At Golda Och Academy, students have the opportunity to participate in numerous extra-curricular clubs and activities, ranging from our award-winning literary magazine to our award-winning choir, from Mock Trial to the school newspaper and from the Environmental Club to the Dance Team. Students are involved in social action programs that take them around the corner to Newark and across the country to New Orleans. Students are encouraged to create new clubs and activities that the student body will be interested in. For a list of the clubs and activities available this year, click here.
In addition to clubs and activities, students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of special events during the school year. Special events may include:
Community Service Day: During Community Service Day our High school students, accompanied by faculty members, visit different sites and participate in a wide range of community service activities — from working with the elderly and disabled to stuffing envelopes and sorting clothing to help the homeless. They also learn first-hand about the important work the agencies and not-for-profits in the community do. The entire day is planned by students.
Foreign Language Week: During a period of one week High School students celebrate the culture associated with the foreign languages that they study. This week includes skits, poetry readings, speakers and a special selection of lunch choices based on some of the common menu items found in Spanish and French speaking countries.
Katrina Relief Mission: A select group of High School students and faculty advisors, go to New Orleans, LA to help in the effort to rebuild what was damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Katrina a few years ago. They join Habitat for Humanity and help in the effort to rebuild homes for people who lost houses during the hurricane. To see photos from the 2010 Katrina Relief Mission, click here. To read the 2009 “Daily Updates” from the Dean of Students sent home during the trip, click here.
Pep Rally/Alumni Basketball Game: Prior to December break, we invite our alumni to visit our school for a pep rally (featuring a performance by the Dance Team) and an alumni basketball game.
Senior/Junior Prom: The Senior/Junior Prom is a formal dance that is held in the winter. Most of the event is planned by our students, from distribution of invitations, to arranging seating, to planning the school run post-prom event.
Golda Och Academy offers at least one Shabbaton experience per year for students in grades 8-12. There are grade-level Shabbatonim, a Leadership Shabbaton and an All-High School Shabbaton. These Shabbatonim provide wonderful opportunities for students to bond with their friends, enjoy Shabbat in ways that are new and exciting and create some long-lasting memories.
