Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Golda Och Academy

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Type
  
Private

Head of School
  
Adam Shapiro

Phone
  
+1 973-602-3700

Faculty
  
69.3

Religious affiliation(s)
  
Jewish

Grades
  
PreK-12

Founded
  
1965

Colors
  
White, Blue

Established
  
September 1965 as Solomon Schechter Day School Of Essex And Union, January 2011 as Golda Och Academy

Principal
  
Christine Stodolski (Upper School) Carrie Siegel (Lower School)

Address
  
122 Gregory Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA

Similar
  
Montclair Kimberley Academy, Newark Academy, Joseph Kushner Hebrew A, Millburn High School, Seton Hall Preparato School

Profiles

Golda och academy s senior video 2014


Golda Och Academy is a private Jewish day school that offers secular and religious education for Jewish children from pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade at two campuses in West Orange in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. Until June 2011 the school was called Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union. The school primarily serves families in Essex and Union counties, but attracts students from all over northern and central New Jersey and also New York.

Contents

As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 521 students in grades K-12 (plus 14 in PreK) and 69.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.5:1.

In 2015, Head of School Dr. Rabbi Joyce Raynor announced her retirement and her position was filled by Upper School Principal Adam Shapiro. Christine Stodolski was hired as Upper School principal and Carrie Siegel took over as the Lower School principal.

Immaculate conception vs golda och academy


History

The school first opened in September 1965 co-located with Congregation Beth Shalom in Union, New Jersey, having been founded by its rabbi, Elvin I. Kose, along with Horace Bier and Nat Winter. The first classes were kindergarten and a first grade consisting of 18 children. A class was added each year for the initial class, and there were nine remaining to graduate from high school in 1977. This was the first high school affiliated with the Solomon Schechter Day School Association.

The school moved into its own facilities in 1979 for the first time with the acquisition of the former Roosevelt School in Cranford. Classes were held in various locations in Union and Essex counties. That was followed seven years later in 1986 by the purchase of the Irving Laurie Building in West Orange. In September 1991, the Upper School moved into a newly constructed building on Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange, which in 1995 became Eric F. Ross Campus.

The Lower School completed a $7 million renovation that began in 2012, which included an expansion of the building, building of a new wing and refurbishment of existing spaces. Project highlights included the addition of a science discovery lab and outdoor classroom and garden, a new technology lab, synagogue, playground, library, and cafeteria; creation of a specialty space for art and music; updated and wired classrooms; and increased accessibility.

Beginning in 2014, Golda Och Academy has increased its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (collectively STEM) programming, including a new STEM class, an award winning Robotics club, the CodeRunners and more. In January 2015, the school announced plans for a state-of-the-art STEM facility which was completed in September 2015.

Golda Och Academy has over 1,700 alumni.

Accreditation

The school is accredited by the Solomon Schechter Day School Association and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. It exceeds New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Golda Och Academy is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

Athletics

Golda Och Academy Road Runners competes in the Super Essex Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

Sports include; Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Cross-Country, Swimming and Basketball for both boys and girls on a middle school or varsity level. Baseball and Softball are offered as well as a new Lacrosse club.

In 2013, the school's gymnasium was dedicated in honor of gym teacher and coach Sandy Pyonin in celebration of his 40 years at SSDS/GOA. Pyonin has trained more than 30 professional basketball players including Kyrie Irving.

Notable alumni

  • Rachel Antonoff (born 1981), fashion designer (didn't graduate).
  • Steven Fulop (born 1977, class of 1995), Mayor of Jersey City.
  • Ben Jorgensen (born 1983), former lead singer and guitarist of Armor for Sleep, Class of 2001.
  • Daniel Och (born 1961), businessman and private equity investor.
  • Adam Pally (born 1982), actor / comedian (didn't graduate).
  • Gabe Saporta (born 1979, class of 1997), lead singer of Cobra Starship.
  • Evan Winiker (born 1983, class of 2001), former bassist for Steel Train.
  • References

    Golda Och Academy Wikipedia