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Founded in 1997, '''Gann Academy''' is a [[coeducational]] [[Judaism|Jewish]] high school located in [[Waltham, Massachusetts]], United States. It is a member of the [[National Association of Independent Schools]] and is accredited by the [[New England Association of Schools and Colleges]].<ref name="gann-facts" />
'''Gann Academy''' is a [[coeducational]] [[Judaism|Jewish]] high school located in [[Waltham, Massachusetts]], United States. It was founded in 1997 and is a member of the [[National Association of Independent Schools]] and is accredited by the [[New England Association of Schools and Colleges]].<ref name="gann-facts" />


==History==
==History==


Gann Academy was founded in 1997 as '''The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston''', and was originally adjacent to [[Brandeis University]].<ref name="Haaretz">{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.4908857|title=Boston's New Jewish High School is growing up|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref> The school, casually nicknamed "New Jew," opened with 48 students in the 9th and 10th grades. Seeking larger facilities and a more permanent home, it moved to the top four floors and basement of the [[FleetBoston Financial|Fleet Bank]] building ([[BankBoston]] at the time) at the intersection of Prospect Street and Main Street in Waltham, and used the basement of the local Temple Beth Israel for additional classroom space. The school changed its name in 2003 in honor of philanthropist Joseph Gann, who had donated $5,000,000.<ref name="Haaretz" /> In the fall of 2003, Gann moved into its current building in Waltham, on land formerly occupied by the [[Murphy Army Hospital]].
Gann Academy was founded in 1997 as '''The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston''' by former head of school [[Daniel Lehmann]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Or |first=Rose |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GrBjDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT275&dq=gann+academy&hl=en |title=Words to Live By: Sacred Sources for Interreligious Engagement |last2=M |first2=Hessler, Soren |last3=Homayra |first3=Ziad |date=2018-06-26 |publisher=Orbis Books |isbn=978-1-60833-745-3 |language=en}}</ref> It was originally adjacent to [[Brandeis University]].<ref name="Haaretz">{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.4908857|title=Boston's New Jewish High School is growing up|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref> Lehman intended for the school to be a place to foster a sense of community among students from different forms and expressions of Judaism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Meyers |first=Helene |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGE7EAAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT95&dq=gann+academy&hl=en |title=Movie-Made Jews: An American Tradition |date=2021-09-17 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-1-9788-2190-3 |language=en}}</ref>

Casually nicknamed "New Jew," it opened with 48 students in the 9th and 10th grades. In 1999, the school moved to the top four floors and basement of the [[FleetBoston Financial|Fleet Bank]] building ([[BankBoston]] at the time) at the intersection of Prospect Street and Main Street in Waltham, eeking larger facilities and a more permanent home. It used the basement of the local Temple Beth Israel for additional classroom space.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Liu |first=Eric |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mQGdxgUocnAC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT126&dq=gann+academy&hl=en |title=Guiding Lights: The People Who Lead Us Toward Our Purpose in Life |date=2004-12-28 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-58836-446-3 |language=en}}</ref> The school changed its name in 2003 in honor of philanthropist Joseph Gann, who had donated $5,000,000.<ref name="Haaretz" /> In 2004, Gann moved into a newly built 110,000 sq. ft. campus building in Waltham.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Philanthropies |first=Combined Jewish |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sz5UJ1Lh21IC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA124&dq=gann+academy&hl=en |title=The Jews of Boston |date=2005-01-01 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-10787-6 |pages=124 |language=en}}</ref> The land the campus was built on was formerly occupied by the [[Murphy Army Hospital]].

The 2005 documentary ''[[Hineini]]'' focused on the school, and one student's efforts to create a [[gay–straight alliance]] there.<ref name=":0" />


==Judaism==
==Judaism==
Line 54: Line 58:


The school as a whole keeps vegetarian dairy [[kosher]], and students bring meat into the building.
The school as a whole keeps vegetarian dairy [[kosher]], and students bring meat into the building.

== Academics ==
The school has a [[student-teacher ratio]] of 5:1. In addition to [[general studies]] such as STEM, language and arts classes, the school's curriculum includes classes which focus on Judaism, Jewish history and the Hebrew language.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peterson's |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f4krAEVx91gC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA369&dq=gann+academy&hl=en |title=Private Secondary Schools |date=2011-05-01 |publisher=Peterson's |isbn=978-0-7689-3518-9 |language=en}}</ref> The school's history program places a heavy emphasis on debate and civics. In 2007, Jonathan Golden, chair of the history department, described the school's approach as "a [[John Dewey]]-inspired experiment in democratic education."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=Helena |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VnB2Jq3fW4C&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA451&dq=gann+academy&hl=en |title=International Handbook of Jewish Education |last2=Grant |first2=Lisa D. |last3=Pomson |first3=Alex |date=2011-04-02 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-94-007-0354-4 |pages=451 |language=en}}</ref> The school has an [[acapella]] group called the ShenaniGanns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-17 |title=Gann Academy’s ShenaniGanns a hit with Fenway fans at Jewish Heritage Night |url=https://jewishjournal.org/2021/06/17/gann-academys-shenaniganns-a-hit-with-fenway-fans-at-jewish-heritage-night/ |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=Jewish Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Athletics==
==Athletics==
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* Running
* Running
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}

== Campus ==
The school's Waltham campus was designed by architect Steve Friedlander.<ref name=":1" />


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 00:57, 21 May 2022

Gann Academy
The Gann Academy seal
Address
Map
333 Forest Street

Waltham
,
Middlesex
,
MA
02452

United States
Coordinates42°23′42″N 71°13′01″W / 42.39513°N 71.21703°W / 42.39513; -71.21703
Information
Former nameThe New Jewish High School
School typePrivate coeducational secondary
Religious affiliation(s)Judaism
DenominationPluralistic
Established1997[1]
StatusOpen
ChairpersonWilliam Foster[2]
Head of schoolDalia Hochman[2]
Grades9–12
Average class size70[1]
Student to teacher ratio5:1[1]
Hours in school day9
Classrooms65
Color(s)   Maroon and white
SloganWho Will You Become?
MascotRed Heifer
NicknameGann
Team nameGann Heifers
AccreditationNew England Association of Schools and Colleges and Association of Independent Schools of New England[1]
NewspaperShevuon Hatichon
Tuition$10,000 to $49,500[3]
Websitewww.gannacademy.org

Gann Academy

Gann Academy is a coeducational Jewish high school located in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1997 and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.[1]

History

Gann Academy was founded in 1997 as The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston by former head of school Daniel Lehmann.[4] It was originally adjacent to Brandeis University.[5] Lehman intended for the school to be a place to foster a sense of community among students from different forms and expressions of Judaism.[6]

Casually nicknamed "New Jew," it opened with 48 students in the 9th and 10th grades. In 1999, the school moved to the top four floors and basement of the Fleet Bank building (BankBoston at the time) at the intersection of Prospect Street and Main Street in Waltham, eeking larger facilities and a more permanent home. It used the basement of the local Temple Beth Israel for additional classroom space.[7] The school changed its name in 2003 in honor of philanthropist Joseph Gann, who had donated $5,000,000.[5] In 2004, Gann moved into a newly built 110,000 sq. ft. campus building in Waltham.[8] The land the campus was built on was formerly occupied by the Murphy Army Hospital.

The 2005 documentary Hineini focused on the school, and one student's efforts to create a gay–straight alliance there.[6]

Judaism

Gann Academy is a pluralistic day school with students and faculty coming from a number of different denominations of Judaism. There are students of Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Secular, and non-denominational backgrounds.

Students have mandatory Tefillah two days a week but have a variety of different options as to what type to attend.

The school as a whole keeps vegetarian dairy kosher, and students bring meat into the building.

Academics

The school has a student-teacher ratio of 5:1. In addition to general studies such as STEM, language and arts classes, the school's curriculum includes classes which focus on Judaism, Jewish history and the Hebrew language.[9] The school's history program places a heavy emphasis on debate and civics. In 2007, Jonathan Golden, chair of the history department, described the school's approach as "a John Dewey-inspired experiment in democratic education."[10] The school has an acapella group called the ShenaniGanns.[11]

Athletics

Gann Academy offers the following in terms of sport:

  • Basketball
  • Yoga
  • Fitness
  • Farming
  • Tennis
  • Frisbee
  • Hiking
  • Table Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Running

Campus

The school's Waltham campus was designed by architect Steve Friedlander.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e https://www.gannacademy.org/page/about/gann-facts [dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2020-10-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Gann Academy Tuition & Affordability Programs | Gann Academy".
  4. ^ Or, Rose; M, Hessler, Soren; Homayra, Ziad (2018-06-26). Words to Live By: Sacred Sources for Interreligious Engagement. Orbis Books. ISBN 978-1-60833-745-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b "Boston's New Jewish High School is growing up". Haaretz.
  6. ^ a b Meyers, Helene (2021-09-17). Movie-Made Jews: An American Tradition. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-1-9788-2190-3.
  7. ^ Liu, Eric (2004-12-28). Guiding Lights: The People Who Lead Us Toward Our Purpose in Life. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-58836-446-3.
  8. ^ a b Philanthropies, Combined Jewish (2005-01-01). The Jews of Boston. Yale University Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-300-10787-6.
  9. ^ Peterson's (2011-05-01). Private Secondary Schools. Peterson's. ISBN 978-0-7689-3518-9.
  10. ^ Miller, Helena; Grant, Lisa D.; Pomson, Alex (2011-04-02). International Handbook of Jewish Education. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 451. ISBN 978-94-007-0354-4.
  11. ^ "Gann Academy's ShenaniGanns a hit with Fenway fans at Jewish Heritage Night". Jewish Journal. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
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