Co-Curricular Activities
Fordham Prep offers a wealth of co-curricular activities, organized and run by faculty and students. Students are encouraged to participate as much as possible in the life of the school through these clubs and activities.
Acting for the Camera Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Jennings
Students learn the techniques for successful auditions for on-camera commercials and acting roles.
Anime/Trading Card Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Foley ’63
Club members gather regularly to view and discuss Japanese animated film, and to compete in strategic card games.
Art and Publicity Club
Faculty Moderator: Ms. Honigman
Members of this club help publicize school events. They create posters, flyers and announcements for school activities.
Asian Club
Faculty Moderators: Mrs. Estrella & Ms. Han
The club shares the diversity of the many Asian cultures through an annual Pan-Asian Day, after-school socials and field trips.
Astronomy Club
Faculty Moderators: Ms. Dempsey & Mr. Haag ’84
Members explore the heavens with a telescope and discuss areas of common interest.
Aviation Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Gonzalez
Students learn to fly virtually and become familiar with the history of flight, its dangers and safety measures.
Bluegrass Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Homer
Acoustic music lovers come together to practice, perform, to improve their skills and share their talents.
Book Club
Faculty Moderators: Mrs. Salvatorelli & Mrs. Simeone
Students and faculty meet to discuss and share their reactions to a particular work of literature. The group meets several times a year.
Building Bridges Club
Faculty Moderators: Mrs. Martinez & Mr. O’Sullivan ’98
Students discuss issues of human dignity, respect and equality for all regardless of their differences.
Campus Ministry
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Carney
Students are offered opportunities in a number of events, activities and programs to nurture and strengthen the spiritual growth of the community.
Chess Team
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Pedro
Students compete against students from other schools.
Classics Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. DiGiorno ’88
The club celebrates the cultures of Greece and Rome. Members share their interest in Greek and Latin, watch films and go on field trips.
Computer Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Tartaglia
Members investigate operating systems and Internet applications, share programming and Internet skills, and organize video game tournaments.
Computer Music Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Otis
Members compose music, individually and in collaboration, on their own laptops.
Cooking Club
Faculty Moderator: Mrs. English
Members discuss food and recipes, and cook dishes the night before activities period. After deciding which recipe tastes better and distributing recipes, next week’s theme is discussed.
Diversity Alliance
Faculty Moderator: Mrs. Piñeiro
The alliance of students and teachers promotes sensitivity to issues of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religion, culture and language.
Dramatics/Stage Crew
Faculty Moderator: Mr. O’Sullivan & Mr. Otis
Students participate as actors, singers, musicians, stage crew, carpenters, electricians, business staff, ushers and artists. There are two productions a year in the Leonard Theatre: a drama and a musical.
Film Club
Faculty Moderator: Fr. O’Konsky
The club is dedicated to watching and discussing a particular film, examining themes, scenes, etc.
Fitness Center
Faculty Moderators: Mr. Distefano, Mr. Kravatz & Ms. Zefran
The fitness center is available for a full range of workout activities throughout the school year. Students learn the safe and proper use of the equipment and the dietary and conditioning needs involved in the use of the facilities.
FP T.V. Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. DiGiorno ’88
Members produce a news program for the Fordham Prep community. Students film, edit, write and produce the programs.
French Club
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Morris
Club members explore French culture through films, games and visits to museums, restaurants and theaters.
Frisbee Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Viele ’01
Members meet on different University and Prep fields for general Frisbee fun and ultimate Frisbee.
Habitat for Humanity Club
Faculty Moderator: Mrs. Henry
Members are in regular communication with the Habitat for Humanity organization. The club participates in construction projects and does fundraising for Habitat projects.
Hellenic Society
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Gasdogas & Ms. Manessis
Members plan activities to honor and celebrate Greek heritage and culture.
Intramurals
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Pigott
Students can participate in open games after school, including basketball and flag football.
Irish Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Dwyer ’98
The club helps members learn about and celebrate Irish culture through discussions, films and field trips. The club raises money for FP service trips to Tennessee and marches in a local St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Italian Club
Faculty Moderators: Mr. DiFato ’99, Ms. Faustini & Mrs. Simeone
Members plan cultural activities that foster Italian heritage. Special events include a walking tour of Arthur Avenue, an Iron Chef Italia evening, a hands-on cooking class, a Carnevale celebration, a trip to the opera and an end-of-year Italian barbecue.
Just Serve Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Kravatz
This club is dedicated to increasing the Fordham Prep community’s awareness of injustice, including respect for life, immigration, environmental degradation, health care, poverty, hunger, etc. Members are active in conjunction with Campus Ministry programs such as teach-ins and the March for Life.
Kawaida Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Pedro
Students of all backgrounds explore issues that affect people of color through film, books and the media. Special events include trips to plays and museums, a basketball tournament and barbecue.
Literary Magazine (Labyrinth)
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Lee
Fordham Prep’s literary magazine is published annually in the spring, and includes artwork, photography, stories, poems and essays produced by FP students and staff.
Liturgical Choir
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Kravatz
Faculty, staff and students provide music and song for the major liturgies of the Prep community.
Marine Biology Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Gonzalez
Students care for fresh and salt-water fish through tank setup, maintenance and trouble-shooting.
Martial Arts Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Johnson ’98
Members will learn several forms of self-defense, including karate, judo and jiu-jitsu. The club focuses on self-defense and physical fitness.
Math Team
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Verlezza ’94
Students participate in Math competitions over the course of the year for fun and glory!
Mathletics Club
Faculty Moderator: Mrs. Henry
This activity is for students interested in Math puzzles in multiple dimensions, creative building games, games of visual perception, pattern matching and games of logic.
Mock Trial Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Lauber ’79
Students study a case study and serve as prosecution and defense before a judge and jury.
Model U.N. Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Nolan
The purpose of the club is to help students better understand international conflicts in open discussion and debate.
Monty Python/Arrested Development Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Distinti
Members enjoy episodes of Monty Python’s Flying Circus and the group’s feature films.
National Honor Society
Faculty Moderator: Ms. Zefran
Members must have a 3.5 average and demonstrate qualities of leadership, service and character. Responsibilities include peer tutoring, an annual Christmas toy drive and various school functions throughout the year.
Click here to see membership information.
Newspaper (Rampart)
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Langellotti
Students publish eight issues of the Rampart, the school newspaper.
June 2012
November 2012
NYC Explorers Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Homer
Students research and visit interesting sites related to New York City’s history, geography and architecture.
Operation Smile Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Homer
Operation Smile works to promote and support the work of Operation Smile International, a medical mission program, founded by Prep graduate Dr. Bill Magee ’62, that provides facial reconstructive surgery and related health care to indigent children around the world.
Orchestra
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Otis
Students are given the opportunity to participate in a performance-oriented orchestra for two performances a year.
Photography Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Lauber '79
Members share their experiences of digital photography and provide photos for the yearbook.
Polish Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Kravatz
The culture and food of Poland are celebrated and shared with the FP community.
Political Science Journal
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Langellotti
Students publish Objective, a journal of student essays on political issues.
Rock Climbing Club
Faculty Moderators: Mr. Hemsley & Mr. Viele '01
Members enjoy climbing in area gyms.
Role Players Guild
Faculty Moderator: Mrs. English
Students gather to develop plots, characters and themes through collaborative storytelling games.
S.A.D.D.
Faculty Moderator: Fr. O’Konsky, SJ
S.A.D.D. raises awareness within the school and outside communities of the dangers of drinking and driving, and other destructive decisions.
Scale Modeling Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Haag
Members share about model trains and nautical vehicles, extending discussions to include schematics, engineering, steam and diesel engines, etc.
Service Immersion Trips
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Carney
The trips offer weeklong service opportunities involving home building and rehabilitation in the Appalachian Mountain Region, Camden (NJ) and Ecuador. The group meets regularly to plan fund raising projects and to learn about the poor of the Appalachian Region and other parts of the world.
The Simpsons Club
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Carney
The popular television show is the focus of this club. Students gather to share and enjoy their favorite episodes.
Ski & Ride Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Viele '01
Students plan skiing and ride outings.
Spanish Club
Faculty Moderators: Mr. Baker, Mr. Phipps ’01 & Mrs. Piñeiro
The club promotes and celebrates Hispanic unity and cultural awareness. Annual events include trips to cultural events, museums and luncheons with sister schools. Members provide tutoring to freshmen.
Speech and Debate Team
Faculty Moderator: Mrs. Bratt
Team members gain experience in acting, debating and public speaking, competing against Catholic, public and private schools in the region. Team members have qualified for prestigious national championships.
Click here for BBC report.
Student Government
Faculty Moderators: Mr. Carney, Ms. Dempsey, Mr. Hemsley and Mr. Ritter ’96
Student Government officers act as liaisons between faculty/administrators and the student body. Student Government members run social activities of the school, including Freshman Family Orientation, Freshman Field Day, dances and class trips.
Yearbook (Ramkin)
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Lauber ’79
Students produce the yearly Ramkin. Members are active in photography, writing, computer layout and design, proofreading, and business.
Young Democrats Club
Faculty Moderator: Mr. Dwyer ’98
Students discuss current political trends and explore the goals of the Democratic Party.
