Guided by the Gospel and in service to Newark and its surrounding communities, St. Benedict's Prep builds community, tends to the heart, educates the mind and develops leaders.
Four core pillars — Community, Student Leadership, Counseling and Experiential Education — have defined and distinguished a St. Benedict’s Prep education for nearly 50 years. The pillars are deeply ingrained into the life of the School. They ground us during times of crisis, like COVID-19, and provide the foundation for students to grow into loving, capable, resilient young people.
Convo is the most important thing we do every daybecause it’s the basis for building community.
This daily morning meeting, led entirely by student-leaders, brings together students, faculty, staff, and monks to sing, pray, and truly be present with one another.
Convocation is where we affirm the values that guide our community:
Whatever hurts my brother, hurts me.
Whatever hurts my sister, hurts me.
Give up what you want for what we need.
You can be any good thing you want to be in life.
More than a tradition, Convo is a living example of how St. Benedict’s Prep builds unity, trust, and leadership in a diverse student community. Students quickly learn they are part of something far bigger than themselves — a faith-based, student-driven culture that fosters responsibility and belonging.
The connection among students, educators, alumni, and monks transcends time, distance, ethnicity, and faith. No matter where life takes you, you remain part of the St. Benedict’s community. You can experience it yourself at High Street Productions.
At St. Benedict’s Prep, student leadership is not an extracurricular. It is the foundation of how we operate. Guided by the credo “Students step up when adults step back” The Hive empowers young people to take ownership of their school community.
From running Morning Convocation and overseeing attendance to managing the daily schedule, handling discipline and leading key traditions like the Freshman Overnight and The Trail, student-leaders are trusted with meaningful responsibility. These roles are earned through our long-standing Group System, a structure developed by generations of Gray Bees to foster responsibility, unity and service.
The Group System – Building Community and Leaders
Groups are the backbone of community life at St. Benedict’s Prep.
18 Groups in the Boys Prep Division (each named for a notable alumnus or figure in school history)
6 Groups in the Girls Prep Division
5 Groups in the Middle Division
Students remain in the same Group for their entire time in the division, forming tight-knit teams that celebrate achievements, tackle challenges and look out for one another.
Group Leadership – A Ladder of Responsibility
Leadership opportunities exist at every level:
Group Leader (senior)
Assistant Group Leaders (including Freshman and Transfer support roles)
Senior Team (Senior Group Leader, Section Leaders, Community Standards Leader, Freshman Leader and more)
These leaders oversee the daily operations of the school, ensuring St. Benedict’s Prep runs smoothly and inclusively. This is a hallmark of our student-led education model.
U.S. Naval Academy Partnership
Since 2007, U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen have interned at St. Benedict’s during May and August to coach student-leaders on effective leadership skills and strengthen their own leadership abilities. Several Gray Bees have gone on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, continuing their leadership journey on a national stage.
Extended Leadership Training
Through our partnership with Victory Road Leadership Development Group, we offer an extended program of leadership training designed for UDIs (sophomores), UDIIs (juniors) and rising seniors. Building on the skills gained during the Overnight and The Trail, these trainings prepare students for the responsibility, decision-making and problem-solving required to run the day-to-day life of the school.
Training takes place both at our Newark campus on 520 MLK Boulevard and at the Munsee Property owned by Newark Abbey, providing diverse environments for growth.
At St. Benedict’s Prep, leadership is not a title. It is a way of life. Our students graduate with the confidence, discipline and vision to lead in college, career and community.
“At St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, mental health is taken as seriously as math, science and reading,” declared a recent Jersey’s Best article. The Grossman Family Counseling Center is a cornerstone of that commitment.
St. Benedict’s launched a formal school counseling program in 1997 with the understanding that students cannot excel academically if they are struggling emotionally or dealing with trauma. Our approach reflects a belief that emotional well-being is essential for academic success.
Located on our Newark campus, the Grossman Counseling Center is staffed by licensed school psychologists and counselors who are equipped to address the challenges today’s students face. Areas of support include:
Depression and anxiety
Anger management
Coping with absent parents
Self-harm prevention
Substance abuse counseling
Through individual and group therapy sessions, the Grossman Center provides direct support to 40% of students in the Middle and Prep Divisions.
A Trauma-Informed, Student-Centered Approach
By offering accessible, professional counseling on campus, St. Benedict’s ensures that mental health care is not an afterthought but a vital part of the school day. Students receive the tools, coping strategies and emotional resilience they need to thrive in academics, relationships and leadership roles.
At St. Benedict’s Prep, mental health is education. By integrating counseling into daily life, we prepare students not only for college but for the challenges and opportunities of life beyond The Hive.
“Benedict’s teaches you to do hard things” is a phrase you will often hear from Gray Bee graduates. At St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ, we believe in learning by doing. Our Experiential Education program is woven into the curriculum, using hands-on challenges to strengthen our pillars of Community and Leadership.
The Overnight – Freshman Rite of Passage
The journey begins with The Overnight, a weeklong orientation experience that launches during Summer Phase. All freshmen immerse themselves in the Benedict’s ethos, attending classes, learning our songs and history, completing team challenges, and sleeping each night on the gym floor. Success depends on the group’s ability to work together — a lesson that defines the Benedict’s experience.
The Trail – The Backpacking Project
At the end of freshman year, students take part in The Backpacking Project, a 55-mile, five-day hike on the Appalachian Trail. This graduation requirement teaches perseverance, teamwork and problem-solving in real-world conditions. Completing The Trail earns students not only the respect of their peers but also the right to wear the iconic Black Hoodie, a symbol of full membership in the Benedict’s community.
Spring Phase – A Month of Experiential Learning
In May, the Middle and Prep Divisions shift to Spring Phase, a month-long focus on experiential learning. Students take a single, immersive course that may include:
Civic action
Entrepreneurship
Art and nature
Stage Rage (theater production)
Fine home tuning
Freshmen spend this time preparing for and completing The Backpacking Project, bringing their first year full circle.
At St. Benedict’s Prep, experiential learning is not an extra — it is the core of how we build leaders and community-minded graduates. Through shared challenges and real-world experiences, students learn that they can do hard things and succeed together.
Coined by legendary football and baseball coach Joe Kasberger, the motto has taken on expanded meaning that Gray Bees apply to the classroom, academics, relationships and life. Watch!
