In a new music video that truly puts the "light" in lightsaber, Gann alumni Carl Haber '12, a member of the Jewish a cappella group "six13," remixes the familiar soundtrack of Star Wars with Chanukah lyrics. Haber, who joined the group in 2019, credits his lyrical success to exposure to a cappella at Gann.
Gann Robotics Gears Up for the Season in Annual Scrimmage
Gann's four robotic teams, the Maccabots, Hutz Bots, Aleph Bots, and the Bot Mitzvahs, kicked their robots into full gear as they faced off against nine teams from the Greater Boston area in the annual Gann Academy scrimmage. The scrimmage presented teams with a challenge similar to what they will see in the coming months, helping the groups prepare for the forthcoming Battle of Lexington in January.
Dr. Daniel Gordis Discusses Op-ed with Gann Students
Dr. Daniel Gordis, an American-born Israeli writer, speaker, and ordained rabbi in the Conservative movement, visited Gann last week to discuss his controversial op-ed "Israelis don’t care that you’re insulted: An open letter to American Jews" (The Times of Israel, 2007). Dr. Gordis, whose writings are frequently read by Gann Jewish Studies students, had previously visited Gann to speak with parents about his book We Stand Divided (Harper-Collins 2019). Dr. Gordis' op-ed, which argues that American Jews should not interfere with or offer advice on matters of Israeli security, incited thoughtful debate amongst students.
Fender CEO Andy Mooney Discuss Music and Life with Gann Students
"It was amazing to learn from the man who is undeniably one of the best in the music business," said David '21 of Fender CEO and former Chairman of Disney Consumer Products Andy Mooney.
Earlier this month, David and his Electronic Music classmates sat down for a video call with Mooney. The students spent nearly an hour learning from Mooney, who spoke about being at the top of one of the most influential music businesses of all time, his marketing philosophy, and his love of music.
Constitutional Scholar Visits Gann's Supreme Court Class
Constitutional scholar and law professor at Fordham Law School Jed Shugerman visited Gann Academy's Supreme Court class this week to discuss Marbury v Madison, the 1803 Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review in the United States.
"The Supreme Court course at Gann is unique in that students don't just read and analyze influential court cases, but debate and re-try them," said Yoni Kadden, teacher and History Department Chair. By re-trying the case, students think deeply about the law, government, and the American constitutional system. And, as Kadden puts it, "Having a constitutional scholar of Professor Shugerman's acumen helping students think through their ideas, on such a high level, is an incredibly rewarding experience."
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom Speaks with Students
Earlier this month, Red Sox's new Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom visited the Gann Academy campus for an informal chat with students.
Eamon '20, who pitches for the Gann Varsity Baseball team, had a multitude of questions for Bloom. "It was an honor to meet such an influential person in the world of professional baseball," said Eamon. At the meeting, Bloom discussed his career, his Jewish faith, and how his time in Jewish Day School influenced who he is today.
Alum Wins Grant to Study How Autonomous Vehicles Might Aid Vulnerable Populations
Eliezer Pearl '18 and a team of student researchers are off to Japan this summer to research how the elderly and disabled react to autonomous vehicles during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. When asked how Gann Academy helped him prepare for such a project, Pearl commented: "At Gann, I learned critical thinking skills and many ways to approach issues."
Volleyball and Boys Soccer to Compete in NEPSAC Tournament
It’s official! Gann Academy has been selected for the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Tournaments in both Girls Volleyball and Boys Soccer!
Mifgash 2019: A Week of Living and Shared Learning in the Gann Community
Recently, Gann Academy hosted 23 Israeli students during Mifgash, the annual cultural exchange between Gann and Ironi Hey High School in Haifa. This was the third meeting between the Israeli delegation and the now 11th graders, who visited Ironi Hey last year during the sophomore myIsrael trip. Ironi Hey students spent the week of Mifgash living and learning in the Gann community; in addition to attending programming and classes together, Gann students also welcomed the Israelis into their homes.
Gann Student Testifies Before Legislative Committee
Sara Shapiro '20 and her eleventh-grade History teacher, Alex Green, were on Beacon Hill last week, testifying before a legislative committee in support of a bill that would open the historical records of people with disabilities.
Gann Academy graduates have attended more than 125 different colleges and universities. This breadth of matriculations is possible thanks to the support of our two full-time college counselors.
"Our goal is to assist students and their families in finding the right match," says Sherri Geller, Co-Director of College Counseling, "and to provide extensive support throughout the application, acceptance, and decision-making phases."
At Gann Academy, faculty serve as both educators and mentors. They are experts in their fields, and they bring unique perspectives to their classroom teaching.
This year, Gann welcomes seven new faculty members to the community, teaching subjects ranging from Engineering to Jewish Studies, and bringing with them a plethora of experience. [Did you know: 90% of Gann faculty have advanced degrees!]
Gann Academy is pleased to welcome Dr. Dalia Hochman as our new Head of School. Dr. Hochman has already begun work and is eager to meet the entire Gann community. As such, we’d like to invite you to attend one of the many upcoming Meet and Greets scheduled for the coming months.
It's a Gann tradition to kick off the year with a focus on community. "Community Day brings the school together," says Cindy Jacobs, who serves as both the Dean of Students and as the Ninth-Grade Class Dean. "Students are encouraged to go outside of their comfort zone, meet new friends, and try new activities."
Gann Athletes Receive Boston Globe All-Scholastic Honor
The Boston Globe just released the 2018-19 All-Scholastic honor roll, highlighting Greater Boston's top athlete-scholars. This year, two Gann athletes—Josh Gans '19 and Matt Gluck '19—received the prestigious All-Scholastic ranking. Josh was recognized for Boys Soccer and Matt for Baseball.
"Both Josh and Matt have epitomized the Gann Athlete during their careers at Gann," said Director of Athletics Brad Ballinger. "Their on-field success is a direct result of their good sportsmanship, resilience, dedication, and caring for their teammates."
"What drew you to Gann Academy?" "What issues are facing Jewish day schools today?" and, "How have your past experiences prepared you for this position?"
These are a few of the questions addressed in last week's interview with Gann's new Head of School, Dr. Dalia Hochman published in The Jewish Advocate.
On June 16, 2019, we came together as a community to celebrate the achievements of the Gann Academy Class of 2019. As these 75 young adults depart from Gann to continue their educational journeys, they bring with them a deep understanding of who they are as individuals and as Jews.
Thank you to the families and friends who joined us in person and online to celebrate the Class of 2019 on their special day! Below is a selection of video highlights from the commencement ceremony. You can view more videos on our Commencement Webpage.
