Religious affiliation(s) Judaism Established 1997 President Alan Crane Phone +1 781-642-6800 | Denomination Pluralistic Status Open Tuition 39,000 USD Mascot Red heifer | |
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School type Private Independent coeducational secondary Address 333 Forest St, Waltham, MA 02452, USA Accreditation New England Association of Schools and Colleges Similar Maimonid School, Jewish Community Day School, Chapel Hill ‑ Chauncy Hall School, Belmont Hill School, The Fessenden School Profiles | ||
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Founded in 1997, Gann Academy is a coeducational Jewish high school located in Waltham, Massachusetts. The mission of Gann Academy is to educate, to inspire, and to empower intellectually confident, passionately engaged, ethically responsible Jews who, through critical thinking and the contribution of their unique voices, will create a vibrant Jewish future and build a better world where human dignity will flourish. Gann Academy is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. Gann Academy was accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in the spring of 2004.
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History
Gann Academy was founded in 1997 as "The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston." "New Jew" (as it was casually nicknamed) was originally adjacent to Brandeis University. The school opened with 48 students in the 9th and 10th grade. Seeking larger facilities and a more permanent home, the school moved to the top four floors and basement of the Fleet bank building (BankBoston at the time of move in) at the intersection of Prospect St. and Main St. in Waltham and used the basement of the local Temple Beth Israel for additional classroom space. The school changed names in 2003 in honor of philanthropist Joseph Gann who donated $5,000,000 to the school. In the fall of 2003 the school moved into its current building in Waltham, on land formerly occupied by the Murphy Army Hospital.
Judaism
Gann Academy is a pluralistic day school with students and faculty coming from a number of different denominations of Judaism. There are students of Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Secular, and Non-denominal back rounds. Students have mandatory Z'man Kodesh 2 days a week but have a variety of different options as to what type of Z'man Kodesh they want to go to. The school as a whole keeps vegitarian dairy kosher and students do not bring Treif into the building.
Athletics
Gann offers a variety of athletic programs, both team and recreational athletics, including basketball, soccer, tennis, ultimate frisbee, baseball, cross country running, fitness, martial arts, yoga, table tennis, Basketball, and soccer. Gann has sent athletes onto play in elite college programs. In 2006, 2007, and 2009, the Boys basketball team won the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division IV State Championships. Gann Academy's biggest sporting event of the year is its annual basketball game against Maimonides Maimonides School
Clubs
Academics
As an independent Jewish high school, Gann focuses on an academic program in general studies with the study of Hebrew, Jewish thought and history, and sacred Jewish texts. It also emphasizes experiential learning, critical thinking, creativity, independent work, community involvement, and leadership.
Technology
Gann Academy has a "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) policy in place so that every student and faculty member is required to have a laptop and/or device capable of accessing the Internet for use of OnCampus, a digital grading and work distribution platform, as well as Office 365.
Each classroom now contains a projector for displaying of content to be used in classes. Gann decided to remove all SmartBoards from classrooms and insdead they utilize walls that have been converted to whiteboards.
Student Leadership
Gann's Student Council fosters connections among students, student organizations, faculty, and administration. The officers and grade representatives of Student Council bring a student voice to school life that assists the administration in meeting students needs. By advocating for student interests and designing their own programming, Student Council works to create a more vibrant, unique and welcoming community.
Jewish Life and Learning helps interested students assume leadership roles in the Gann community. Student leaders are present at the Freshman Orientation and All School Retreat welcoming new students. They speak at and help facilitate Gann's Open House, Step Up Day, assist on admissions tours and sit on a variety of committees to help plan programming for their peers.
Four students, who are elected to the Va'ad Hamishpat, focus on community matters and conduct. They, along with three elected teachers, act as the school's court system.
Departments
Gann Academy has 9 departments: English, World Languages, Hebrew, Jewish Studies, Arts, Athletics, Mathematics, Science, and History.