11 Spencer Lane ♦ Annandale, NJ 08801 ♦ 908.832.7200

electives

Hunterdon Prep students can choose from a wide variety of special interest and physical education electives designed to allow them to cultivate and explore their talents and abilities. Our students experience growth in confidence and self-esteem through both traditional and unique course offerings.


special interest electives

ART STUDIO

MUSIC LAB

CAD/3D PRINTING

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

CRAFTS

PERFORMING ARTS

MINECRAFT

BOOK CLUB

YEARBOOK

COMMUNITY SERVICE

INDEPENDENT LIVING

STRATEGY & COMPETITION

CREATIVE WRITING/POETRY

MATH WORKSHOP

VOCAL LAB

PHOTOGRAPHY

A Hunterdon Prep student playing the Guitar in Music Lab
Students gathering outside the school on a spring morning.
Two students working on a paint project in the Art Studio

ART STUDIO

Every human has the ability to be creative; it's just a matter of finding the medium or inspiration. Trying new things helps our students find their artistic voices.

The art room is where magic happens and mistakes turn into happy accidents in the blink of an eye. Whether it's the creation of "senior selfies", wooden block face sculptures, or hand-printed quilt blocks, it's one place where happiness resides at HPS.

A collage of watercolor senior portraits

VOCAL LAB

Vocal Lab adds another component to our musical repertoire. This class works with students interested in broadening their musical experience through vocal training. Students in the class support each other as they explore and develop their capabilities. This elective has inspired a regularly scheduled "Vocal Showcase" where our vocalists can share their talents with other community members. 

3D PRINTING

Printing consumer goods on-demand is an exciting new area of technology requiring a unique set of skills. This elective combines an introduction to 3-dimensional design using CAD software, with hands-on projects. Students work collaboratively to gain the theoretical and practical knowledge they need to master this technology, share ideas and experiences, and generate real world 3D objects. In addition to learning the basics of 3D design, students will gain exposure to the operation and maintenance of 3D printers. 

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

In the Dungeons and Dragons elective, students engage in a guided role playing game that facilitates and encourages problem solving, teamwork, creativity, and relationship building. It is also tons of fun!  The game was invented in 1974 by Gary Gygax and Dave Ameson and was the first fantasy role playing game of its kind. At HPS, D & D is accessed on school computers. Students are expected to follow Community Rules as they interact in order to create a story where heroes vanquish antiheroes in the never-ending contest between good and evil. Students can take turns assuming leadership or support roles as their collective story unfolds.  Dungeons and Dragons is an excellent way to foster the social and emotional goals we have for all of our students at HPS.

CRAFTS

Crafts class gives students an opportunity to creatively express themselves through short-term craft projects. Some of the projects include: decoupage candle holders, bracelets, weaving, and fuse bead magnets. Students are also introduced to hand and machine sewing.

A colorful, creative wooden sign with the word "Brave" made by a student

CERAMICS

Hand building, slab rolling, and wheel throwing keep our students busy with clay throughout the year. Unloading a recently fired kiln can be the highlight of the week when the colorfully glazed pots, mug, and plates make their debut.

FILM STUDIES

In this elective, a variety of genres of films are examined, looking at different patterns, character development, symbolism, and themes. Students watch films, record observations and discuss primary roles, supporting roles, and the their findings in a collaborative environment.

MINECRAFT

Minecraft is an elective for students who enjoy technological challenges. The class collectively builds structures out of textured cubes where they may experience multiple game play modes such as creative mode, adventure mode and survival mode. Players must acquire resources to build and maintain a healthy world. Minecraft helps build students analytic and coding skills.

MUSIC LAB

Music Lab provides students with instruction on drums, bass and guitar. Students are introduced to a broad range of musical styles including classical music, rock, folk, blues, country western, bluegrass and jazz. Music Lab students are invited to explore solo and ensemble performances and digital multi-track recording. Music Lab introduces students to the idea that playing a musical instrument can be a rewarding, lifelong leisure activity or vocation.

"Music gives us a language that cuts across the disciplines, helps us to see connections and brings a more coherent meaning to our world."

- Ernest Boyer, President, Carnegie Foundation

INDEPENDENT LIVING

This popular elective teaches students how to plan and shop for a variety of simple and economic recipes. Students learn how to safely use cooking tools and implements, convert measurements, and meet sanitary guidelines. Students are also taught formal and informal table settings and dining etiquette. Instruction is given in the use of washing machines, dryers and ironing.

Two students dressed in Dickens costumes working on a theater performance

PERFORMING ARTS

This elective gives students the chance to express themselves through live and recorded performances such as plays and movies. Students can participate by being actors, singers, costume/set designers, and video editors. Each year the students perform a live production of a classic Winter Holiday play for the student body, staff and invited guests.

BOOK CLUB

Book Club is an elective that meets in the HPS library. Students who choose Book Club as an elective are usually our avid readers. These students have a quiet and comfortable environment to enjoy the written word and to share this life-long hobby with like-minded peers.

Students listening to a poetry reading by English Instructor, Lorrieann Geyer

CREATIVE WRITING/POETRY

Creative Writing is an elective for those students who wish to expand their writing ability beyond traditional English classes. Students produce work in an array of different genres which are then shared with their classmates for supported and constructive review. An off-shoot of Creative Writing class is the increasingly popular "Poetry Cafe", a venue for all HPS students to present both original and professional poetry for appreciation and encouragement.

STRATEGY & COMPETITION

Strategy and Competition offers a variety of games and interactive activities for students to engage in. Students practice working as a team, communicate effectively and develop leadership skills.

MATH WORKSHOP

Math Workshop is designed to meet a variety of different goals.  For some students, Math Workshop can be a strategy to reinforce their daily instructional objectives. This is especially helpful for students who have difficulty retaining and mastering mathematical concepts.  Math Workshop is also a place where students preparing to take the SATs or ACTs can review math topics and test taking strategies prior to their specific test dates.  In addition, students who need to recoup math credits can work towards getting on track to graduate by taking a required math course for whatever length of time necessary. There are also students who elect to take Math Workshop just because they love math!

physical education electives

Through a variety of physical education options Hunterdon Prep students learn the importance of a lifelong commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle through physical activity and proper nutrition. Physical education classes focus both on the individual’s development and the development of the interrelationships found on teams. Many of our students struggle with regular education physical education classes. Our physical education classes are designed around what our students like to do and what they see themselves as being successful at. Physical Education/Health electives meet twice a week for 80 minutes. Health classes take place during the second and third marking periods.
 

BOWLING

BASKETBALL

YOGA/AEROBICS

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

RECESS GAMES

FISHING

TOUCH FOOTBALL

 

FITNESS WALKING

FITNESS/WEIGHTS

COUCH TO 5K

Students playing flag football in PE
A student fishing from the bank of a pond
BOWLING ...

A student and staff favorite, this elective travels to a local bowling alley where students learn the fundamentals of this popular leisure-time activity. Bowlers must adhere to school and bowling alley rules while they work towards improving their bowling skills and practice good sportsmanship.

BASKETBALL ...

Basketball is a physical education elective that has been offered at HPS since the school opened.  At times, there has been significant student interest in basketball and there are periods of time when there is no interest at all.  Because student interest is the basis for which electives are offered or conceived, our students have once again expressed an interest in “shooting hoops”; therefore, our basketball elective has been revived beginning in winter 2020.  Students will be transported to a local community center with a basketball court where they will participate in basic skill development drills, shooting games and full court scrimmages.

YOGA ...

Yoga focuses on teaching one how to relax and gain insight into their own well-being. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of Yoga and develop their own personal goals for improvement. Instructors teach poses through visual cards, videos and modeling.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION ...

Outdoor Education includes hiking and the exploration of nature as the hallmarks of this elective, taking advantage of our proximity to Round Valley Reservoir, the Columbia Trail, and the parks and paths of the Hunterdon County Parks Department.

FITNESS/WEIGHTS ...

Students interested in personal fitness are taught how machine or weight training exercise works, how each exercise corresponds to a specific group of muscles, and how much weight training is directly impacted by diet, nutrition, and rest. Students in this elective use the gym at our local YMCA.

RECESS GAMES ...

Bocce, Capture the Flag, Kickball, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Four Square, Wiffleball, Hackey Sack, and Monarchs and Anarchists are some of the outdoor games enjoyed by students who choose this elective. At the beginning of every class, students stretch their muscles with a one mile walk.

FISHING ...

Another popular elective, students learn the basics of freshwater fishing including how to bait, cast, handle and release fish. Students travel to a nearby stocked pond to hone their fishing skills in the hopes of "catching the big one"!

COUCH TO 5K ...

This elective takes students for a 5K run and focuses on proper warmup and cool down, appropriate stretching, breathing and running strategies, and culminates in a 5K run held at the end of the marking period. 

FITNESS WALKING ...

Powerwalking is an elective designed to meet physical education requirements in a non-competitive and low impact manner. Students are challenged to increase their walking speed, accept and understand the need for stretching prior to beginning to walk and to consider walking as a method to inspire regular and consistent exercise as they move towards adulthood.

We invite you to LEARN MORE.

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Upcoming Events

NJGPA testing (make-ups)

Start: Mar 18, 2024 End: Mar 22, 2024

Multi-Day Event

After school & art clubs meet

Mar 19, 2024 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Alice Paul Institute field trip

Mar 20, 2024 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Hive homeroom breakfast sale (AM & lunch)

Mar 22, 2024 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Early dismissal for students at 12:30

Mar 22, 2024 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

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908.832.7200 ♦ Fax: 908.832.9772 ♦ 11 Spencer Lane ♦ Annandale, NJ 08801
csmith@hunterdonprep.org

HUNTERDON PREPARATORY SCHOOL IS A, not-for-profit, day school serving students between the ages of 12 and 21
 from over 40 school districts in New Jersey. We are located near the town of Clinton in west central NJ.

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The Hunterdon Preparatory School provides educational services to applicants and employs personnel without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, economic or social background, or religious preferences. School programs and school related activities during the day and after regular school hours provide equal access for all students regardless of race, color, creed, sex, and national origin. Books, curricula, and other materials, course content, subject matter, and reading lists are reviewed for sex, race, and cultural bias. Materials are chosen to represent a wide range of opinions and suggested pupil activities.