Grandparents and Grandfriends Visit GOA!

By Amber Fulop ‘26
Golda Och Academy hosted its eighth annual Grandparents and Grandfriends Day this spring. During the day, students were treated to lunch and dessert with their grandparents or grandfriends in the gym and were able to take special family photos. Visitors to the upper school also got to see a wide variety of student life in a special club fair.

The entire day was a testament to one of GOA’s core Jewish values, that of “L’dor V'dor,” or from generation to generation. “Our goal for this very special all-school day is to promote relationships among the generations and with our school,” said Upper School Principal Dr. Eytan Apter to the guests. “We want you to see firsthand what our students are learning and the special environment that we have created at Golda Och Academy.”
After bonding with grandparents, the students returned to class while Head of School Rabbi Nevins and Dr. Apter spoke to the grandparents and grandfriends to further introduce them to the school.
Other speakers included GOA Board Chair (and grandparent) Steve Klinghoffer and High School Student Council President Josh Lancman.
Later in the program, students took their grandparents to sit in on their last period classes.
    “Grandparents day was incredible,” said freshman Gracie Sacks. “It was the perfect way to introduce family into our lives as students. It also was wonderful to see our own Grandparents making new friends and socializing with others in the GOA community.”
“My favorite part of the day was watching grandparents interacting not only with their families but also with other students as they made presentations, especially in the upper school,” said Rabbi Nevins. “They showed so much appreciation and excitement about the learning process, and made me feel that our school includes many more people than those of us lucky to be on campus every day.” 
This was the first Grandparents and Grandfriends Day since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Grandparent of freshman Marley Fischer, senior Sophie Fischer and sophomore Lily Wise reflected,“ I have been going to Grandparents and Grandfriends Day since my grandchildren have been in the lower school, and I have thoroughly missed this heartwarming experience.”
 Freshman Sam Kishelev noted, “It was a great experience being able to show my grandparents around my school and show them what a day at Golda Och looks like and they really enjoyed it too.”
The grandparents enjoyed the day as much as their grandchildren did. 
Steven Scwartz, grandfather of freshmen Gracie and Henry Sacks said, “Seeing our grandkids in the best school, with the best friends, and the biggest smiles is all we could ever hope for. Kol HaKavod to GOA!” 
Rabbi Bill Lebeau and Beverly Lebeau, grandparents of 5th grader Gamliel Nelkin, 8th grader Caleb Lebeau, sophomores Oren Goldman and Katriela Nelkin, junior Mimi Lebeau and senior Tali Goldman, said, “After three long years, we loved being back in the school. We could feel the wonderful spirit, joy, and excitement of the students and the faculty. This was a beautiful Grandparents Day for us.”