Postcards from Prep is a series of messages from various members of the Prep community to prospective members of the Class of 2014. Browse the page below to get a variety of perspectives on the many exciting things happening at Grand & Warren. From Matt Biscaldi, '13 Dear Prospective Member of the Class of 2014,

Yes, that picture is one of me with my face painted at the Prep vs. Bergen Catholic football game. My name is Matt Biscaldi, and I am currently a freshman at Prep. Choosing a high school is a big decision, but Saint Peter’s was an easy choice for me to make. Listening to Prep alumni praise the school and current students speak of how Prep was the best decision they had made, I knew I was destined to attend Prep. Marauder Nation is just a part of the brotherhood of Prep. It’s our spirit club, but simply put, it’s a band of brothers standing together behind our beloved sports teams – whether they’re winning or losing. In Marauder Nation, a freshman isn’t just a freshman, a freshman is a brother. I feel equal to everybody, whether they are sophomores, juniors or seniors. If you come out to support Prep, you’re respected as an upperclassman would be, and that is what I really love. To be a part of Marauder Nation was really my way of fitting in. Every day my friends and I would talk about the upcoming game, or look back on last week’s game. There are also many other clubs and activities at Prep; you’re bound to find one that you like.

Through my first semester, I have gone through many great and challenging experiences, and I have learned from all of them. The first real taste of the brotherhood of Saint Peter’s Prep is Ignite. Ignite is an overnight retreat where freshmen sleep in their homeroom, and learn from their big brothers (seniors on the Campus Ministry Team) what they are going to experience at Prep. Ignite is a great learning experience and a time to get to know many of the guys in your class. A great challenge is balancing your work in the classroom. With six major subjects and each teacher having a different method, there is a lot to juggle. With that said, every challenge for me is a positive experience, and learning to manage my time has been a key asset to my success.

In conclusion, here at Prep, everybody has their way of fitting in and you will have your Prep brothers behind you in everything you do.

Through my first semester, I have gone through many great and challenging experiences, and I have learned from all of them. The first real taste of the brotherhood of Saint Peter’s Prep is Ignite. Ignite is an overnight retreat where freshmen sleep in their homeroom, and learn from their big brothers (seniors on the Campus Ministry Team) what they are going to experience at Prep. Ignite is a great learning experience and a time to get to know many of the guys in your class. A great challenge is balancing your work in the classroom. With six major subjects and each teacher having a different method, there is a lot to juggle. With that said, every challenge for me is a positive experience, and learning to manage my time has been a key asset to my success.

In conclusion, here at Prep, everybody has their way of fitting in and you will have your Prep brothers behind you in everything you do.

Sincerely, Matt Biscaldi ’13

From Kevin Cevasco, '10 President of the Student Council December 18, 2009 Dear Prospective Students of the Class of 2014,

Throughout the halls of Saint Peter’s Prep, the Christmas season is now well underway. With decorations in place, students donning Santa hats, and carols being sung in between class periods, the Prep community is alive with the Christmas spirit. December always is a time of joy and celebration, as well as anticipation for the coming of the Lord. Anticipation is one of many emotions that you, as eighth graders, are experiencing during the final phase of grammar school. As one stage of life comes to a close, it is not uncommon to wonder, “What does the future have in store for me? Where do I go from here?” As a Senior in the midst of the college application process, I often find myself asking those very same questions, as well as reflecting on the experiences that have brought me to this point in my life.

It has been about three and a half years since I first entered Saint Peter’s Prep as a freshman. I distinctly remember those first few weeks, attentively traveling on the train so as not to get lost, timidly meeting new classmates, and struggling to adjust to life as a high school student. Shortly, however, my fears were replaced with enthusiasm. It did not take long for me to join in the spirit of Saint Peter’s Prep. This is a place where you can truly belong.

For me, belonging meant playing for the soccer team, running for the Student Council, traveling to Italy and Ecuador, and being part of the Campus Ministry Team. For you, it might mean acting in the school plays, playing in the band, or even playing football at Giants Stadium. At Prep, there is a niche for everyone; a place to develop intellectually, spiritually, socially, and athletically.

So as you continue with your high school search, take the time to look through our website and to read the stories of the countless students and graduates who have come to appreciate Prep as not only a fine secondary school but, more importantly, a home.

Best of Luck and Merry Christmas! Kevin Cevasco, ’10 Student Council President

From Rev. Robert Reiser, S.J., December 4, 2009 Dear Applicants and Parents for the Class of 2014 at Saint Peter’s Prep, With the Thanksgiving holiday behind us, we at Saint Peter’s Prep look to the observance of Advent with a great amount of anticipation. This is a wonderful time of year on the corner of Grand & Warren, filled with concerts, parties, and our Christmas liturgy. We light our Advent wreaths in anticipation of the coming of Emmanuel, God with us. The lights of the Warren Street Plaza will shine their Christmas greetings to neighbors and friends. As we move through the Advent and Christmas seasons, I think it is good to step back and to recognize that relationships matter at Saint Peter’s, where we strive to always be “light” for one another.

After our fall open house, we received a note from the mother of a prospective student. She said: “What took me by surprise was my reaction to the campus. One of the student speakers mentioned choosing Prep because he could see himself in the seats when he came for the open house.”

Just recently, I was speaking with the mother of a current senior who, at first, did not want her son to attend Saint Peter’s Prep. The commute would be long, she thought, and the academics a challenge. Her son, however, was persistent because he felt as though he “belonged” at Prep. As this same young man now makes his way through his senior year, his proud Prep Mom exclaimed for all to read in the program of our recent Parents’ Association Fashion Show: “You were right!”

As you consider this next important step in life, I think it is critical to recognize that the high school experience is as much about the development of the heart and the spirit, as it is about the mind and the body. Saint Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, the religious order that started and which still administers Prep, used the phrase cura personalis, the care of the person as an individual, to describe his unique contribution to the spiritual life. This same outlook—the care and attention given to each and every Prep student—permeates the Jesuit educational system from our largest university to our smallest high school. It makes a real difference here at Saint Peter’s.

We often use the phrase “Prep For Life” here. To read some testimonials about the lifelong bond formed here, visit “Testimonies of the Prep Experience” located under the Admissions tab of our website. There is no better place to prepare not only for Advent and Christmas, but also for life! I hope you will consider the real opportunity that lies ahead at a school – in a family – like Prep.

Sincerely yours, Rev. Robert E. Reiser, S.J. President