• Nov 25-27         Thanksgiving Break/ RR Weekend
• Nov 30-Dec 2   Distance Learning for all Students
• Dec 3                  Return to Campus for In-person Learners
• Dec 16-18          Half Days/ Final Exams
• Dec 21-Jan 5     Winter Break
• Jan 4-5               Parent-Teacher Conferences (tentative)

1. Updates from the Headmaster
2. Reminders and Action Items
3. Academy Giving
4. Academics
5. Events, Culture, and Clubs
6. Athletics
7. College Counseling Corner
8. PSO
9. Great Hearts Updates

Updates from the Headmaster

A Letter from the Headmaster

Dear Gladiator Families,

As you just learned in Mr. Twist’s communication, North Phoenix Prep will provide remote learning to all students from Monday, November 30 to Wednesday, December 2, 2020. In-person learning will resume on Thursday, December 3, 2020.

Monday and Wednesday will be fully synchronous learning days following the schedule of our current distance learners.

Tuesday will be an asynchronous learning day. Students will find their assignments and lessons on Google Classroom.

This proactive measure will help us to ensure the healthiest and safest learning environment for our students. We understand that this situation may come as an inconvenience to your family, but we appreciate your complete cooperation in order to ensure that we can all return to in-person learning for the remainder of the first semester.

As a reminder, on Thursday, December 3, please DO NOT send your student back to school if:

1. Anyone they have been in contact with has tested positive for COVID-19.
2. They have been tested for COVID-19 and are waiting for test results.
3. Someone in their household has been tested for COVID-19 and is waiting for test results.
4. They have any symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever (>100.4°F), cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, sore throat, headache, muscle/body aches, runny nose or congestion, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or a new loss of taste or smell.
5. They have traveled internationally by air, and do not have a negative COVID-19 test five days after their return.

I have also made sure to include a list of FAQs below for your review. I appreciate your continued cooperation and partnership as we work to keep our school as healthy and safe as possible.

Please reach out to me or Ms. Nelson if your child needs a laptop or if your child needs a space on school to complete their work.

Sincerely,

Corinne Jacobson

Headmaster, North Phoenix Prep

FAQ

What should I do if I find out that someone we were around over the holidays has tested positive for COVID-19?

You and your family should get tested. Even if your results are negative, you should still stay home for 14 days from the time you were last in contact with the person who tested positive. Anytime during those 14 days you could still have a positive result. Watch for symptoms – fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, body aches, diarrhea. Stay away from vulnerable people.

If my child is a close contact of someone who tested positive, but my child’s test results are negative, why does my child need to remain out of school for the full 14 days?

The virus can incubate in the body for 1-14 days before it starts to shed. A person will not test positive until that shedding starts. So, they may be negative on day 3, but positive on day 13.

What should we do if we travelled by air internationally over the break?

Our policy requires you to quarantine for 14 days from the day that you return to the United States or to get a negative test result 5 days after you return.

Do I have to quarantine if I travel domestically?

Our policy does not require you to quarantine if you travel domestically, but the CDC and several states recommend that you stay home for 14 days after travelling. If you choose to stay home after travelling, your school will provide your student with learning materials and not mark your child unexcused as long as you are back in Arizona for those 14 days.

If my student gets tested, can they return to school?

Students should always stay home while waiting for their test results. It is also a good idea to stay home while someone in the household is waiting test results just in case. There is only one situation that will allow a student to return to school and that is only if they were not a close contact of someone with COVID-19 within the last 14 days and their test is negative.

How is it determined that my child is a close contact?

The Maricopa County Department of Health defines a “close contact” as someone who has been within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for an accumulated time of 15 min or more over a period of 24 hours. This is with or without a mask, indoors or outdoors.

What does quarantine mean? 

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department. They should not participate in any group activities such as school, sports, meetings, or social gatherings, as well as attend events with others.

Do I need to keep my other children home?

No, if… No one in your household has tested positive for COVID-19. When you have one child who is considered a close contact, your other child(ren) and family members at home would be considered a “close contact of a close contact” and they do not have to quarantine. They are allowed to come to school. They personally have not been exposed to someone with COVID. If your quarantined child should start to exhibit symptoms then s/he should be tested and if positive, other family members would also then need to quarantine. Additionally, if your quarantined child develops symptoms, keep all other siblings home pending the results of the COVID-19 test.

Yes, if… It is a member of your household who has tested positive for COVID-19. All other family members would be considered close contacts and would need to quarantine for a full 14-day period and longer if they are unable to isolate from one another. See CDC guidelines here.

Am I at risk?

People who are most at risk are those who have been in close contact (within 6 feet for longer than 15 minutes) with someone who has the infection. According to CDC, risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age and even more so for those who are immune-suppressed or have underlying health conditions such as heart, kidney or lung disease, obesity, or diabetes.

What do I do next? Can I get tested for COVID-19?

People who have been exposed to COVID-19 are at risk of becoming ill for up to 14 days after the exposure. If you haven’t developed symptoms by that time, you are unlikely to develop symptoms from this exposure. Should you wish for you or your child to be tested, you can access a list of testing sites here

Reminders and Action Items

Laptop Survey

Gladiator Families,

Please complete the following survey by November 30th. This will help us immensely in our ability to make sure that all students have the technology that they need in order to learn well. Thank you!

Family Laptop Survey

Holiday Travel Reminder

Domestic travel is still not restricted. International travel will still require either a 14 day quarantine or a negative test result after the fifth day of return. International travel includes Mexico and Canada.

Protocol for Close Contact and Quarantine

The Maricopa County Department of Health defines a “close contact” as someone who has been within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for an accumulated time of 15 min or more over a period of 24 hours. Your child may be in a class with another student or teacher who has tested positive or in close contact during Lunch or Lyceum. If your child is in close contact, they will be required to quarantine for the next 14 days. Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent the spread of disease that can occur before a person knows that they are sick. Quarantined individuals should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow the directions from their state or local health department.

Here at North Phoenix Prep, this means that your student may not come to campus and will not be able to participate in any school or extracurricular activities during this time.

The CDC and Maricopa County Health Department (MCHD) both recommend that those deemed in close contact quarantine for a full 14-day period. This is because the COVID-19 virus can take anywhere from 5-14 days to incubate. In compliance with this recommendation and to prevent any spread within our community, we will require all such individuals to remain in quarantine until 14 days after the date of exposure.

While your scholar(s) is in quarantine, their teachers will be reaching out to them so that they can continue to provide the best education for each of your students. Please be on the lookout for an email from your student’s teachers with information about what the next 10 days will look like, should this occur.

As a reminder, it is important that all families continue to monitor their children for symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

If at any time your child(ren) shows symptoms, please notify the school nurse, and have your scholar tested. If you are not sure where to go to be tested, Great Hearts has partnered with Premier Lab Solutions. You can reach out to them by calling 602-441-2808. Please remember, though, that a negative test result will not allow your student to return to campus early.

McKinney-Vento and Family Support

The Mountain Park Health Centers are an integrated healthcare system and community resource hub for families with or without health insurance or AHCCCS. They provide an entire Care Team of primary care physicians, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical pharmacists, behavioral health consultants, and registered dieticians. Eligibility specialists provide referrals for rent assistance, food distribution, and other resources. Health center locations are in Maryvale, Tempe, Goodyear, South Phoenix, and Central Phoenix. The flyers listed below (in English or Spanish) are for families and include general information about the program and food distribution schedule.

Healthcare Rack Card (English)

Healthcare Rack Card (Spanish)

Healthcare (Spanish and English)

Food Distribution (Spanish and English)

Elks Lodge Parking Lot

Please do not use The Elks Lodge parking lot to park and/or drop-off/pick-up your students without proper authorization from The Elks Lodge. Thank you very much for your adherence in this matter.

Academy Giving

Great Hearts North Phoenix families,

We invite you to join us in celebrating our academies on December 1st for #GivingTuesday. This day of giving was created to focus on doing good for the community after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.

This education relies upon parent partnership. Thank you to our parents who already support our classrooms through Community Investment. On Giving Tuesday, our intent is to fulfill our Community Investment goal. The average difference in funding we receive from the state between our classrooms and the district school classrooms is $1,500 per student. Please consider making a gift of $1,500 or an amount that is meaningful to your family. You can give by clicking on the school specific logo below or by connecting with Jackie Curtis, Academy Giving Manager. Thank you!

In partnership,

Geri Parker | Archway Headmaster

Corinne Jacobson | Prep Headmaster

Academics

Highlights from the Art Department

Congratulations to Mr. Black who has just won a $2,500 grant for the Fine Arts Department through the Fiesta Bowl Charities Organization.

This quarter, the middle school and high school art students have been hard at work creating some impressive artwork, which we wanted to share with the NPX community.

Ms. Bruch’s 8th Grade Art Classes Work with Scratchboards

Mr. Black’s High School Art Classes

Events, Culture, and Clubs

Gladiator Teams Spirit Stores

Gladiators! Team stores are now open online, so you can purchase your Gladiator Team gear. You can find the link to the store of your team below, or on your Team Google Classroom. Stores will only be open until December 2nd, so order now and order early!

Once the store closes, all the gear will be sent to the school for distribution to cut down on shipping costs. If you have questions about the any of this, please email Ms. Schripsema at sschripsema@northphoenixprep.org.

Bestiari Team Store

Cestus Team Store

Dimachaerus Team Store

Equites Team Store

Murmillones Team Store

Provocatores Team Store

Retiarri Team Store

Sagittarius Team Store

Thraeces Team Store

Velites Team Store

Congratulations to Sarah Traore!

Sarah has just won Arizona Curriculum Theater‘s annual “PoeFest” writing competition. PoeFest contestants (grades 7-9) are asked to write a short story in the spirit of Edgar Allen Poe. Sarah received a 1st prize package from Bookman’s who sponsors this contest. Congrats to our Gladiator on the excellent statewide acknowledgment and achievement!

If you would like to read her fearful tale, you can find it here: “Marshallia Heterantha” By Sarah Traore 

Athletics

New Gladiator Spirit Store!

It’s here! We are excited to announce the newly opened Gladiator Spirit Store.

Support NPX Athletics and take care of all of those holiday shopping lists. We even have a holiday sale to announce already!

Gladiator Spirit Store

Wolves Girl’s Lacrosse Club

The Wolves Girls Lacrosse Club are seeking girls from 8^th – 12^th grade to join their club.  Girls from Great Hearts schools are encouraged to join–including Cicero, Veritas, North Phoenix, Scottsdale Prep and other surrounding schools.

Based out of Desert Mountain High School, recent players have included students from Scottsdale Prep, Basis, Horizon and Desert Mountain.  Both Beginners and Skilled Players are welcome.

Interested?  Come try the sport with 3 free sessions during our abbreviated Fall Season, already in session.  Practices are on Wednesday and Fridays from 7:30p – 9:30p at Cocopah field.

To learn more about the club, sign up for Fall Season, or simply learn more about the Spring Season, reach Coach Tori S at TSchiff14@aol.com or at 480-370-9914.

College Counseling Corner

Student Feature

Charli Jarrell

How has the college counseling department at NPX supported your post-secondary plans?

Honestly this is really just a shout-out to Ms. Martin. Her enthusiasm for her job and her dedication to the students is contagious. I know I speak for many of my classmates when I say that she deserves all the credit for making the college counseling department what it is today. While juggling my last year of high school, the senior thesis, and college applications has been nowhere near easy, the support in every area she can offer has made making plans for the future as painless as possible. I know that had I not had the NPX college department’s help, applying to college would have not been as easy as it was.

What is your major/minor you would like to study in college and what is one club that you are interested in joining?

Right now I’m planning to study psychology and theology. Plans can always change and knowing me, they most likely will in some way; but I think both fields are truly fascinating and worth exploring in more detail than the little that I have before. As for the clubs I’m most interested in joining, I really like to write, so I’ll be looking to join some type of journalism club in college. If by some chance there is a combination of a journalism club and one of my intended studies, that would definitely be pretty amazing.

As you prepare to enter your last semester of high school, for what would you like to thank NPX?

There’s been a quote sitting in the back of mind these last couple months, as my time at NPX starts coming to an end: “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” (Winnie the Pooh). There have no doubt been numerous ups and downs over the past few years at NPX, but the good things, like my friends and our dedicated, awesome teachers, will really stick with me for years after I graduate. From the awesome field days with my gladiator team in middle school, to the inside jokes from Latin I that I still laugh at even six years later, and from watching the indescribably bright stars in pitch black with my freshman class on our retreat, to even more inside jokes from HL that came from discussing even the most serious topics on philosophy; I hope these memories never leave me. There are many memories from years at NPX that I wish that I could share when asked what I’ll miss the most but there are, in reality, simply too many to count.

PSO

NPX Mom’s Event

Hello NPX Moms!!

We are really excited to announce our first Mom’s Club event this year! We hope you will be able to join us for a fun night of crafting!

Event Details

• What: Board & Brush “Girls Night In” Virtual Craft Night
• When: Thursday, December 3rd, 7pm
• Where: Virtual Event – you choose what makes you comfortable and fun! Join us online or join a fellow mom or two to do craft together, your choice!
• $40 for your choice of craft! Over 30 to choose from!!
• How to join – easy as 1,2,3!

1. Use this link to select your craft and sign-up for the event: https://boardandbrush.com/glendale/events/privateeventvirtualgirls39nightinworkshop/
2. Sign up by 9pm, November 27th. 
3. Your PSO will have all selected crafts and paints for pick up week of event – details to follow

Any questions?? Just ask!  We hope to “see” you on December 3rd!!

Katie Ingram

PSO Mom’s Club Chair

Great Hearts Updates

Hiring Alert

Great Hearts is always looking for qualified Special Education teachers. If you or someone you know is interested in a full-time position, please reach out to Ms. Jacobson.

Military Identifier Questions (Optional)

With the adoption of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), military-connected students are now recognized as a distinct subgroup, including students with a parent who is a member of the Armed Forces on active duty of such title. The Military Student Identifier (MSI) questions listed below will provide educators with critical information to personalize attention for military dependent children. Parents/Guardians may decline to respond to these voluntary questions. If a parent/guardian declines, the answer is reflected as a “no.” No parent/guardian will be asked to verify their military status by showing a military identification or other DOD documentation.

If your student is a “Yes” to any of the questions below, please email (Angie Nelson at anelson@northphoenixprep.org) with your student’s name and the question(s) you are responding “yes” to, so that North Phoenix Prep can accurately update the information in their system as needed.

• “Is the student a dependent of a member of the United States military service in the Active Duty Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard?”
• “Is the student a dependent of a full-time member of the National Guard, or Reserve force of the United States military (Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Air Force).”
• “Is the student a dependent of a member of the National Guard, or Reserve force of the United States military (Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Air Force).”

We ask that all families respond no later than Monday, November 30^th. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to your academy directly.

ACTA GLADIATOR Student News