School Staff

A.G.B.U. Zaroukian School Staff 2010-2011

Orysia Perun (Principal) Orysia Perun was a Principal with the Toronto District School Board for 18 years where she worked in four different schools. Before retiring from the TDSB she was promoted to the role of Supervising Principal of Special Education – developing and implementing TDSB Policies, supporting Principals and overseeing programs in 125 schools. Mrs. Perun is very pleased to be the Principal of our school. She enjoys working with students and supporting staff.

Gadar Meneshian (Grade 1-4 Armenian Language and History Teacher) Gadar Meneshian has been a teacher of Armenian language and history for over 30 years. Educated in the Montessori system, she is the recipient of the prestigious Teacher’s Award from the Armenian Diaspora. Born and raised in Jerusalem, she enjoys reading, music and dance. Digin Gadar is passionate about preserving the Armenian culture, language, and customs and tries to instill in her students a lasting love and respect for all things Armenian.

Juliana Brown (Grades 2-4 Math, Science, Social Studies, Art and Language Arts English Teacher) Juliana Brown graduated from OISE’s Bachelor of Education program at the University of Toronto in 2008, after completing her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree at Queen’s University in 2007. Since then, she has continued her studies through additional qualification courses at OISE, including ESL Part 1 and Reading Part 1 and 2, and is on her way to becoming a literacy specialist. She believes in creating a safe, warm atmosphere where learning is hands-on and meaningful, and has thoroughly enjoyed teaching Grades 2-6 for the past three years.

Verjik Abrahamians (Nursery and Junior Kindergarten Armenian Teacher) Verjik Abrahamians has her Masters degree in Child Psychology and Pedagogy from the State University of Yerevan. Her work experience includes being supervisor of the “Little Readers” program at the Oxford Learning Centre, the Head of Kindergarten at the ARS Day School, and supervising teacher of Nursery and Kindergarten at the A.G.B.U. Zaroukian School. Verjik became a child educator because she believes that education has enormous impacts on each child’s emotional, social and personal life.

Thelma Kalaycioglu (Nursery and Junior Kindergarten English Teacher) Thelma Kalaycioglu has her Early Childhood Education Diploma from Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology. She has 20 years working experience with children. Beginning as the Pre-Nursery teacher at the A.G.B.U. Zaroukian School, she now teaches English to both the Junior Kindergarten and Nursery classes. Thelma finds teaching to be very rewarding.

Ripsime Demirdjian (Music Teacher, Senior Kindergarten – Grade 1 Armenian Teacher and Physical Education Teacher) Ripsime Demirdjian graduated with her Masters degree from the Academy of Music, Dance and Arts in Bulgaria, specializing in teaching music, piano and vocal. She also completed courses in the western Armenian language in Bulgaria. Her teaching experience includes establishing and conducting the student choir “Djeguydig” and the vocal group, “Charle Aznavor”. She has 19 years teaching experience, in the subjects of music, piano, and Armenian language.

Ani Tourosian (Grade 1 – Senior Kindergarten Math, Science, Social Studies, Art and Language Arts English Teacher) Ani Tourosian completed her degree in Early Childhood Education at Centennial College. Ever since she can remember, she has wanted to be a teacher. In 2007, the A.G.B.U. Zaroukian School made her dream come true. She started working with Pre-Nursery students and for the past few years has been teaching the Senior Kindergarten and Grade 1 classes. Ms. Tourosian is currently completing her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She believes in the motto: If you tell students, they will forget. If you show students, they will remember. If you involve students, they will understand.

Hasmik Derzyan (Pre-Nursery Armenian and English Teacher) Hasmik Derziyan studied elementary education in the subjects of Math, Armenian, English, Russian, Music and Art at the State Humanitarian College in Yerevan. She continued her studies at Hrachia Acharian Univeristy to become a Defectologist-Speech Language Pathologist, and graduated from both institutions with Honors. Ms. Derziyan started her professional career in Armenia and has continued working in Canada. She is happy to put her passion, knowledge, and many years of experience to work for children’s harmonious and healthy development.

Rosa Safarian-Der Haroutunian (Nursery – Grade 4 French Teacher) Rosa Safarian-Der Haroutunian completed her Masters degree in Armenian Literature and Linguistics at Yerevan’s State University, and her Bachelor of Arts in French Studies at York University/Glendon College. After teaching the Armenian language in Tehran, Mrs. Safarian-Der Haroutunian began teaching French at various schools in Toronto and has been doing so for more than 10 years. She enjoys working with children, and teaching them how to learn, succeed, and become self-confident.