Welcome from the Head of School

List of 7 items.

• May 23, 2023 - Head of School Message: Jewish Identity at GOA

  Dear GOA Community,

   

  We look forward to celebrating graduation tomorrow and many other end-of-year events and milestones in the coming weeks. Simultaneously, our faculty and staff are gearing up for the 2023-24/5783-84 school year. There are exciting plans for every grade, but I would like to take a moment to address questions related to our community’s religious practice. 

   

  GOA is unusual among Jewish day schools in how we intentionally create an inclusive environment in which families of different denominations, or no denomination, can come, learn, live and flourish as Jews. GOA was founded in 1965 as part of the Solomon Schechter movement, affiliated with Conservative Judaism, and this is part of our legacy. We are committed to promoting traditional Jewish practices such as kashrut, tefillah and Shabbat in the most welcoming and non-judgmental manner possible. Rabbi Solomon Schechter himself sought to create Jewish structures that would transcend denominational boundaries, and our school has always done the same.

   

  Our school is clear about its values—we support the study of Torah, the performance of mitzvot, and active engagement with the Jewish community in America and in Israel. We promote the pursuit of justice in fulfillment of the Torah’s mandate, “Justice, justice shall you pursue!” (Deut. 16:20). We make our school a gathering place for the wise, warmly welcoming diverse perspectives for the sake of deepening mutual understanding. GOA regularly invites clergy from across the Jewish community to teach our students, bless them at important moments, and support their development in school, in shul, and at home. 

   

  The dignity of our students and their families is always top of mind, and we take to heart the Torah’s command to, “Love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord” (Levit. 19:18). This mitzvah may be the most challenging of them all–it teaches us the importance of self-respect, and the extension of that same regard to others. Much of our work at school relates to improving relationships between students and families. When we succeed, it is as if the divine presence dwells among us.

   

  Please take special note of the following clarifications to our ritual policies:

   

  KASHRUT (ALL SCHOOL)

  One way that we balance traditional norms with inclusive practice is through our Kashrut Guide. This new document explains what our community can expect of the school when it serves food, and what the school expects of the community when our students and staff bring food onto campus or serve it at their own events. One timely note: Students may not order any food deliveries (even kosher) to the school throughout the school day. Upper School students who remain after school hours may order kosher foods. Please see the Kashrut Guide for more information.

   

  TEFILLAH OPTIONS (UPPER SCHOOL)

  Another way that we seek ritual balance is in our tefillah options at the Upper School. After running a pilot this past winter, we will implement new tefillah structures in the fall. Every family will be asked to speak with their Upper School children about these options, and then inform the school of their choices. These choices may be revisited mid-year. 

   

  TALIT/TEFILLIN (UPPER SCHOOL)

  A second tefillah discussion between Upper School parents and students relates to the use of prayer garments, tallit and tefillin. Some parents expect their children to don one or both of these items for morning prayers, while others do not. We will keep a list of family preferences for our students. If a student who is expected to wear tallit and/or tefillin is missing them, we will remind the student the first time, and inform the parents on the second occasion so that they can reinforce the decision and ensure that their student brings the requisite items to school. 

   

  There are many additional areas of Jewish practice and belief that merit discussion as we continue the sacred work of building our community. Our school rabbis and Judaic Studies faculty are wonderful resources for students and parents alike. Some families have long-established practices, while for others many of these traditions are new territory, simultaneously intimidating and exciting. We welcome all students and parents to engage with our sacred traditions with curiosity and kindness for one another.

   

  In the final days before Shavuot, the anniversary of the Revelation on Mt. Sinai, I invite all of us to view the Torah as our precious inheritance, to experience it anew as if given just today, and to allow its commandments to sanctify our lives. I send blessings to you and your wonderful family.

   

  Warmly,

   

  Rabbi Danny Nevins

• January 5, 2023 - Head of School Message: Reenrollment is Open!

  Dear GOA Families,   What is the recipe for raising children to grow into kind, responsible, successful and happy adults? There are several essential ingredients, starting with family and friends who model personal integrity, curiosity, growth, and love. School is the other essential ingredient – this is where students spend most of their waking hours, learning information and skills, developing their character, testing themselves, interacting with peers, all with the expert guidance of dedicated teachers. Not every school can provide such steady and individualized support, but we at Golda Och Academy are truly blessed by a partnership of families, faculty, staff and students who share our core values. This includes our commitment to teaching Torat hesed v’emet – the Torah of kindness and truth.    When we model kindness for our students, when we teach them critical capacities for discerning truth, and when we guide them to integrate these qualities into their lives, then we raise children to become adults and builders of a flourishing future. These qualities are universal–they play out wherever we learn, whether in social studies class, in STEM, on the basketball court or in the street. They are also divine. In the book of Proverbs (3:3), we are told, “Kindness and truth will not forsake you. Bind them around your neck, write them on your heart’s tablet.” Those who learn to act with kindness and pursue the truth add holiness and happiness to the world. This is the power of a GOA education.   I have many dreams for the future of GOA as a school dedicated to practicing kindness and pursuing truth. We will continue to enhance the arts and sciences at every level of learning, and we are establishing new structures for enriching Judaic Studies, Tefillah and volunteer experiences. With our expanded resources for student learning support and guidance, we will create a healthy ecosystem for our students to thrive. Our school is recognized nationally for its many innovations, and we should all be proud of our role in this achievement.   Physical improvements on our campuses will make them more beautiful and fruitful environments for student learning in 2023-24 and beyond. The Wilf Campus will soon sprout a greenhouse, a living laboratory for our students to study biology and to support food pantries in our region. The Eric F. Ross Campus will be enhanced with a reimagined student-centered first floor.    We have minimized tuition increases without sacrificing the outstanding quality of our program. Newly expanded financial aid and our Golden Path Grant are intended to build enrollment from Pre-K to 12th grade, benefiting all students with robust academic, extracurricular and social opportunities.    Re-enrollment is now open. Those awaiting financial aid decisions should wait until receiving that information before enrolling. I look forward to sharing the journey ahead with your students and family. Please follow the directions below to register for the 5784 / 2023-24 school year. Thank you for partnering as we raise today’s students to be tomorrow’s teachers and leaders.   Warmly,   Rabbi Danny Nevins Head of School

  Click here to begin the re-enrollment process:    https://goldaochacademy.schooladminonline.com/users/sign_in   Re-enrollment must be completed no later than March 1 to secure your child’s spot at GOA for the 2023-24 school year.   Please don’t start the process if you are still waiting for financial aid.

• December 11, 2022 - Head of School Message: Financial Aid

  Dear GOA Parents,

   

  It is in the interest of every student and family at GOA to attract new mission-appropriate students to our school. With increased numbers come increased opportunities for continuing students in the academic, extracurricular, and social areas of their lives. Building enrollment ultimately helps GOA expand its tuition base and thus keep our beloved school strong and secure for generations to come. We therefore encourage all GOA parents and students to help us recruit new students to enhance our community and strengthen our school. 

   

  Like all schools, we devote great efforts to recruiting and enrolling mission-appropriate new students at every level. The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest Day School Initiative already offers two incentive programs — Smart Move and Smart Switch — to encourage students to enroll in Jewish day school. Public school families represent 88% of school aged children in our region, and may see the value of Jewish day school education but feel constrained. As such, the GOA Board of Trustees has approved a proposal called “The Golden Path Grant” (Shvil HaZahav). Students who transfer to GOA Middle or High School from a public or independent school will qualify for a first-year grant of $18,000, and a second-year grant of $9,000 (unless their need-based aid would be greater). 

   

  Meanwhile, we continue to prioritize generous financial aid for all students in need, and are indeed expanding eligibility for assistance to make an outstanding GOA education accessible for all families. If you have questions about financial aid, please contact our CFO, Julia Malaga.

   

  Shabbat shalom,

   

  Rabbi Danny Nevins

  Head of School 

• September 15, 2022 - Head of School Message: Remote Learning Policy

  Dear GOA Families,

   

  Classes are up and running on both campuses, and I have witnessed the high level of enthusiasm and joy among students and faculty alike. We are thrilled to be back together and have every intention of continuing in-person instruction without interruption. That said, we realize that some students will experience Covid infections that will keep them out of school for several days. In such cases, we will make remote instruction available to the affected students with these conditions:

   

  1. Teachers will need a full day’s notice before they can include the student remotely.
  2. Remote access is limited to students who are isolating in response to Covid.
  3. Remote access may not be offered for all settings given our diverse learning activities.
  4. The maximum number of remote access days for any given student will be four —starting the day after their isolation begins. For example, if a student tests positive on a Sunday and informs the school, then remote access would be offered Tuesday through Friday. 

   

  Hopefully there will be no need for this back-up for your students, or any students, but we want to be prepared just in case. If your student encounters other health challenges that affect their school experience this year, please contact their guidance counselor.

   

  Wishing your families a healthy and happy new year. Shanah tovah!

   

  Rabbi Daniel Nevins

  Head of School

• September 9, 2022 - Head of School Message: Operations Update

  Dear GOA Families,

   

  As we complete the first week of school, I want to offer gratitude for the remarkable people who work on our two campuses with skill, resilience, and great commitment. From the faculty and administration to the staff, security, and maintenance teams, we are extremely well served. When things go smoothly it is possible to forget how much effort went into that calm experience. But circumstances often conspire to test our team, and then I stand in awe at their capacity to adapt and reorganize operations for the sake of our students.

   

  This week we had two such sets of challenging circumstances:

   

  • Over the course of this week seven staff members at the Lower School tested positive for Covid. We immediately took measures to protect the other staff and our students from infection, but that was only part of the task. Our administration and faculty needed to step up and cover for their missing colleagues so that the first week of school would be wonderful for our students, as indeed it was. We wish refuah sheleimah (full recovery) for our staff, and thanks to all who stepped up and covered for them.

   

  • The second major issue challenging us, and schools across the nation, relates to school transportation. At the last minute in August, two of our major bus providers canceled their contracts, leaving us scrambling to find coverage. We have been in contact with many transportation providers in the state, and were miraculously (and expensively) able to line up replacements for all our routes. But the agencies that handle background checks on drivers did not go into overdrive, and we still have numerous routes in Bergen, Union and Middlesex counties that are not covered. This has caused terrible challenges for many families. We are well aware that other schools are in the same situation, but this awareness does not help. Internally, the challenge is exacerbated by a three-week gap between the service of our beloved outgoing Manager of Operations, Crystal Hopkins, and our much-anticipated new Manager, Catie DeSista who will begin later next week. Other members of our administration, especially CFO Julia Malaga and Registrar Lauren Iannia, have stepped into the breach, working late into the night and early in the morning to address challenges very much beyond our control.

   

  My purpose in this note is not only to express gratitude to our staff, though it is very much deserved. Many of you have already showered praise and thanks on our team, and we appreciate that. But I know that frustrations caused by these logistical challenges are real and cannot always be resolved with a smile. So, if you have an urgent issue related to school transportation, please do not contact our staff, but rather go directly to the transportation companies: 

   

  • SOMA families should contact Lulu at NYNJ Bus Charter, 551-306-9992, or use the WhatsApp group to contact the driver
  • Livingston families contact Lisa Marazzo, 201-704-5981.
  • West Orange families contact dispatcher Gloria, 973-324-1897.
  • RideAlong Now families contact either Manny Ferraro, 551-25-3521, or Chris Torres, 703-720-7314.

   

  Thank you, as always, for your partnership. I wish you and your families a Shabbat shalom,

   

  Rabbi Daniel Nevins

  Head of School

• August 26, 2022 - Head of School Message: Calendar Change for Professional Development Day

  Dear GOA Community,

   

  In the past year I have witnessed the many ways that our students have flourished, demonstrating resilience and resourcefulness in responding to the challenges of COVID. They are quite remarkable! The smiles and accomplishments of our GOA students are reassuring, yet we know from national studies that the pandemic has had an impact on many young people’s social, emotional and academic development. As such, GOA is increasing resources to support the mental health of our students, adding two new guidance counselors this year with help from a grant by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey. We are also partnering with the Jewish Family Service to train our faculty in recognizing signs of trauma and providing a supportive school environment. This training is especially important given the extended impact of the Covid years on our students’ young lives.

   

  We are making a small change in the school calendar in order to facilitate this important training as early in the year as possible. Please note that Friday, October 28, will now be a Professional Development day, with no classes. We are “making up” these classroom hours by removing the Professional Development half-day currently scheduled for March 15. Click here for an updated calendar PDF, which is also posted on the Resource pages of the school website.

   

  Thank you as always for your partnership as we work together to support your children, and our students, to have a joyous and successful school year.

   

  Warmly,

   

  Rabbi Daniel Nevins

  Head of School

• August 12, 2022 - Head of School Message: Welcome to the 2022-23 School Year

  Dear GOA Community,   I hope that your summer has been enjoyable and restorative so far. Our team of administrators, faculty and staff on both campuses are preparing for the new schoolyear with great anticipation. The entire staff looks forward to welcoming our students in just a few weeks.   Here are a few highlights of what to expect in 2022-23/5782-3:   New Faculty and Staff This fall we are welcoming 15 extraordinary new teachers at every level from our Ganon (Pre-K), which has doubled in size, to our High School. We have added five new faculty in Music and Art, and are welcoming new teachers in Science, Spanish, Hebrew, Physical Education and Judaic Studies. These new faculty are extremely impressive, with advanced degrees and deep experience in their fields. School will soon be buzzing with fresh scholarship and creativity.   Student Services Expansion In addition to classroom faculty, we are delighted to announce three new positions in Student Services. We have hired an outstanding specialist in learning support to coordinate the work of our team on both campuses. And with a grant from the Healthcare Foundation of NJ, we have hired two additional guidance counselors, one for each campus, to focus specifically on mental health and wellness. These three new professionals will join our existing team to deepen and broaden our support of student flourishing across the board.    Covid Policy While the pandemic is not over, we are moving forward on all fronts to normalize the student experience in accordance with guidance from our medical advisors to maintain a layered approach. Both campuses will be “mask-welcome,” with families deciding whether or not their children should wear masks throughout the day. Students on both campuses will be able to eat in the cafeteria or outdoors according to the instructions of their parents (and thanks to our amazing PA, we are offering school lunch for purchase Monday through Friday!). All school and extracurricular activities will be open to students regardless ofCovid vaccination status. We are conducting a study of air quality to ensure that our buildings meet high standards for purification. As always, students and staff who experience Covid symptoms should stay home and test to be sure. Other Covid-related policies are listed on the Health & Safety: Covid Updates resource page (after the login under "Resources") of our website. We will monitor conditions in school and the community and modify policy throughout the year as guided by our medical advisors.

  Security Over the summer we conducted a security review of both campuses and our cyberspaces. Numerous upgrades were made in equipment, staff training and security protocols, all with the goal of keeping our students and staff safe. While it is not appropriate to reveal the precise nature of our security systems, you deserve to know that we continue to work with our security firm as well as with external experts from the West Orange Police Department and the Jewish Federation’s Community Security Initiative.     More Information to Follow There are many exciting programs planned for our school which will be highlighted soon in notes from our principals. We are also preparing videos and other information about our new team members, so please look for them.   Today is the 15th of Av, Tu B’Av, which is considered one of the happiest days in the Jewish calendar. This is certainly true for me as I look forward to welcoming your wonderful children to Golda Och Academy!   Shabbat shalom,   Rabbi Danny Nevins Head of School