School fund drive goes over the top

With lights flashing and sirens screaming, a yellow Glendale Fire Department truck pulled up to Richardson D. White Elementary School bringing special guests from the Glendale Educational Foundation on Friday morning to an all-school flag ceremony.

“Someone’s coming to visit us,” Principal Suzanne Risse said to students who tried to peer down the street.

Instead of its usual crew, Battalion Chief Steve Howard drove the vehicle carrying foundation president Gene Stone and district parent Elizabeth Manasserian, who gave the final donation to complete its $100,000 goal.

“I was delighted when I got the call that my check had put us over the goal, but really I was excited to ride that fire truck,” Manasserian said.

The Glendale Educational Foundation was started a year and a half ago to raise money for the Glendale schools.

“We care about the students,” Stone said. “When you raise money in a community, a lot of people are involved.”

While Assistant Supt. Alice Petrossian unveiled the presentation-sized $100,000 check for the Glendale Board of Education, the crowd cheered and clapped.

The money will be spent on providing 18 elementary schools with improved visual and performing arts programs, such as bringing Los Angeles Music Center artists into the classrooms, Stone said.

“This is for you, the students,” Board of Education member Greg Krikorian said. “You are the heart and soul of our community, and we celebrate you.”

The donations came from businesses, individuals, real estate agents, vendors and companies, said Susan Hunt coordinator for the school district.

“It was kind of a broad-based thing,” Hunt said. “We didn’t tap the parents, but rather the businesses.”

Petrossian spoke to the second-graders as the check presentation ended.

“Part of this check is yours,” Petrossian said. “As third-graders, you’ll have a wonderful arts program.”

Before the foundation made its grand entrance, students from the first and fourth grade presented facts about the flag and sang songs.

The lyrics for “It’s a Grand Old Flag,” “Up on the Roof” and “Surfin’ U.S.A.” filled the courtyard while all around the flagpole students, teachers, family and friends stood listening.

Students ? one from each classroom ? were awarded student-of-the-month certificates.

From track B, Alberto Lanzetti, Nanor Martirosian, Lynette Simonian, David Yeghyayan, Brandee Macias, Stephanie Han, Luiza Baloyan and Dulce Perez were honored.

For track C, Jasmine Logan, Carlos Villareal, Madhuri Kesani, Artin Vartani, Shushana Darbinian, Amalia Arzunyan, Elden Mirzoian, Leonel Campis, Sharon Torres and Jessica Yadegar were honored.

From track D, the principal honored Alina Pascual, Gor Begoyan, Selma Pogosyan, Joshua Arevalo, Erik Van Sleeuwen, Sabrina Hernandez, Shake Khachatrian, Michael Kornmann and Michael Pedraza.

There is no track A.

Victoria Darbinian, a parent with children in the first and second grades, attended the flag ceremony especially to see her children.

Darbinian’s elder daughter was awarded a student-of-the-month award.

Her teacher hinted and winked that it was important to come to the flag ceremony, Darbinian said.