Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union
Encyclopedia
Golda Och Academy is a private Jewish day school
that offers primary and religious education for Jewish children from pre-K through 12th grade. Until June 2011 the school was called Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union. It has two campuses in West Orange
, and primarily serves families in Essex
and Union
counties, but attracts students from all over northern and central New Jersey
and also New York
.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the upper school had an enrollment of 318 students in grades 6-12 and 56.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student-teacher ratio
of 5.6.
with 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, with a great deal of pride and celebration, 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 school is accredited by the Solomon Schechter Day School Association
and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
.
Ninth grade students at Golda Och visit Israel for 10 days in September. There they participate in numerous group activities aimed at getting to know Israel better, exploring the students' relationship to the country, experiencing Judaism in an inspiring Jewish atmosphere, as well as allowing students to get to know their friends in the grade in a non-academic setting. The 9th grade trip is a part of a plan to strengthen the connection between Golda Och teens and Israel by building a living bridge between students and their peers in Israel during the high school years. Students collaborate with their Israeli peers throughout their high school years in various programs. The experience culminates in a get-together during the Neshama program in 12th grade.
Students have the option of participating in Neshama, a semester-long educational program in Israel and Eastern Europe that provides students with a meaningful experience. This trip has become the highlight experience for all Golda Ocha students. Students who do not elect to participate in Neshama stay in the area and participate in an intensive work-study experience.
Other travel opportunities include a 10th Grade Chilean Exchange Program, which pairs each Golda Och participant with a Chilean student who attends Instituto Hebreo, in Santiago, Chile. Students in 6th grade participate in an annual Teva trip, a four-day camping excursion, which allows students to learn about ecological matters in a Jewish values context.
Golda Och students complete the rigorous and challenging High School curriculum in seven semesters. By the end of their seventh semester they have submitted their college applications, completed their academic requirements for graduation and chosen a last semester program.
(now the American Jewish University), and a PhD from Duke University, Dept. of Religion. She began her affiliation with the school in 1983 as a Bible teacher, and became principal of the High School in 1992. In January 2007, after serving as Interim Head of School for one year, Dr. Raynor became the school's permanent Head of School. Both of Dr. Raynor’s daughters graduated from SSDSEU.
Nancy Leaderman, the Upper School Principal, earned her BA and MA in English from the University of Maryland at College Park. She has been a teacher and administrator for 20 years and has worked at the Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore Hebrew University, Goucher College, the Cardin School, and Beth Tfiloh Community Day School. She joined Golda Och as Upper School principal in August 2007.
Jordan Marcus (Current SG at Ithaca College),
Michael Gorshein,
Steven Balter,
Jacob Susskind (Walk-on at Maryland University)
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...
that offers primary and religious education for Jewish children from pre-K through 12th grade. Until June 2011 the school was called Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union. It has two campuses in West Orange
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
, and primarily serves families in Essex
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
and Union
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
counties, but attracts students from all over northern and central New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and also New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the upper school had an enrollment of 318 students in grades 6-12 and 56.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student-teacher ratio
Student-teacher ratio
Student-teacher ratio refers to the number of teachers in a school or university with respect to the number of students who attend the institution. For example, a student-teacher ratio of 10:1 indicates that there are 10 students for every one teacher...
of 5.6.
History
The school first opened in September 1965 in provisional facilities co-located with Congregation Beth Shalom in Union, New JerseyUnion Township, Union County, New Jersey
Union is a Township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. In the 18th century, the area that is now Union was then called Connecticut Farms...
with 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
Solomon Schechter Day School Association
The Solomon Schechter Day School Association is the organization of Jewish day school that identify with Conservative Judaism. The association provides guidance and resources for its member schools in the United States and Canada...
.
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, with a great deal of pride and celebration, 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 school is accredited by the Solomon Schechter Day School Association
Solomon Schechter Day School Association
The Solomon Schechter Day School Association is the organization of Jewish day school that identify with Conservative Judaism. The association provides guidance and resources for its member schools in the United States and Canada...
and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
The New Jersey Association of Independent Schools serves independent elementary and secondary schools throughout the state of New Jersey. The Association consists of 70 member schools with a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 students...
.
Trip opportunities
Some highlights of a Golda Och education include trips to Israel and travel abroad opportunities.Ninth grade students at Golda Och visit Israel for 10 days in September. There they participate in numerous group activities aimed at getting to know Israel better, exploring the students' relationship to the country, experiencing Judaism in an inspiring Jewish atmosphere, as well as allowing students to get to know their friends in the grade in a non-academic setting. The 9th grade trip is a part of a plan to strengthen the connection between Golda Och teens and Israel by building a living bridge between students and their peers in Israel during the high school years. Students collaborate with their Israeli peers throughout their high school years in various programs. The experience culminates in a get-together during the Neshama program in 12th grade.
Students have the option of participating in Neshama, a semester-long educational program in Israel and Eastern Europe that provides students with a meaningful experience. This trip has become the highlight experience for all Golda Ocha students. Students who do not elect to participate in Neshama stay in the area and participate in an intensive work-study experience.
Other travel opportunities include a 10th Grade Chilean Exchange Program, which pairs each Golda Och participant with a Chilean student who attends Instituto Hebreo, in Santiago, Chile. Students in 6th grade participate in an annual Teva trip, a four-day camping excursion, which allows students to learn about ecological matters in a Jewish values context.
Golda Och students complete the rigorous and challenging High School curriculum in seven semesters. By the end of their seventh semester they have submitted their college applications, completed their academic requirements for graduation and chosen a last semester program.
Head of School
Dr. Joyce Raynor holds a BA from Rutgers University, an MA from the University of JudaismUniversity of Judaism
The American Jewish University, formerly the separate institutions University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute, is a Jewish, non-denominational educational institution in Los Angeles, California....
(now the American Jewish University), and a PhD from Duke University, Dept. of Religion. She began her affiliation with the school in 1983 as a Bible teacher, and became principal of the High School in 1992. In January 2007, after serving as Interim Head of School for one year, Dr. Raynor became the school's permanent Head of School. Both of Dr. Raynor’s daughters graduated from SSDSEU.
Accreditation
Golda Och Academy is accredited by the Solomon Schechter Day School Association and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. It meets or exceeds New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards. Golda Och is a beneficiary agency of the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey, the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey, and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.Principals
Gloria Kron is the principal of the Lower School. She joined SSDSEU in 1979 as a Lower School general studies teacher. She was the general studies curriculum coordinator from 2000 to 2001, planning and overseeing the implementation of changes to the language arts, math, science, and social studies curricula. Mrs. Kron became Assistant Principal in 2001 and Principal in 2004.Nancy Leaderman, the Upper School Principal, earned her BA and MA in English from the University of Maryland at College Park. She has been a teacher and administrator for 20 years and has worked at the Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore Hebrew University, Goucher College, the Cardin School, and Beth Tfiloh Community Day School. She joined Golda Och as Upper School principal in August 2007.
Notable Athletes
Josh Marcus (All-time leading scorer in Golda Och History),Jordan Marcus (Current SG at Ithaca College),
Michael Gorshein,
Steven Balter,
Jacob Susskind (Walk-on at Maryland University)
External links
- Golda Och Academy
- Golda Och Academy, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...