A new program at Golda Och Academy promises to make Jewish day school education accessible to students with no day school background. Through its new GO Connect program, students with no prior day school education will be gradually transitioned into the Judaics curriculum at any grade level. The school plans to implement the GO Connect program in the Upper and Lower School campuses for the 2012-2013 school year.

Prior to the GO Connect program, students without a day school background who wished to enroll in Golda Och Academy were required to obtain extensive support outside of school in order to make a smooth transition into the school’s rigorous dual curriculum. According to Gail Shapiro, Director of Admissions and Community Outreach, “In some instances, we turned away students who were unable or unwilling to make this commitment.” According to Ms. Shapiro, the new lateral entry program eliminates this obstacle. “It is now possible for students in virtually any grade to connect with our dynamic Judaics curriculum while learning strong Jewish values and fostering a deep Jewish identity. We are now able to offer the best of both worlds (general and Judaics studies) to those motivated students who want it.”

Through the GO Connect program, “students with a non-day school background can join our vibrant and rigorous dual curriculum, participating fully in all general studies subjects, including a robust Romance language and AP program,” said Upper School Principal Nancy Leaderman. “Students will work independently and in small groups to build Jewish literacy and skills as they are gradually transitioned into our regular Judaics curriculum, which is designed to help students connect to our rich tradition.”

Golda Och Academy is also currently redesigning its High School Judaics curriculum for the 2012-13 school year, which would include multi-grade Judaics electives and a flexible and innovative curriculum that stresses academic rigor, critical thinking and students’ personal connection to Jewish tradition. The new curriculum will maintain a rigorous level of teaching and learning while increasing the flexibility and variety of the Judaics curriculum and addressing a broader range of student interests and abilities for both current students and GO Connect students. GOA is planning to review and propose changes to its Middle School Judaics curriculum the following year.

At the Lower School, The GO Connect program “will seek to individualize our Judaic curriculum with the long range goal of integrating GO Connect students into their appropriate grade level classes,” said Lower School Principal Gloria Kron. “Small group instruction should accelerate this process.”

“Students will benefit from a rigorous compacted approach to Judaic Studies for half of the school day,” said Mrs. Kron. “There will be an emphasis on the acquisition of oral and written Hebrew language skills.” She added, “General Studies will comprise the other half of the day and will be spent with their grade level peers along with time in art, music, physical education, technology and library.”

GOA Parents Marc and Shari Brodsky know well the challenges of switching schools late in the education game. Their daughter Dana came to Golda Och in tenth grade after attending a public school in Bergen County. “The school understood that this was a very difficult transition,” Mr. Brodsky said. “They made it as easy as possible while still challenging her. The beauty of Golda Och is that they realized that each child is an individual.”

Mrs. Brodsky said Dana adjusted to Jewish day school quickly, but needed a tutor for Hebrew language. “Hebrew was a big challenge,” she said. “Everyone did their best to help her. The school understood what her background was and where she was coming from.”

Dana is now a senior at Golda Och and involved in various activities including National Honor Society and Israel Club. “She’s a lot more interested in prayer,” Mr. Brodsky said. “I think it enhanced her spirituality. She always had a Jewish identity, but this enhanced it.”

With Dana’s success at Golda Och, the Brodskys also decided to send their younger daughter Rachel, a ninth grader, to GOA this year. “She saw that it was a positive experience for her sister and wanted to mimic that,” Mr. Brodsky said. “Being in a small Jewish school is certainly beneficial. You see a vast difference compared to public schools. They can lavish attention on the student that you can’t get in public school.”

Mrs. Brodsky agrees that sending Rachel to Golda Och Academy was the best option. “When we were seeing what a great education Dana was getting, we started talking about Rachel going there too,” Mrs. Brodsky said. “She came to us and said she wanted to go to Golda Och. We couldn’t be happier with our decision. It’s been a life-changing experience to switch to Golda Och.”

Amy Paternite has two daughters at Golda Och Academy. Her oldest, Carly, entered GOA in fourth grade after attending public school. Carly is now in sixth grade.

According to Mrs. Paternite, the school made accommodations for Carly by placing her in fourth grade general studies classes, and third grade Judaics. “By the end of her first year, she went right to fifth grade Hebrew,” Mrs. Paternite said.

For more information about the GO Connect program and transitioning your child into Golda Och Academy, please contact the Office of Admissions at 973-602-3601 or admissions@GoldaOchAcademy.org.

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