Armenian Evangelical Central High School

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Location
Armenian Evangelical Central High School
Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
Information
Principal	Mrs Maral Deyirmenjian
Type	Private
Grades	Kindergarten - Secondary
Established	1922
Religious Affiliation	Armenian Evangelical Church
Homepage	http://www.chs22.com/

The Armenian Evangelical Central High School (Armenian: Հայ Աւետարանական Կեդրոնական Բարձրագոյն Վարժարան) is one of the oldest and most-well established schools of the Armenian community in Lebanon. It was founded in 1922 in a refugee camp, on the initiative of the Rev Yenovk Hadidian. Ten years later, it moved to its present location on the eastern outskirts of Beirut in Ashrafieh.

The present principal is Mrs. Maral Deyirmenjian (2007- ).

1 History
2 Past Principals
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

After the Armenian genocide, the Armenians, who had sought refuge on the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean, tried to revive the Armenian life in a foreign land. One of the first envoys of this holy mission was Rev. Yenovk Hadidian, who formed an elementary school, in order to create a small Armenian family who would receive an evangelical education, and would give rise to new Armenian generations. On May 16, 1922 the first branch of the school started operating in a hut named “Adana Camp” in Beirut.

In 1922, a second evangelical school was formed in the nearby “Isgenderon camp”. In 1924, the two schools united under the name “Armenian Evangelical School for boys and girls”. It received its official license in 1925. Through Reverend Henry Rigg's generous donation, and in memory of his wife and daughter, a new building was built to serve as a church and classroom in the Ashrafieh area.

The advancement of the Armenian Evangelical Central School continued as it set its first secondary class in the academic year 1944-1945. Ever since that day, the school is renamed Armenian Evangelical Central High School.

In 1969, the kindergarten and elementary building was completed, and included a memorial hall dedicated to the victims of an accident during a school trip that took place on April 1, 1960, costing the life of 3 teachers and 18 students.

During the academic year 1976-1977, grade twelve was established.