New York Atatürk School Begins New Academic Year

The New York Atatürk School, operating under the American Turkish Women's Association (ATKB), opened its 2026-2027 academic year with a commencement program. The program, which brought together students, parents, teachers, and alumni, emphasized the importance of preserving ties to the roots of Turkish language education, cultural values, and the new generations growing up in America.

The opening of the new academic year in New York was also followed on site by Özlem Özgüt Yörekli, the U.S. Post New York Representative.

The New Academic Year Began with the National Anthem.

The New York Atatürk School's new term opening program began with a salute and the National Anthem. The program noted that students receiving online education had also started their lessons, while students and parents in the hall shared the excitement of the new academic year together.

After the opening, Dr. Ahmet Köroğlu, the Education Attaché of the New York Consulate, was invited onto the stage to address students, parents, and educators.

In his speech, the importance of education within the historical and cultural foundation of Turkish society was highlighted, and the words of the Republic's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, "The truest guide in life is knowledge," were recalled.

While emphasizing Atatürk School’s mission to provide Turkish language and culture education to children and youth, it was stated that support for the school will continue. Wishes were expressed that the new academic year would be auspicious for students, parents, and the entire education community.

Berna Gürdal: We Are Opening a New Page of the 55‑Year‑Old Story

During the program’s continuation, Berna Gürdal, President of the American Turkish Women’s Association, was invited to the stage.

Highlighting Atatürk School’s 55‑year educational journey, Gürdal addressed the students with the words, ‘Today we are not just starting a new academic year. We are opening a new page of a beautiful story that has continued for 55 years.’

Gürdal, stating that in the new era students will speak Turkish, create drawings, sing songs, learn new information about their culture, and form new friendships, emphasized that children are the heart of the school.

Expressing that every Turkish word spoken by the students and every new piece of knowledge they acquire contributes to carrying culture into the future, Gürdal also thanked the parents and teachers who support the 55‑year educational journey.

Scholarship Support for Graduates

In her speech, Berna Gürdal also announced the scholarship initiative underway for Atatürk School graduates.

Stating that a contribution of $7,500 had been provided to support students preparing for university, Gürdal announced that if the same amount of donations is reached with public support, a matching contribution could bring the total aid to $15,000 for university students who are alumni of Atatürk School.

Gürdal called on the public for support, emphasizing that investment in children's education and future can be made together.

Erol Gülistan Addresses Youth

Later in the program, Erol Gülistan, a 1997 graduate of Atatürk School, took the stage.

While growing up in America, Gülistan said that learning the Turkish language, culture, and history is a great enrichment, and she told students to take pride in their own identity while also respecting different cultures and ideas.

Highlighting the importance Atatürk placed on education, science, and reason, Gülistan urged young people to dream big, set no limits for themselves, and not to give up in the face of failures.

Another piece of advice from Gülistan to young people was to occasionally put their phones aside. Emphasizing the value of time spent with family and friends, she urged students to improve their Turkish, learn about their culture and history, read widely, stay curious, and ask questions.

Naz Ölmez: 'I'm glad I became part of Atatürk School'

During the program's continuation, Naz Ölmez, a 2021 graduate of Atatürk School, gave a speech.

Explaining that she was born in America and had started attending Atatürk School every Saturday from the age of 4.5 with her twin brother, Ölmez said that as a child she could not fully grasp the importance of going back to school on weekends, but years later she saw the values it added to her life much more clearly.

Ölmez, who said he learned Turkish, Turkish history and culture at the Atatürk School, pointed out that growing up in America with the richness of two cultures broadened his perspective.

Ölmez, who said that the friendships and memories he acquired at school remain a part of his life years later, did not sever his ties with the school after graduation. Since last year, he has been attending the Atatürk School on Saturdays to work as a teaching assistant and support the new generation of students.

Ölmez conveyed a message to new students, urging them to improve their Turkish, learn about its culture and history, and to accumulate memories that, years later, they can look back on and say, I’m glad I was part of the Atatürk School.

Continuity Message from Director Ayça Ergisi

After the graduates' speeches, New York Atatürk School Director Ayça Ergisi addressed the students and parents.

Ergisi, who exemplified the educational journeys of Erol Gülistan and Naz Ölmez, emphasized that learning Turkish and maintaining ties with its culture are the foundations for the children who graduate from the Atatürk School to contribute to the Turkish‑American community in the years ahead.

Ergisi, who addressed the families of children who start school at a young age, highlighted the importance of continuity in education.

Ergisi, who said that Atatürk School should not be seen merely as a short‑term event visited only on Saturdays, explained that regular education helps children speak Turkish better, read and write, and build a stronger foundation in Turkish culture, Atatürk, and Republican values.

Ergisi noted that students currently in school rows could, in the future, return to school as graduates, serve as assistant teachers, and represent the Turkish‑American community in later stages of their educational lives.

From Ayça Ergisi to Parents: 'Speak Turkish at Home'

One of the most striking parts of Ergisi's speech was his call for Turkish to families.

Ergisi, stating that children's connection to Turkish should not be limited to the hours spent at school, urged parents, 'Please speak Turkish at home.'

Ergisi, who asks families to speak Turkish with their children in their daily lives, described Turkish as a special value possessed by children raised in America.

Ergisi, who said 'Let’s use this beautiful superpower and speak Turkish,' emphasized that families have an important role in passing the language on to future generations.

Special Thanks to the Teaching Staff

In the final segment of the program, a special thank‑you segment was held for the teaching staff of New York Atatürk School.

Teachers who took up duties in the new academic term were invited onto the stage one by one and introduced to students and parents.

When Yasemin Ünlüsoy, Gözde Kılıç, Özlem Altunayar, Tuğçe Akın, Jale Aker, Özge Kızılırmak, Dila Oktay, Yıldız Müge Sydorovych and Viktor Sydorovych were invited onto the stage, the teaching staff were greeted with applause from the students and parents in the hall.

Serap Yücel, Bengü Gürakın, Begüm Sarıdere and Elif Mollamehmetoğlu, who were involved in the school's online education process, were thanked in the program for the contributions and efforts they offered to the educational work.

The school administration expressed hope that the 2026-2027 academic year would be a period in which many Turkish-language lessons were successfully conducted and students further strengthened their bonds with their cultures.

It Was Completed With Our Opening Oath.

After the introduction of the teaching staff, students and participants read the Oath together in the final part of the program.

Then, as teachers moved to their classrooms with their students, the first lessons of the 2026-2027 academic year began at New York Atatürk School.

Operating under the American Turkish Women’s Association, New York Atatürk School opened a new chapter in its 55-year educational journey.

The common message that extended from educators to graduates, from students to parents at the opening program was clear: to keep the new generations raised in America tightly connected to the Turkish language, Turkish culture, and their roots.