This is a temporary article. When completed, it will be moved to Gann Academy. Gann Academy- The New Jewish High School is a pluralistic school serving the greater Boston Jewish community.

History

Gann Academy was founded in 1997 as "The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston." Located on Turner Street in Waltham, Massachusetts, "New Jew" (as it is casually nicknamed) was adjacent to Brandeis University. The school opened with 48 students in the 9th and 10th grade. Seeking larger facilities and a more permanent home, the school moved to the top six floors of the Fleet Bank building at The Intersection of Prospect St. and Main St. in Waltham.

Changing names

In 2002, Rae and Joseph Gann donated generously to name the school. The Gann family, who found their fortune in the jewelry business, has always been supporters of the Boston Jewish community. With financial support from the Mr. and Mrs. Gann, the school developed nearly 20 acres of land in northern Waltham. Today, the school carries the name "Gann Academy" in addition to its old name.

Campus

The new campus at 333 Forest Street in Waltham, Massachusetts was completed for the 2003-2004 academic year. Situated on 20 acres, the main building has two wings, a "Beit Midrash" (assembly hall), and a dining hall with a kosher cafeteria. The larger of The Two wings has 14 classrooms on two floors, a large music rehearsal room, two soundproof music practice rooms (each with an upright piano), the college counselling offices, the support services center ("Learning Center"), and a language lab with over 18 computers. The lower level of the largest wing holds the 5 large and well equipped science labs. The smaller wing of the school holds the administrative offices on the first floor and the art classrooms on the second.

Library

The Krupp Library is located on the second floor, between the two wings and above the lobby. There are eight computer workstations, a labtop cart with an additional dozen or so laptops, student study stations, tables, and arm chairs. There is always a librarian on hand. Attached to the library is the computer lab, with eighteen computer workstations.

Student Activity Center

The Student Activity Center was completed in 2004 and is located next to the main building. It is connected through the lower level and has doors to the outside at both the lower level and the mezzanine level. On the lower level, there is the Bernice Krupp Black Box Theater, a green room, volleyball court/practice court, two full size basketballcourts separated by a removable screen, and locker rooms. The mezzanine level has a dance studio, fully equipped exercise room, and a multi purpose room which can accommodate up to one hundred people.

Outdoor Sports

Gann Academy has two soccer fields, a baseball diamond, and three tennis courts.

Technology

Gann Academy has two full time employers working in the IT department. The school has over 80 desktop and laptop computers for students to use. Each student, faculty, and staff member has a private account over the school's server. The school's network is available throughout the campus via wireless networking. All school laptops have wireless cards and students and teachers can register their private laptop to access the network.

FirstClass

Every person at Gann, including students, teachers, and staff members, have an email account in FirstClass. There is a 200 MB quota on each account. FirstClass allows faculty members to set up permanent conferences. Typically, every class, club, and committee has a conference. Additionally, there is a "student lounge" conference, a "Gann Academy News" conference, a "Rabbis lounge" and a "Faculty Lounge."

Media

The school has satellite television that streams Spanish, French, Israeli, and American networks to any computer on the network. Additionally, the school has a high capacity media server which stores and streams hundreds of educational movies, clips, and sound files.

Internet Access

The school operates on a T1 shared high speed network capable of large bandwidth. This allows the school to videoconference and do other high-bandwidth activity. In 2005 the school contreversially put an Internet content filter, called SurfControl, to block [...], games, betting, and websites deemed to have no educational purpose. At first, SurfControl was criticized by both faculty and students, due to unnecessarily blocking of common sites such as Yahoo.com. Students and staff also cited the school's own Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) which stated "it is not the school's intent to filter or block internet sites." The issue has mainly been resolved, with SurfControl blocking only pornographic or gaming websites. An updated version of the AUP acknowledges the filtering in place. Now, the filtering is accepted by the student and staff body as a necessary security precaution.

SMARTBoards

a teacher (not from Gann) using a SMARTBoard Every one of the 28 classrooms is equipped with a projector and electronic/interactive whiteboard, called a SMARTBoard. The teacher (or student) can plug his or her laptop into the overhead projector and the computer will display its entire screen onto the surface of the SMARTBoard. The SMARTBoard's surface is similar to that of a Palm Pilot and the teacher can write on the SMARTBoard. This also enables videos/DVDs to be displayed, via the computer, onto the SMARTBoard.

Academics

Gann Academy has a dual curriculum combining Jewish Studies and General Studies, taught by seventy faculty members.

Experiential learning

The school strives to privide an experiential learning environment. Students go to theater, museums, and trips.

Limud Clali

Gann Academy hosts a biweekly semenar for students and faculty called Limud Clali ("community learning"). Previous Limud Clali speakers have included Prof. Alan Dershowitz, Liz Walker, Ethan Zohn, Leonard Fein, and Prof. Jonathan SARNA. Typically, the topics are provocative and meant to spark debates.

Exploration Week

The school sets aside one week in the school year called Exploration Week. During this week, the school offers numerous international, national, and local offerings.

International offerings for the 2005-2006 school year are:

  • Israel
  • Greece
  • Community service in the Yucatan peninsula
  • Argentina

Domestic offerings for the 2005-2006 school year are:

  • Dog Sledding in Maine
  • Washington D.C.
  • Grand Canyon
  • Girls' Lacrosse team building in Orlando, Florida

Local offerings for the 2005-2006 school year are:

  • Artist's Studio
  • Puppetry
  • Photography
  • Habitat Investigation with the Mass. Audubon Society
  • CSI- Waltham
  • Tikun Olam (lit. "repairing the world," means community service)
  • Independent Projects
  • VH Gann, Music Video

General Studies

PUT INTRO HERE

The English Department

Led by Department Chair Dr. Lauren Proll, the English department employs 7 teachers. Students are required to take an English course every year.

  • 9th grade- Genre
  • 10th grade- British Literature, parallel to the tenth grade European History course
  • 11th grade- American Literature (AP classes available for eligible students)
  • 12th grade- [Fiction Writing]
  • 12th grade- Modern European Literature
  • 12th grade- Shakespeare Seminar
  • 12th grade- Women in Literature

History Department

Led by Department Chair Jonathan Golden (currently working on his GED), the History department employs five teachers. Students are required to take a History course every year.

  • 9th Grade- Ancient and Medievil Western Civilizations
  • 10th Grade- European History
  • 11th Grade- American History (AP classes available for eligible students)
  • 12th Grade- History of the State of Israel

Romance Languages Department

Led by Department Chair Carol Englander, the Romance Language Department employs three teachers. Students have the opportunity to take a romance language, but are not required to do so, due to the mandatory requirement of Hebrew Literature

Spanish is offered to all grades and classes are deternimed by skill level. There are a total of 8 Spanish courses, ranging from Spanish I to Spanish V, including an AP Spanish course.

French is offered to all grades and classes are deternimed by skill level. There are a total of 3 French courses, ranging from French III to French V

Latin is offerend to all grades and classes are determined by skill level. There are two courses offered: Latin III and Latin IV

Mathematics Department

Led by Department Chair Kem Morehead, the Mathematics Department employs seven teachers. Students are required to take a mathematics course every year. Classes are divided by skills and stregnths.

  • Algebra I, II, and II Advanced courses are typically taken by the school's large population of 8th graders.
  • Geometry and advanced geometry courses are typically taken by 10th graders.
  • Elementary functions is typically taken by 11th garders.
  • Pre-Calulus is typically taken by 11th or 12th graders.
  • Calculus, also offered as an AP course, is typically taken by 11th or 12th graders
  • Statistics is typically taken by 12th graders
  • Advanced Topics in Mathematics is an elective course for 12th graders and explores math at an under-graduate level
  • Computer Science typically taken by 12th graders

Science Department

Led by Department Chair David "Doc" Novick, the Science Department employs seven teachers. Students are required to take 3 years of science, though options for senior year are offered. Classes are divided by skill and knowledge.

  • 9th grade- Physics
  • 10th grade- Chemistry
  • 10th grade- Advanced Chemistry
  • 11th grade- Biology
  • 11th grade- Advanced Biology
  • 12th grade- Senior Advanced Chemistry
  • 12th grade- Advanced Physics
  • 12th grade- Biotechnology
  • 12th grade- Biological Basis of Behavior (includes Neurology)
  • 12th grade- Independent Research

Judaic Studies

The Judaic Department is lead by Associate Head of School for Judaic Studies, Susie Tanchel. There are three main topics required, Hebrew, Tanach, and Rabbinic Literature (Talmud).

Hebrew

Led by Department Chair Susann Codish, the Hebrew Department employs six teachers. In all grades, units are thematic and progressive. Classes are divided by skills, ranging from not knowing any Hebrew at all, to being fluent in reading, writing and conversatioanl Hebrew. Hebrew is required in each academic year.

Tanakh

Led by Department Chair Aviva Scheur, the Tanakh (Bible) Department employs six teachers. Tanakh is required in each academic year. Classes are divided by skill and previous knowledge.

  • 9th grade- Classes are devoted to the literal meaning of the text, and students become familiar with the use of lexicons.
  • 10th grade- Classes are devoted to the interpretarions of the text, and students become familiar with commentators such as Rashi, [Ibn Ezra]], and Rambam. Students look at Jonah, Shmot, Ecclesiastes, and
  • 11th grade- Classes are devoted to themes and midrash (deep interpreations).
  • 12th grade- Classes are devoted to intertextual studies and discussion. Students look at Genesis for the majority of the year.

Rabbinic Literature

Led by Department Chair Jeffrey Spitzer, the Rabbinic Literature Department employs seven teachers. Classes are organized by grade and skill level.

Student life

Student life at Gann is found in publications, clubs, and committees. Many student activities are organized by the Dean of Student Life, currently Shoshanah Zaritt. Additionally, the Student Council participates in bridging the gap between students, faculty, and the administration.

List of Clubs and Committees

  • Spanish Club
  • Open House (Gay Straight Alliance) also see Hineini
  • Jazz Band
  • Percussion Ensemble
  • Red Curtain Drama Club
  • Student Life
  • No Cotton Club
  • Ski and Snowboard Club
  • Peer Leaders
  • Recycling
  • Literacy Project
  • Marshall School Club
  • Arts and Beautification Committee
  • Prom Committee
  • Va'ad HaMishpat (Disciplanary Committee)
  • Religious Life
  • Tikun Olam
  • Dollar of the Month
  • Math Club
  • Democrats' Club
  • Art Appreciation
  • FIFE (Feminism is for Everyone) Club
  • Junior State of America (JSA)
  • Scuba Diving Club

List of Publications

All publications are student written, edited, and published, though they all have a faculty advisor.

  • Perspectives (newsmagazine)
  • Shevuon HaTichon (weekly newspaper)
  • Yameinu (yearbook)

Schedule

School starts every day at 8:10am and ends every day at AbOUT 5:00pm, except Wednesday where the day ends at 4:00pm.

T'fillot

In the morning, there is always a selection of T'fillot (Jewish services). Students are required to attend services twice a week, which start at 8:10 and end at 8:40 or 8:55. Of course, students may, if they choose, attend T'fillot every school day.

List of minyanim (services)

  • Tradition Mechitza Minyan
  • Traditional Egalitarian Minyan
  • Liberal Minyan
  • 9th grade Beginner's minyan
  • Moreh Shem Minyan
  • Gates of Prayer Minyan
  • Singing Minyan
  • Art as Prayer

Sichot

There are also sichot (study groups) students can attend when not in T'fillot. There are sichot for each grade, which are divided by gender. Other sichot include:

  • Current events
  • Writing
  • Storytelling