| A Note From the Headmaster
Hello Parents,
Please forgive another blast that references To Kill a Mockingbird, but it is so wonderful! We finished the courtroom scene and witness the despair of the children (Jem, Dill, and Scout) experience in seeing the injustice when the jury convicts Tom Robinson. What comes out in the story is the power of racism; something earlier referred to as Maycomb’s disease. Jem questions the power of racism and proposes solutions to combat it (particularly making suggestions for how to free Tom Robinson or what changes should be made so no injustice occurs ever again). In response, Atticus suggests that even if good men were on the jury, they may be afraid to stand up for what is right and good.
I was thinking more broadly about societal pressure and anxiety when called to stand up for what is good; naturally, I began to think about our children.
Is this generation going to be able to overcome the various pressures and forms of anxiety for the sake of good?
And when I consider society’s reliance upon and value of technology and social media, I cannot help but believe we, as parents, may not be prepared to face this obstacle or see the stakes as high as we should. It cannot be denied that technology and social media can be used for good or for evil, but these pose another area of life that our children must navigate, and hopefully do so with us right by their side.
There are many ways parents can learn about how best to guide children regarding technology and social media- articles on the internet, discussion boards, books, presentations, and asking other parents about their practices at home. I wanted to share about an upcoming talk that I learned about from parents in our community that will take place at a local school. The talk is designed for parents on this very subject of technology and social media. Please see an electronic flyer here. Additionally, our own college counselor, Katherine Sarbacker, is leading a book club addressing this very issue at our GP campus. This is a place to discuss and share about the book as well as personal insights.
Sincerely,
Mr. Navarrette
Middle School Epic Cycle 2019:
The Death of Arthur: Middle School students are invited to join us for a late-night event at Glendale Preparatory Academy to read selections of Arthurian legend.
When: TONIGHT, Friday, February 22nd from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Where: Glendale Preparatory Academy Gymnasium (please bring socks to wear on the gym floor)
What: Dramatic readings of Arthurian legend around a campfire, with snacks, games, and roasting marshmallows
Deadline: Any latecomers must be dropped off at the door by a parent who can sign a permission form.
Payment: The cost is $10.00
Night of the Event:
- Students must check-in at the gym lobby. Phones must be checked in upon arrival and can be picked up upon departure. Phones may only be used during the event to contact parents if needed.
- Comfortable warm clothing (pajamas allowed). Clothing must be “Glendale Prep appropriate”. (No spaghetti straps, sleeveless shirts, tight leggings or yoga pants; no inappropriate wording on shirts/pajamas. No short shorts.) Students who do not dress appropriately will be asked to call parents to bring appropriate clothing or leave the event.
- Students can bring their own board games, cards, or other things to have fun with friends.
- Students may bring a blanket and pillow to sit on outside during the readings.
- Snack food will be provided. If your student has food sensitivities, please make certain to bring approved food with them, as we will be unable to accommodate special diets. Students can bring their own candy and other snacks.
- All students must be picked up by 10:15 p.m.
National Latin and Greek Exam
Students who study Latin or Greek will be taking the National Latin or National Greek Exam, during 1st Period, on Thursday, February 28th. All students will have a slightly modified schedule. Lunch will be moved up 25 minutes; 1st lunch will begin at 11:35 a.m. and 2nd lunch will begin at 12:05 p.m. Due to the standardized nature of the test, it will not be possible to reschedule the test if your student is absent. Please ensure your student arrives at school by 8:00 a.m.
Griffin Players Drama Performance
Do you like tumbling and swashbuckling pirates? Tropes of singing and dancing maidens? Leap-Year Babies? Join the Griffin Players for the musical comedy Pirates of Penzance on March 1st and 2nd. The performance will be on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for everyone else and can be purchased here on the payment portal or with cash at the door.
Great Hearts AZ Career Fair
Dear Great Hearts Families,
Headmasters and the Talent Team are well underway with our most important annual search… for intellectually, morally, and aesthetically lively individuals to join the faculty at our academies. Our recruiting efforts are strengthened by the “word-of-mouth” promotion of Great Hearts teaching opportunities to the broader local community through our own academy families. For those of you who have colleagues, friends, family, and/or neighbors whom you’d love to encourage work for Great Hearts, would you please pass along this EventBrite link with information about the Great Hearts AZ Career Fair Open House on Thursday, February 28th. We’ve also attached a flyer or your convenience.
Re-Enrollment Sign Up
Great Hearts Re-Enrollment emails for current 6th-11th graders won’t be sent out until March 4th, but you can reserve your appointment now! All re-enrollment packets will be accepted by appointment the mornings of March 12th – March 14th in conjunction with Archway Glendale.
- Schedule your re-enrollment appointment here. Only one appointment per family, per school is necessary.
- On Monday, March 4th, Great Hearts will send an email with the re-enrollment instructions. It will instruct you to log on to the enrollment portal, fill out the re-enrollment packet for each of your students, print, and sign. The email will include the appointment Sign-Up link, as well, if you did not make the appointment prior.
- In addition to the packet, you will need proof of AZ Residency that matches the address on the Re-Enrollment form.
10th & 11th Grade Field Trip
The 10th & 11th Grade Field Trip to the Southwest Shakespeare Company to see Taming of the Schrew is scheduled for Friday, March 8th. All families have paid and given permission for the field trip as a part of their consumable contribution, therefore, no further action is needed.
Regular Uniform Dress Code is required. Students will depart by bus at 8:15 a.m. sharp (please arrive by the start of school at 8:05 a.m.) and must bring a sack lunch to be eaten after their visit. Please do not order an online lunch for your 10th or 11th grader for that day. Only water is permitted on the bus. Students will be released at the usual time of 3:05 p.m.
The expectation is that all 10th & 11th grade students will attend. If your student is unable to attend, please contact Ms. McLoughlin at tmcloughlin@glendaleprep.org.
2020 Summer Spain Trip
Good news! If you missed the opportunity to register for the Summer 2020 Spain Trip with EF Tours last fall, we’re having another enrollment period starting on Tuesday, March 5th. There will be a brief meeting in the library on Tuesday, March 5th, at 6:00 p.m. to go over the details and logistics; with enrollment beginning immediately following the meeting. The trip will be 9 days at the beginning of June 2020 and will include sites and activities in Madrid, Sevilla, Granada, and Málaga. RSVP for the informational meeting here. Please enter through the gym lobby. Email Mr. Allison at callison@glendaleprep.org with any questions.
Tax Credit
Who needs your Tax Credit?
The scholars in GP’s Math Counts after-school club, the Freshman who attended the field trip to The Phoenix Art Museum, and the girls’ middle-school soccer team all need your tax credit!
We sincerely thank those who have already given to Glendale Prep’s 2018 Tax Credit Drive!
To give your 2018 Tax Credit you can:
College Counseling
Book Club: College Counseling will be hosting a book club featuring the book “iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Teens are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy – and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood – and What That Means for the Rest of Us” by Jean Twenge, a professor at San Diego State University. Please join Mrs. Sarbacker in discussing the book and sharing insights, conversation, and community. We will meet the last Thursday of the months of February, March, and April at 7:00 p.m. in the GP library. Please enter through the gym lobby. If you are interested, please sign up here.
Summer Program: ASU’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership (SCETL) will be hosting a Civic Leadership Institute for current freshman, sophomores, and juniors on June 16-21. It is a week-long, intensive residential seminar, and last summer two of our students attended and had very positive experiences. Additional information is available. If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Sarbacker. |
