Mater Dei High School, New Monmouth, has long been dedicated to ensuring its students leave the school with all the tools they need to be successful in college. And now, the school has a new name to match that commitment.

Effective July 1, the school officially changed its name to Mater Dei Prep: A Catholic Preparatory School.

According to Mater Dei principal Steve Sciarappa, the change is indicative of the strong curriculum and programs that the school is already known for.

“We believe the new name properly reflects the long tradition of academic rigor and excellence at Mater Dei and also speaks to the continued innovative enrichment of our programs and facilities,” said Sciarappa, who became principal of the school in 2009.

The change coincides with the launch of a partnership with Seton Hall University, South Orange, and other local colleges for dual enrollment programs that will enable Mater Dei students to participate in collegelevel courses while still in high school.

Through Seton Hall’s Project Acceleration, students may earn up to 22 credits from the university for approved classes taken in their high school.

The dual enrollment program, in conjunction with advanced placement classes offered by Mater Dei, will allow juniors and seniors to begin accumulating a considerable amount of college credits before graduation.

“Our goal is to broaden our students’ horizons each and every day,” Sciarappa said. “Through AP and Dual Enrollment programs, Mater Dei Prep students have the opportunity to truly prepare for the challenges they will face in college.”

Such opportunities, he explained, help Mater Dei to stand out among other schools in the area.

“Students in the region have many outstanding choices for private education,” he said. “We believe that our challenging academic programs combined with our tremendous extracurricular, leadership development and community service opportunities offer Mater Dei Prep students an incredibly robust high school experience rooted in the Catholic faith.”

Mater Dei has also made several other additions and enhancements to the school for the upcoming 2010-2011 academic year. They have added a state-of-the-art dance studio for their award-winning performing arts department, constructed a new eight-lane track, completed a bleacher renovation project and introduced a music program for students interested in band and orchestra. They have also announced plans to renovate the school’s science labs and cafeteria.

The improvements, along with the support of the school board of St. Mary Parish, which is located on the same New Monmouth campus as Mater Dei, are all a part of ensuring the continued success of the school, Sciarappa said.

“We are fortunate to have such a wonderful tradition of excellence at Mater Dei. As Mater Dei Prep, we will be building on that tradition far into the future,” he said.