education are mandatory courses.

Students have an opportunity to participate in and lead student life through co-curricular clubs and activities such as the student council and the student newsletter, “The Echo”.

With a strong athletics program, our students have opportunities to further develop their collaborative and leadership skills.

Lapoyan High School students also have the unique opportunity to participate in two annual experiential learning trips.

Our grade ten students journey to Armenia where students receive an invaluable educational experience. They benefit from an inspiring itinerary which takes them from the museums of Yerevan, to historical sites and architectural monuments all over the country as well as to several important Churches. Students also have the opportunity to meet their peers when they tour schools in Yerevan and the surrounding regions as well they attend enlightening lectures by historians and politicians.

The grade eleven students travel to Venice, Italy each August to participate in Ca’ Foscari University of Venice’s half-day Armenian language classes that are taught by Armenian teachers from all over the world. The arts are an integral part of both Armenian and Italian cultures. In Venice, students are immersed in the artistic and cultural heritage of this unique and breathtaking city and learn of the thriving Armenian community that once was. Tours to the major galleries, museums and historical sites of Venice, Pisa, Florence and Verona are arranged as well as a special visit to San Lazzaro Island – one of the world’s foremost centers of Armenian culture and home of the Mekhitarist Armenian Monastery.