The Kirikian Armenian School has classes ranging from Toddlers, Nursery to 7th grade. New students may be enrolled between the ages of 2 1/2 to 7. Toddler students should be at least 2 ½ and toilet trained before starting school. All other students should have had their birthday as follows: On or before December 1st of the current year, Nursery students should be 3, Pre-Kindergarten students should be 4, Kindergarten should be 5, and first grade students should be 6, and so on. We don't accept older students with no previous Armenian education. Cases for older children with previous Armenian education still have to be discussed with the principal. The unique part of our school is the fact that starting with the first grade we have two separate sections in each grade, one for English speaking and the other for Armenian speaking children. Both sections use the same books and finish the same program. The instructor in the Armenian speaking section uses only Armenian in the classroom and the one in the other section uses both languages for the benefit of the students. Also, students in the English speaking section have special periods to practice Armenian conversation and learning the language through the use of computer programs for the Armenian language. This way, students with the same needs are in the same classroom and receive the most benefit out of our curriculum. In addition to reading, writing and conversation practices our school provides instructions in Armenian history, religion, Armenian dance, Armenian songs, starting with the 4th grade Armenian Church sharagans and starting with the 5th grade, geography of Armenia and Armenian literature. At the end of each grade students must pass a spelling and reading test to qualify for the awards and a special test sent from the Diocese to pass their grade. Also, students in the 6th grade must pass a 100-question history test to qualify for the history award. This test and a final project about the Armenian culture are prerequisite for qualifying for the 7th Grade end of the year test, sent and corrected by the Diocese Language Lab. After which each qualifying student receives a Diploma, again sent from the Diocese. The “Outstanding Student Award” is given to students who excel in five categories: Reading, spelling, zero or one absence, wearing the school uniform 100% of the time and coming to school with prepared homework 100% of the time. Throughout the years, we have noticed a tremendous difference in the discipline and behavior of our students on days when they wear uniforms. In response to many parents’ suggestions, we are pleased to require the uniform to be worn in grades 1st through 7th, every Saturday. Boys wear navy pants, white shirt, and the navy tie and girls wear navy skirt, white blouse, and the school’s red scarf. Ties and scarves can be bought at our school on any Saturday. After graduation from the 7th grade students are expected to attend the “Khrimian Lyceum” at Diocese. The Armenian Language Lab and Resource Center at the Diocese has established these valuable courses taught by well-respected experts in their field, which should be seriously considered by every graduate student and their parents. Our school provides transportation to the city on the dates students will have courses at Khrimian Lyceum.