Cultural Education

Darleene Barrientos Unfamiliar music and unusual dancing entranced Hoover High School students Wednesday, when the Soon Ching Ling Performers from Wu Yi School of Beijing performed. Comprised of 71 students, ranging in age from 11 to 13, the group played music, sang, danced and even painted in front of the high school crowd. "It's unique -- something different that we've never seen before," Sera Khaneshan, 14, said The group's concert band played two songs, including a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday," which made the audience laugh as the musicians began swaying and waving their instruments in time to their music.

Thousands streamed onto Brand Boulevard on Sunday for the city’s eighth annual Unity Fest, a celebration of the community’s diversity that featured cultural song, dance, crafts and cuisine. Korean teens gave a hip-hop exhibition, and Armenian dancers wearing traditional costumes twirled and hopped across a performance stage at the intersection of Brand and Lexington Street. Asian, Hispanic, European and other traditions were also represented in the event that offered visitors a chance to experience a showcase of the community’s cultures, organizers said.

The German government gave Benjamin Franklin Elementary School three trunks stuffed with curriculum and educational materials Tuesday at an event to introduce parents and teachers to a dual-language immersion program being developed at the school. The trunks, and a check for $450, were a show of support from the German government for the German language program that is set to begin at Franklin in fall 2008. “I can only congratulate you all to have taken this initiative,” said Rolf-Dieter Schnelle, director of culture and education for the German foreign office in Berlin.

Vishanoff weddingVISHANOFF -- BUCKHOFF Suzanne Vishanoff and Michael Buckhoff, both of Glendale, were married at Hartley Botanica in Somis, Calif. John Hubbard officiated. The maid of honor was Leanne Vishanoff. The bridesmaids were Jessica Estrada, Jennifer Wheaton, Erin Linnemeyer, Holly Smith Paula Hannah and Milad Sarah. Vanessa Estrada was the flower girl. Serving as best man was Nick Meyers. The ushers were Mike Jacot, Jeremy Wheaton, Justin Kobielusz, Travis Chatham, Josh Turner and Edan Sheklow.

Crescenta Valley High School’s Prom Plus committee will be holding its annual Back to School barbecue on Sept. 20. Hamburger, hot dog and sausage meals will be available for just $5. Pre-orders recommended. Meals served beginning at 6 p.m. To order, send an e-mail to prrobin@juno.com or watch for a flyer with back to school information coming soon in the mail. Rosemont Middle School will have its first Dine-Out on Sept. 12 at Joselitos in Montrose. Order from 4 to 8 p.m. and mention the school, and a portion of the food bill will be donated back to Rosemont.

First-grade students at Chamlian Armenian School wore self-made paper "Cat In The Hat" hats Friday and ate green eggs and ham in tribute to Dr. Seuss' 102nd birthday. Unlike the fried eggs made famous by the Dr. Seuss book, these eggs were scrambled but were green just the same. Students from two classrooms gathered around Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian, whose nephew, Vahe Yacoubian, is a second-grader at the school, as he read "The Cat In The Hat" to start the morning.

Maelisa McCaffrey, M.A. will teach a class on cultural diversity at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church on Thursday, Nov. 9 from 7 to 8 p.m. The Nov. 9 session is the second of two and will emphasize the changing demographics within La Crescenta and Los Angeles county, communication and interaction with various ethnic and cultural groups, and the church's role in overcoming racial oppression in the United States (and specifically within the surrounding...

LA CRESCENTA — An Armenian Thanksgiving menu hedges closely to the American tradition, especially the generous portions of turkey, mashed potatoes, corn and cranberry sauce. Students at Vahan & Anoush Chamlian Armenian School went home full after chowing down on a feast Wednesday and celebrating the American cultural and dining wonder that is Thanksgiving. “Giving thanks is good,” said Matthew Ghazarian, a third-grader. “I get to celebrate with my family [and]

Sometimes I just sit here shaking my head in wonderment at our city government. I cannot, for the life of me, understand the lack of concern our City Council and city staff show when a treasure such as A Noise Within theater company gives up on Glendale and moves elsewhere. The cavalier attitude of Councilmen Bob Yousefian and Dave Weaver astound me. The same with Nestlé moving out. Don't these guys get it? God forbid they should close even one banquet hall! Then watch them scurry about, beating their chests, gnashing their teeth and wailing loud and long.

A visit from a rancher, a miner, a farmer, a forester and a fisherman at Roosevelt Middle School on Thursday was more than a regular career day for students — who were fascinated with these jobs, which seemed so exotic from a city slicker's standpoint. "It makes me want to try it or do it for a day," said 13-year-old Richie Galvez, following the miner's presentation. "It's different because there's not a lot of miners around here." Seventh-grader Susanna Sayan, 12, thought being a cattle rancher seemed fun. "I was curious about how they are living in their ranch," she said.

Thousands streamed onto Brand Boulevard on Sunday for the city’s eighth annual Unity Fest, a celebration of the community’s diversity that featured cultural song, dance, crafts and cuisine. Korean teens gave a hip-hop exhibition, and Armenian dancers wearing traditional costumes twirled and hopped across a performance stage at the intersection of Brand and Lexington Street. Asian, Hispanic, European and other traditions were also represented in the event that offered visitors a chance to experience a showcase of the community’s cultures, organizers said.

The German government gave Benjamin Franklin Elementary School three trunks stuffed with curriculum and educational materials Tuesday at an event to introduce parents and teachers to a dual-language immersion program being developed at the school. The trunks, and a check for $450, were a show of support from the German government for the German language program that is set to begin at Franklin in fall 2008. “I can only congratulate you all to have taken this initiative,” said Rolf-Dieter Schnelle, director of culture and education for the German foreign office in Berlin.

Darleene Barrientos Unfamiliar music and unusual dancing entranced Hoover High School students Wednesday, when the Soon Ching Ling Performers from Wu Yi School of Beijing performed. Comprised of 71 students, ranging in age from 11 to 13, the group played music, sang, danced and even painted in front of the high school crowd. "It's unique -- something different that we've never seen before," Sera Khaneshan, 14, said The group's concert band played two songs, including a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday," which made the audience laugh as the musicians began swaying and waving their instruments in time to their music.