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Academic Calendar and Academic Credit
THREE-PHASE SCHOOL CALENDAR: One of the unique features of St. Benedict's Preparatory School is its division of the academic year into three different phases. After closing for one year, the school re-opened in 1972-73 with some major curricular and program changes. In addition to changing the racial composition of the school, the school committed itself
to alternative modes of education within the context of a traditional "college
prep" program. The eleven-month school year begins in late June with all students attending "Summer Phase" during which students take remedial or enrichment classes. During the eight-month "Fall/Winter Phase," students pursue traditional college-preparatory school classes. After final examinations at the end of April, all students find themselves in "Spring Phase"
projects, full-day offerings emphasizing learning by doing. All freshmen are required to participate in the Backpacking Project, which includes two overnight hikes and a five-day backpacking trip down part of the Appalachian Trail. Other students pick from a host of other experiential learning offerings.
The three phases include:
SUMMER PHASE: Electives and advanced courses attempted during the Summer Phase are prefixed by "SUM." They normally receive one-half unit of credit.
Summer Phase is required of all students.
FALL/WINTER PHASE: Most courses meet five days a week for forty-five minutes and receive one unit of credit. Courses which meet half this time per week receive one-half unit.
SPRING PHASE: These full-day courses are required for graduation and receive one unit of credit. They are prefixed "SPR."
- The minimum passing grade is D- but grades below C are not considered to be at college-preparatory level. A grade of P is passing; it is not counted in the average.
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Academic Questions and Concerns
Academic concerns and issues are handled by Mike Scanlan, Assistant Headmaster (ext.5766; mscanlan@sbp.org), and the Level Coordinators. The Level Coordinator for the Lower Division (grades 7 - 8) is Veronica Faulkner (ext. 5748; vfaulkne@sbp.org). The Freshman Year Level Coordinator is Michelle Tuorto (ext. 1134;
mtu orto@sbp.org). Jim Duffy (ext.1140; jduffy@sbp.org) is the Upper Division I (10th grade) Level Coordinator.
David Carlo (ext. 5768; dcarlo@sbp.org)
is the UDII (11th grade Level Coordinator.
Mr. Scanlan and the Level Coordinators help oversee such areas as academic problems and scheduling.
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Homework
Teachers are expected to assign homework (work to be done at home) each night, and each student should have between two and three hours of work to complete on a given night, if not more.
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Tutorials
If a student is experiencing difficulty in a class, or just wants extra help, he must see his teacher during tutorial, the period of time after classes and Group each day. Also, many teachers hold tutorials in the morning before classes begin or during their free periods. Arrange to meet with your teachers.
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Academic Grade-Point Average (GPA)
The numerical value of the grade received in a course (grades from A to F) is multiplied by the unit of credit assigned to the course. These points are added up and divided by the total units to find the grade-point average. Students are then ranked according to these averages. Grades are assigned these values:
A: 4.0 B: 3.0 C: 2.0 D: 1.0 F: 0.0
For "+" and "-", a value of .333 is added or subtracted.
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Make-Ups/Incompletes
If a student fails a course for the year, then that course must be made up in its entirety the following year. We do not allow students to make up a course in summer school, here or elsewhere.
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Fifth Year of Study
Some students, who fail a number of courses will be given an option to study here at St. Benedict’s an additional year, because it will take that individual five years to complete graduation requirements.
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Graduation
Requirements
The following courses must be completed by a student at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in order to meet the requirements for graduation.
- Four years of English
- Four years of Mathematics (students must complete at least Algebra II)
- Four years of History (including World History I & II, U.S. History I & II, Newark Studies)
- At least two-and-a-half years of Lab Science (Earth Science, Biology Lab, Chemistry Lab, Physics Lab)
- At least two years of a Foreign Language (Spanish, French, Latin)
- Four years of Religion (required for all students regardless of religious background)
- Two years of Physical Education (including one semester of Health)
- Four years of Spring Phase Projects
A variety of electives are offered each semester to supplement a student's core
courses.
These include African-American Poetry,
Criminal Justice, Technical Drawing,
Computer Science, and AutoCAD. Full-year
electives are offered in Advanced Art,
Journalism, Yearbook, Advanced Band, Beginning
Band, and Chorus. Many other electives are
offered in Spring and Summer Phases.
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Honor Roll
The Honor Roll is posted after each quarter and is based on a student’s grade-point average: Honors (3.0 to 3.29); High Honors (3.3 to 3.69); Highest Honors (3.7 to 4.0). The Honor Roll Board for each quarter is prominently displayed in the Trophy Room throughout the academic year.
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National Honor Society
Students who have a grade-point average of 3.3 after their freshman year can apply for admission to the school’s National Honor Society Chapter. Students are considered for admission by a faculty board based on the following areas: scholarship, involvement in activities, leadership, and community service.
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Scheduling A Parent-Teacher Conference
If you would like to schedule a parent-teacher conference to discuss the academic progress of your son or charge, please contact Fr. Edwin's assistant, Elizabeth Yarbrough, at (973) 792-5723. She will be able to schedule a time after school (usually 3:30 p.m.) and notify teachers of the meeting. Please see Mrs. Yarbrough, and then wait in the Trophy Room for the various teachers to arrive for the meeting.
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