Weekly Blast 09.18.26

September 21, 2026 -

CONTENTS
 A NOTE FROM THE HEADMASTER
 FAMILY GIVING
 HIGH SCHOOL SPECIFICS
 MIDDLE SCHOOL SPECIFICS
 MISC SCHOOL INFO
 ATHLETICS
 COLLEGE COUNSELING
 PSO

DATES TO NOTE

SEPT 18 & 19 GP FACULTY PLAY 7PM
SEPT 21-25 SPIRIT WEEK
SEPT 26 HS HOMECOMING DANCE
OCT 5 & 6 HALF DAYS PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
OCT 7-9 NO SCHOOL PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
OCT 7-9 PROJECT WEEK
OCT 12-16 FALL BREAK

A NOTE FROM THE HEADMASTER

Dear Glendale Preparatory Families,

I have been digging into research on how the rise of technology/smartphones and social media have affected children, both their social and emotional well-being and their capacity for sustained attention. Last year, we invited guest speaker Katey McPherson to share with our community what it means to “Parent in a Tech World” where she illuminated the mental health trends across adolescents since the advent of the smart phone and social media.

This year, my focus has been on a growing trend I have witnessed firsthand in our classrooms over the past decade, a growing struggle to sustain the attention that reading requires. Perhaps you have seen it too, at home, in your own child’s frustration when a homework assignment asks them to read a lengthy passage… say 5 or more pages.

I find that even I, an avid reader, pick up my phone mid-page to respond to a text or check my email. I will often work to multi-task at any given time during the day, reading tasks included.

A current book I am reading, The Teach Like a Champion Guide to the Science of Reading, the second chapter opens with an image I haven’t stopped thinking about. Author Doug Lemov points out that Charles Dickens built his novels on long, intertwined sentences, sometimes thirty or forty words in length, and that nineteenth-century readers built their evenings around these books the way we might binge a television series today. A writer like Dickens, Lemov argues, would struggle to find an audience in most classrooms now. Not despite the complexity, but because of it.

He also pointed out an alarming new shorthand trend that I had previously been unaware of, one common among university students and working adults alike—TL;DR or TLDR (too long; didn’t read). Imagine the irony of making it to this point in my HM Note and thinking “TL;DR!”

The data is sobering, and it points to something deeper than a decline in reading complexity alone. It points to a decline in the capacity to sustain attention in order to even engage in the task of reading. A 2023 study found that students’ concentration measurably suffered simply from having a phone visible nearby, turned off, versus having it left in another room. University of Texas researcher Adrian Ward found something similar: even an unused, powered-off smartphone can reduce working memory and reasoning capacity, since it takes real cognitive effort just to resist checking it. Michael Manos, clinical director of the Center for Attention and Learning at Cleveland Clinic, put the underlying mechanism plainly: a brain accustomed to constant, rapid digital change struggles to adapt to a nondigital task that doesn’t move nearly as fast — a book, for instance. The consequences show up in reading rates: San Diego State researcher Jean Twenge has tracked a nationally representative survey of roughly 50,000 teens since 1975, and found that by 2016, only 16 percent of twelfth graders read regularly on their own, about half the 2005 rate. The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress found the share of thirteen-year-olds who “never or hardly ever” read for fun has quadrupled since 1984. Where classrooms once held three or four daily readers for every non-reader, that ratio has now reversed.

So how do we help our students grow their capacity for sustained attention and bring that capacity to the act of reading?

What we’re doing at GP

A phone-free campus, by design. Cell phones stay off and stored away during the school day, not just silenced. The research suggests even a phone that is powered off but visible nearby has been shown to measurably drain concentration. Our classrooms are built to be free of this distraction.
Whole books, not excerpts. Our curriculum centers on complete great works, read cover to cover. This is the very thing that is disappearing in many classrooms, where students increasingly encounter only fragments and articles rather than a whole book.
Reading aloud and shared reading. Teachers model expressive, attentive reading, and students read together in class. The research shows attention itself is contagious: students seated near an engaged, focused reader become more focused themselves.
Text-centered, discussion-rich seminars. We follow both assigned readings and in-class readings with the Socratic discussion that helps students make a text their own.
Deliberate vocabulary building, since a limited vocabulary is one of the surest ways comprehension breaks down.

What you can do at home

Read a short passage aloud together. Ask your child to read aloud an excerpt or portion of their assigned reading. Even a few minutes a night builds sustained focus and shared reading (a parent and child experiencing a story together) is itself a proven way to deepen a child’s engagement with a text.
Extend the phone-free norm to homework time. Put phones in another room, not just face-down on the desk. As shared through the data above, proximity alone measurably reduces concentration, even when the phone is untouched.
Choose physical books over screens for pleasure reading when you can. A screen invites the same fragmented, half-attentive habits we’re working to counter in the classroom.
Model it yourself. Let your child see you reading, too. Attention is contagious at home just as it is in a classroom.
Support self-regulation, rather than regulating on their behalf. Homework is where students practice planning, focus, and persistence. Help your child build a quiet, distraction-free space and routine, but let the effort of sustained concentration remain theirs to build.

Lemov offers a phrase from this chapter that I think captures something true and hopeful at once, we wire how we fire. Our brains are shaped by how we practice attention, for better or worse, which means the habit of sustained, focused reading can still be built, deliberately, in a community that values it. That is precisely the work we take up together, in the classroom and at home.

Thank you for partnering with us in forming that habit in your children.
…and thank you for reading this far. Old habits die hard!

Yours in seeking truth, goodness, and beauty,
Mrs. Janssen

FAMILY GIVING

Unity in Our Community: Community Investment Week Begins Monday, September 21

As we settle into another wonderful school year, one thing continues to stand out: the incredible strength of our Glendale Prep community. From the first day of school to Curriculum Night, athletic events, and the everyday moments that make life on campus so special, we are continually reminded how blessed we are to partner with families who care deeply about our mission and our students.

On Monday, September 21, we will kick off one of our favorite traditions of the year: Community Investment Week!

This year’s theme, Unity in Our Community, celebrates what happens when Griffin families come together around a shared purpose. Each day, our students experience the benefits of a classical education that challenges them to pursue Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Community Investment helps make that experience possible.

Throughout Community Investment Week, you’ll learn more about how your support strengthens the people and programs that make Glendale Prep exceptional; from attracting and retaining outstanding teachers to providing rich academic opportunities, classroom resources, athletics, fine arts, and so much more.

Keep an eye out next week for your student to bring home a Unity in the Community Crossword Puzzle. Have your student complete it and turn it into the office by 3:15 Friday, September 25th for fun prizes. We will be having a drawing for swag baskets, front row reserved seating for student events for the remainder of the year, and an ice cream party for the grade that submits the most crossword puzzles!

Our Vision: 100% Family Participation
Why participation? Because every gift, regardless of size, represents a meaningful expression of confidence in our mission and a commitment to our students.

Whether you choose to give $10 a month, make a one-time contribution, or invest at a level that is meaningful for your family, every gift makes a difference. Your support stays right here at Glendale Prep and directly benefits our teachers and students.

As we begin Community Investment Week on Monday, September 21, we invite every Griffin family to thoughtfully consider joining us. When we come together, we strengthen our school community, support our teachers, and create opportunities for our students to flourish.

Together, we can continue building a school where students flourish, teachers thrive, and our mission remains strong for generations to come.

Questions about Community Investment? Please contact Tammy Kempton, Family Giving Officer, at tkempton@glendaleprep.org.

DONATE

HIGH SCHOOL SPECIFICS

GLENDALE PREP HOMECOMING DANCE

A Night at the Rodeo
Glendale Preparatory Academy is pleased to invite you to the annual Homecoming Dance

WHO: All Current GP High School Students
WHERE: GP Gym
WHEN: Saturday, September 26, 2026; 6:30-9:00PM
COST: Tickets to be bought online – non-refundable.
$20 on or before Wednesday September 23rd
$25 thereafter- through Friday September 25th midnight.

NO Tickets at the door
Doors open at 6:00 PM
HOCO TICKETS

In addition to the Homecoming dress code that is available online, we are adding the following to match the theme of the event:
• Cowboy boots
• Bolo ties
• Belt buckles
• Cowboy hats
• Full-length jeans for ladies and gentlemen (embellishments are approved but no lettering)
• Full-length denim skirts are approved (slits must be no higher than mid-thigh)
Notes
· It is recommended to work with the Dean of Students when any questions regarding dress styles arise.
· Necessary alterations at the point of entry must remain intact for the duration of the event.
HOCO DRESS CODE

 
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPECIFICS

New Student Practicum
This week, sixth graders took a deep dive into reading and the art of annotating. Ask your student to show you what they learned.

MISC SCHOOL INFO

Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 5 & 6 and 7-9

Sign-up links have been emailed. Please sign-up for a time to meet with each of your child’s teachers to discuss their growth and progress this year! If you did not receive the sign-up link, reach out to Mrs. Hayward at jhayward@glendaleprep.org

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.

Project Week
The week of parent teacher conferences is also project week for our students.

High school students will enjoy the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, which will be handed out and started together in class on Monday, October 5. Students will finish the text independently the remainder of the week.

Middle school students will enjoy a different project this year, focusing on America 250.
Specific instructions will be handed out prior to Fall Break.

Upon our return from Fall Break, both Middle and High School students will conclude project week with respective Symposia on Wednesday, October 21.

After-School Hours (3:45PM)
Please note that students may not be left unattended after 3:45PM to wait for later extracurricular practices that do not start immediately after-school. Likewise, if an older sibling who normally takes younger siblings home has an after-school activity, alternate means of transportation must be arranged.

Homework Club
Homework Club will be in session next Wednesday September 23 during the Great Hearts faculty in-service training.

Board Game Donations
If you have any age appropriate and educational board games in good condition with no missing parts that you are looking to clear out of your house, Homework Club students would love to have them! Please reach out to Mrs. Hayward at jhayward@glendaleprep.org or drop them off in the front office.

ATHLETICS

Griffin Volleyball

Come support our Lady Griffins Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday this week in the Griffin Den (GP Gym). Games begin at 5PM each evening and you do not want to miss their attempt to take the State Playoffs!

Who’s ready for some GRIFFIN FOOTBALL?

Giddy Up, Griffins! Join us for the HoCo Football Game on FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH.

The Tailgating Experience begins at 5:30PM!
We will be offering hot dog, hamburger, and cheeseburger meals with a bottle of water for only $5, plus our concessions will be running full force!

Join us for $5 Mechanical Bull rides for the brave (12 and older- ride at your own risk!), and games for the rest of us!

The fist 40 game entry tickets, get a free bull ride!

Kickoff at 7PM

Winter Sports

It is hard to believe that is that time of the school year. The Winter Sports season will begin on November 2nd. We will be offering the following sports
• High School Basketball
• High School Soccer
• Middle School Soccer
• Middle School Baseball
• Middle School Softball
• Middle School Tennis

If you have not registered your student athlete for a fall sport, please start the process now so they can start on time.
• AIA Physical Form
• AIA Academy for High School
• Arbiter Registration Portal

Please reach out to Mr. Fiore with any questions at mfiore@glendaleprep.org

 

GP ATHLETICS

ATHLETIC VOLUNTEER SIGN UP

COLLEGE COUNSELING

NACAC National College Fair – Greater Phoenix
Mark your calendars! Students and families are invited to attend the NACAC National College Fair – Greater Phoenix on Sunday, September 27 from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Registration is free, but students should register in advance.
Register for the 2026 NACAC National College Fair – Greater Phoenix

Explore Fulton: ASU Engineering

ASU Polytechnic Campus
Saturday, September 26, 2026
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

ASU Tempe Campus
Saturday, October 24, 2026
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Each campus offers different engineering programs, so students may attend both events.

Explore degree programs: https://engineering.asu.edu/degrees/undergraduate/
Register: https://na.eventscloud.com/explorefulton2026

University of California Night
High school students, are you interested in learning more about the University of California system and its nine incredible undergraduate campuses? Join us for University of California Night to explore what makes each UC campus unique and learn more about academics, admissions, campus life, and the application process.

Wednesday, September 24 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Scottsdale Prep, 16537 N 92nd St, Scottsdale

Whether you already have a favorite UC campus or are just beginning to explore your options, this is a great opportunity to learn more. Bring your questions and discover which UC campus might be the right fit for you! Please RSVP here.

College Representative Visits
Next week we have the following colleges visiting:
• UMass Amherst – Monday during 1st Lyceum
• Hamline University – Thursday during 2nd Lyceum
• Babson College – Friday during 1st Lyceum
• Lehigh University – Friday during 2nd Lyceum
COLLEGE COUNSELING

PSO

DONUT FRIDAY

Don’t forget $1 donuts on FRIDAYS before school in the courtyard.

SNOW CONES

Snow cones will be sold at the September 25 home football game $2.

DADS CREW
We are looking for some grilling help on September 25th at Homecoming.

Please contact Aaron at aaronjw67@cox.net if you are able to help.

MONTHLY TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCH

Thank you for your August donations!

The next luncheon for our teachers will be:
Wednesday, September 30

Please sign up to donate items!

https://signup.com/go/TBbXzPk

 

LUNCH ORDERS

Monday-Chick-fil-A
Tuesday-Tropical Smoothie
Thursday-Pita Jungle
Friday-Streets of New York

Ordering is now open: https://ordernow.myhotlunchbox.com/login

**Please let your student know there will not be access to a microwave when packing their lunch.

PSO

 

GP WEBSITE

GP FAMILY HANDBOOK

GP DRESS CODE

GP PAYMENT PORTAL

GP PSO

GP SPIRIT STORE

CONTACT INFORMATION

Jenny Haley, Office Manager
JHaley@glendaleprep.org

GLENDALE PREP ATTENDANCE

623.889.0822
Option 4
attendance@glendaleprep.org