The Fine Arts Division
The Fine Arts Division is a vital component of the curriculum at Saint John’s Preparatory
School. Courses offer an arts experience that is both sensitive to
students’ needs as well as appreciative of their cultures. Music,
theatre and visual and performance arts are recognized as
fundamental elements of a Benedictine education because they
encourage students to integrate aesthetic values with other
important value systems within a comprehensive and interconnected
context. In addition, the Fine Arts Division strives to promote
self-discovery through responsible and creative risk-taking, and in
so doing equips students with life-long assets that shape their
continued development as inventive and resourceful individuals. Not
only do students gain insight and build confidence through the
various artistic experiences offered at our school, their endeavors
richly and regularly benefit the larger academic and local
communities of which they are an active and essential part.
Furthermore, fine arts programs continue to flourish outside the
school environment as marked by the many special achievements and
awards that annually recognize their efforts. Small daily classes,
additional contact hours, and a dedicated faculty insure that the
fine arts program remains committed to providing valuable
opportunities for students to work, learn and share their art with
others.
Fine Arts Division Chair: Kris Fremo
Music Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| David Paulson |
508 |
320-363-2572 |
| Steve Anderson |
507 |
320-363-3165 |
Art Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| Kris Fremo |
106B |
320-363-2185 |
| Patrick Dwyer |
107B |
320-363-2195 |
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The Modern Languages Division
The dual aim of the Modern Languages Division is to develop foreign language fluency and
cultivate cultural awareness and appreciation. It is the stated
philosophy of the Modern Languages Division that cultural awareness
and linguistic skill are essential means toward establishing
constructive and collaborative relationships with others. Initiation
and maintenance of these cross-cultural relationships is the single
most critical imperative to global justice and world peace. The
Modern Language also believes the direct reward of an expanded
international perspective is that students come to know their own
language and culture deeper and better. Instilling an enduring
acceptance of other ethnic backgrounds in our students and equipping
them with necessary language proficiency enables them to become and
remain intelligent, sensitive and actively involved ambassadors of
their own communities. Each day our students learn together with
others from a variety of countries around the world; in addition,
our students increasingly come into contact with other cultures
outside the classroom as well. The members of the Modern Languages
Division prepare their students to be ready and eager to make these
cross-cultural experiences and peaceful and fulfilling encounters.
Languages Division Chair: Greta Noska
German Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| Emmy Sack |
203B |
320-363-3334 |
| Fr. Ian Dommer, OSB |
304B |
320-363-2502 |
Spanish Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| Greta Noska |
203C |
320-363-3337 |
| Lindsay Bergmann |
203E |
320-363-3269 |
| Sean Dwyer |
203E |
320-363-3335 |
Chinese Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| Wei Tan |
203A |
320-363-3331 |
ESL Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
|
| Amanda Hammen |
104A |
320-363-2687 |
| Eliza Kelly |
104B |
320-363-2726 |
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The Humanities Division
The Humanities Division of Saint
John’s Preparatory School is comprised of the English, Social
Studies and Theology Departments. The Division’s concerted and
collaborative aim is to prepare young men and women to become
critical, ethical, creative individuals capable of compassionate
service, courageous leadership, and responsible citizenship both
within local communities and the larger world. Studies engage
students in a diverse variety of ancient and modern primary and
secondary texts for the purpose of broadening and deepening their
knowledge and understanding of literary theories, historical
contexts, and religious truths. Students’ reading, writing and
speaking skills of are also advanced and refined for the purpose of
insuring that their present and future intellectual, spiritual and
socio-political contributions prove articulate, insightful and
efficacious.
Humanities Division Chair: Lance Nydeen
English Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| Jeff Johnson |
104D |
320-363-3326 |
| Robert Erickson |
104C |
320-363-3338 |
| Cindy Peterson |
Library |
320-363-3332 |
Social Studies Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| Lance Nydeen |
304C |
320-363-3327 |
| Matt Reichert |
304A |
320-363-3330 |
| Amy Reischl |
308 |
320-363-2610 |
Theology Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| David Fremo |
305 |
320-363-2241 |
| Patrick Flynn |
305 |
320-363-2241 |
| Fr. Ian Dommer, OSB |
304B |
320-363-2502 |
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The Mathematics and Science Division
It is the goal of the Mathematics and Science Division to develop our students’
ability to think critically and effectively. This goal is
accomplished through an integrated approach to problem-solving.
Employing a creative blend of pure and applied mathematics and
sciences coupled with an emphasis on technical reading and writing,
problems with practical implications are used to cultivate in our
students a capacity to implement successfully principles, concepts,
facts and skills. Courses are designed to be college preparatory and
highly experiential; inherent interdisciplinary relationships form
the framework of their methodology. Division members support an
inquiry-based theory of instruction that integrates lectures and
demonstrations with active learning and investigative research. The
combination of classroom and laboratory work allows students to
acquire and improve upon methods and manipulative skills imperative
to effective data collection and deduction. It is the philosophy of
division members that to prepare students well to understand and
apply fundamental facts, principles, laws, and theories, students
must first foster a positive attitude and persistent disposition
conducive to the responsible collection and creative use of
information.
Math and Science Division Chair: Charles Miller
Mathematics Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| Marcia Huls |
308B |
320-363-2740 |
| Don Kieser |
308B |
320-363-2740 |
| Thomas Grandy |
308A |
320-363-3336 |
Science Department Faculty
| Name |
Office |
Telephone |
| Mike Percuoco |
552A |
320-363-2863 |
| Craig Ruesink |
104D |
320-363-3326 |
| Pete Froehle |
559A |
320-363-2861 |
| Mary Johnson |
560A |
320-363-2684 |
| Charles Miller |
100 |
320-363-2010 |
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Middle School
Our mission is to provide an intellectually challenging
middle school in the best of Benedictine and independent school
traditions. We consider the environment at Saint John's to be
conducive to:
- Attending to the individual learning needs of each student;
- Attending to the spiritual, social and developmental needs of each student;
- Unleashing and fostering the innate drive for learning and spirituality that each student possesses;
- Creating a meaningful, value-rich experience;
- Developing intellectual skills and competencies that prepares each student for high school and college.
We seek a sense of community in which students, teachers and parents
are actively engaged.
This year there are three sections of 20 students, comprised of a
combination of 7th and 8th grade students. Our program focuses on student
and their needs. We seek to provide learning experiences that engage students
in creative thinking and problem solving. To provide a stable base for
developing adolescents, each student is assigned a permanent homeroom and
that student/teacher relationship will generally last for the entire two-year
experience. The maximum number of students in the Middle School Program is 60.
To preserve their identity and coherence, the program operates in a part of the
building away from the upper school classrooms.
Middle School Teachers
| Name | Position | Telephone |
| Bob Ellenbecker |
Lead Teacher |
320-363-3153 |
| Dan Stark |
Teacher |
320-363-2008 |
| Julianne O'Connell |
Teacher |
320-363-3033 |
| Laura Martin |
Math Teacher |
320-363-2609 |
| Patrick Dwyer |
Art Teacher |
320-363-2195 |
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