Weekly Blast 04.10.26
April 13, 2026 -
CONTENTS
A NOTE FROM THE HEADMASTER
HIGH SCHOOL SPECIFICS
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPECIFICS
ATHLETICS
COLLEGE COUNSELING
FAMILY GIVING
DATES TO NOTE
APR 10 PSO BINGO NIGHT
APR 14 RISING SENIOR NIGHT *Rising 12TH Graders
APR 16 MS PARENT INFO NIGHT *Rising 6TH Graders
APR 25 JUNIOR & SENIOR PROMENADE
A NOTE FROM THE HEADMASTER
Hello GP Families,
I want to thank you for participating in our recent Family Survey last month. The level of engagement from you, our GP families, reflects a deep investment in our school community, and I am grateful for the time and thought you put into your responses.
I have reviewed the results alongside our Leadership Team and will continue to work through them with leadership and our faculty as we prepare for the coming school year. Our goal in this process is to clearly identify both our strengths and the areas where we must continue to grow in order to deliver excellence in our commitment to the classical education and moral formation of your children.
Areas of Relative Strength
Academic Program & Classical Model
The most consistent theme in your responses by a significant margin was the strength of our academic program and classical, liberal arts approach.
A large portion of responses highlighted our curriculum, emphasis on critical thinking, and focus on character formation as the defining strengths of Glendale Prep. Families value that our model develops both the intellect and the character of students, and that our approach remains distinct in its commitment to Great Hearts’ mission.
Faculty Commitment & Care for Students
The second most frequently identified strength was our faculty.
Many families specifically noted that teachers who are both knowledgeable in their content and deeply invested in students are what make Glendale Prep special. The most meaningful feedback in this category centered on students feeling known, supported, and challenged by their teachers. As you know, an essential component of our mission is that students are known and loved, and we are overjoyed that this is the experience our students are having.
Community & Student Culture
A third major strength identified was our community and student culture.
Families frequently described Glendale Prep as a place where students build meaningful friendships, feel safe, and are part of a values-driven environment. The sense of community and shared expectations around character and conduct continue to be a defining feature of our school.
Areas for Improvement
Homework Expectations & Student Balance
The most consistent area of concern across the survey was homework expectations and student workload.
Families expressed that while they value academic rigor, the volume, consistency, and impact on student well-being and family time can at times feel disproportionate. The feedback was not a request to lower expectations, but rather to better calibrate workload and create a more sustainable balance.
Communication & Consistency
Another clear theme was the need for stronger communication and consistency.
Families identified a desire for more timely, clear, and predictable communication, particularly related to assignments, grading, and school decisions. Additionally, there were concerns about inconsistency in expectations and disciplinary practices, which can impact trust and clarity for both students and parents.
Our Commitment & Action Steps
As we look ahead to the remainder of this year and begin planning for next year, we are committed to responding thoughtfully and intentionally to your feedback. Our work will focus on strengthening what we do well while addressing the areas you have identified for growth.
Initial action steps include:
Re-examination of Homework Practices
We will work with our faculty and leadership team to review homework expectations, alignment across courses, and calibrate overall student workload. This will include gathering additional student input and refining practices to ensure rigor remains high while improving balance and sustainability.
Strengthening Communication Systems
We will evaluate and improve our communication structures and expectations to ensure families receive clear, timely, and consistent information. This includes alignment across faculty and leadership in how we communicate academic expectations and school decisions across academic, athletic and other extracurricular areas.
Thank you again for taking the time to provide your valuable input and data. I look forward to further working with the GP leadership team over the coming months to ensure we uphold our areas of strength and further explore how we will improve in the identified areas. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership as we pursue what is true, what is good, and what is beautiful together.
In Partnership,
Mrs. Janssen
HIGH SCHOOL
2026 JUNIOR & SENIOR PROMENADE
Today is the last day to purchase your 2026 Prom tickets (11:59PM). Don’t miss out!
CLASS OF 2027
Tuesday, April 14
6-8PM Glendale Prep Courtyard
Join us as we offer a “Senior Year At-A-Glance”
• college application and scholarship information
• senior mini-retreats
• senior perks
• Senior Trip to DC…
• and the Senior Thesis Project!
MIDDLE SCHOOL
RISING 9TH GRADERS…
IT’S TIME TO CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE PREFERENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Please fill out this foreign language survey no later than Friday, April 17.
We offer three foreign language tracks at Glendale Preparatory. Spanish, Latin and French.
Spanish Track: Spanish I-III with option of Spanish IV
Latin Track: Latin IV-V, Greek I with option of Greek II
French Track: French I-III with option of French IV
Students who do not rank their preference of language by April 17 will be put into a language with open space. Thank you for your understanding.
Parents will be notified via email before May 10 of language class for the 2026-2027 school year.
ATTENTION RISING 6TH GRADE FAMILIES!
Save the date for GP’s annual Middle School Parent ONLY Information Night!
Thursday, April 16
6:00-8:00PM
If you have a new middle school student joining Glendale Prep next year, we invite you to join us for a parent-only information night. We’ll discuss academics, enrichment opportunities, and athletics in an evening filled with fun and informative content.
MISC SCHOOL INFO
SHREK THE MUSICAL
Griffin Players presents…
Shrek the Musical!
Performances will take place Friday, April 17th at 7 pm and Saturday, April 18th at 2 pm and 7 pm.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the payment portal and at the door!
SEMESTER 2 FINAL EXAM REMINDERS
Semester 2 Final Exams are scheduled for Monday, May 18- Thursday, May 21.
Final exams are a culmination of the material students have learned through the entirety of the first semester and account for 10% of a student’s final grade in each course. Please schedule appointments and vacations outside of the final exam testing window.
Students who miss a final exam due to illness with a doctor’s note will make up any missed final exams the first week of summer break, on a given date. Unexcused absences or illness without a doctor’s note will result in the score of a zero for any missed final exam.
ATHLETICS
Spring Participation Fee Links
If you have not paid your spring participation fee, please use the following links to do so:
2026 MS SPRING SPORTS
2026 HS SPRING SPORTS
Spring Game Schedules
Visit our athletics website (Great Hearts Glendale Prep Academy) for up to date middle school and high school game schedules.
COLLEGE COUNSELING
CLEP Test for Spanish and French
Any GP 11th or 12th grade student interested in taking the Spanish or French CLEP test is encouraged to take the exam on Wednesday, April 29, at Scottsdale Prep. The testing session will begin at 2:00 PM. Please note that the registration link lists a 1:30 PM start time; however, this adjusted schedule allows students time to eat lunch and travel to Scottsdale Prep before the exam begins.
I recommend that juniors taking Spanish III or French III, who WILL NOT be taking foreign language in their senior year take this test on April 29th; additionally, seniors taking Spanish IV or French IV should take the exam. Depending on the score, students can earn 4, 8, 12, or 16 college credits through CLEP.
If your student is interested, please register for a seat using the following link: 2025-2026 CLEP Exams. In addition, you must also register and pay for the exam through the College Board at https://clep.collegeboard.org/clep-exams. Students taking the Spanish exam should select the option with writing, as this may qualify them for the Seal of Biliteracy. Unfortunately, this option is not available for French.
Please remember that both steps are required: reserving a seat at Scottsdale Prep using the first link and paying for the exam using the College Board link. If you register for the exam, please email me at ksarbacker@glendaleprep.org so I can keep track of participants.
Book Club – First Read is Atomic Habits
Do you want to explore the secrets of self-development and personal growth? Join the GP book club! We will meet next Wednesday (April 15th) from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in room 408 and will meet the first and third Wednesday in May, as well. We will be reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. Students, parents and faculty are welcome! Reach out to Mrs. Sarbacker at ksarbacker@glendaleprep.org if you and/or your child are interested in joining us! We will send location and a Zoom link to those who reply.
Joy of Coding (Online Courses)
The University of Michigan is offering online college-level coding courses designed for high school students. They are offered in a learn-at-your-own-pace, instructor-supported format.
Intro to Coding and Computational Thinking course is ideal for beginners with no prior coding background who want to experience the power of coding firsthand.
Intro to Data Visualization and AI course is a perfect follow-up for students with prior coding experience (such as our Intro to Coding Course or AP Computer Science) who want to learn how AI works to ultimately train, evaluate and improve their own AI
Intro to Training, Evaluating and Fine-tuning an AI offers an excellent introduction to students who have completed the data and visualization and AI course on how modern AI systems learn from data.
Students may begin courses any time after June 17, 2026, and complete them at their own pace by August 28, 2026. Each course requires about 4–6 hours per week.
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.
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
Final Countdown: 5 Days Left to Make Your Tax Credit Count!
The competition is heating up as our grade levels race toward the ultimate prize, a pizza and snow cone party! Right now, 12th grade is in the lead with 39% of their grade referring a tax credit with 10th grade right on their heels at 38%! There is still time for any grade to surge ahead.
With just 5 days left to contribute to the Arizona Public School Tax Credit, now is the moment to take action for the 2025 tax season. Remember, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit; you receive every dollar back when you file your taxes, while directly supporting Glendale Prep’s arts, athletics, field trips, extracurricular clubs, and more!
We are just 64 tax credits away from reaching our school-wide goal! If we hit it, the entire school will celebrate with a Head-to-Toe Crazy Wear Day!
Make your contribution today to help your grade level take the lead and support our school community. We also encourage you to share this opportunity with friends and family who pay taxes in Arizona; every contribution makes a difference.
Simply click here to make your contribution today!
Questions? Reach out to Tammy Kempton, Family Giving Officer, at tkempton@glendaleprep.org.
Thank you for your continued support!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Jenny Haley, Office Manager
JHaley@glendaleprep.org
GLENDALE PREP ATTENDANCE
623.889.0822
Option 4
attendance@glendaleprep.org
