goa pride is on the rise

By Aly Biloon ‘25
    Golda Och Academy’s student body has taken new measures to improve our school spirit environment over the past year. 

The recent additions of rival soccer and basketball games against Kushner have helped foster a positive view of the athletics experience for participants and fans alike. 
Going to Saturday night games with your peers and rooting for fellow Roadrunners is a bonding and spirit-filled activity. 
Junior Marley Fischer explains, “Playing in the Kushner vs GOA basketball games is always so thrilling, I love being surrounded by an electric crowd filled with my peers and parents from the community. I am so excited for this year's game!” 
Beginning last year, GOA held its first pep rally.  School merch was distributed, and the Roadrunner mascot even appeared! The pep rally spotlighted the girls' varsity soccer team to drum up spirit around their season. 
At the inaugural pep rally, a female guest speaker from Major League Soccer spoke about the importance of women’s athletics while raising awareness of the inequity between female and male professional sports. She helped encourage the students to speak up for what is right and productively push each other on and off the field. 
    Additionally, last year the GOA varsity basketball teams were allowed to attend the Weiner Basketball Tournament in Baltimore, Maryland. Playing against other Jewish schools was an unforgettable experience and GOA students are so excited to play in the tournament again in December. 
    “The Weiner Tournament was a time for GOA athletes to bond with one another while cheering each other on. Additionally, it was a time of unity for Jewish Athletes across America. Many GOA students made friends with kids from other Jewish schools,” said Junior Henry Sacks.
    Although these recent changes have helped lift the school's athletic atmosphere, the school can continue to do more. 
 The school should encourage students to attend not just the rivalry games, but any games they are available for. This can be achieved through social media, the student body and the  media team joining forces and spreading awareness. 
Attendance by high school students and as much of the GOA community as possible including Lower School families will help create a more energetic atmosphere. The more students that show up, the louder and more impactful the crowd is. Additionally, it is important to integrate Lower School families into the Upper School community and demonstrate to the younger students the joys their GOA future will hold.