Golda Och Academy Launches Year-Long Kindness Campaign to Foster Inclusion and Community
Golda Och Academy’s Student Services Department has launched a year-long Kindness Campaign, a school wide initiative to create a more connected, empathetic community. Each month, students will engage in theme-based activities that invite them to pause, reflect, and grow together.
The initiative, which officially begins this month, reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering and strengthening our community values in more intentional ways. The campaign encourages students to examine how they treat not only their peers but also teachers, staff, and coaches—fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and gratitude throughout the school.
“This campaign is about more than just being nice,” said Lori Jaffe, Director of Student Services. “It’s about helping students think about how their words and actions impact others and empowering them to build a culture where everyone feels seen, included, and supported. This message resonates deeply with the work our counselors have always done, and this year we are leaning into it with renewed energy and intentionality.”
Each month, the campaign will center around a theme aligned with both the Jewish calendar and core values. Upper School students will partake in the following activities:
The initiative, which officially begins this month, reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering and strengthening our community values in more intentional ways. The campaign encourages students to examine how they treat not only their peers but also teachers, staff, and coaches—fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and gratitude throughout the school.
“This campaign is about more than just being nice,” said Lori Jaffe, Director of Student Services. “It’s about helping students think about how their words and actions impact others and empowering them to build a culture where everyone feels seen, included, and supported. This message resonates deeply with the work our counselors have always done, and this year we are leaning into it with renewed energy and intentionality.”
Each month, the campaign will center around a theme aligned with both the Jewish calendar and core values. Upper School students will partake in the following activities:
- September – Rosh Hashanah: New Beginnings
Students write personal intentions about the kind of friend, student, and community member they aspire to be. - October – Yom Kippur: Reparation
Through reflective activities and a symbolic tashlich ceremony, students will cast off behaviors and attitudes they wish to leave behind. - November – Thanksgiving: Gratitude
The popular Wall of Gratitude returns, where students and faculty post notes of appreciation highlighting everyday acts of kindness. - December – Chanukah: Light
Students will focus on bringing light to others' lives through small, thoughtful gestures that make a meaningful impact.
Our Lower School students will engage in age-appropriate parallel activities while also receiving Social Emotional Learning instruction from their school counselors.
The campaign doesn’t stop with students. GOA is forming a Kehillah Committee made up of Middle and High School students to help shape the initiative and define what kindness, inclusion, and belonging really look like in our halls. Faculty, staff, and parents will also be part of the conversation, participating in grade-level and parent meetings to explore ways to cultivate kindness and build an even more inclusive school environment.
“We look forward to a meaningful year filled with learning, kindness, and joy,” Jaffe added. “And we’re excited to partner with our families and staff to ensure that GOA remains a place where every student feels seen, supported, and inspired.”
The school invites the entire GOA community to take part in this culture-shaping journey. Keep an eye out for updates on our activities this year and ways to get involved. For more information, contact Lori Jaffe at ljaffe@goldaochacademy.org.
Wilf Lower School Campus
Eric F. Ross Upper School Campus
©2020 Golda Och Academy - All Rights Reserved