Golda Och Academy is currently planning for a redesign of its High School Judaics curriculum. Beginning with the 2012 – 2013 school year, GOA will have multi-grade Judaics electives and a flexible and innovate curriculum that stresses academic rigor, critical thinking and students’ personal connection to our rich Jewish tradition. We look forward to sharing more information with you in the future. In the meantime, a more detailed overview of the plan is available below.

The Judaics department is embarking on an exciting new endeavor that we wish to share with you.  We are planning to change the Judaics curriculum in the Upper School, and phase it in over the next three years.  Our goals are to:

•             Maintain a rigorous level of teaching and learning

•             Increase the flexibility and variety of the Judaics curriculum

•             Address a broader range of student interests and abilities

By September 2012, a wide variety of multi-grade electives will be made available for all 10th through 12th graders.  Beginning next fall and during each subsequent semester that they attend Golda Och Academy, students will choose one course in Tanakh and one course in Jewish Thought and Tradition from a wide range of compelling classes.  Courses will be developed to appeal to a broad range of student interests, learning styles, and Hebrew competencies by differentiating instruction and offering options for individualization and student choice.  Course descriptions will be circulated in the spring of 2012 so that students may choose classes for fall 2012.

During the spring and summer of 2012, we will be developing a competency standard that every student at GOA will meet by the time he or she has completed the 9th grade.  This standard will involve basic skills and knowledge in Tanakh and Rabbinics.  We will ensure that every student is able to meet the standard or is provided with a remedial program.  The student will then be eligible to become a part of the elective program in the 10th grade.  

During the 2012 – 2013 school year, we will undertake the planning for a culminating independent bi-disciplinary project for seniors, which will be implemented beginning in September 2013.  The project will showcase a student’s special talents and integrate knowledge of Judaism with another field, and a weekly tutorial will be provided.  Criteria will be established by the spring of 2013 so that seniors in the 2013- 2014 year will be our first graduating class to have completed such a project.

Also during next school year, we will begin reviewing and proposing changes to the Middle School Judaics curriculum, both to ensure that students are moving towards our competency standard and to provide more dynamic and innovative course offerings.  We look forward to gathering feedback and ongoing evaluation throughout all phases of the curriculum revision process in order to best meet the needs of our students.

We look forward to providing your children with knowledge, skills, and a love of Judaism that will last throughout their lives. 

Sincerely,

Nancy Leaderman                                                            Flora Yavelberg
Upper School Principal                                                   Upper School Judaics Department Chair

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