| A Note from the Headmaster
This week I had the opportunity to read and discuss David Hicks’ Norms and Nobility with other headmasters from the Great Hearts network. The work itself challenges the assumptions of modern education and gives compelling insight into the aims of classical education—the education we joyfully pursue here at Glendale Prep. Hicks reminds us, through the words of John Stuart Mill, that “What a child can do should not become the sole judge of what the student is asked to do. A pupil from whom nothing is ever demanded that he cannot do, never does all he can.”
Classical education, then, calls our students beyond mere efficiency or convenience; it invites them to struggle toward what is difficult, what is excellent, and ultimately what is ennobling. As Hicks notes in Chapter 3, education is not simply about “preparing students to make a living” but about “teaching them to live well.” It is a vision that aims not only at knowledge, but at wisdom and virtue.
In that spirit of belonging and formation, we celebrated our annual House Sorting Ceremony today. All new Glendale Prep students were welcomed into one of our four Houses, joining peers across grade levels. While every student is known and loved as part of the GP family as a whole, the House system fosters unique connections and friendships, giving students another way to know and love one another. It is a tradition that not only unites but also strengthens our culture of community and virtue.
Wishing all a wonderful weekend,
Mrs. Janssen
2025 Retreat Video
After an incredible 2025 high school retreat, here is the video immortalizing those special bonding moments that make GP a place where all students are known and loved.
Video: https://youtu.be/Nllu6Oz3pvU [1]
Picture Day
Picture Day is coming on Monday, September 22nd! You can place your order on mylifetouch.com [2] using your Picture Day ID: EVTWPRXGP. Order before midnight on Picture Day, September 22nd to get FREE shipping! A flyer will be sent home with students soon. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only on mylifetouch.com [3] .
From the Deans of Students
- Once students are dropped off on campus, they are not to leave campus. This is a safety measure we have in place to further support that GP remain a closed campus.
- Parents, we strongly encourage you to monitor the group texts that your child is currently in or has been on. Parents and students are sharing that several of these conversations are inappropriate and/or mean spirited in nature. With all reports happening off of our school campus, we want to bring it to your attention to partner in coaching students on communication etiquette.
- A detention is a brief, structured correction, not a crisis. It follows a warning when behavior disrupts learning and classroom culture. Detentions are not punitive nor permanent; they are used as a teaching moment to reset habits so students return ready to learn. This year our detention is during lunch and Lyceum in Rm. 201, so after school activities are not impacted. Coaching occurs for each detention.
GP Faculty Play
Griffin Players presents the GP faculty in Arsenic and Old Lace! Come see your favorite teachers on stage performing TONIGHT Sept. 12th and TOMORROW NIGHT the13th at 7pm in a murder mystery that isn’t a mystery at all! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the payment portal or with cash at the door.
Homework Overview
Middle School and 9th grade Homework Overview Spreadsheet [4]
Project Week
Although Project Week is shorter this year, it is of utmost importance that we continue with the exciting and mentally stimulating tradition.
High school students will enjoy the novel Frankenstein, which will be handed out and started together in class on Monday, September 29th. Students will finish the text independently the remainder of the week.
Subsequently, high school students will celebrate with a High School Symposium on Wednesday, October 15th.
Middle school students will enjoy different works of literature, depending on student grade level. All students must have their own copy of the book in class on Monday, September 29th to begin project week with their classmates. Students will finish project week independently.
6th Grade: Tom Sawyer [5]
7th Grade: The Miracle Worker [6]
8th Grade: Sir Gawain and the Green Night [7]
Middle school students will enjoy seminars on Monday, October 13th.
No Homework Club
As a reminder, there is no homework club from December 16th-19th for final exams.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Conference days are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, October 1-3. A separate Conference Sign-Up email will be sent to families next week. Please make sure you have signed up for a time to meet with your child’s teachers!
Middle School conferences are for parents only.
High School students will attend their conferences and must be in uniform. Junior and Senior students will lead their conferences and must also be in uniform.
All-Star Faculty Basketball Game
Dress Drive
Has your student ever spent hours trying to find the perfect dress for a dance? Come to the Second Annual Dress Drive for fun with friends, iced coffee, and a chance to shop our selection of dress-code friendly dresses! It’ll take place on September 25th during the home volleyball game. Deans of Students will accept dress donations in their office every morning starting September 2nd, and everyone who donates a dress will get a coupon for a half price dress at the drive. For any questions, contact Ms. Mahoney.
Lunches
2025-2026 LUNCH PROGRAM
Hot Lunches are now up and running! Follow the instructions below to create an account and download the app to make it even easier! MyHotLunchBox
The Glendale Preparatory Academy PSO has switched to a new lunch program this school year! My Hot Lunchbox is the new provider and the vendors are:
- Monday – Raising Cane’s
- Tuesday – Jimmy John’s
- Thursday – Chick-fil-A
- Friday – Panda Express
How to create an account:
- How to setup [8] link My Hot Lunchbox – Fresh Lunches Delivered to Schools Nationwide [9]
- “Create Account” under the Customer field
- Fill in all required fields to create your account and be sure to add a profile for each individual you are ordering for.
For technical problems or concerns contact info@myhotlunchbox.com [10] or call (888) 894-8295. If you are having any trouble with linking your Archway and GP students please contact them.
Family Giving
Next week we are celebrating Unity in our Community! Let’s unite as a community to support our wonderful teachers, faculty, curriculum, and more through Community Investment! We will be having a fun activity for students and faculty to participate in called Who’s Who? Twenty-four of our faculty members have shared an interesting fact or childhood photo, and it’s your job to figure out Who’s Who! Posters will be scattered around the school, and on Glendale Prep’s Instagram and Facebook pages. Students will receive a “quiz” in their 6th period class on Monday, September 15th to fill out (if they choose to participate). Please return this activity to the office by Friday, September 19th at 3 PM to be entered into a drawing for a gift card to Seven Brothers! In addition, there will be other handouts and fun throughout the week! Thank you to everyone that has already supported our school with your time, talent, or gifts to Community Investment! Our goal is to get 50 families to give $50 a month to support our school further, but any amount is appreciated and meaningful! Can we count on you to be one of the 50?! Questions about our funding or Community Investment? Please reach out to Tammy Kempton, Family Giving Officer, at tkempton@glendaleprep.org [11].
College Counseling
Shout out to Allison Wright
Allie was named as a 2026 National Merit Semifinalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. She is one of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists who will compete to become a National Merit Finalist earning the Merit Scholar title. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and the number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. Please join us in congratulating Allie and wishing her the best as she is on her way to becoming a Finalist!
College Counseling Parent and Student Information Sessions
Glendale Prep’s College Counseling Department is excited to host grade level informational meetings for parents and students. We will share information relevant to each grade level regarding the college search process. Please join us for the specific grade level of your student in Archway’s MPR.
Please mark your calendars with the following dates:
- Tuesday, September 16th 6:15 – 7:30 pm Freshman Parent Night
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is Hosting an Admissions Information Meeting
If you are interested in learning more about what Embry-Riddle has to offer, please consider attending. This event is open to prospective students and their families Saturday, Sept. 27th at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort from 1-2:30pm.
Hilton Scottsdale Resort in the Kiva Ballroom
6333 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Saturday, Sept. 27th from 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Please RSVP at: https://erau.edu/admissions-events [12]
Mr. David Hernandez, the Phoenix Admissions Officer for the Prescott campus will be giving a multimedia presentation discussing Embry-Riddle’s world-class STEM-focused degree programs, career outcomes, scholarships/financial aid, etc. There will also be an extensive Q&A session after the presentation with Admissions staff, current students, parents, and alumni.
As a special guest, Prescott 2016 graduate Arthur Barriault (SpaceX Senior Space Operations Engineer) will be sharing about how Embry-Riddle helped him reach this history-making aerospace organization.
Athletics
Athletic Sponsorship Information
For information to become an athletic sponsor, please reach out to Tammy Kempton (tkempton@archwayglendale.org [13]) or John Kontak (jkontak@glendaleprep.org [14]). For families that have a business, this is a great opportunity to have visibility in the gym with a banner!
Fall Sports Participation Fee Links
All fall sports are off and running! The participation fee links are live on the payment portal. Please take care of your student-athletes participation fee as soon as possible.
Middle School: Middle School Participation Fee Link [15]
High School: High School Participation Fee Link [16]
Athletics Website
Check out the GP athletics website (https://greatheartsglendaleathletics.org/ [17]) for all information regarding schedules, GP athletics, fan gear/apparel, registration information and much more!
Powderpuff Football Game
The Powderpuff football game will be on Wednesday, October 15th. This is for 9th-12th grade girls who will play a flag football game in class teams. More information to come!
Athletic and Extracurricular Activity Eligibility
Athletics and extracurriculars are mutually supportive, interdependent pillars of the education of student-athletes at the Academy. Both exist to enrich students in their capacity to pursue virtues such as diligence, selfless teamwork, and responsibility. When students are deficient in their academic responsibilities, they will become temporarily ineligible to participate in athletics or extracurricular activities, with the hope that this period will help them resolve the academic shortcomings.
Grades will be checked on a weekly basis. Students with two deficient grades (D’s) or one failing grade (F) are considered ineligible. After a student and their parents/guardians is/are informed of ineligibility, the student will sit out of games, practices, team activities, competitions, or shows for one full week. During the ineligibility period, it is suggested that students speak to their teachers about the deficiencies, attend tutoring, complete all their homework while demonstrating strong participation in class. Eligibility will be reinstated after one week of ineligibility. If a student continues to earn low grades, a second week of practice and games will be missed; information will be communicated to parents/guardians and the student. |