FROSH RALLY ON FIELD DAY

10.16.06
Only a month ago the 285 freshman were mostly strangers, coming in from 70 or 80 different towns and schools. AFter a month of so of classes the youngest members of the student body had begun to gel, but after their Field Day they surely now feel the cohesion that makes them a potent force as the Class of 2010.
    With the dozen homerooms led by their Peer Leaders, the frosh joined in games and activities designed to not only let off some steam but also to build team and class spirit. There was team frisbee, relays (including the ever-popular marshmallow relay), touch football, basketball, volleyball and tug-of-war.
     Although the weather threatened, the spritzing served merely to moisten the fields, creating just the proper amount of slippin' and a slidin' that made for a most enjoyable morning at the Kelly Athletic Complex.

last year's event>>>

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS

09.22.06
Although a west wind huffed and puffed, and a few weakling clouds sprayed about 10 drops of rain on the Kelly Athletic Complex, nothing could dampen the spirits of the 600 attendees—alumni, students, faculty, parents and former parents, and friends of the Prep— who came together on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the Sesquicentennial of New Jersey's oldest catholic preparatory school. 
    The Open House event featured good food and refreshment, games and activities for the children, on top of the chance to re-connect with so many who have contributed much to the school's 150 years of tradition and excellence.
    The event followed up the Sesquicentennial Gala of last April, held at the posh Pleasantdale Chateau. Also marking the Sesquicentennial was the January Sesquicentennial Mass and the upcoming printing of a full-color hardcover 150-year history book due for a late fall publication. Online reservations/orders are available at shp150.com. The deadline has been extended to October 15.

Other Anniversary activities >>>

ORIENTATION KICKS OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR

09.08.06
Building a community out of 290 strangers, coming from over 90 towns, is no easy task. Nonetheless, the work began in earnest for the Class of 2010 on Thursday September 7 at the Freshman Orientation Program. The newest members of the Prep Community were introduced to their Peer Leader partners [see below] and the other members of the homeroom they will be a part of for the year.

The groups got their books and lockers, logged-on to the computer network, took tours of the school, and, most importantly, taking part in some of the team-building exercises the Peer Leaders had learned on their August retreat, broke the ice with their classmates.

The work of integrating the frosh into the student body will continue throughout the year with a robust program of activities, including class masses, freshman field days, and daily homeroom meetings.

•  last year's orientation >>>

PEER LEADERS OUT FRONT- IN AUGUST

08.27.06
Late August, generally the time for most students to grab an opportunity to catch their last waves of the summer or their last round of golf or run to the mall to buy the book they should have been reading for weeks, is also time for the beginning of the year's hard work to be turned in by The Prep's Peer Leaders. Their annual 3-day workshop-retreat at the Fairview YMCA Camp in near Stillwater, NJ is the kick-off for the year-long project of integrating the incoming class to the Prep Student Body and ensuring that the freshmen get off to a good start towards a year of successes. The seniors, in pairs, will serve as homeroom leaders, meeting with their young charges each day, and leading them through the community- and team-building exercises they themselves practiced and discussed on their retreat.
    Those exercises included both indoor meetings and projects as well as outdoor activities, like "The Human Knot,"  "The Ropes Course," and "Build a Better Rollercoaster [out of straws and paperclips]." By the end of the three days, the group was prepared to, on their own, set up the 21 pairs of seniors who will lead the frosh beginning the first week in September.
    The growth and maturation of the Peer Leadership Program over the last decade has proven to be a most important development for the school, smoothing way for the new arrivals, many of whom come from very small schools, into The Prep's large, complex and vibrant school environment. Participants in the Peer Leadership Program are chosen after a springtime interview and recommendation process used to identify students who have shown leadership potential in their first three years at the school, and who are ready to offer the significant commitment of time necessary to successfully complete their end of the bargain. Before school even starts they will have phoned each of the incoming freshmen assigned to their homeroom to make initial contact and to welcome them to The Prep.
    The retreat was held on August 21-23, led by Program Director Theresa Neglia, Director of Admission Matt Cannizzo, and Program Associate Steve Ricciardi.

photos: RCM/SHP

• last year's retreat >>>