Passaic Preparatory Academy offers a wide variety of clubs for students. After reaching out to some of the club advisors about their respective clubs, here is what they have to say: 

The College Acceptance Academy, Mr. Tereshko:

Q: What is the College Acceptance Academy about?

A: The College Acceptance Academy aims to help students be accepted into the best possible colleges and universities by assisting with the testing and admissions process, primarily SAT/ACT prep and the college essay.

Q: Is everyone eligible to join?

A: All students are eligible to join but juniors and seniors should be most interested.

Q: When and where do you meet?

A: The club meets in Room 208 after school every Thursday for SAT/ACT prep and Mr. T is available for one-on-one assistance most other mornings and afternoons.

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join?

A: Preparing for the next step of life is the most important thing a high school upperclassman could be doing. Mr. Tereshko has many years of experience and success improving scores and writing successful essays.

Chess Club, Mr. Lockwood and Mr. Lightfoot:

Q: What is the Chess Club about?

A: The Chess Club was created by Prep senior Daniela Velazquez to create a community where students can meet new people, have fun, and learn to think strategically through the game of chess. Read our full profile on the Chess Club here!

Q: Is everyone eligible to join?

A: The club is open to ALL Prep students grades 6-12. In our first meeting, there was a nice mix of middle school and high school students.

Q: When and where do you meet?

A: The club meets on Thursdays after school.

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join?

A: The most important thing to emphasize is that you do not need to be a chess Master to join. There is a mix of beginner and intermediate players and the meetings are designed to accommodate a variety of ability levels. If anyone is the least bit curious about the club, just try coming to a meeting and see what you think!

Glee Club: Ms. Lopuzzo

Q: What is the Glee Club about?

A: It is meant to offer a time outside of the school day for students to enjoy singing together without the stress of grades. It is meant to be a time for students to de-stress through music.

Q: Is everyone eligible to join? 

A: The Academy Glee Club is a singing group open to all students in Prep and PASE, grades 6-12. 

Q: When and where do you meet?

A: We have been meeting in the mornings as sections and as a full group. The students are notified of the rehearsal times through the Remind app and Google Classroom, but they also know that I am available every morning from 8 a.m. and am in my room until at least 4 p.m. every day if they wish to go over their music.

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join?

A: I would love to get more students to join! The more, the merrier, as the saying goes! 

Journalism Club: Mr. Schmerler

Q: What is the Journalism club about?

A: The J Club is about reporting news and having fun with video, photos and print. We run The Boulevard Online at theboulevard252.org

Q: Is everyone eligible to join? 

A: Yes, high school and middle school

Q: When and where do you meet?

A: Room 107 after school every Tuesday, and Mr. Schmerler is available every day after school

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join?

A: Everyone should experience the J Club at least once in their lives. Be school famous! We make a difference! Google Classroom code: n4vss3n

Mock Trial Club: Mr. Alessi

Q: What is Mock Trial about?

A: Mock Trial is exactly what it sounds like. We will run a fake trial from start to finish. You can object, be dramatic, be over the top, and just have some fun with it.  It’s very exciting.

Q: Is everyone eligible to join? 

A: Yes, anyone can join and I hope that people continue to come check the meetings out. 

Q: When and where do you meet?

A: RIght now they are being held on Tuesdays right after school in Room 312.  We need a team of at least 15 people to be able to go to the main competition, so anyone who wants to join please come on over. 

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join?

A: Mock Trial is a very fun and challenging group to be a part of. We work hard but we laugh and joke around with each other a lot because we know how much effort we are all putting into our preparation. Mock Trial is an academic club, which always looks great on your college applications, and if we were to win competitions, well then it would look even better!

Slam Poetry Club: Mr. Graham

Q: What is the Poetry Slam Club about?

A: The Slam Club is a place where students can come to express themselves by writing and performing spoken word/Slam poetry; the focus is on giving everyone an outlet to express themselves. As one of the Slam taglines goes, it’s about expressing one’s truth.

Q: Is everyone eligible to join?

A: Yes, everyone is eligible to join, and everyone is welcome. Slam is about providing “brave space.”

Q: When and where do you meet?

A: We meet Thursday’s after school in Room 304.  For more info students can join our Google Classroom, code: 3u5msja

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join?

A: I think most people who have heard of Slam probably have some misconceptions about what to expect, or many have never heard of it all.  So, to those people I say that if you think you have anything to express about anything you should come and see what Prep’s Slam has going on.

Yearbook Club: Ms. Post and Ms. Taylor

Q: What is the Yearbook Club about? 

A: The school yearbook is an essential part of every school year. The Yearbook Club allows students to create a yearbook for the entire school by taking pictures, collecting pictures from faculty and students of candids, clubs, and sports, designing the pages using a program called Pictavo, fundraising for the club, as well as marketing and selling the yearbooks. 

Q: Is everyone eligible to join? 

A: Anyone can join.

Q: When and where do you meet?

A: We meet every Friday inRoom 112 from 3:40-4:40.

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join?

A: We are very excited about this year’s yearbook. With the help of our Prep Academy students, we are going to make it a memorable one! After all, we haven’t been in school for a year and a half so this one needs to make a lasting impression. We are coming back with a bang and need your help!

Student Council: Mr. Figueroa

Q: What is the Student Council about? 

A: Student Council is all about the student body uniting and working on making Prep a better place. We do a lot of things that can help benefit not just the school, but also our wonderful city of Passaic. 

Q: Is everyone eligible to join?

A: Students are eligible to join as long as they meet the GPA requirement and get a recommendation from a teacher. 

Q: When and where do you meet? 

A: Regular Student Council members meet every two Wednesdays in the auditorium. 

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join? 

A: Student Council is a wonderful club to be a part of! It brings many opportunities for students to be a part of that can look very impressive, especially if you are interested in going to college!

Gay-Straight Alliance: Mr. Figueroa

Q: What is the GSA about? 

A: Read our profile of the GSA here!

Q: Is everyone eligible to join? 

A: Students are encouraged to join at the beginning of the year but students can join the GSA at any time throughout the year.

Q: When and where do you meet?

A: The GSA will meet every other Thursday after school in Room 307 from 3:40 to 4:40 p.m.

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join? 

A: If students want more information about joining the GSA, they can come visit and talk to me in Room 307 before or after school.

Youth Climate Activists Club: Ms. Blumberg

Q: What is the Youth Climate Activists club about?

A: The Youth Climate Activists was started by a group of students who wanted to do something about climate change. In this club, we learn about how we can individually make more eco-friendly choices. We also brainstorm ways our school and community can fight climate change and then advocate for our school to become more sustainable.  

Q: Is everyone eligible to join? 

A: Everyone is welcome to join the Youth Climate Activists!

Q: When and where do you meet?

A: We meet in Room 306 after school on Wednesdays.

Q: Is there anything you want to say to convince more students to join?

A: Climate change is a serious issue that will have a significant impact on all our lives and futures. The choices we make today will determine how serious the effects of climate change will be in the future. Often when students learn about climate change, they start to feel hopeless or like there isn’t anything they can do to stop it. But there is! By joining the Youth Climate Activists students will learn how to live more sustainably and will advocate for changes to make our community greener. 

Passaic Prep offers a great deal of clubs that students can join! The sky’s the limit with what one can do in these clubs and students should, most importantly, have fun!