News | Gann Academy

Local composer featured in Zamir Chorale concert (The Jewish Advocate)

June 23, 2017
NEWTON CENTRE - Zamir Chorale of Boston's "AwePsalm" concert last week featured luminary composers such as Leonard Bernstein and 16 th century Jewish violinist Salamone Rossi, and a 24-year-old Boston native who is quickly gaining a reputation as a soughtafter musical talent: Jeremiah Klarman.

Asher Dale '17 made an app based on the Three Good Things method (Boston.com)

June 12, 2017

Asher Dale has three very good reasons to be happy.

For one, the 17-year-old Newton native graduates from Waltham’s Gann Academy this weekend. For another, he’s looking forward to a gap year in Israel. And finally, he’s celebrating the release of his first app, based on the “Three Good Things” method.

This Local 17-Year-Old’s App Will Make You Happy

- Boston Magazine Article on Boston.com

A New Look for Gann's Science Wall

June 9, 2017
Shevuon Hatichon - By Eliana Bazer
With the end of the year approaching, Gann Seniors are working on their Ma’avar projects. These projects range from traveling to internships. A notable addition has been made to the science wing. Anya Shire-Plumb ’17 choose to paint a mural for her project.

Goodbye Gann. Hello World.

June 2, 2017
Senior Asher Dale loves computers. He did a college-level independent study senior year and designed a happiness iPhone app during Ma’avar called “Three Good Things”— now available in the app store. Not surprisingly, he was accepted at several selective colleges, including the University of Michigan, but chose the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign because of its top-rated computer science program.

Girls Varsity Softball and Tennis Clinch League Crowns

June 2, 2017
Congratulations to the girls varsity softball and tennis teams for winning the 2017 Independent Girls Conference (IGC) championships, making this year one of the two most victorious in Gann athletics history. The girls varsity volleyball team, as well as the girls and boys varsity basketball teams, also walked away with league crowns this winter.

Sleeping Under the Stars: myIsrael 2017

June 2, 2017
Sixty-six Gann sophomores have spent the last seven weeks exploring Israel through an exciting mix of academics, desert camping, socializing, sports, art, robotics, community service and much, much more. They’re participating in myIsrael, Gann’s unique Israel trip where students engage with the country on multiple levels.

Students visit Alabama lynching site to offer Jewish prayers at memorial

May 24, 2017 - Published by Alabama Living.
For years, students from a Jewish high school in Massachusetts have been making annual pilgrimages to Alabama to learn about the civil rights movement.

A group of 25 high school students from Gann Academy of Waltham, Mass., is in Birmingham today. They are touring the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Kelly Ingram Park.

Read more

Embracing Our Diversity

May 17, 2017
On several occasions this week I heard powerful stories that brought to light the richness of the diversity of our community and the depth of the humanity of the individuals who make it up.

Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston Raises More than $46,000

May 22, 2017

Grants Go to Seven Nonprofits Working in Areas of Domestic Violence and Mental Health

For the past year, two groups of local Jewish teenagers have been gathering regularly to learn about and practice two of Judaism’s most cherished values: tzedakah and tikuun olam — charity and healing the world. The program they participate in is called the Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston (JTFGB) and on May 18, the groups gave away a total of $46,669 in grants to seven nonprofits — five of them local— in a moving ceremony at Hebrew College.

To learn giving, teens grant $47K (The Jewish Advocate)

May 18, 2017
NEWTON – The Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston gave away $46,669 in grants to seven nonprofit organizations – five of them local – in a ceremony at Hebrew College here on May 18.

Dancing the Night Away at the Junior-Senior Prom

May 5, 2017
With almost every Gann junior and senior attending, prom was the place to be on the evening of April 2.

Gann Awardees Embody School’s Values

May 5, 2017
In the fall, Anna Finklestein and Lily Rabinoff-Goldman led their 11th grade history students on a fascinating intellectual journey. Through interviews and archival research, the students excavated the complex history of Gann’s next-door-neighbor, the now-shuttered Fernald School here. The school served developmentally delayed children and adults—and those deemed so—for more than a century.

Seniors Take Charge of Own Learning During Ma’avar

May 5, 2017
One senior is building a “happiness app” that leverages the most current psychological research. Another is teaching at a school in Tel Aviv. A couple of boys are driving through the U.S. heartland, interviewing people about the state of the country, then creating a podcast from their research. Students are interning at hospitals, a Tufts medical lab, a state senator’s office, and in the photography department of a local newspaper.

Gann Student Olivia Siegal Wins Writing Award

April 24, 2017
Congratulations to Olivia Siegal who, after winning a New England regional award, went on to win a national Gold Medal for the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition.

Gann Athletes Recognized in the Boston Globe

April 8, 2017
Congratulations to basketball MVPs Shayna Mael and Ben Edry who were among the Boston Globe's twenty-two top student athletes at Massachusetts independent schools recognized in the "2017 Preps All-Scholastics".

Gann Runners Turn Out for Jerusalem Marathon To Support Alum’s Nonprofit

April 7, 2017
Gann alum Meital Galler has watched her younger brother Elan struggle with a rare form of epilepsy that limits almost every aspect of his life. So several years ago, she and her older brother founded a nonprofit that promotes epilepsy awareness and education, while also supporting young people with the disease and their families.

ShenaniGanns Chosen to Compete in WGBH Sing That Thing!

April 7, 2017
Set your DVRs to WGBH TV on Friday, April 28 at 8:30 pm. when Gann’s a cappella group, ShenaniGanns, competes to win the station’s third annual Sing That Thing! competition. Gann is one of 18 choral groups — six high schools, six colleges and six adult groups—that advanced to round one of the contest, based on audition videos. It’s the second year in a row ShenaniGanns has received this honor.

Gann History Teacher Appeared in Recent CNN Documentary

April 7, 2017
How many high school students can say that their history teacher is one of the world’s leading authorities on an infamous ancient king?

Gann Academy hosts TEDxWalthamED (The Jewish Advocate)

April 7, 2017
WALTHAM - Gann Academy teacher Sharona Goder-Peled organized a day of lectures on innovative teaching approaches that view students as complex, multi-faceted beings for "TEDxWalthamED: Blurring the Lines Between Disciplines," held here on April 2. More than 100 people attended.

Budding Diplomat Or Not, This Club is For You

March 28, 2017
Alex Bulanov isn’t old enough to drive, but he has represented Sudan in high-level talks at the UN about state-sponsored terrorism and Internet recruitment.

The Model UN, that is.

Investment in Teacher Development Pays Off Every Day

March 28, 2017
Gann senior Zach Oshins used to go to one of the best public schools in the state. But he longed for a learning environment that was more intimate, individualized and dynamic. At Gann, he found exactly what he was looking for.

Gann Psychology Students Do Original Research

March 28, 2017
If you’re told a certain snack food is a name brand, does that make you judge it tastier? If a maze is described as “really challenging,” will you struggle with it more than if you were told it was “super easy?”

Who Did We Say “Yes” To?

March 28, 2017
By this point in the admissions process, you probably know a lot about Gann— our rigorous and vibrant curriculum, welcoming environment, fantastic teachers, competitive sports teams, and our huge array of clubs. But there’s still one big question mark: who else might be new to Gann in September?

Student Zoe Weiss honored by the National Center for Women In Technology

March 27, 2017
Congratulations to Zoe Weiss '17 who was honored by the National Center for Women In Technology.

Gann Hosts Israeli Leaders through the Wexner Foundation

March 20, 2017
Gann recently hosted Israeli leaders from all areas of public service in Israel including 14 ministries. This exchange was sponsored by the Wexner Foundation, whose programs supports 40 senior Israeli leaders visiting Harvard's Kennedy School. Here's what they had to say about Gann:

Gann Girls Thrive in Math and Science

March 14, 2017
Hodaya Propp likes building robots. Zoe Weiss is a whiz at programming. Gann girls are members of the math team and the Girls in STEM club, compete in mathematics competitions, take upper level science and math courses and just plain love any activity that kicks their left brain into gear. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Language Study: A Window Into Culture

March 14, 2017
In a Gann Spanish class, you won’t find students simply memorizing “mama,” “papa,” “hijo” and “hija” for a unit on the family. Sure, they’ll learn the family tree, but they’ll also discuss how familial structures differ in Spanish-speaking countries, how divorce rates in Latin America diverge from the U.S.A.’s, and how same-sex relationships are viewed. In one Chinese course, the Beijing Olympics have proved a fascinating glimpse into many aspects of China. Meanwhile, sophomores studying Arabic are brushing up on vocabulary they plan to use when they visit a souk in Israel this spring.

Student Council Sponsors Summit for Gann Leaders

March 14, 2017
Senior Perry Wallack had an idea. What if he brought together the school’s leaders — heads of clubs, captains of sports teams, student council reps— to learn how to become even better at what they do? He fleshed out his idea with fellow students, faculty and staff and recruited top Gann administrators to run hands-on workshops teaching leadership skills. The fruits of his labors will be on display at Gann’s first Student Leadership Summit— a half-day event at the school this coming Sunday. Wallack expects at least 30 student leaders to attend.

Gann Alum Combines Cooking with Activism

March 14, 2017
Gann alumna Reva Haselkorn thought she would become an architect. She graduated from Princeton with a degree in architecture, worked for a few years in the field, then realized that although the projects she was involved in were laudable— sustainable energy, disaster relief, rain water harvesting— she felt too removed from the people she was helping. So she did what any logical person would do: she went to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Boston, and graduated as the class valedictorian.

Boys Varsity Basketball wins championship

Girls basketball champs with the athletic trainer's dog Bunker

Gann Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Clinch League Championships

February 28, 2017
“The environment at the championship games was electric,” recalls Director of Athletics Pam Roecker. “One of the boys' game highlights was senior Noah Klar hitting a three-point shot at the buzzer – a great spark going into half-time! And the girls played arguably their best all-around game of the season.”

Teacher Yoni Kadden discusses the finer points of American history with his AP students

Jess Friedman and teacher Yoni Kadden bond over CDs from a certain Broadway musical

Broadway’s Hamilton Meets Harvard Business School in Gann History Class

February 28, 2017
What happens when a Gann student obsessed with a certain Broadway musical shares her passion with her AP American history teacher who has recently learned an innovative teaching technique from a top business school?

Head of School Rabbi Marc Baker, TEDxWalthamED organizer Sharona Goder-Peled and Director of Teaching and Learning Jacob Pinnolis

TEDx Comes to Gann in April

February 28, 2017
TEDx Talks, those short, powerful lectures, have become a global phenomenon. Now, a department head is bringing one of these prestigious events to Gann. On Sunday, April 2, the school will host an official TEDx event—a daylong series of talks that focus on addressing students’ learning and socio-emotional needs in an interconnected way.

Students Eat Their Veggies at Gann with No Complaints

February 28, 2017
Mac and cheese is hands-down the most popular dish in Gann's dining hall. Roasted zucchini with herbs, vegetarian lo mein, and paninis also get gobbled up.

Falafel sliders and orzo primavera? Not so much.

Advisory Program: Where Students are Heard, Known and Understood

February 28, 2017
What do you hope to accomplish during your four-year Gann journey? How do you constructively engage with people whose opinions are diametrically opposed to yours? How does your identity as a Jew co-exist with your other identities? And how do you best balance a rigorous course load with an active social life?

Gann Robotics: The Hardest Fun You’ll Ever Have

February 14, 2017
Gann recently won the Battle of Lexington. And not the Revolutionary War one.

Gann’s Robots and Brain Bots, Inc. team (R.A.B.B.I.) took home first place honors in January’s qualifying match, the Battle of Lexington. As a result, the group is now heading to the state championship in March. A second Gann robotics team will also vie for the state crown.

New Courses Offered Next Fall

February 14, 2017
It’s time to register for next year’s courses at Gann and the choices are abundant: more than 150 courses in the humanities, math, sciences, languages and Jewish studies, not to mention the arts and electives that range from psychology to statistics to thermodynamics.

Shabbaton: A Time to Connect With Community and Judaism

February 14, 2017
One highlight of Gann’s recent Shabbaton was an intimate discussion between seniors and Head of School Rabbi Marc Baker that went into the wee hours of the morning. There was also a crazy international-themed relay race, great food, a moving Havdalah service, and a fascinating talk by two activists — a Yemeni threatened by extremists and the American Jew who helped him escape.

Finding Your Groove Through the Arts

February 14, 2017
Senior Grant Anapolle found his voice, his confidence and his best friend through improv at Gann. Sophomore Sydney Wallack discovered a way to mix activism with dance. Other students have learned to paint, throw pots, sing, perform jazz, make films, act, and design sound with computers. In all, 28 arts courses are offered at Gann, taught by professional artists who are experts in their disciplines.

Creating a Community of Writers

February 14, 2017
If you take Lily Rabinoff-Goldman’s Creative Writing class, expect to learn the usual important stuff— like how to vividly convey ideas using sound, rhythm and image.

Lots of Good News from Colleges

January 30, 2017
Barnard said “yes.” So did Boston University, Brandeis, Brown, Clark and Dartmouth. And that’s just colleges that start with the first four letters of the alphabet.

Students Explore Selves and World During Explo Week

January 30, 2017
Come the end of May, the halls of Gann are quiet.

Where have the students gone? They are volunteering in a Head Start program, planting vegetables on an organic farm, visiting the Alabama landmarks of the Civil Rights movement and building homes with Habitat for Humanity in North Carolina. And that’s just a sampling of the rich experiences offered during Exploration Week, better known as Explo Week.

Students Convince Gann to Say “No” to Fossil Fuels

January 30, 2017
A group of student leaders — from Student Council and Environmental Club— had an idea. What if they could convince the school to sever its dependence on fossil fuels and switch to a greener alternative?

Students Make Bacterial Cells Glow Through Bioengineering

January 30, 2017
If you walked into one of our advanced biotech classes recently, you’d be treated to a gorgeous sight: vials and plates of eerily glowing bacteria.

Feeling Stressed? Pet a Pooch

January 30, 2017
Gann students enjoyed a calming visit from a trio of therapy dogs during the end-of-semester finals crunch.

Reunion 2016 Highlights: Joining the Network

January 6, 2017
On Saturday November 26th, the Copley Marriott was filled with the unmistakable energy of Gann alumni; old friends were reconnecting, and new friendships were in the making. Gann Academy was holding its Annual Alumni Reunion, it was the first time that the classes of 2011, 2006, 2001, and 2000 came together at one event.

Freshman Shabbaton: Building Our Community

January 6, 2017
On Friday evening, November 18, the aroma of roasted vegetables, hot soup, and soft pretzels drifted through the halls of Gann Academy. There were sounds of music and laughter and sometimes quiet moments of prayer and discussion. It was the Freshman Shabbaton, an occasion to step back from the bustle of academic life as a new student and share a time of relaxed fellowship and contemplation.

Arts Foundations: Creating an Anthem for Gann

January 6, 2017
Next week, Gann’s ninth grade Music Foundations class will step into the spotlight and up to the microphones to perform for an audience of peers and faculty in the Black Box Theater.

Gann Academy Expands Unique Tuition Affordability Program

December 10, 2016
Visionary donors make a Gann education financially accessible to more families

Are We Running Out of Water?: Student Blog

December 2, 2017
This fall, seniors in the Environmental Science & Sustainability elective stepped outside the classroom to put their lab experience to the test. Students gain scientific inquiry skills in Gann’s Science Department, which combines theory with primary research, both in the lab and in the field

Gann May be the New Kid on the Block—But We are Making Noise

In an exciting win his fall, Gann Academy won the inaugural Girls Volleyball Championship in the IGC (Independent Girls Conference). According to Director of Athletics Pam Roecker, this title is a milestone within the growth of Gann Athletics, a newcomer in a well-established conference.

Finding Israel

December 2, 2016
This past August, thirty Gann juniors embarked on a journey to Israel, leaving the creature comforts of home, their parents, and familiar places behind. What began as a scramble to get to know new teachers and classes, peer travelers, and a new country—became a transformative experience.

Gann’s Sherri Geller Elected to National College Counseling Board

November 1, 2016
Gann’s focus on college readiness was further validated in September when the Presidents Council of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) elected Sherri Geller, Gann’s Co-Director of College Counseling, as its Coordinator-elect. Sherri will serve as the Coordinator and hold a seat on the NACAC Board of Directors in 2017-18. NACAC is the leading organization for college counselors and college admissions officers, representing 16,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing post-secondary education.

CEO of Hillel International Eric Fingerhut visits Gann Academy as part of innovative Mifgash

October 28, 2016
Interactive exchange program with Israeli Ironi Hey High School features Hillel talk on Jewish identity and the importance of the Israel connection.

Gann’s Jonathan Golden on The Four Questions of Election 2016 and Why Gann Teaches Democracy Differently Than All Other Schools

November 1, 2016
I love teaching American history in an election year. Like American educational philosopher John Dewey, I believe that my primary purpose is to prepare my students for participation in American democracy.

An interview with Sierra Weiss, Gann ’14 on the inclusion imperative

November 1, 2016
We had an opportunity to sit down with Sierra Weiss, Gann class of 2014 and now a junior at Emory University in Atlanta, GA to learn more about her work on disability inclusion and how she’s used her Gann education to realize her passions while helping make the world a better place.

A Celebration across Generations: The Second Annual Grandparents’ and Friends’ Lunch and Learn

Today we had the pleasure of welcoming 95 Gann grandparents and special friends to our campus for the second annual Grandparents’ and Visitors’ Lunch & Learn event.

A New Year, A New Look: The Gann Lobby Makeover

October 14, 2016
You can't miss it. Visitors to Gann are now met with a bold and engaging motif and display of messages in the lobby and Dining Hall that succinctly capture the personality, the purpose, and the values of the school. It’s a perfect celebration of the new year and a fresh and fun take on what Gann is all about.

Morton E. Ruderman Inclusion Scholarship Fund

Combined Jewish Philanthropies is pleased to acknowledge Gann Academy as a participating partner in the Morton E. Ruderman Inclusion Scholarship Fund.
Click Here for more information

STEM Education By and For Students

Wellesley College Online, March 4, 2015
That excitement to learn is what motivated Tali Marcus to found Wellesley’s Robogals chapter last fall. Read more

From Needham to ‘Newsies,’ by way of Wheelock

The Boston Globe, June 20, 2015
Kemp is one of the stars of the national tour of the Disney musical “Newsies,” coming to the Opera House Tuesday though July 5. He plays Davey, a young man who becomes an unlikely firebrand of the New York newsboys strike, based on real events in 1899, that is the heart of the show. Read more

Gann senior honored as 'Hero' after save on Charles

The Walthan News Tribine, December 3, 2014
When Gann Academy of Waltham senior Jonny Zackman was hired to work as a lifeguard on the Charles River he was told he had to take a course in emergency medical response so he could be prepared for any situation he might face on the job. Read more

Where Do I Stand? By Maya Sinclair

Jewish Women's Archive, October 28, 2014
I am Jewish through and through. As confident as I am about my identity as a Jew and my place in the Jewish community, I am insecure about my role in the feminist community. Read more

Gann Grads Launch Kosher Food Truck

Boston Magazine, October 17, 2014
Ari Kendall and Matthew Pultman will roll out a kosher food truck with their mobile version of Rami’s. Kendall, a Le Cordon Bleu grad who recently worked at Barcelona Wine Bar in Brookline, and Pultman, founder of The Drop, were both longtime fans of Haim Cohen’s Israeli/Middle Eastern restaurant in Brookline. Read more

Femininjas: Jewesses With Attitude

The Jewish Women's Archive, June 27, 2014
Back in 2011, as newly minted high schoolers at Gann Academy in Waltham, Kineret Grant-Sasson and Mitali Desai had an idea: during the second half of freshman year, they would start holding meetings for a feminist club, welcoming students with all levels of knowledge and interest. Read more

Gann, Maimo seniors set to enter the ‘real world’

The Jewish Advocate, June 6, 2014
As seniors graduate from Gann Academy in Waltham and Maimonides School in Brookline this month, many will be going to four-year colleges, while others will be headed to Israel. Read more

New Tzion Program Educates About Israel

The Jewish Journal Massachusetts, May 22, 2014
David Starr’s story is, in many ways, a tale of continuity and change in American Jewry. Read more

Newton native launches scholarly journal focused on Bruce Springsteen

The Boston Globe, August, 12, 2014
Are rock stars worthy of scholarly study? It might be tough to write a master’s thesis about Motley Crue singer Vince Neil, but Bruce Springsteen? No problem. Read more

TeenSafe Helps Prevent Dating Abuse

The Jewish Journal - Massachusetts, August 14, 2014
Hannah Hiam of Newton, an 18-year-old recent graduate of Gann Academy, has been an active participant in TeenSafe for three years. “The mission of the program spoke to me,” she said. “I feel strongly about women’s rights, especially the right to your own body and to your happiness.” Read more

A Day School Student Has a Few Words for Barry Shrage

Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE), April 8, 2014
In the piece below, an 11th-grade student named Claire Shoyer delivers an amazing D’var Torah in honor of CJP’s Barry Shrage. Read more

Waltham students involved in Future Philanthropists Initiative

Waltham News Tribune, April 1, 2014
The Tufts Health Plan Foundation is running the third year of its youth philanthropy initiative, which this year includes four students from the Gann Academy in Waltham. Read more

Bold Leadership

eJewish Philanthropy, February 25, 2014
When it comes to different interpretations of Torah, ethics, and theology and different understandings of Judaism and visions for the Jewish future, the Jewish People need a robust exchange of ideas and as many voices as possible at the table. Read more

Class Act: Sierra Weiss, Gann Academy

WHDH TV 7NBC, January 25, 2014
Seventeen-year old senior Sierra Weiss at Gann Academy in Waltham is using her love of dance in a very special way. Watch video

Gann Alumni Earn Patents for Inventions

The Jewish Advocate, January 17, 2014
Magnetically supported shoes and a weight-stabilizing stretcher may sound like inventions from the future, but in fact they have already been conceived and created by alumni from Gann Academy. Read more

Gann Board Member Jonathan Sarna Elected President of Association for Jewish Studies

The Jewish Daily Forward, January 6, 2013
Jonathan Sarna, a professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University, was elected president of the Association for Jewish Studies at its annual meeting. Read more

Teens’ Bow Tie Business Blossoms

The Boston Globe, January 3, 2013
For the teenagers, friends since elementary school, the retro neckwear has blossomed from a distinctive sartorial choice into a bona fide business. Read more

The School as a Learning Community

The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education, Fall 2013
Published work by Rabbi Marc Baker, Rabbi David Jaffe and Jacob Pinnolis. Read more

Two Patents Awarded to Gann Academy Alumni

Gann Academy, December 11, 2013
Gann Academy, a pluralistic, Jewish high school in Waltham committed to academic excellence and a meaningful Jewish education, announced that six alumni are recipients of patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for their work while at the school. Read more

Waltham Students Excel at Studio Art Program

The Waltham News Tribune, August 21, 2013
Uri Nathan and Dania Simoun-Tkachenko, students at Gann Academy in Waltham, spent two weeks this summer in Williamsburg, Mass., at Snow Farm Summer, a part of The New England Craft Program. Read more

Chai in the Hub Winners - Board Member Ben Sigel

CJP.org, October 17, 2013
Our first annual Chai in the Hub contest highlights the faces of Boston's Jewish future and recognizes the amazing contributions of our generation. You nominated inspiring rabbis, dedicated lawyers, theatrical geniuses and social entrepreneurs—and now we’re proud to announce this year’s Chai in the Hub honorees. Read more

Concocting a formula for day school success

Combined Jewish Philanthropies - www.CJP.org - August 6, 2013
If you’ve ever wondered how Jewish day schools compete when it comes to science and math, take note of Gann Academy’s Robots And Brain Bots Inc. (RABBI) robotics team. In 2011-- their very first year--they won a top spot in a worldwide competition, edging out 128 other teams. Read more

Excitement As Jewish Day Schools Open

The Jewish Journal, August 29, 2013
As the school year begins, there is plenty new at Greater Boston's Jewish day schools. The area boasts a diverse array of nearly a dozen Jewish day schools — from those affiliated with denominational Judaism, to pluralistic, community schools, as well as several Orthodox yeshivot. The Journal spoke with leaders, staff and parents from seven metropolitan day schools, all of whom are upbeat about the start of the school year and the future prospects of their schools. Read more

For the Breath of Schoolchildren

The Jewish Advocate, November 15, 2013
As novel and innovative as Garlick’s scientific work is, there is something else just as extraordinary happening in his laboratory: He is deliberately and effectively training the next generation of scientists and science-literate students. And he is capturing their hearts and minds while they are still in high school. There has now been a long line of Gann Academy students and others, including my children Anna and Adam, who have completed immersion programs in Garlick’s laboratory specifically geared to pre-college students. Read more

Gann Academy Announces New Programs to Address Affordability

WALTHAM—Gann Academy, a pluralistic, Jewish high school in Waltham committed to academic excellence and a meaningful Jewish education announced today that it is expanding its tuition assistance programs to include a new Pioneer Fellows Program in addition to the Minimum Award Program that Gann piloted last year.

The new Pioneer Program is for students matriculating from public schools and offers a 20% discount off of tuition each year to a limited number of students. Any Gann applicant who attended public school since at least 6th grade may apply for this program.

“The Gann community is enriched by the active engagement of students new or returning to Jewish day school education —we want to welcome these families with this targeted tuition assistance program,” said Head of School, Rabbi Marc Baker.

The Minimum Award Program offers at least $5,000 for every family who qualifies for financial aid. Gann piloted this program for the 2013-14 school year to ensure that all financial aid recipients receive a meaningful minimum award. Eligibility for this award is based on the financial aid application and review process.

Last year, Gann Academy granted financial aid awards totaling $2.5 million, funding over 96% of all applications.

“Gann Academy is committed to making Jewish day school accessible to all admitted students, regardless of financial need. We believe that our pluralistic community is further enhanced by the socioeconomic diversity of our student body, and in support of this goal, we have created these unique programs to ensure that enrollment is available for the greatest number of mission-appropriate students,” said Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Christine Miller.

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Gann Academy students cultivate values and vegetables for project

The Jewish Advocate, June 7, 2013

Gann Academy, a pluralistic Jewish high school in Waltham, has been cultivating young minds since 1997 when it was founded as the New Jewish High School of Greater Boston. And now, it is cultivating herbs, leafy greens and root vegetables, thanks to the work of two soon-to-graduate students, Alicia Zolondick and Talia Berkowitz-Regosin. Read more

Habits of Mind and A Divergent Book Club

Young Adult Library Services Association, The Yalsa Blog, November 25, 2013
At Gann Academy, the language of the middot, soul traits like truth (emet) and humility (anavah), are used often to describe our habits of mind and habits of heart. But using those to describe how we read a book about a post-apocalyptic world? Apparently, that’s just how Gann Academy rolls. Read more

MetroWest high schoolers will ‘Go for the Glow’

The Jewish Advocate, June 28, 2013

This summer, a group of about 40 high school students will work intensely with GFP at Gann Academy in Waltham as part of the Boston University School of Medicine’s SummerLab Biotechnology program. “Go for the Glow” runs daily from July 15 to 19 and introduces students to central concepts and skills of recombinant DNA technology as it applies to biotechnology. Read more

Newton Dancer Helping to Make the Arts More Inclusive

The Boston Globe, December 8, 2013
While attending a summer camp in Palmer four years ago, Sierra Weiss of Newton signed up to spend a portion of each day with the special-needs campers. She had fun participating in the activities at Camp Ramah in New England, but came away with a more meaningful lesson. Read more

Newton Teen Puzzles High-Level Math in Israel

American Technion Society, September 10, 2013
Daniel Mangoubi '14 spent his summer immersed in rigorous games — and we're not talking soccer. Read more

The Big Men on Gann Academy Campus: A Q&A with “the Jewish Jordan”

Combined Jewish Philanthropies - www.CJP.org - July 7, 2013
Tamir Goodman dubbed "the Jewish Jordan," by Sports Illustrated, is working to make a difference in the lives of youngsters. Read more.

Rabbis Visit Landmarks in Boston

The Jewish Advocate, November 22, 2013
Three Rabbis from Israel, representing the Orthodox, Reform and Conservative streams, walk into a mikveh… That was the scene on Sunday afternoon, when Rabbi Rafi Weinberg, Rabbi Shai Beloosesky and Rabbi Dubi Haiun visited Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters, a community ritual bath in Newton. Read more

Sapling from Anne Frank tree planted in Boston

WCVB – The Boston Channel, June 4, 2013

A sapling from a tree that towered over the secret annex where Anne Frank hid with her family during World War II will be unveiled in the Boston Commo. Read more

Welcome to Class 26 of the Graduate Fellowship Program

Wexner Field Fellows, June 4, 2013 - Jennifer Weinstock
The Wexner Foundation is proud to announce the selection of Class 26 of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholars Program. Several hundred future and current Jewish professionals applied to be part of this prestigious Fellowship and leadership learning opportunity. Twenty-two were selected. Read more

Waltham students present grants to local nonprofits

The Waltham News Tribune, May 30, 2013

Students from the Gann Academy in Waltham presented checks to Generations Incorporated and Shelter Music Boston as part of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation Future Philanthropists Initiative. Read more

Jewish schools look to serve students with special needs

Boston.com, February 16, 2012
A philanthropic group has received a $1.89 million grant designed to help Jewish day schools in the area better teach students with special needs. Read more

Chanoch L’Naar

eJewish Philanthropy, May 1, 2013

At Gann Academy, we decided that, if we wanted this language, culture, and practice to impact our entire school, we needed to start with the adults in the building, especially the school’s senior leadership team. Read more

Gann Academy Students Take Top Honors in International Robotics Competition

Newton Patch, June 1, 2011
These members of Gann Academy’s Robots and Brain Bots Inc. (RABBI) team recently won a prestigious award at the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Tech Challenge World Championship in St. Louis, Mo. They won the highest honor among the 128 competing teams representing 29 different countries. Read more

Gann students learn philanthropy

The Waltham News Tribune, June 5, 2012
Two students from Gann Academy participated in the Tufts Health Plan Foundation’s Future Philanthropists program, which was designed to engage and empower youth to work collectively to serve older adults through philanthropy. Read more

Nancy Epstein one for the record books at Gann Academy

The Waltham News Tribune, January 25, 2010

Nancy Epstein lives right around the corner from Marblehead High School. She could have been to school in a minute or two each morning had she chosen to stay home the past four years. Read more

Even in college, Gann star keeps going and going ...

The Jewish Advocate, November 13, 2009

Aliza Miller may as well call the soccer field home. The former Gann Academy star has started every game during her first two seasons at Connecticut College. "And she is the only player in her class to have done so," said Camels' head coach Winnie Bing. Read more

Donors Give Pluralistic School in Boston $12.25 Mil

The Jewish Daily Forward, December 16, 2009
Defying the recession and concerns about Jewish philanthropy after Bernard Madoff, a group of anonymous donors recently gave $12.25 million to Gann Academy, a 13-year-old pluralistic Jewish high school in suburban Waltham, Mass., enabling the school to retire its building debt. Read more

Gann by the Numbers

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A Cappella with the ShenaniGanns

Support Gann

Gann Academy in the News

List of 20 news stories.

List of 100 items.

Local composer featured in Zamir Chorale concert (The Jewish Advocate)

Asher Dale '17 made an app based on the Three Good Things method (Boston.com)

A New Look for Gann's Science Wall

Goodbye Gann. Hello World.

Girls Varsity Softball and Tennis Clinch League Crowns

Sleeping Under the Stars: myIsrael 2017

Students visit Alabama lynching site to offer Jewish prayers at memorial

Embracing Our Diversity

Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston Raises More than $46,000

To learn giving, teens grant $47K (The Jewish Advocate)

Dancing the Night Away at the Junior-Senior Prom

Gann Awardees Embody School’s Values

Seniors Take Charge of Own Learning During Ma’avar

Gann Student Olivia Siegal Wins Writing Award

Gann Athletes Recognized in the Boston Globe

Gann Runners Turn Out for Jerusalem Marathon To Support Alum’s Nonprofit

ShenaniGanns Chosen to Compete in WGBH Sing That Thing!

Gann History Teacher Appeared in Recent CNN Documentary

Gann Academy hosts TEDxWalthamED (The Jewish Advocate)

Budding Diplomat Or Not, This Club is For You

Investment in Teacher Development Pays Off Every Day

Gann Psychology Students Do Original Research

Who Did We Say “Yes” To?

Student Zoe Weiss honored by the National Center for Women In Technology

Gann Hosts Israeli Leaders through the Wexner Foundation

Gann Girls Thrive in Math and Science

Language Study: A Window Into Culture

Student Council Sponsors Summit for Gann Leaders

Gann Alum Combines Cooking with Activism

Gann Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Clinch League Championships

Broadway’s Hamilton Meets Harvard Business School in Gann History Class

TEDx Comes to Gann in April

Students Eat Their Veggies at Gann with No Complaints

Advisory Program: Where Students are Heard, Known and Understood

Gann Robotics: The Hardest Fun You’ll Ever Have

New Courses Offered Next Fall

Shabbaton: A Time to Connect With Community and Judaism

Finding Your Groove Through the Arts

Creating a Community of Writers

Lots of Good News from Colleges

Students Explore Selves and World During Explo Week

Students Convince Gann to Say “No” to Fossil Fuels

Students Make Bacterial Cells Glow Through Bioengineering

Feeling Stressed? Pet a Pooch

Reunion 2016 Highlights: Joining the Network

Freshman Shabbaton: Building Our Community

Arts Foundations: Creating an Anthem for Gann

Gann Academy Expands Unique Tuition Affordability Program

Are We Running Out of Water?: Student Blog

Gann May be the New Kid on the Block—But We are Making Noise

Finding Israel

Gann’s Sherri Geller Elected to National College Counseling Board

CEO of Hillel International Eric Fingerhut visits Gann Academy as part of innovative Mifgash

Gann’s Jonathan Golden on The Four Questions of Election 2016 and Why Gann Teaches Democracy Differently Than All Other Schools

An interview with Sierra Weiss, Gann ’14 on the inclusion imperative

A Celebration across Generations: The Second Annual Grandparents’ and Friends’ Lunch and Learn

A New Year, A New Look: The Gann Lobby Makeover

Morton E. Ruderman Inclusion Scholarship Fund

STEM Education By and For Students

From Needham to ‘Newsies,’ by way of Wheelock

Gann senior honored as 'Hero' after save on Charles

Where Do I Stand? By Maya Sinclair

Gann Grads Launch Kosher Food Truck

Femininjas: Jewesses With Attitude

Gann, Maimo seniors set to enter the ‘real world’

New Tzion Program Educates About Israel

Newton native launches scholarly journal focused on Bruce Springsteen

TeenSafe Helps Prevent Dating Abuse

A Day School Student Has a Few Words for Barry Shrage

Waltham students involved in Future Philanthropists Initiative

Bold Leadership

Class Act: Sierra Weiss, Gann Academy