Weekly Blast 03.06.26
March 9, 2026 -
CONTENTS
A NOTE FROM THE HEADMASTER
HIGH SCHOOL SPECIFICS
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPECIFICS
ATHLETICS
COLLEGE COUNSELING
FAMILY GIVING
DATES TO NOTE
MAR 6 MS EPIC CYCLE
MAR 13 END OF Q3
MAR 14-22 SPRING BREAK
MAR 23-28 SENIOR CLASS TRIP TO DC
APR 3 NO SCHOOL
A NOTE FROM THE HEADMASTER
Hello GP Families,
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the National Classical Education Symposium, a gathering designed to enrich one’s understandings of the classical tradition in both the theoretical and practical dimensions of curriculum and pedagogy. One of the sessions left an imprint on my heart as a single question continued to surface, one that I want to pose to you:
What is it that you want for your children?
The session was titled “Full, Ready, and Exact: Becoming a Better Thinker” and was led by Andrew Pudewa of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. His presentation centered on a question that feels increasingly relevant for parents and educators alike today.
“Artificial intelligence can now instantly conduct research, generate polished writing, and even imitate human reasoning. In a world where technology is able to produce words so quickly, is it less important—or more important—to cultivate the distinctly human arts of language in our students?”
I hope you will agree that it is certainly more important than ever!
Reading, writing, and speaking remain essential tools for forming the mind. Through these, students develop curiosity, creativity, and the ability to communicate meaningfully with others. They learn to navigate complex ideas by learning to listen, speak, read, write, and think well.
And thus came the question: What is it that you want for your children?
For many of us, the answer might include something along the lines of, “That they become kind humans who are good readers, thoughtful writers, and careful thinkers.”
Speaking, as Pudewa noted, moves words from a passive vocabulary to an active vocabulary, whereas writing (as Francis Bacon famously observed), “makes an exact man,” because writing requires the careful distillation of thought. One cannot write clearly without first learning to think clearly.
These are precisely the habits this classical education your students interact with each day seeks to cultivate. GP students encounter rich language in the great books, develop ideas through the writing process, and further refine their thinking through discussion and seminar.
Even through practices that are seemingly simple, such as memorizing a poem or passage, serve an important role. When students learn language “by heart,” they take it inside themselves, furnishing their minds with words of beauty, precision, and meaning.
One example of the power of carefully chosen language is the opening sentence of the Declaration of Independence. A sentence that consists of 86 words that helped shape the course of history and still demand a careful reading to fully understand.
While it is true that technology will continue to evolve, it is of the upmost importance that the human work of forming ideas and expressing them clearly remains unchanged.
As you answer this very question for yourselves, it is not lost on me that you have chosen Glendale Prep to partner with in the formation of your children. Thank you for your trust and partnership in cultivating the hearts and minds of our next generation.
Warmly,
Mrs. Janssen
HIGH SCHOOL
2026 JR SR PROM SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, April 25
6-10PM
Blackstone Country Club
11th GRADE FIELD TRIP
When: Friday, March 13
Where: iFLY Phoenix
DETAILS
• Students should pack a sack lunch.
• Students may wear “spirit day” dress (jeans and a spirit shirt). iFly recommends no collared shirts. It is also recommended that individuals with long hair wear it “braided and in a low bun.”
• Students will participate in a lab activity and watch a physics demo.
• Each student will also have the opportunity to try a low flight.
• There is a high flight option with an instructor that individual students may choose to purchase on site for $8. Please bring a card or exact cash if you are interested.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL EPIC CYCLE- TONIGHT!
*PrePurchase was required; no ticket purchases at the door
Drop Off: 7:00PM, doors close at 7:30PM
Pick up: promptly at 10:00PM
Pick Up Note: In order to facilitate a quick pick-up, we will utilize the normal afternoon pick-up procedure. 8th grade students and their younger siblings will be picked up on the north curb (right lane) and 6th and 7th grade students should be picked up on the east curb (left lane). Please do not park in the fire lane as we do not want students venturing out into the parking lot when it is dark outside.
ATTENTION 8TH GRADE FAMILIES!
Save the date for GP’s annual High School 101!
Thursday, April 9
6:00-8:00PM.
First Choice Foreign Language – High School Retreat Raffle – College Counseling – Extracurriculars – Athletics – Curriculum – Swag, and more!
MISC SCHOOL INFO
STATE TESTING
AZ state required testing will take place during the months of March and April.
Week of March 23rd- 27th:
11th Grade AzSci in class (3 days of testing in Physics)
8th Grade AzSci in class (3 days of testing in Earth Science)
CLASSIC AND MODERN LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Classes will be taking merit testing during their language class time on the following dates:
Spanish- March 5 & 6
French- March 12 & 13
Latin March 12
Greek- March 12
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER
Students who have unexcused absences at the end of the third quarter are not eligible to make up missed assignments, quizzes, or tests. Teachers will communicate with students regarding missed work due to illness.
ATTENTION RISING 6TH GRADE FAMILIES!
Save the date for GP’s annual Middle School Parent Information Night!
Thursday, April 16
6:00-8:00PM
If you have a new middle schooler joining Glendale Prep next year, we invite you to join us for a parent-only information night. We’ll discuss academics, enrichments, and athletics in an evening filled with fun and informative content. Stay tuned for more details!
ATHLETICS
Spring Participation Fee Links
Participation fees for spring are due! Please use one of the following links to pay:
Middle School – https://glendaleprep.configio.com/pd/2297/2026-ms-spring-sports
High School – https://glendaleprep.configio.com/pd/2291/2026-hs-spring-sports
Spring Game Schedules
Please visit the athletics website to find the most up to date game information. High school and middle school schedules are available.
High School Golf Coach
We are in need of a high school golf coach. This is an immediate hire and would start asap as we are in the middle of the high school golf season. Reach out to Mr. Kontak (jkontak@glendaleprep.org) with any interest.
COLLEGE COUNSELING
Actuarial Science and Data Science Summer Program
Each summer, Lebanon Valley College offers an Actuarial Science Program and this year they are adding a Data Science Program. Feedback from a student who attended the Actuarial Science Program was extremely positive and helped him decide on it as a career path. If your child is interested, please utilize the links provided. Additionally, they are hosting information sessions on March 25th and April 15th at 4:00 pm Arizona time. You can register by using the links.
Midwestern University’s Summer Health Careers Institute – July 13-17
Join Midwestern University faculty and students for a FREE 5-day hand-on program to learn about various health professions. Applications are due April 1, 2026. For more information, see the flyer.
Free ACT Practice Test
Revolution Prep will be offering a free ACT practice tests on March 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th. For more information and sign up instructions, please use this link.
College Tour in California – June 1-4, 2026
Great Hearts is providing high school students with the opportunity to participate in a four-day tour of nine different California colleges and universities. If you are interested, please see the attached flyer. There is a non-refundable deposit of $150 and the total cost for the trip is $859. If you have questions, please email Roslyn.fletcher@greathearts.org.
FAMILY GIVING
Race to 150: The Challenge Continues!
Our Arizona Public School Tax Credit Challenge is heating up, and we’re making great progress! Thank you to the families who have already stepped up to support our school programs. Every tax credit helps make amazing opportunities possible for our students.
Did you know that any Arizona taxpayer can contribute and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state taxes? That means individuals can give up to $200, and married couples filing jointly can give up to $400 and receive that same amount back as a credit on their Arizona taxes.
It’s one of the easiest ways to support our school while benefiting your own tax return!
Your tax credit helps fund things students love, including:
• Field trips and hands-on learning experiences
• Athletics and extracurricular clubs
• Fine arts and performances
• Student activities
Remember: Donations must be made by April 15th, which may be applied toward your 2025 taxes, so now is a great time to participate! You can even invite grandparents, neighbors, or friends who live in Arizona to join in. Questions? Please reach out to Tammy Kempton, Family Giving Officer, at tkempton@glendaleprep.org.
Contest Update!
This week’s winner of Handel’s Ice Cream gift card is Andrew D. in 9th grade!
We need 113 more tax credits to earn a school-wide Head-to-Toe Crazy Wear Day! The competition between grades is still on! The grade that brings in the most tax credits will earn a Pizza and Snow Cone Lunch Celebration on the patio.
Here is where each grade stands:
12th grade is still in first place with 32% of the senior class referring a tax credit!! Will our 10th grade catch up?
Questions? Please reach out to Tammy Kempton, Family Giving Officer, at tkempton@glendaleprep.org.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Jenny Haley, Office Manager
JHaley@glendaleprep.org
GLENDALE PREP ATTENDANCE
623.889.0822
Option 4
attendance@glendaleprep.org
