Study Skills • Test Prep • Writing

1101 and 1102 Study Skills                                                                   
Rising 7th  – 9th graders
 
Students study skills and work habits can have a major impact on their performance at school.  This course will help the individual to become a better overall student.  Topics will include organization, time management, test taking strategies, reading and studying, note taking, writing reports, listening, following directions, presentations and other skills necessary for success. Please note that this course is offered twice. Please select the appropriate course number when registering.

Two sections offered:
 
1101 Study Skills
Mr. Michael Orlando SJP World Language Department
Dates: June 25 – June 29: Mon. – Fri.
Time: 12:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Xavier Hall, Room 408
Tuition: $250

1102 Study Skills

Dates: June 25 – June 29: Mon. – Fri.
Time: 9:00 a.m – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Xavier Hall, Room 408
Tuition: $250

502. World Language Study Skills                                                     
Rising 9th  and 10th graders
 
Make the best of a learning any new language!  This interactive study skills seminar is designed to help students transition into World Language study at the high school level.  Various techniques for learning vocabulary and grammar will be presented in order to offer each student different methods of acquiring the skills necessary to succeed in the language classroom.  In addition, students will learn techniques and strategies for reading in the target language as well as writing in a simple way to promote essential communication.  Organization will be stressed to help students learn to keep track of assignments, notes, handouts, and returned papers.  Preparation and organization is the key to successful second language acquisition, so let this program give your student a head-start for the coming academic year.  Samples of these activities will be modeled in various languages.
 
Ms. Annmarie Quezada SJP World Language Department Chair
Dates: July 2 – July 12, Mon. – Thu.  (class will not meet on July 4)
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Xavier Hall, Room 407
Tuition: $250

603. SAT Prep Course
Rising 11th and 12th graders

This course will provide any student who plans to take the SAT-1 exam with strategies and practice designed to improve his or her performance on the day of the test. Class sessions will cover all sections of the test (reading, math, and writing), but will emphasize the reading and math sections of the test. Materials used in class will include both practice designed to emphasize useful strategies and actual past SAT questions. The tuition includes two textbooks: one which has actual SAT tests for practicing and another which emphasizes test taking strategies.

Ms. Stacy Keenan St. John’s Prep Social Studies Department

Dates: June 25 – July 12: Mon., Tue., Thurs.
Time: 12 noon - 2:30 pm
Location: Xavier Hall, Room 301
Tuition: $625

801. HSPT Test Preparation
Rising 7th and 8th graders

A successful performance on the HSPT test can be the gateway into an outstanding high school education for your middle school child. Exceptional scores in some cases may be rewarded with partial or even full scholarships from some high schools. The St. John’s HSPT test preparation program is designed to offer students a convenient, high quality test prep course for the high school placement test. Taught by St. John’s teachers trained in test preparation, the courses use practice material carefully chosen to provide students with

• Effective strategies to help them cope with both math and verbal problems and
• Extensive practice with HSPT questions
• Foundation necessary to boost confidence

Our faculty will help students to increase their scores by giving them test taking skills necessary to read and solve problems efficiently and accurately. Students will learn strategies to increase their scores by eliminating incorrect answers and by making wise educated guesses.   Our faculty will help students to increase speed without compromising accuracy.

Ms. Sandra Martin, St. John’s Prep Math Department Faculty

Dates and Times: 7 classes to meet:

• June 27, Wed: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.,
• July 2, 3, and 5 (Mon, Tue.,Thu) 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
• July 9 Mon. 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
• July 10, Tue. 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
• July 12, Thu. 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Location: Xavier Hall Room 302
Tuition: $400

802. SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) Preparation
Rising 7th and 8th graders

The SSAT is offered on two levels: a lower level recommended for students currently in grades 5 through 7, and an upper level recommended for students currently in grades 8 – 11. The course offered at St. John's is for the upper level SSAT.

Preferred by most private high schools, the SSAT is approximately 2½ hours in length and consists of multiple choice questions and a written essay. The subjects include reading, verbal, and quantitative skills.

Nine classes including pre and post test.Begins and ends with a full-length practice SSAT exam in a test-like settingEach two-hour class introduces a type of question students will encounter on the exam and shows students how to cope with it more effectively.In-class timed practice to supplement homework. SSAT topics are similar to those found in the HSPT test with additional emphasis placed on verbal analogies and statistics.

Among other strategies, topics covered include

plugging in math answers and estimatingfractions, decimals, equations, algebra, geometry , and statisticspreviewing reading passages and questions on critical readingfocus on common errors in the writing sectiontips for successful essay writinganalogies and vocabulary building

Ms. Jennifer Jones, St. John’s Prep Library Staff
Mr. Jeff Cann, St. John’s Prep Math Department Faculty

Dates: June 25 – July 12, Mon., Tue., Thu.
Times: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. (The first and eighth classes will meet 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Xavier Hall Room 202
Tuition: $450 (tuition includes textbooks, as well as Pre and Post test materials)

602. The College Interview                                        
Rising 11th  and 12th  graders
 
If you think about it, most all of life changes usually begin with an interview and a handshake. Learn to interview for admission to college in a relaxed and supportive environment with members of the School Counseling department. They will teach you the best college interview tips and mistakes before you have your first interview. This is a skill building class that will help you to feel confident and assured for college interviewing and job interviewing as well.
 
Students will learn the importance of appropriate, dress, body language, speaking correctly, being prepared for a variety of questions, and promoting the authenticity of your unique personality.  This class will teach to skills and we will have fun while we learn.
 
Ms. Nancy Sacco, St. John’s Prep Guidance Department
Dates: July 11 – July 12: Wed., Thu.
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.                       
Location: Xavier Hall Room 409                                          
Tuition: $100

606. College Essay Writing Workshop                                              
Rising 11th  and 12th  graders
 
This class is designed for incoming seniors, especially those who plan to apply early to colleges and would like to get a head start on the application process. Students will: 1.) Learn what college admissions personnel are looking for in a college essay, 2.) Develop topics, outline, write, edit and revise their college essays, 3.) Benefit from the knowledge and experience of both our English department and school counseling department in regard to the college application process, 4.) Enjoy a productive environment with motivated peers all working towards their personal goals, 5.) Have at least one college essay completed by the end of the course!
 
Ms. Kirstin McEachern, St. John’s Prep English Faculty
Dates: June 25 – June 28 and July 2 – July 5:  Mon., Tue., Thu .
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Studzinski Library Room S015     
Tuition: $250

607. Five Paragraph Essay                                                                
Rising 9th to 12th graders
 
Students will learn how to organize, prepare for, and write the five-paragraph essay.  Lessons will focus on the structure of introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.  In addition, some time will be devoted to sentence structure, transition between sentences and paragraphs, the incorporation of primary text, and stylistic devices.  Students will write two five-paragraph essays, with significant feedback and resources to use during the school year.  Open to grades 9 – 12 with individualized help based on grade and level of student.
 
Ms. Kirstin McEachern, St. John’s Prep English Faculty
Dates: June 25 – June 28: Mon.-Thu.
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: A. E. Studzinski Library, Room S015
Tuition:  $250

608. Sophomore Summer Reading                                                     
Rising SJP 10th graders
 
The course will focus on the St. John’s Prep English department’s summer reading requirements.  Students will read one required text and then one text of their choice from the summer reading list.  The course will include small and large group discussion, short written assignments about the text, in-class reading, and reading comprehension strategies.  Class will culminate in students taking the summer reading exam; grades will count toward first quarter English grade.
 
Ms. Shannon Barker, Newton North High School English Faculty
Dates: June 25 – June 29: Mon.-Fri.
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Location: Xavier Hall, Room 303
Tuition:  $250

609. Junior Summer Reading                                                             
Rising SJP 11th graders
 
The course will focus on the St. John’s Prep English department’s summer reading requirements.  Students will read one required text and then one text of their choice from the summer reading list.  The course will include small and large group discussion, short written assignments about the text, in-class reading, and reading comprehension strategies.  Class will culminate in students taking the summer reading exam; grades will count toward first quarter English grade.
 
Ms. Kirstin McEachern, St. John’s Prep English Faculty
Dates: June 11 – June 15: Mon.-Fri.
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Xavier Hall, Room 303
Tuition:  $250

615. Nuts and Bolts of the Nursing Profession                    
Rising 9th – 12th graders
 
This one-day seminar will present the different types of nursing, reasons to become a nurse, education and licensure requirements, and career opportunities. Different types of nursing will be presented by guest speakers. Students will have hands-on first aid simulation training which will include but is not limited to: what to do for choking, fainting, concussions, seizures; EpiPen training; and bandaging wounds. Compression-only CPR training will also be provided. This will be a day of cognitive and hands-on training. Students who take this class will have a much more in depth understanding of the nursing profession.
 
This class will be presented by Ines McGillvary, who is a nurse with 26 years of experience in  medical/surgical, intensive care, emergency, home health, geriatric, forensic, education, travel/flight and school nursing.
 
Ines McGillivray  St. John’s Prep Nurse,  RN, BSN, CEN
Date: July 18 Wednesday
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: To Be announced
Tuition: $50