Arany János Hungarian School in Toronto

The Arany János Hungarian Week-end School developed from the former Family Circle operating in the Hungarian Cultural Centre. It was established in 1975. Regular subjects taught in the morning were followed by cultural activities in the afternoon. These included choir, music, embroidery, egg painting, pottery, folk dancing, and performing at various celebrations. In 1990 the federal government withdrew support from foreign language programs, and an alternative solution was sought out through the Toronto School Board, allowing the classes to continue. Afternoon classes at this time included choir, folk dancing, and zither. The Farsangi Mulatság (Carneval) was also established. Zither classes ceased around the end of the nineties due to lack of interest; however, poetry recitation and reading competitions became an annual event. In the 1970’s, students came mostly from new immigrant families. Today the shool has second and third generation children, children of mixed marriages, and children of refugee families, as well as some New Canadians.

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