Higher Achievement Program
When the morning alarm rang on the first day of summer
vacation, most students were able to hit snooze and continue
sleeping. For some very brave and somewhat sleepy young men,
it was their first day of Fordham Prep’s Higher Achievement
Program, affectionately called HAP. Fordham Prep is honored to
be celebrating two very special anniversaries this year: the
school’s 175th Anniversary and HAP’s 40th Anniversary.
HAP began at Saint Peter’s Prep in 1964, and other HAPs across
the Jesuit Schools Network share many similar elements, though
each is geared to the communities they serve. When Theresa
Napoli became HAP Director in 2002, she sent a group of HAP
teachers and one administrator to Saint Peter’s. They saw
firsthand that each HAP has its own special brand and style.
Fordham Prep’s HAP has become one of the largest in the Jesuit
Schools Network, offering various workshops and special
programs not found elsewhere.
At the Prep, HAP runs five weeks, from the last few days of June
and through the end of July. For those five weeks, students take
four academic classes each morning: Math, English
Grammar/Study Skills, Creative Writing and Reading. There are
16 classes divided into 4 cohorts. Each class is named after a
team mascot from Jesuit colleges and universities. The cohorts
move as a group through the day and each class eats lunch with
their teaching assistant. All of this “togetherness” fosters the
Jesuit ideal of community.
After a morning of rigorous academic study, the after-lunch
programs include sports and other activities. These include
Science, Culinary Arts, Computer Graphics & Design, Introduction
to Ancient Greek and Latin, Italian, Spanish, Studio Art/Drawing,
Theater Arts, Astronomy, Mythology and the Music Extravaganza.
There are clinics in basketball, baseball and rugby. As the weeks
quickly progress, “It is time to go home yet?” turns into “Is it 2:30
already?”
Fordham Prep’s Mission Statement begins by reflecting on our
efforts at “inspiring young men to reflect, to question, to learn, to
pray, to love, to serve and to lead.” HAP embodies these goals.
Our academic classes invite students to reflect, learn and
question. Prayer is fostered each day with an age-appropriate
version of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, a set of
meditations, prayers and imaginative exercises that allow each
young man to focus on his actions of the past week, focusing on
what brought him closer to God and to others. Mass is
celebrated at 8 am each Thursday morning for HAPsters and
their families. Service and leadership are lived out through the
HAP service project. Over 1,000 backpacks are stuffed with toys
and crafts for children served by the Montefiore Children’s
Hospital and Blythedale Children’s Hospital and School.
HAP ended with Mass celebrated in the Fordham University
Church by our President, Fr. Christopher Devron, SJ. The church
was filled to the rafters with HAPsters and their families.
Graduation in the Leonard Theatre followed with diplomas,
awards and medals of distinction. The ceremony concluded with
remarks from our Principal, Dr. Joseph Petriello ’98: “You have
started on the path to be men for others. Continue to be young
men who desire to make our world a better place, to be kind and
generous in sharing your gifts and talents with those in need.
Strive to be leaders and role models to others, most especially
younger students at your schools, and your own sisters and
brothers at home. Be less afraid of taking risks, of facing daily
challenges. Look ahead to a future of big questions and worthy
dreams. Be excited. Be confident. Be grateful. There are great
things coming, and just as your families and teachers are proud,
each one of you should feel proud of yourself today. I leave you
with this final word: We never know the companions God will
place on the road of our lives, but be glad that you walked
together on that road here at HAP for a little while.”
Summer officially began for the HAP Graduating Class of 2016
at 11:35 am on Thursday, July 28th.
Parents and graduates, if you know a 7th grader who would
benefit from HAP, please encourage him to apply. Information
and online application are available now at fordhamprep.org/hap.
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