Heritage Academy Longmeadow
Encyclopedia
Heritage Academy is a private
independent
Jewish day school
in Longmeadow, Massachusetts
. It serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade and is fully accredited by Association of Independent Schools of New England
. The school is not affiliated to any specific Jewish denomination and is a member of RAVSAK
, The Jewish Community Day School Network.
, and the school saw its first graduating class in 1956. A seventh grade was added in 1959 and by 1963, additional classroom space was rented.
In 1964, land in Longmeadow was acquired for the future home of the school and its name was changed to Heritage Academy. Kodimoh moved to a new building the same year, leading Heritage Academy's classes to be held in three locations: B'nai Jacob Synagogue, the Jewish Community Center, and the new Kodimoh location. The school faced closure in April 1966, but school board president Dr. Morris Borenstein appointed a committee to find a new building for the school and one was purchased in December 1966. The current building on the school's present site was built in the 1980s, with a wing added in 1995.
. Additionally, our students study the richness of Jewish texts, history, ritual, spirituality, music and culture in an open and respectful setting. Programs in music, art, library, physical education, academic enrichment, computer technology, science, literature and writing are offered at all grade levels.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
independent
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
Jewish day school
Jewish day school
A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of "day school" meaning a school that the students attend for an entire day and not on a part time...
in Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,633 people, 5,734 households, and 4,432 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 5,879 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 95.42% White, 0.69% African American, 0.05% Native American, 2.90%...
. It serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade and is fully accredited by Association of Independent Schools of New England
Association of Independent Schools of New England
The Association of Independent Schools in New England is an association serving independent schools in New England, USA. It provides educational services such as downloadable materials and support for diversity programs, and represents its members to government, the media, etc. It also accredits...
. The school is not affiliated to any specific Jewish denomination and is a member of RAVSAK
RAVSAK
RAVSAK, founded in 1987, is a New York based non-profit organization that promotes pluralistic non-denominational Jewish education, working with over 100 member schools from across North America, spanning elementary to high school level day school education...
, The Jewish Community Day School Network.
History
A charter to organize the Springfield Hebrew Day School was signed on March 1, 1951. The new school was housed in Kodimoh, a synagogue in Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, and the school saw its first graduating class in 1956. A seventh grade was added in 1959 and by 1963, additional classroom space was rented.
In 1964, land in Longmeadow was acquired for the future home of the school and its name was changed to Heritage Academy. Kodimoh moved to a new building the same year, leading Heritage Academy's classes to be held in three locations: B'nai Jacob Synagogue, the Jewish Community Center, and the new Kodimoh location. The school faced closure in April 1966, but school board president Dr. Morris Borenstein appointed a committee to find a new building for the school and one was purchased in December 1966. The current building on the school's present site was built in the 1980s, with a wing added in 1995.
Curriculum
The Heritage Academy curriculum is aligned with the guidelines of the Massachusetts State FrameworksMassachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, commonly shortened to MCAS , is the Commonwealth's statewide standards-based assessment program developed in 1993, in response to the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of the same year...
. Additionally, our students study the richness of Jewish texts, history, ritual, spirituality, music and culture in an open and respectful setting. Programs in music, art, library, physical education, academic enrichment, computer technology, science, literature and writing are offered at all grade levels.
External links
- Heritage Academy Jewish Community Day School
- Heritage Academy on GreatSchools
- Heritage Academy on Private School Review