Manchester High School Planning Summer AP Boot Camp

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township High School is planning a "boot camp" for students seeking to take Advanced Placement courses next school year, the district announced.

The plan for the AP boot camp comes as the district continues to increase the number of AP offerings, and as the number of students taking the courses rises as well, Principal Dennis Adams and Vice Principal Sarah Thiffault said.

The proposal for the boot camp was presented at the Board of Education meeting on March 17.

"Over the past couple of years we have been increasing the number of AP courses that we have been offering our students," Adams said. "What we wanted to do now is build in some support for our AP students so that they could be successful and so that we can have a sustainable and thriving program."

The AP boot camp is designed for first-time AP students in any subject, which could be students at any grade level from freshmen through seniors. Each boot camp session would be four days and offered in person at the high school (pandemic rules permitting).

The proposal includes two sessions, July 26-29 and Aug. 9-12, with the camp running 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Sign up would be through AP Hub on the school’s website. The boot camp will be taught by some of the school’s AP teachers and students will use their school-issued Chromebooks.

Adams said the idea came from a conversation between Thiffault and the AP teachers.

"When we were looking at this, asking what we should be offering our kids, what do they need to be successful, we came up with some essential questions," Thiffault said. "What supports are available for students to develop a network with their peers and teachers? What are the academic skills necessary for AP exam and college success? What are the practical applications of critical reading, teamwork, organization, problem-solving, and communication skills inside and outside of the classroom?"

Tiffault said the first two days of the program will focus on philosophies of success, learning strategies, organization, time management, study skills, collaboration, leadership skills and problem-solving. Day three will be an in-depth focus on critical reading, note-taking and analyzing documents. Day four will include meeting some of the AP teachers, reviewing the required AP summer assignments, and test-taking strategies.

"We will focus on skill and content development," Thiffault said. "To be successful in the AP classes, students who attend the AP boot camp will be actively engaged with their peers in various activities designed to prepare students mentally, emotionally, and psychologically for the rigors that will be placed upon them in the college setting."

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