Hamasdegh School

Before the founding of Hamasdegh Armenian School, the Washington D.C. community provided Armenian lessons to students at Roosevelt High School and later on in homes.

In 1967, a small group of dedicated leaders in the community, with the goal of preserving Armenianness and knowledge that an Armenian school was necessary to teach the language, created a committee who set the foundation for the one day Armenian school who would later come to be known as “Համաստեղ Հայ Դպրոց”. The founding members of this committee were

• Mr. Kourken Asadourian
• Mr. Haig Gakavian
• Mr. Onnig Marashlian
• Mr. Jirayr Haroutounian
• Mr. Sarkis Nazarian
• Mr. Levon Palian
• Dr. Barkev Kibarian

In 1967, the Arabian and Agnouni halls found at Soorp Khatch Church were built. In December of the same year, the Armenian classes began. Under the same roof, there was already an Armenian Sunday school for English speakers that already took place under the auspices of Der Dikran Avak Kahana Khoyan. In the 1976-1977 school year, the two schools merged into one. Per Mr. Kourken Asadourian’s suggestion, the school was named after the Armenian American writer, Hamasdegh (Hampartsoum Gelenian 1895-1966). In October of 1968, Hamasdegh School only had 17 students, 3 teachers and a principal. Over the years, the numbers of students grew as large numbers of families immigrated to the United States from the Middle East. The parent teacher association also formed in the future years.

Currently, Hamasdegh Armenian School has 91 students, 14 teachers, 2 substitute teachers, a principal, and an administrative assistant/treasurer. Classes begin mid-September and end mid-July. Students attend for 10 years, from pre-k to 8th grade. Every Sunday students begin their day in the Soorp Khatch Church Sanctuary for morning prayer and lessons from the Bible and about Armenian Apostolic church traditions and Holy Days by Der Sarkis Kahana Aktavoukian.

Hamasdegh Armenian School / Համաստեղ Հայ Դպրոց

Hamasdegh School starts on Sunday September 10, 2023 at 9:30AM.

Please click HERE to register your child online.  Please complete a separate form for each child.  Please register before August 31, 2023.
Once you register your child, you will receive a separate email with payment options and instructions.

We would like to invite all parents with recommendations or concerns to the school office either in person or via email.

We would like to keep an open line of communication between the school and parents to ensure our students are receiving the best education and attention while at school.

Schedule

Sunday Class Schedule: (Pre-k4 through 2nd Grade)
• 9:30 – 10:00 Student’s Mass (Badarak)
• 10:00 – 11:30 Armenian Language and Singing
• 11:30 – 12:00 Lunch
• 12:00 – 1:00 Learning through Armenian Dance and Cultural Games

Sunday Class Schedule: (3rd Grade through 8th Grade)
• 9:30 – 10:00 Student’s Mass (Badarak)
• 10:00 – 11:30 Armenian Language and Culture
• 11:30 – 12:00 Religion according to the Armenian Apostolic Church
• 12:00 – 12:30 Lunch
• 12:30 – 1:00 Armenian History and Current Armenian Political Events

Fees

The tuition for 2023-2024 school year is $500.00 per student which includes a new book (from Lebanon), 2 exercise books, and all school supplies your child may need.

Time period

School runs from August 2023 to June 2024.

Current as of Aug. 18, 2023