- Great Hearts Glendale Prep, Serving Grades 6-12 - https://glendaleprep.greatheartsamerica.org -

Weekly Blast 3.27.2020

School Dates to Note:

  • Re-Enrollment: Online Coming Soon
  • National French Contest: canceled
  • National Spanish Exam: canceled
  • Field Day: postponed
  • AzMerit: postponed
  • 8th Grade Drama Performance: canceled
  • Science Fair: canceled
  • Griffin Players Performance: canceled
  • 5th/6th Pd Class Switch: canceled
  • Apr 14 – SAT 11th Grade: tentative
  • Apr 25 – Promenade: postponed
Table of Contents:

  1. A Note From Headmaster [1]
  2. Mental Health [2]
  3. Text Notifications [3]
  4. Remote Learning [4]
  5. Quarter 3 Evaluations [5]
  6. Re-Enrollment [6]
  7. Free Online Audible Stories [7]
  8. Refunds and Reimbursements [8]
  9. PSO Corner [9]
  10. Senior Thesis [10]
  11. GP Athletics [11]
  12. Promenade [12]
  13. College Counseling [13]
A Note From Headmaster

Hello Parents,

This week has likely been a transition at home. Students have been working on packets, you are likely having to help them figure out how to access what they need, and screen time is likely up given we have entered a new paradigm of remote learning. I cannot stress enough the need for our children to talk through the difficulties that come with any significant change to the normalcy we are used to in our lives. Our children will need encouragement and support. They will need to be told to go outside and enjoy the outdoors. They will need to be told, “This is challenging but find a way to endure and overcome; this too will be used for good”.

The very words I am writing are what I need to hear myself. The job is not the same. Everything most good about the job (interaction with my teachers, students, and families) feels absent. Yet, we press on toward the goal and must prevail. We need to find a way to have community during this time. As such, please anticipate a phone call this week from a teacher to check-in to see how you and your family are doing during this time. We miss you!

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or need to talk.

Have a blessed weekend,
Mr. Navarrette

3 Ways to Talk to Your Children About COVID-19
The mental health of our children is just as important as our physical health. Lauren Katz, Great Hearts Academies Director of School Counseling, has provided a helpful resource for our Great Hearts families. Please take the time to read 3 things to consider as you move through the next few weeks. You can view the article here [14].

GP Text Notifications
It’s times like these in which Glendale Prep would like to keep you up to date and informed. If you would like to receive text updates text “yes” to 67587. If you change your mind in the future, you can reply “stop” to cancel future text updates.

Remote Learning
Teachers have created instructional packets per grade. Visit our Glendale Prep website [15] and find the “Remote Learning” tab on the right sidebar and enter the password GP!2020. You may access the learning packet for each grade in one complete file or access individual course packets. The complete packet for each grade is quite large. You are advised not to print these packets unless you have limited access to internet. The packets assume that students may not have their textbooks, consumables, or Classics to Keep. If you do not have printer access, please know that all assignments/handouts can be completed on lined paper. Students should be spending roughly 4 hours a day to complete their work for all classes. Knowing this, please be sure your child spends time on other activities i.e. jumping on a trampoline, baking, crafting, family boardgames & dance parties, shooting hoops, practicing an instrument, etc.

Students may have questions about the packet. We are asking them to review the instructions on the Cover Sheet multiples times. If your son or daughter still has questions about the daily assignment and his or her responsibility, please email teachers [16] with specific questions. Teachers will reply to emails with questions about their packet within the hour, Monday-Friday, from 7:35 a.m. – 3:35 p.m.

The Great Hearts network will be transitioning from our short-term, packet-based learning to Google Classroom beginning April 6th. Headmasters will be in touch with further details as soon. You can also expect email updates from the Great Hearts Arizona team each Wednesday, and they will continue to keep the FAQs found here [17] updated daily. If you have any questions for the Great Hearts network team, please email them at questions@greatheartsamerica.org [18].

Quarter 3 Evaluations
Earlier this week an email was sent out to all Glendale Prep parents and guardians with the link to log into their Parent PowerSchool Portal account to view Quarter 3 Evaluations. If you did not receive this email, please reach out to Mrs. Hayakawa [19]. Please note that the last day to view, print, and/or save a copy of the evaluation will be Wednesday, April 1st. 

Re-Enrollment
Thank you to all for your patience. The Great Hearts network will be implementing an online e-signature for all Re-Enrollments. You will not need to come to the school to drop off a packet. Please keep an eye out for an email with specific details next week. Thank you for your partnership.

Free Online Audible Stories
Audible, an Amazon Company, is offering audible stories for free while schools are closed. You can check it out here: Audible [20].

Refunds and Reimbursements
Glendale Prep is working with Great Hearts on the best way to pro-rate and refund purchased items like Homework Club, 7th Grade Field Trip, and other payment portal products. Thank you for your patience.

PSO Corner
LUNCH ORDERS: Currently we have closed online ordering. Note that students might be required to bring sack lunches upon our return to school. Please see future blasts for updated ordering options. Thank you for your understanding.

LUNCH PRE-PURCHASED ORDERS: Our families will be credited for the lunches that were pre-purchased on the days students did not attend school due to the closure. Thank you for your patience.

WATER FOR LUNCH PROGRAM: Recently, our Sam’s Club bottled water order was canceled. We are assuming that their stock is low, and/or they are putting limits on how many cases customers can buy. We, as a school, want to help the situation occurring in our community. Therefore, the PSO will continue and try and provide water for the paid lunches, but there may be occasions when we just cannot because of supply, and so we ask that students bring their own water bottles to lunch moving forward. Thank you for partnering with us.

PSO COMMUNICATION: If you have questions or comments, please email president@glendalepreppo.org [21]. This is a way to voice opinions, concerns, get questions answered, and help with developing future agenda items for PSO meetings.

Senior Thesis Panels
The Senior Thesis and its defense are an important part of the Glendale Prep tradition, and we are determined to provide this unique opportunity to all of our seniors. The seniors have put a great deal of work into their Senior Thesis, and we believe it is important for them to complete this valuable process and have a way to defend it. After careful review, we have decided to support our students using the Zoom platform. The “Host” will send invitations to the presenting senior’s parents, all faculty members, and the senior class. In this way parents, faculty members, and senior friends will be able to attend the panels.

All panels will consist of two main parts: 1)The Thesis Presentation: a brief presentation (of about 10 minutes) in which the student will highlight the essential ideas of the paper; and 2)The Thesis Panel Discussion: a panel of three faculty readers will be convened to conduct a discussion with the student about his or her Thesis, and finally the audience will submit questions for the student via the “chat” function of Zoom.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. LeTrent at kletrent@glendaleprep.org [22].

GP Athletics

  • Currently, Spring Sports are on hold for the safety of our students and community.
  • Please be sure to join your team’s Team App if you are registered to play a spring sport to stay updated with all of the team updates.
  • Please reach out to Mr. Garrison [23] with any questions.

Promenade
Junior and Senior Prom is currently postponedWe are looking into a flexible date with the venue we reserved. We know this is an important and memorable tradition that we hope our juniors and seniors will be able to experience. Know we will try our best to carry out this event, but keeping the health and safety of our community as still our first priority.

College Counseling 

Contact Information
Silvia Hayakawa, Office Manager
shayakawa@glendaleprep.org [19]

Attendance Line:
623-889-0822 Option 4
or attendance@glendaleprep.org [26]

Websites and Links
Glendale Prep Website [27]
Glendale Prep PSO Website [28]
GP Athletics Website [29]
“Like Us” on Facebook [30]
2019-20 School Calendar [31]
Event Calendar [32]
Tutoring Schedule [33]
Booster Items [34]
GP Family Handbook [35]
Payment Portal [36]
Lunch Ordering [37] – Password “griffins4”