Guidance/Counseling
Guidance & College Counseling
Welcome to Prep Guidance & College Counseling!
For frequent updates, visit our blog: Prep's College Knowledge!
About Guidance & College Counseling | Meet Our Team
Left to right, front row: Elizabeth Benedict; John Mullin, S.J.; Grace Morris; Sarah Morissette; Janice Martineau. Back row: Kathy Rowan; Ben Brenkert, S.J.; Tony Azzarto, S.J.; Joe Giglio, '87; Yetunde Daniels-Rubinstein; James Dondero, '66, P'00
About Us: Emphasizing the "Preparatory" in Saint Peter's Prep
As part of a Jesuit, Catholic, college preparatory school, the Guidance & College Counseling department concerns itself with the individual care and development of our students. The major goals of the department are academic and personal counseling. We seek to assist students in making decisions that affect their education and to implement programs that will enable them to reach their full potential. Counselors offer academic counseling that deals with the student’s practical needs: study skills, student/teacher relationships, course selection, peer relationships, career information, testing, and college selection. The goals are achieved through individual meetings and a comprehensive group guidance curriculum across four years.
Prep’s guidance program is an integral part of the overall educational program. Like an academic course, group guidance is a scheduled class that every student takes throughout his four years. Students meet with their counselor once every cycle. At every grade level, the curriculum is structured, developmental and flexible, enabling the counselors to effectively address the students’ various needs.
Also, a number of evening workshops and other programs are offered to students and their parents on the various aspects of the college admission process.
We provide personal counseling on a short-term basis to enhance a student’s knowledge and acceptance of self, as well as to support him in understanding issues and solving problems. The department provides referrals for students and families to outside counseling agencies if the need for more lengthy or specialized services arises.
Counselors maintain the confidentiality of their relationships with students. Counselors are obliged not to disclose information that a student has shared within the context of the counseling relationship, unless such disclosures are necessary to protect the student from posing a serious threat to himself or to others.
For general college counseling information, please call 201-547-6380. Click on each name below to learn more about the members of our team!
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Counselor |
Email address | Phone | Responsibilities |
| Mr. Joe Giglio, '87* | giglioj@spprep.org | 201-547-2304 | Junior/Senior Counselor |
| Ms. Yetunde Daniels-Rubinstein** | rubinsteiny@spprep.org | 201-547-6462 |
Junior/Senior Counselor |
| Fr. Anthony Azzarto, S.J. | azzartoa@spprep.org | 201-547-6412 | Special Groups' Counselor |
| Ms. Elizabeth Benedict | benedicte@spprep.org | 201-547-6467 | Learning Specialist |
| Mr. Benjamin Brenkert, S.J. | brenkertb@spprep.org | 201-547-6478 | Freshman/Sophomore Counselor |
| Mr. James Dondero, '66 | donderoj@spprep.org | 201-547-6383 | Junior/Senior Counselor |
| Ms. Sarah Morissette | morissettes@spprep.org | 201-547-6435 | Junior/Senior Counselor |
| Ms. Grace Morris | morrism@spprep.org | 201-547-6381 | Freshman/Sophomore Counselor |
| Fr. John Mullin, S.J. | mullinj@spprep.org | 201-547-6454 | Freshman/Sophomore Counselor |
| Ms. Kathleen Rowan | rowank@spprep.org | 201-547-6391 | Freshman/Sophomore Counselor |
| Mrs. Janice Martineau | martineauj@spprep.org | 201-547-6380 | Office Manager/Administrative Assistant |
* Director of Guidance & College Counseling | ** Associate Director
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giglioj@spprep.org | 201-547-2304 |
Giuseppe "Joe" Giglio, '87 is excited to be back at his alma mater, serving the Prep community as Director of Guidance & College Counseling. Mr. Giglio credits the late Fr. Ray Balduf, S.J. with developing his lifelong interest in college admission and counseling.
Mr. Giglio previously served as Executive Director of Admission and Enrollment Marketing at St. Peter's College (now Saint Peter's University). Mr. Giglio had a 19 year career in college admission. He has been on the Admission team at Fordham University and Stevens Institute of Technology. He served a term as chair of the Council of Jesuit Admission Directors (CJAD) and is an active participant in regional and national professional organizations. Joe "got his start" as the student body elected representative on the Admission Committee at the College of the Holy Cross (MA). A Hudson County native, Mr. Giglio resides in Cranford with his wife and young son, who, at the age of three, can sign all the verses of "Pride & Glory" as well as the Prep fight song. |
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rubinsteiny@spprep.org | 201-547-6462 |
Yetunde Daniels-Rubinstein was struck by the Admission bug as an intern at Bucknell University, where she completed her undergraduate career, Ms. Rubinstein has loved working with young adults ever since. She joined the professional ranks in the admission office at Fordham University which allowed her to delve deeper into the college side of the process while clarifying that what she valued most was working with students and their families as they navigated the waters of admission. As the Community Liaison, she was able to straddle the secondary and post-secondary worlds by working with underserved students and their families in the tri-state area. This experience truly was the spark that encouraged in her the desire to work with students on the other side of the desk. After almost a decade on the high school side, she truly affirms "I LOVE coming to work every day. Each day is an opportunity to learn something new from my students. They motivate and drive my passion to be their advocate"
Ms. Rubinstein came to the Prep in 2005, took a step away in 2009, but returned in 2012 to serve as the Associate Director. When away from Prep, Ms. Rubinstein is happily engaged in the varied activities of her two daughters and husband. She relishes watching them discover the wonders of humanity all over the world. |
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Fr. Tony Azzarto, S.J. azzartoa@spprep.org | 201-547-6412 |
Fr. Tony Azzarto, S.J. has been at St. Peter’s Prep at various times for 34 years. He has taught Religion, served as chaplain for twenty years and is now alumni chaplain and teaches Senior Theology. He also spent 7 years in Africa. Fr. Azzarto is host to grief groups and those who are in a family of divorce and/or separation. He tries to be present at times of loss in the families. He is always easy to reach by email: azzartoa@spprep.org
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Ms. Elizabeth Benedict benedicte@spprep.org | 201-547-6467 |
Elizabeth Benedict runs the Browning Center for students with diagnosed learning needs. She has an undergraduate degree in education and special education from Boston College. She has been working in the same field ever since, with a lengthy time-out for raising her two children. At one time or another, she has taught as a regular teacher, special education teacher, push-in teacher, home instructor, substitute teacher and tutor for grades 1 through 12. She has experience with students with learning disabilities and with emotional issues. She receives a Masters degree in Reading in May 2013 from St. Peter's University, in part thanks to the faculty formation commitments of Saint Peter's Prep.
At Prep, Ms. Benedict likes to chaperone Campus Ministry-sponsored Christian service trips, from Union City to West Virginia. She runs the AfterPrep program with Mrs. Morris. She teaches Foundations classes during summer school. Ms. Benedict's children have been a great resource to her, as one taught her everything she knows about executive function issues, and the other one taught her never to leave a teenager home alone on a weekend. She has been a Sunday School teacher and a Girl Scout Leader. She has been a member of five PTAs, and been Fund-Raising grunt, Fund-Raising Chair, Book Fair Chair, Communication Liaison, and Theater Production gofer. She has survived two college application processes. Now that spare time is returned to her, she likes to read, watch Downton Abbey, travel, hike, and enjoy her family. |
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brenkertb@spprep.org | 201-547-6478 |
Ben Brenkert, S.J. is from Valley Stream, Long Island, and played football and tennis at Valley Stream Central High School. Ben graduated from Marist College (2002), Hofstra University (2004) and Saint Louis University (2009). Ben is completing advanced coursework at New York University, he will graduate with a Post-Masters Certificated in June (2013).
Ben is a Jesuit Regent, and has been a member of the Society of Jesus since 2005. He first worked at Prep in the Office of Campus Ministry and Christian Service, completing his Novice experiment in 2007. During that time he coached Freshman baseball. Now in his third year of Regency Ben is completing a three year period of training and formation. About his Regency Ben writes: Beyond the professional and communitarian aspects of Regency come the responsibility of integrating and developing a spiritual life. At the heart of my mission to Prep must be my personal prayer! For me, Regency is a time to pray with others, to pray with my students, and my colleagues, it is a time to be aware of all of God’s children who seek to so readily find God in all things. Therefore, the context of Regency in Jesuit formation and the significance of a Regent in the life of Prep include the very breadth and depth of graces of the Spiritual Exercises. The graces of the Spiritual Exercises guide the young Jesuit as he demonstrates growth in formation for apostolic life and mission. At Prep Ben works as a Guidance Counselor, School Social Worker and teacher of Religion. Ben is also an Assistant Coach for Prep's JV Baseball team. In August Ben will begin a three period of graduate study in theology in preparation for the ordination to the Catholic priesthood. |
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morissettes@spprep.org | 201-547-6435 |
Sarah Morissette is dedicated to providing guidance to students as they navigate complex issues such as academic planning and preparing for college. Sarah is a member of the American School Counselor Association and NACA, she holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and School Counseling for grades K-12. She is passionate about helping students who are transitioning to a new phase in their academic careers. One of Sarah’s more valuable assets is her professional experience in college admissions. A former admissions counselor at Paul Smith’s College and Saint Peter’s University, she understands the college application process from the perspective of a college admissions officer. An unique position of offering meaningful, practical advice for Prep students and families. Sarah received her undergraduate degree in sociology from Saint Joseph’s University and her Master’s degree from West Chester University. Sarah recently moved back from Philadelphia to join the Prep community. When Sarah is not working with her Prep families, she enjoys travel, listening to music, and spending time with her husband and two cats. |
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Ms. Grace Morris morrism@spprep.org | 201-547-6381 |
M. Grace Morris joined the Prep Guidance Department in 2011 as a Freshman/Sophomore level Counselor. Prior to joining The Prep Faculty, she worked as a School Counselor at Immaculate Conception High School, Marist High School and Bishop George Ahr High School. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Fairfield University in Connecticut, followed by her Masters degree from Seton Hall University.
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Fr. John Mullin, S.J. mullinj@spprep.org | 201-547-6454 |
For the past ten years, Fr. John Mullin, S.J. has assisted freshmen as they navigate the ups and downs of transition to high school life at Prep. His goal has been to help freshmen find the balance between working to their full potential academically and getting involved in the many co-curricular activities that Prep has to offer. Fr. Mullin brings a varied background to his work with freshmen. He taught Biology at Prep in the ‘70’s and was Chaplain in the ‘80s. He served as a parish priest at both St. Peter’s Parish and St. Francis Xavier Parish in New York City and, after earning a degree in Pastoral Counseling at Loyola University of Maryland, he worked in Campus Ministry both at St. Peter’s University and Fordham University. One of Fr. Mullin’s greatest joys is to be the guidance counselor for some of the many sons of Prep alumni that he taught or accompanied on Emmaus Retreats in the past. Fr. Mullin is moderator of SPPAC, the Performing Arts Club, and co-moderator with Fr. Azzarto of the Asian Society.
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Saint Peter's Prep • New Jersey's Jesuit High School since 1872
144 Grand Street • Jersey City, NJ 07302
P: (201) 547-6400 • F: (201) 547-2341
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144 Grand Street • Jersey City, NJ 07302
P: (201) 547-6400 • F: (201) 547-2341
Site created by Hopeworks 'N Camden