FROM THE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Shalom! I hope this letter finds you and your families staying well during this time. It has been so wonderful to hear from many of you. You have let us know about life cycle events — weddings, babies, new jobs and moves. Love those adorable baby and happy couple photos!! Some of you have contacted us to partner in organizing class reunions in parks or by Zoom. You have shared your stories about the strength that your GOA friends have given you during the pandemic and the photos of backyard alumni get-togethers and road trips. On college campuses, you have hosted fellow alumni for Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot dinners, given GOA students college tours and welcomed new freshmen with warmth and love. We appreciated when you lent your beautiful voices to help lead our community Havdalah by Zoom last year. Best of all, it was wonderful to finally see many of you in-person at our Young Alumni Summer BBQ at the Eric F. Ross Campus in August. There were so many hugs! During this time of the pandemic, like most people, I have been thinking about what really matters. I treasure our unique GOA community. It starts in Pre-K, Gan, or whenever a student and their family joins the school. Immediately, something special happens. Teachers, administrators, staff, board members, fellow students, and donors, all become invested in helping that new student learn, grow and thrive and become integral members of the community who are truly seen and valued. From that moment, the student and family are connected to our school community, forever. A high school parent recently said to me, “GOA is not just a school, it’s a family.” This really rings true. This feeling was exemplified last fall, when the first senior in the Class of 2021 was accepted into college and everyone cheered as he walked down the hall. As we anticipate moving past this difficult time, I am thankful that GOA is a school that values community, kindness and supporting one another, both in times of happiness and times of challenge and loss. To our alumni families—we look forward to staying in touch with you and continuing to be a part of your lives. Please reach out to alumni@goldaochacademy.org if you would like to connect, share news, plan a reunion, or get more involved with our Alumni Society. In this new year of 5782, may you continue to find joy and meaning in all you do, knowing that your GOA family is always here for you. Warmest regards,
Stephanie Bash-Soudry Director of Institutional Advancement
ALUMNI SOCIETY NEWS FALL 2021 3
