Spanish

Spanish language courses are offered at levels 3-6. In addition to strengthening their reading, composition and conversational skills, students will also explore the rich cultures of Spanish-speaking countries in both Europe and the Americas. An International Baccalaureate course, taught entirely in Spanish, is offered to prepare students for the IB Spanish B Exam.��

German

Saint John’s Prep offers German language courses at an introductory level through to level 4, in addition to IB German (levels 5 and 6). Beginning with Exploratory German and German I, students will be introduced to German vocabulary and culture, and develop their understanding of the language through reading, writing and conversing.����

Chinese

Chinese language courses are offered from an elementary level (Exploratory Chinese) to Level 4 at Prep, with Levels 5 and 6 combined with IB Chinese. Our beginners’ level starts with Chinese Pinyin and characters. Students continue to develop their skills through listening, reading, speaking and writing. Chinese culture is incorporated at every level, allowing students to enhance their global understanding and provide context for their studies.

Study abroad & cultural exchange opportunities

The Melk Study Abroad Program

The Melk Study Abroad program is a unique, year-long study and travel program for students in Grades 11 or 12 offered by Saint John’s Prep in conjunction with the 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey of Melk in Melk, Austria. Participants study a full academic curriculum at�� the Gymnasium (high school) in Melk, in addition to perfecting their skills in the German language. Their experience is enriched by their time living with local families, traveling throughout Austria and other European countries, and first-hand exposure to Austrian culture. We also have a one month exchange program for high school students from Germany in partnership with the .

Faces & Our cultures Exchange program

Saint John’s Prep is proud to participate in Faces & Our Cultures, a 7.5-week cultural exchange program with students from Guatemala. Families with an interest in cultural enrichment are invited to apply to host young Guatemalan Cultural Ambassadors during their time studying and sharing their culture with Saint John’s Prep.

Learn More

No matter which language students choose to immerse themselves in during their time at Saint John’s Prep, they’ll receive a comprehensive education that centers real-world context and cultures in addition to building linguistic fluency and intercultural perspectives. ​Contact us today​ to learn more about our global approach to our curriculum and extracurricular programs.

FREE Guide: Benefits of an Independent Education

The post Program Spotlight: World Languages appeared first on Saint John's Prep.

It was beyond inspiring to watch the students rise to an unexpected and premature performance as e-learning was suddenly imminent for the remainder of the semester.�� Their dedication and focus in that moment is why I got into teaching in the first place.

The Saint John’s Prep String Orchestra celebrates the season and presents “The Bells of Christmas,” narrated and introduced by Abbot John Clausen, OSB (SJP Class of ’67).�� Through words and pictures, we tell the story of the bells of Saint John’s Abbey, from 1857 to the present day, accompanied by the sounds of the Saint John’s Prep String Orchestra.

The Saint John’s Prep Middle School Orchestra presents a celebration of Christmas through music. Introduced by Br. Paul-Vincent Niebauer, you can see the students rise to the occasion as, weeks ahead of schedule, they were suddenly asked to perform as if it was concert night in the middle of their normal school day. It was to be the last day we would see them in person in 2020.

Jeff Engholm
Music Faculty
Saint John’s Preparatory School

Download our FREE Guide!

Benefits of an Independent Education

The post The “Bells of Christmas” Sound a Little Different in 2020 appeared first on Saint John's Prep.

VISUAL ARTS
All Saint John’s Prep students participate in Fine Arts as part of our interdisciplinary curriculum, with many experiencing daily exposure to fine and visual arts programming. Our visual arts program offers classes in drawing, painting, and ceramics, as well as photography and video production. Upper School students also have the opportunity to take our International Baccalaureate (IB) Visual Arts course. ��

MUSIC
Saint John’s Prep is proud to offer myriad opportunities for students to learn and perform music. We have eight award-winning ensembles to choose from, including band, , , and jazz band. A unique advantage of the Saint John’s Prep experience is the inclusion of private music lessons in tuition, allowing for students to receive focused, one-on-one instruction in their chosen instrument or discipline.

PERFORMING ARTS
Our vibrant Theatre Department produces two shows per year—a fall play and a spring musical. Throughout the school year, our performing arts program produces various concerts and shows from a wide range of time periods and genres to provide students with a deeper, comprehensive understanding of theatre history and styles. Onstage and technical theater experiences are offered to both Middle and Upper School students.

Download our FREE Guide!

Benefits of an Independent Education

The post Program Spotlight: Performing & Visual Arts appeared first on Saint John's Prep.

A liberal arts education develops people skills

With an education that encompasses a wide variety of sciences, arts, and humanities, students learn to express their feelings and develop a healthy sense of empathy. They learn how to step outside of themselves and see situations from the viewpoints of others. This translates into effective people skills that allow them to lead organizations, clubs or sports teams in high school and college and lead teams of coworkers in the workforce. Students with a liberal arts education learn how to engage with people in an increasingly globalized and rapidly changing world.

A liberal arts education develops communication skills

Writing and communicating ideas effectively is a major emphasis in liberal arts classes. Students learn to identify their viewpoints and communicate them in writing and in front of their peers in a clear and persuasive fashion. Liberal arts students learn to create and defend well-supported arguments, an esteemed skill in workforce leadership positions.��

A liberal arts education develops critical-thinking skills

Delving into the liberal arts gives students the opportunity to explore and process a wide range of topics and perspectives. It also helps students understand the limits of different perspectives, get in touch with their biases and be in tune with others’ biases. The critical thinking skills that emerge from a liberal arts education are highly regarded in the workforce and a necessary skill set in modern society.��

A liberal arts education develops analytical skills��

Whether it’s interpreting a poem or assessing a scientific finding, liberal arts students are constantly engaging their analytical brains. These carefully honed analytical skills translate well into jobs that require their employees to assess and interpret vast amounts of data.��

A liberal arts education develops creative skills and the ability to think outside the box

Generating new ideas and looking at literature or art from a new perspective is a major emphasis of a liberal arts education. In this process, students learn to challenge convention and innovate, skills that make effective leaders in business and life.��

A liberal arts education makes choosing a career easier��

A secondary liberal arts education provides students with a wide variety of academic exposure. As a result, these students discover their passions and career interests at a younger age which helps prepare them to make career decisions sooner than their high school peers.��

A liberal arts education helps your child stand out from competitors��

When your child pursues an education in one of these fields in combination with studies in the liberal arts, they stand head and shoulders above their competition. Employers recognize the soft skills these well-rounded candidates possess and are more inclined to choose them to fill these in-demand positions.��

Want to learn more about Saint John’s Prep?

Schedule a Campus Tour

The post How a Secondary Liberal Arts Education Can Benefit Your Child Now and in the Future appeared first on Saint John's Prep.

At Saint John’s Prep, the preparation process begins long before your child’s senior year. Calculated decisions throughout high school can help set your child up for admission into one of their top college choices. A good place to start is by understanding what colleges are looking for as they sift through thousands of applications every year. Here are some good tips to keep in mind: 

Enthusiasm about their school

Whether it be through their application essay, speaking with admission representatives, a campus visit or an interview, your child will have a number of touchpoints with each college they’re applying to. When they show that they are genuinely interested in attending that specific college (and asking questions is a great way to engage on that level!) and not just applying as a means to an end, they stand out among a throng of students just going through the motions. 

An authentic voice

Your child’s application essay is a great place to shine. In addition to solid grammar, encourage your child to express their unique personality, values and goals. This is another great opportunity to differentiate themselves from the throng of other student applicants. If possible, encourage your child to write a fresh essay for each college application—it will keep their essays original and focused.

High achievement 

While GPA and ACT/SAT test scores are certainly important, achievement also includes enrolling in challenging classes and putting in extra effort even if it means receiving a lower grade in the process. This indicates that your child is willing to get out of their comfort zone and has the internal drive to learn and grow – a major indicator of academic and life success. 

At Saint John’s Prep, we offer two amazing options for high academic achievement: International Baccalaureate (IB) courses AND classes from Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict. It’s rare for students to have access to both opportunities on one campus!

Depth of knowledge

When your child spends time investing in a few activities that interest them as opposed to doing a little bit of a lot of things, this shows off their unique passions and depth of knowledge. This is significant as colleges want to see angled, proficient and passionate students. Encourage your child to highlight ways their involvement in these activities draws on and grows their leadership skills and makes a community impact by including a polished essay and resume along with their application. Each component they include should touch on their most important areas of involvement and their depth of knowledge in a robust but concise and truthful way.

Special talents/skills

Is your child a proficient violin player? Are they a decorated soccer player? Or maybe they’re a scholar who has been researching a particular subject. Highlighting these special skills and accomplishments is another way your child can set themselves apart from their competition during the application process. Include multimedia footage, research notes or any other evidence of their skills in action.

Intellectual curiosity

One of the biggest determining factors of academic success is a healthy dose of intellectual curiosity. Encourage your child to showcase their extracurricular pursuits! ������ counselors will see their sense of initiative and curiosity and recognize that they are eager to assimilate into the college’s academic environment, ready to contribute, learn and grow.  

At Saint John’s Prep, we help prepare your child 

Because we are a small private prep school, we are able to get to know our students individually. This translates into a high-quality education with one-on-one direction and mentoring from staff and faculty as students build their talents and interests. Matching personal qualities with key opportunities is just one advantage our students and families experience.

At Saint John’s Prep, we work extensively with students from grades 9-11 to help prepare them for the college admission process. Each student and their family engages with our college counselor on a regular basis to develop a personalized plan for college and career development. It’s important to look at the big picture—not only what each student will study and where they will attend college—but how their plan aligns with who they are and who they want to become. This helps students better articulate their strengths and goals in their college applications, showcasing the talents and maturity they developed at Saint John’s Prep.

Some facts about college counseling at Saint John’s Prep:

• We have 3 counselors plus an international student advisor for international students for 280 students—a very good ratio!
• We offer advising every Tuesday where students meet in small groups using a curriculum developed by the counseling office.
• The Saint John’s Prep attitude is that college is not an “if” but a “where.”
• To view a complete list of college acceptances, click here.

Want to learn more about Saint John’s Prep?

Schedule a Phone Call

The post What Colleges Look for in Successful Applicants appeared first on Saint John's Prep.

Ronne Turner, Vice Provost for ������s and Financial Aid at Washington University, and Todd Rinehart, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment at the University of Denver, discussed how the pandemic has changed and reshaped admission practice at their own institutions and at schools across the country.They took questions ranging from college visits to test-taking to holistic admission review and grading.

In a decidedly unusual year, it is more important than ever that students and parents think carefully about their interests, their academic and co-curricular life beyond just their grades and test scores, and how well particular colleges of interest truly fit or match their needs and aspirations. Because opportunities to visit colleges will be more limited than in a typical year, families should take full advantage of virtual tours and admission outreach. And students and parents should keep in mind that the only bad question is the one that goes unasked!

JON MCGEE
Head of School
320-363-2010
jmcgee@sjprep.net

Want to learn more about Saint John’s Prep?

Schedule a Campus Tour

The post Dear Parents – The Evolving College Search & ������ Process appeared first on Saint John's Prep.

I asked the students what topics interested them most and reached out to several of the top professionals in their field from around the world to ask if they would be willing to join us via Zoom meeting. In the end, many were gracious enough to say “yes”.

First, we were visited by Dr. John Gastil, Professor of Communications and Political Science at Penn State University. He spoke with the students about the role of language in Political Science, as well as the way the pandemic has changed the political landscape.

Next, we asked Saint John’s Prep Alumnus Chris Sebas to visit. He is a medical student at St George’s University, currently doing his rotations in Chicago. He spoke with the class about the role of perception in diagnosis, as well as how his classmates are handling social isolation in their medical training.

In late April, we were joined by Dr. Miriam Meyerhoff, Professor of Linguistics at Victoria University of Wellington, NZ. She spoke with students about the field of linguistics, how culture determines language and vice-versa, and how gender plays a role in social status in various cultures.

Finally, in May, we were joined by Mr. Paul Choi, a freelance science journalist and science fiction author from NYC, NY. Mr. Choi wrote an article for Tor about the Three-Body Problem, the book our class chose to read to finish the semester. He discussed the book, the Cultural Revolution in China and it’s effect on his family and science generally, his travels around the globe, and why he chooses to live at the intersection of the Arts and Science.

All four speakers spent the majority of their time answering questions the students had. The speakers were gracious with their time and lavish with their praise of the level of questions the students asked. We have a couple more guest options that may play out before the year ends in May. It may not have been exactly the ToK class we had originally envisioned, but it has certainly proved a great lesson of taking the lemons life sometimes has to offer and making lemonade. I’m proud to have been a part of this special year, and proud of the students for their dedication to the pursuit of knowledge.

If you would like to watch any of the classroom visits, they are available below. Chris Sebas visited each section of ToK separately, his video has been edited to show the scope of his two talks. The other guests spoke with all 18 ToK students at once.

CHARLES MILLER
Science Teacher and Knowledge Bowl Coach
320-363-2010
c1miller@sjprep.net

Mr. Miller grew up in New York City but attended High School and College in Tulsa, OK. He has his BS in Biology and his BA in Philosophy, both from Tulsa University. He also has a Master of Science in education from Bemidji State University, MN. Mr. Miller has been teaching since 1997 and has been at Saint John’s Prep since 2005 where he teaches Physics and Astronomy, as well as Theory of Knowledge (IB Course).

He is also the coach for the Knowledge Bowl team, which has taken 1st at State five times, and the League of Legends eSports Team, which finished 2nd in the state in its inaugural��2020 season. In May 2013, Mr. Miller was named the grade 9-12 “Honor Teacher” of the year at the Minnesota Independent School Forum (MISF) Private Education Awards Celebration.

He loves teaching at Saint John’s Prep because the students are such dynamic, inquisitive kids, and he feels honored to be a part of their successes.

Want to learn more about Saint John’s Prep?

The post Making lemonade from my lemons with Mr. Charles Miller appeared first on Saint John's Prep.