Upper School

Philosophy

In the Upper School Humanities Department, our History teachers work with students to understand the past and to develop skills for applying that understanding to the world we live in today. Our goal is to inspire students to be active participants in an ongoing historical process. Our program introduces students to cultures, events, and forces for change from all over the world, past and present. We provide opportunities for gathering and applying information and thinking critically about problems in the social science disciplines--history, geography, political theory, economics, sociology, psychology, and anthropology.

In addition to this core of knowledge and skills, we strive to promote responsible attitudes and actions. Stressing the importance and dignity of individual human beings, we encourage students to respect themselves and others. We introduce the principles and practices of democracy and encourage students to explore the various economic, social, political, and environmental challenges of our times. Students will develop an awareness of these challenges and the ability to acquire, assess, and apply information toward solutions to these challenges. We study the past not only to understand the present but also the possibilities for the future.

Graduation Requirements

Foundations of Civilizations is required for freshmen, juniors must take U.S. history, and seniors must elect a year of history. Sophomore year history study is strongly advised.

Course Offerings

• Foundations of Civilizations
• World History
• AP World History
• History of American Science and Medicine
• Human Geography
• US History
• AP US History
• American Government
• AP American Government
• Economics
• AP Economics
• Modern European History
• AP Modern European History
• AP Psychology
• The History of the United States Through Sports
• The Civil War

Co-curricular Information

Princeton University Model Congress—supervised by Mr. Kuchar—is a club that simulates the legislative process, from researching to bill writing to debating and amending proposed laws, culminating in a 4-day conference with dozens of other schools in Washington, DC, shortly before Thanksgiving. http://pmc.princeton.edu/

Georgetown University Model United Nations—supervised by Mr. Cohen—is a club that simulates the work of various UN agencies in dealing with various global issues and crises, culminating in a 4-day conference in Washington, DC, with dozens of other schools, in mid-February. http://www.modelun.org/naimun

Fed Challenge—supervised by Mr. Loose—is a club that researches and presents a policy recommendation to members of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, usually in early spring. http://www.federalreserveeducation.org/teachers/FedChallenge/FedChallenge_intro.htm

Other history-related clubs that have met in the past and can be revived, depending on student interest, include: Maroon Exchange (stock exchange simulation), Amnesty International, and the National History Club.

Faculty Professional Development Activities and Achievements

Tim Cohen serves as the RPS school archivist and historian, maintaining a collection of documents, artifacts, and other material dating back to the school's founding in 1766. Tim has written a book on the history of RPS from the 1950’s to the present, building on the work of earlier school historian Dr. Frank Sperduto. 

Dr. Jill Cooper’s recently published articles include:

• "A Brief Romance with Magic Bullets: Rene Dubos at the Dawn of the Antibiotic Era," in John W. Ward & Christian Warren, eds. Silent Victories: The History and Practice of Public Health in Twentieth-Century America, Oxford University Press, 2007.
• "Selman Waksman" in Maxine Lurie & Mark Mappen, eds. The Encyclopedia of New Jersey, Rutger University Press, 2004.

Geoffrey Loose is working on research and an early draft of an autobiography of Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame second baseman Charlie Gehringer. He has attended a Rutgers History Seminar with Professors Jonathan Lurie (Rutgers-Newark) and Maxine Lurie (Seton Hall) on late 19th Century history.

Philosophy

As communication is a fundamental human activity, RPS English teachers provide our students with a language program that develops confidence, competence, flexibility, and enjoyment of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking. Our program underlines the interrelationship that exists among the language processes. While fostering a love of literature in our students, we emphasize close reading and critical thinking.

Our goals include: development of reading skills at the literal, figurative, and inferential levels; awareness of the writing process; mastering the mechanics and process of writing to accomplish fluency, clarity, and focus; appreciation of various literary genres and forms and the differences among them.

Graduation Requirements

One credit in English is required in each of the four years of Upper School.

Course Offerings

• English I

• English II

• Honors English II

• English III

• Honors English III

• AP English Language and Composition

• Adaptation: Literature and Film

• AP English Literature

• Contemporary Literary Genres

• Creative Writing

• Comedy

• Dystopian Literature

• Monsters

• Mystery and Detective Fiction

• On The Road: Travel Narratives

• Studies in Fiction: The American Short Story and Novella

Co-curricular Information

The Argo

The Argo, published since 1889 and one of the oldest student newspapers in the country, is a proud Rutgers Prep tradition. In 2009, The Argo made history again by converting to an online-only format. All Upper School students are invited to join The Argo staff and may write articles for sections ranging from News and Opinion to Arts and Entertainment and Eats. Experienced Argo writers serve as editors, usually in their junior and senior years.

Excelsior

The literary magazine of the Upper School was formerly known as the Argomag, inspired by the RPS mascot, the Argonaut. As this was too similar to The Argo, the School’s newspaper, the editors formally changed the name to Excelsior in 1987. Its primary function is to meet weekly with student authors, to encourage the writing and revising of student poetry and fiction, and to publish usually two issues of the magazine every school year. Excelsior also showcases student photography, drawing, and occasional non-fiction as well. Our writers have won awards at the Somerset County Teen Arts Festival, on the state level from the New Jersey Council of Teachers of English, and the Governor's Awards for the Arts, and in national arenas such as the National Council of Teachers of English and the Scholastic Writing Awards. Excelsior editors have also provided leadership for Writing Day activities from 1993 to 2003.

English Club

The English Club began in 2004 to expand activities for students who enjoyed reading and other literary activities, but were not involved in student publications. For “Banned Books Week,” the English Club has designed bulletin board displays and announced in morning assembly many popular books, which Americans have censored to draw attention to the issue. The "Healing Words" committee visited three nursing and retirement homes in the area for several years, and read selections of poetry and prose to the residents. The English Club took over leadership responsibilities for Writing Day in 2005, organizing "Good Writing is Hard Work," a theme inspired by Snoopy sitting atop his doghouse at his typewriter, beginning "It was a dark and stormy night . . . ". T organizers for the 2008 Writing Day used "A Tapestry of Words" as their motif. Their committee collected electronic submissions from about 85 percent of the Upper School and posted them on a series of web pages accessible to the whole school. The Reading Club has chosen books to read and discuss since 2007 with selections such as Running with Scissors, Water for Elephants, and Reading Lolita in Tehran. The English Club has also raised funds with periodic Read-a-Thons in the Upper School, to bring visiting writers to campus.

Writing Day

Writing Day began in 1992, when second grade teacher Joanne Emory organized a Writing Fair in Baldwin Hall and invited kindergarten through fourth grades to come for about 45 minutes each, aided by Mr. Kendall and parent and student volunteers. In 1993, and then in 1994 and 1995, Mrs. Emory, Dr. Riley, and Mr. Kendall coordinated a pre-K through 12th grade day-long celebration of writing. Usually, a professional author visited each division, such as a storyteller for the Lower School, a short story writer or journalist for the Middle School, and a Dodge Poet in the Upper School. Upper School students would often visit Lower School classes to guest teach, and they ran many workshops for Middle School students for a number of years, as well as helping with the Lower School Writing Fair. We have generally alternated years with the Science Fair and more recently with Math Day as well, and have sponsored Writing Day in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2008. This school year, Writing Day is scheduled for March 18, 2010. Previous themes have included "Plant Your Imagination," "Scribere bene est verum gaudium ("Good writing is a true joy"), "Taking Flight with Writing," "Compose Yourself," "Writing Through the Ages," and "Wordfest: Writing Day 2003." Major events have included spiral mobiles of words in the lounge, posting written contributions on wooden kiosks throughout the library and the hallways, and an electronic version of web publishing school writing in 2008.

Student English Awards

RPS students have received awards from:

Scholastic National Writing Awards

New Jersey Council of Teachers of English State Awards

Governor's School for Creative Writing

National Council of Teachers of English Awards

Rutgers University at Newark’s state poetry contest (who then read on the Main stage at the Dodge Poetry Festival

New Jersey Governor’s Awards in Arts Education Gold Medalist

Visiting Writers

Cat Doty (1993, 1997, 2001, 2005)

Lois Harrod (1994, 1999, 2003)

Rick Poverny (1995)

Allison Alibino (2001)

Christina Harcar (2003)

Marjorie Barnes (2005)

Joe Weil (2005)

Marie Howe (2007)

Charles Johnson (2008)

Reginald McKnight (2008)

Patrick Phillips (2009)

Mark Doty (2010)

Hannah Tinti (2011)

Gail Carson Levine (2015)

Eliot Schrefer (2016)

Greg Pardlo (2020)

Field Trips

Dodge Poetry Festival

Since its beginning in 1986, the Dodge Poetry Festival has brought premier poets from all over the world to New Jersey and has provided unique literary opportunities for high school students. The English department has taken our full quota of students to each of the twelve festivals, and three of our students have read on the main stage on Student Day. Students have heard poets such as Gwendolyn Books, Billy Collin, Lucille Clifton, Stanley Kunitz, Galway Kinnell, Sharon Olds, and Paul Muldoon, and have participated in smaller workshops with regional poets, many of whom have come to RPS as visiting poets.

Faculty Professional Development Activities and Achievements:

As part of the Master's program in English at the Virginia University of, Theodora Angelos completed a pedagogical thesis entitled, “Questions of Travel: Nineteenth- & Twentieth-Century American Travel Narratives.” She has adapted her thesis for use in the classroom at Rutgers Prep, teaching a senior elective on American travel narratives in the spring. While in the graduate English department at UVA, she worked on the transcription and digitization of Walt Whitman's Civil War correspondence for The Whitman Archive.

Steven Loy has had the opportunity as an Adjunct Faculty Member to teach Freshman Expository Writing at Rutgers University as well as Educational Administration at Pepperdine University.

The Math Department offers a comprehensive program from Algebra I to AP Calculus BC and, in some circumstances, several Post-AP courses are available. Our primary goal is to develop and instill in our students competence and confidence in mathematics. We strive to equip our students with technical proficiency, strong problem-solving and logical reasoning skills, and an appreciation for the beauty and usefulness of mathematics. As a college preparatory school, we prepare our graduates for success at the post-secondary level.

We believe in engaging students in a dynamic and supportive classroom environment. We pose questions to get students thinking and encourage them to voice questions of their own. Students are continually asked to articulate their thought process and justify their reasoning. Though a facility with basic rules and formulas is important, we go beyond rote learning to promote creative thinking and conceptual understanding. We appropriately incorporate technology and other teaching techniques to enhance learning.

We believe the best way to assess a student’s understanding is through traditional, independent testing and therefore, it is our primary tool for assessment. However, alternative assessments, such as individual and group projects, are also used as part of the evaluation process in many courses. Whenever appropriate, students are encouraged to work cooperatively to enhance each other’s learning. It is quite common for formal and informal study groups to develop throughout the school year.

Graduation requirements

All students are required to complete three and one half years of math.

Course offerings

• Algebra 1
• Geometry or Honors Geometry
• Algebra II, Honors Algebra II AB, or Honors Algebra II BC
• Precalculus, Honors Precalculus AB, or Honors Precalculus BC
• Statistics
• AP Statistics
• Calculus
• AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC
• Post-AP Multivariable Calculus
• Post-AP Linear Algebra
• Mathematics of Finance

Co-curricular Information:

Mu Alpha Theta

National Honor Society which serves as our math club. Students may either be inducted members of the society or associate members. The math club provides peer tutoring to the community as well as prepares teams for various math competitions.

American Mathematics Competitions

Every year students enrolled in upper level math courses have the opportunity to participate in the AMC. Students who qualify then move on to take the American Invitational Mathematical Exam (AIME).

HiMCM

A team competition where groups of four students use a multidisciplinary approach by using math modeling and technology to investigate important issues in their lives.

Princeton University Mathematics Competition (PuMaC)

An annual competition run by the Princeton University Math Club. In the competition, participants from all over the US and various international teams go to the Princeton University campus and spend the day taking various mathematics assessment tests. The aim is to expose these students to the creative thinking and rigorous application of skills necessary for a successful future in mathematics.

Philosophy

Science not only studies the natural world but it also adds to and changes that world. It will continue to change the world in the future. Therefore we believe that the study and understanding of Science is an important component in the education of every student at Rutgers Prep. Some students will directly create our future world as working scientists. Other students will enter different occupations, but as world citizens, they will participate in the political and economic processes that encourage or limit scientific exploration. The products of scientific research will affect everyone and everyone will affect scientific research.

We believe all students need to understand what scientists do, how they work, and how they communicate and resolve disagreements. To understand the life of scientists, students need to read about science, they need to perform science, and they need to think about science.

Science courses should expose students to the history of scientific progress in order to appreciate the effort and time that created the knowledge base we enjoy today. The courses should expose all students to a part of the massive amount of knowledge and skills available to us today as a result of that history. Courses should excite all students about the future of scientific research and foster discussions about how best to use the new information and technologies that are being discovered.

Familiarity with science is a result of work in several areas:

• Students must practice direct observation of their world. They should ask questions, design experiments, analyze data and evaluate hypotheses.
• Students must practice reading, understanding, and evaluating scientific literature.
• Students must practice searching through information sources, challenging ideas and engaging in discussion and debate.
• They must practice creating and interpreting quantitative data (for example—graphs).
• They must read about the past, examine the present and imagine the future.

Graduation Requirements

Two years of a lab science are required. One year must be a life science (Biology) and one year must be a physical science (Chemistry or Physics). Advanced study is strongly advised.

Course Offerings

• Environmental Science
• Biology
• Honors Biology
• AP Biology
• Chemistry
• Honors Chemistry
• AP Chemistry
• Physics
• Honors Physics
• AP Physics C: Mechanics
• AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
• Student Research in Molecular Biology
• Advanced Student Research in Molecular Biology
• Material Science Honors
• Topics in Organic Chemistry
• Topics in Microbiology
• Topics in Astronomy
• Topics in Meteorology
• Topics in Forensic Science
• Topics in Human Diseases
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Topics in Biotechnology
• Topics in Immunology
• An Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science
• AP Environmental Science

Co-curricular Activities

Our classes have recently been visited by:

• Penelope Moore of the NJ State Crime Lab
• John Osborne, a Forensics Document examiner
• Dr. Patricia Wright, an international authority on Madagascan lemurs
• Dr. Michael Metzger, Interventional Cardiologist
• Dr. Nidhi Kumar , General Cardiologist
• Dr. Megan Urban, PT

Field Trips

In recent years, our classes have visited:

• Morris County Crime Lab
• Somerset County Investigative Services Lab
• Liberty Science Center
• American Museum of Natural History
• Great Adventure (Physics Day)
• NJ Chemistry Olympics
• Caldwell College CSI Forensics Competition
• Block Island Conservancy
• Harbor Branch Oceanic Institute
• Mutter Museum

Student Accomplishments:

• NJ Star Ledger Mort Pye Scholar
• NJ Governor’s School in Math and Science
• NJ Governor’s School on the Environment
• NJ Governor’s School in Engineering and Technology
• Liberty Science Center Partner’s in Science
• Original DNA research on Artemia at the Waksman Institute at Rutgers University
• Original DNA research on duckweed at the Waksman Institute at Rutgers University
• NJ Chemistry Olympics (Section winner)
• NJ Physics Olympics -we came in first place (in one event) three years in a row
• Internship in human development at Rutgers University
• Environmental Club-the club has planted a Monarch Butterfly Way Station on campus with more biodiversity and land-use projects in development
• National Youth Leadership Forum for Medicine
• 2017 US GLOBE Student Research Symposium Award was presented at a symposium with US GLOBE at Palmyra Cove

Faculty Professional Development Activities and Achievements:

Ralph Avella (Co-Department Chair) has been part of the Rutgers Prep faculty since 1979. He has earned four “best teacher” awards as voted by Rutgers Prep seniors and faculty. He is a member of the: National Science Teachers’ Association, N.J. Science Teachers’ Association, NJ Earth Science Teachers’ Association, American Chemical Society and American Association of Chemistry Teachers. He has attended the NSTA Area Conference- Philadelphia, Pa and annually participates in the N.J. Science Teachers’ Convention-Princeton. He has been participating in online weather briefings and Webinars conducted by Earth Networks. He has taught Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy and Meteorology. He has served as a long time advisor to Rutgers Prep’s School Council. He serves on the Cum Laude Committee. He coordinates our annual Baseball Senior Exploration.

Dr. Valerie Pierce (Co-Department Chair) has presented many Professional Development workshops: “AP Biology Roundtable: Discussion of Strategies for the new AP Biology Exam” - New Jersey Science Teachers Association annual convention; “I know How to Use Technology – But How Do I Teach With It?, National Science Teachers Association annual conference, Indianapolis, IN ; “Candy Cladograms: A Hands-On, Fun Approach to Understanding Species Diversity and Evolution”, New Jersey Science Teachers Association annual convention; “Open-Ended Experiences in Biology”, the Independent Curriculum Group Conference on Creative and Critical Thinking, Scarsdale, NY; “Small Pieces of Technology With Big Impacts On Learning”, co-presenter, New York State Association of Independent Schools, Teaching with Technology Conference; “Student Science Writing Projects on the Web”, New Jersey Science Teachers Association annual convention; “What College Professors Really Wish Students Knew”, New Jersey Association of Independent School biennial meeting, Lawrenceville, NJ.

She has been involved in the following Professional Development Activities: AP Biology Reader for College Board; AP Biology New Teacher Mentor; Life Discovery Conference, Society for the Study of Evolution; NJSTA & NSTA annual conventions; Advanced Placement Summer Institute, Middlesex County College; College Board one-day Workshop in AP Biology Lab Redesign, Edison, NJ; Gardner-Carney Leadership Institute; NJAIS Leadership Institute and Teaching Forensic Science, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME.

She has taught Biology, Honors Biology, AP Biology and Forensic Science.

Joan Zanfardino is a member of the ACS, AACT, NSTA NJSTA, and AMTA. She is the facilitator of the Chemistry Club for the Upper School. Joan has served as a moderator for the Chemistry Olympics team that competes against other New Jersey high schools and is organized by the Northern New Jersey ACS chapter. Besides her science responsibilities, she is a member of the School Council. She is a PLG leader and a member of the AID group on campus. She has participated in training through the Mindful Schools. She organizes the trip to a local cooking studio as part of the Seniors Explorations Program. She has taught AP Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology and Physics at RPS.

Carole Glantzow Zboray is a member of NJAIS, NAIS, NSTA, ASCD and USLacrosse. She has presented workshops for RPS faculty on Executive Functioning Skills in the Classroom and at OESIS Conference in Boston. Carole has attended multiple summer sessions with Learning and the Brain, and has been a Science Fair judge at The Cambridge School in Pennington. In the Upper School, she has taught Human Anatomy and Physiology, 9th grade and 11th grade Health. Carole has coached Varsity Soccer and Lacrosse, and is the Middle School Science Dept. Head and 8th Grade Level Coordinator. Carole is a past winner of the McGinn Award which is given each year to a faculty member who has distinguished himself/herself by the quality of his/her teaching and overall contribution to the School. She was also named Courier News Lacrosse Coach of the Year, and received the Somerset Patriots Positive Coaches Award.

Dr. Cedar Schwab is a member of NSTA and the Ecological Society of America. At Rutgers Prep, he has taught AP Environmental Science, Environmental Science, and Biology. Aside from his teaching responsibilities, he is the faculty advisor for the Environmental Club, a member of the AID faculty and staff group, and on the directing team for Upper School Drama productions. Before joining the Rutgers Prep community, he facilitated biology workshops at Rutgers University while earning his doctorate and subsequently taught the General Biology summer course. Recent professional development experiences have included a Learning and the Brain one-day seminar, online courses through Global Online Academy, and a course through the AP Summer Institute.

Upper School

The goal of the World Language Department of RPS is to produce a world citizen who can function knowledgeably and comfortably in an increasingly global society. Our integrated program begins with an introduction to World Language as early as kindergarten. Your child can continue with one language through twelfth grade but also has opportunities to choose or add another language. Throughout the curriculum, we emphasize such elements as language, history, literature, arts, geography, lifestyle, and social customs and behaviors. The importance of reading, writing, listening and speaking is central to our approach. Technology is used in educationally viable ways to support and augment the program.

We offer Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin and Spanish, with 2 consecutive years of study of the same language required in the Upper School for graduation. Our teachers have a variety of teaching styles, experiences and multi-cultural backgrounds. We are dedicated to excellence within the classroom, but also to inspiring interest through connections outside: trips abroad, day trips, on-line conferences, and various clubs and activities.

Graduation Requirements:

2 consecutive years of the study of a language is required in the Upper School to graduate from Rutgers Prep.

Course Offerings:

• Chinese 1
• Chinese 2
• French 1
• French 2
• French 2 Honors
• French 3
• French 3 Honors
• French Conversation & Culture
• French Language & Literature
• French Language AP
• Latin I
• Latin II
• Latin III
• Honors Latin III
• Honors Latin IV
• Honors Latin Literature
• AP Latin
• Spanish 1
• Spanish 2
• Spanish 2 Honors
• Spanish 3
• Honors Spanish Language & Literature I
• Spanish Conversation & Culture
• Honors Spanish Language & Literature II
• Honors Spanish Contemporary Culture
• AP Spanish Language & Culture

Faculty

Mrs. Bautista Burk is a native Spanish speaker with experience teaching all grade levels from K-12. She was part of the committee that worked on translating and developing the benchmarks for the state’s NJASK exam.

Ms. Curutchet has studied Spanish, French, Arabic and Italian and has studied in Paris and Fes, Morocco while working for a French company.

Mrs. Dixon worked as a director and co-director of the Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy (MMLA) Arabic Academy for three summers. She has also worked as an instructor for Where There Be Dragons, and led two student groups to Jordan for four week courses.

Mrs. Dutta has studied Spanish in three continents (Asia, Europe & North America) and has been teaching Spanish since 1993. She has also worked with ETS as a Reader for the AP Spanish Language & Culture exam for ten years.

Philosophy

The world’s dependence on computers is growing at a staggering rate. The Computer Education department believes that we are preparing students to gain a competitive advantage in the changing and challenging global economy of the 21st Century. “Computational thinking will be a fundamental skill used by everyone in the world by the middle of the 21st Century.” These words from Carnegie Mellon University help define our departmental philosophy. We believe that computational thinking is as important a skill for our students as learning to read, write, and do math.

Mission

Our mission is to provide an effective teaching environment that develops our student’s computational thinking skills. This is done through an array of foundational courses that provide exploration into a selected set of intellectual themes. Our laboratories and faculty expertise foster student engagement in computational analysis, design, and creativity.

Graduation Requirements

Computer literacy is required of all students graduating from Rutgers Prep.

The Computer Department offers elective courses. Introduction to Computer Science, AP Computer Science, and Advanced Software Design fulfill the math department elective requirement. Multimedia Design and Computer Design for Print and Web fulfill the requirement for arts electives.

Course Offerings

• Introduction to Computer Science
• AP Computer Science
• Advanced Software Design
• Multimedia Design
• Computer Design for Print and Web

Co-curricular Information:

Field Trips

A computer programming team attends the New Jersey Institute of Technology annual programming contest for high school students. Students get a chance to compete in a problem-solving and computer-programming contest involving over 48 high schools in New Jersey.

The AP computer science students attend the Stevens Institute of Technology Workshop on High School Computer Science. Students get a chance to hear about the various fields in Computer Science. This workshop features well-known professionals in the field from MIT, Carnegie Mellon, The College of New Jersey, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Microsoft.

Awards

RPS placed 9th in the NJIT annual programming contest out of 48 schools across New Jersey.

Every year the Computer Education Department awards the top computer science students with two awards - the Dr. Edwin Oertell Scholarship award to a junior and the Computer Prize to a senior at Commencement.

Faculty Professional Development Activities and Achievements

Mr. Lake is the director of our iPhone Apps Creation Summer Camp. This camp teaches students how to design and implement iOS Apps that run on iPhones and iPads. It takes students through the creative app-making process from theory to final delivery. Mr. Lake attended the NJAIS Leadership Institute "Blueprint for Leadership" which develops teachers to become leaders in independent schools.

Philosophy

The Upper School program offers both curricular and extracurricular opportunities for students to explore the theater and dance as art forms. Whether motivated by a curiosity to try something new or by a continuing interest in a discipline, students can explore several different aspects of performance art forms or choose to specialize. Through performing, students learn to use their voices and bodies expressively, to analyze and enliven a text, to think and create on their feet, to physicalize abstract ideas, and to present themselves confidently in front of an audience. Recent alumni have continued their performing in college, where their theatrical adventures have included acting, directing, designing, and stage-managing in productions as well as completing majors and minors in theater performance and production.

Two year-long acting electives are offered each year. Introduction to Acting is offered every year; advanced acting electives rotate so that students can take a four-year sequence with a different emphasis each year.

The elective Topics in Dance welcomes new as well as experienced dancers to explore multiple dance forms, including hip hop, contemporary, concert and international forms. Offered through a special partnership with Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, the program gives students access to resources at the college as well as the opportunity to dance with live percussion and music accompaniment. The Spring Dance Concert showcases student work from the program.

Extracurricular offerings include two major theater productions each year, some of which incorporate dance, an Instant Theater Festival, and the school’s Diwali celebration, which includes dance performances by students from all divisions of the campus.

Graduation requirements

Two credits in the Arts are required for graduation. Each course counts as one credit towards this graduation requirement.

Course offerings

• Introduction to Acting
• Topics in Dance
• Scene Study
• Solo Performance
• Improvisation

Co-curricular Information

The extracurricular Upper School theater program seeks to

• involve interested students in a variety of aspects of the theater;
• expose its audiences, actors, and technicians to a wide range of theater styles, periods, and playwrights;
• expand the range and develop the skills of its participants; and
• promote theater as an enjoyable and thought-provoking art form.

Productions

Two “mainstage” non-musical plays are produced in the Upper School each year, though some of the productions incorporate music and dance. In addition to performing, students build the sets, participate in design decisions, hang lights and configure audio equipment, and run the show during performances, with a student stage manager calling all of the cues. Rehearsals and tech sessions are held after school and on occasional weekends. Recent productions have included works ranging in style from Shakespeare to science fiction, with cast sizes ranging from ten to 25. Holley Hall’s flexible performance space provides the opportunity for stages customized to each production, including varied stage configurations and design styles.

The Spring Dance Concert is designed as a celebration of the students' talents, showcasing forms of dance studied inside and outside of school. Student performances include works in the genres of Modern, Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Indian Dance, and Classical Chinese Dance. The dancers also have the opportunity to present their own movement studies, demonstrating their choreography skills and creativity.
 
Additional opportunities for students to explore the art form are musical theatre productions, the School’s Diwali celebration, which includes dance performances by students from all divisions of the campus, and the Pom Squad which performs at all home games for Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams.

Instant Theater Festival

Each May, starting in 2003, Rutgers Prep students have produced and organized an Instant Theater Festival (ITF). The ITF is a fast-paced adventure compressing the entire play production process into a little more than 24 hours. Student playwrights are assigned to write a script for a small group of student actors. After scripts are submitted one Saturday morning, directors and actors arrive to begin rehearsing. A team of students finds and makes props and costumes as others configure lighting and sound effects. That evening several world-premiere short plays, all related to the festival theme, are performed for an exhilarated audience.

Recent Achievements

Recent theatrical productions include “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Much Ado about Nothing,” and “Almost, Maine.” In 2015, Rutgers Prep produced a world-premiere adaptation of “The Two Princesses of Bamarre” by Gail Carson Levine, who attended a performance. Students from Rutgers Prep have performed in McCarter Theater’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” and as part of the Show Choir at Paper Mill Playhouse.

Faculty Professional Development Activities and Achievements

Department Chair Cora Turlish was a Directing Fellow in the 2014 Directing Workshop for Theater Educators at The Juilliard School. Her recent workshops include acting intensives with the Fiasco and Red Bull Theater Companies as well as “Making Theater without a Script” with Elevator Repair Service. She has also studied Improvisation with The Upright Citizens Brigade and Playwriting at Primary Stages.

Johsian Martinez-Gonzalez serves as an audition faculty member of the Dance Department at Rutgers University and has taught at the Rutgers Summer Dance Conservatory. He also teaches at multiple local studios throughout Central and Northern New Jersey. He has choreographed several musical productions at Woodbridge High School and been recognized and nominated for choreography awards at the Central Jersey Marquee Awards. In 2022, he earned the Nancy Higginson Door Award in recognition of his teaching. 

Philosophy

The Music Program at Rutgers Prep aims to develop and nurture the musical soul that resides in every student. The Music Department offers musical training and instruction in music literacy, listening, performance and appreciation of varied eras, styles and cultures. Our music programs promote confidence, self-esteem, sensitivity and inner discipline within each student as it encourages cooperation and teamwork within the school and the community.

Graduation Requirements

Students in the Upper School are required to take two full credits of an arts course along with their academic requirements to graduate. They may select a music course from a variety of offerings to fulfill this requirement.

Courses Offerings

• Music Theory/Composition
• Upper School Orchestra
• Chamber Orchestra (auditioned)
• Women’s Vocal Chamber Ensemble (auditioned)
• Madrigals Singers (auditioned)
• Concert Choir
• Concert Band
• Brass Ensemble
• Saxophone Ensemble

Faculty

Lyssandra Stephenson – Department Chair, Director of String Orchestras, IMI Coordinator
Jeron Stephens - Upper School Choir Director
Stanley Figaro – Director of Bands
Anna Schulz – Lower School Music Teacher

Performances

Each year the Music Department presents two annual concerts for Band, Choir and Orchestra. These take place at RPS Pegeen O'Connell Dining Commons (Band), Voorhees Chapel in New Brunswick (Choir), and the Christ Episcopal Church in New Brunswick (Orchestra).

Region and All-State Opportunities

Each year talented RPS musicians are selected to audition for and perform in New Jersey Regional and All State Choir and Orchestra. Choir students annually are chosen to be members of the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division and National High School Honor Choirs. Madrigal Singers and Women’s Vocal Chamber Ensemble annually participate in the New Jersey ACDA High School Choral Festival and regularly receive ratings of excellent and superior.

Co-curricular Information

Jazz Band

Jazz Band is comprised of upper school students who have been playing for a minimum of three years. The ensemble meets once a week before school. Students are expected to learn their music via home practice.

Private Music Lessons

Rutgers Preparatory offers private music instruction in violin, viola, beginning cello and bass, flute, and piano. Private music instruction is scheduled after 3 p.m. The fee for music lessons is $40 for 30 minutes, $55 for 45 minutes and $70 for 60 minutes. Payment is made directly to the private music instructor. There is a $110 annual fee per family to enroll in the Private Music Lesson Program.

Students interested in taking lessons should email Mrs. Lyssandra Stephenson, Coordinator of Independent Music Instructor Program: stephenson@rutgersprep.org

Philosophy

The Art department directs students toward creating artworks that are revealing of personal thought and feeling. Professional artists guide students to create their own fine art statements and understand those of others. The studio provides an atmosphere for the casual and curious as well as the serious and focused, allowing for risk-taking and rigorous craftsmanship. The graduating Rutgers Preparatory School senior who has applied him/herself in the art department will enter college with skilled hands, critical awareness and distinct personal vision.

Graduation Requirements

Students in the Upper School must meet the minimum requirement of completing two (2) arts courses for graduation.

Course Offerings

• Drawing and Design (full year)
• Intermediate Art Making (full year)
• Critique and Production 1 (full year)
• Critique and Production 2 (full year)
• Ceramics 1 (full year)
• Ceramics 2 / 3 (fall / spring)
• Ceramics 4 / 5 (fall / spring)
• Senior Ceramics (full year)
• Architecture 1 (full year)
• Architecture and Design 2 / 3 (fall / spring)
• Architecture and Design 4 / 5 (fall / spring)
• Senior Architecture and Design (full year)
• Photography 1 (full year)
• Photography 2 / 3 (fall / spring)
• Photography 4 / 5 (fall / spring)

Faculty

Scot J. Wittman – Department Chair, Photography Teacher
Circe Dunnell – Drawing and Painting Teacher
Charles Lid –Ceramics Teacher
Derrick Laurion – Architecture Teacher
Rachel Falzon – Visual Arts Teacher

Learn More about the Arts