The Start of the New Academic Year on the Southern Peak of Aragats: Summary
Overcoming the Southern Peak of Aragats on September 1
Written by Vardan Karapetyan, and translated into English by Yura Ganjalyan
It has become a
beautiful tradition for our Sebastatsis to announce the start of the new
academic year on the southern peak of Mount Aragats, which has become symbolic
for us. This year, too, we started the 2025-2026 academic year with an ascent
to the southern peak of Aragats /3887.8 m/, thus welcoming the day of knowledge
and schooling.
122 students
admitted to the 10th grade of the High School of Mkhitar Sebastatsi EduComplex
took part in the ascent. Eight accompanying teachers helped them: Vardan
Karapetyan, Hasmik Simonyan, Levon Mirzoyan, Alice Gevorgyan, Mariam
Arushanyan, Maria Mikayelyan, Daniel Hakobyan and Gohar Iskandaryan. Two
parents also participated in the 2025 Aragats ascent, Razmik Mizrikyan,
physical education teacher of V. Petrosyan Basic School of Ashtarak, one hiker
- Albert Gasparyan, and also the wife of our colleague Levon Mirzoyan, teacher
Anush Mirumyan. The total group was 135 people. Naturally, it was a difficult
test for the newcomers to overcome the southern peak of the highest mountain in
Armenia, but, to our joy, I must state that 115 out of 122 students overcame
the ascent, receiving their Sebastia "baptism" on the peak. Seven
students found it difficult to reach the peak for various reasons, but they
walked enough, two of them were almost close to the peak. It is very important
to note that on that day everyone tested their strength, checked their skills
in overcoming heights, discovered new opportunities and, finally, were
"baptized" as a Sebastatsi student. The newcomers learned a lot -
mutual assistance, sharing bread and water with each other, being united,
getting to know each other better, forming closer, friendly relationships,
appreciating nature, the environment, etc.
It was not easy to
organize and implement the ascent and descent of such a large group smoothly
and safely, there are many difficulties and complexities in the case of a large
group, the amount of responsibility is greater, but it was possible thanks to the
attentive, caring, responsible attitude and work of each teacher accompanying
the group, for which I am grateful to my colleagues. I am also grateful to
them. I am also grateful to the head of the high school and the 10th grade
organizer for supporting us in organizational matters.