“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.”
~ William Barclay
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In this issue:
- Headmaster Letter
- Campus Aesthetics
- From the office
- Note from Ms. Coughlon
- College Counseling
- PSO Fundraiser
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Headmaster Letter
Dear North Phoenix Prep Families,
This week's letter addresses the topic of the Philosophical Realism, one of the central things that we deeply love as an Academy.
- The Virtues: Moral, Intellectual, and Athletic Excellence
- The Western Tradition
- Human Dignity and Freedom
- Philosophical Realism
- Conversation and Community
- Humility
Our Academy plants itself squarely within the classical tradition of Western philosophy: following the example of thinkers like Plato and Aristotle, we posit the knowability of the cosmos, the power of human reason to know not just itself and its works, but a reality outside itself, and the ability of reason to cut through limitations of culture, history, and social conditioning to know truth.
We prefer this classical tradition of thought in opposition to what we might call the “sophistic” or
“skeptical” tradition, which goes all the way back to ancient Athens, and which is alive and well
today. The skeptic holds, generally speaking, that “man is the measure of all things”; that “truth” is
relative or even non-existent; that notions of good and evil are mere social conventions, and that
ethics are non-rational; that beauty is just a question of taste or preference; that reason is merely
the power to make infinite distinctions.
With Devotion,
Headmaster Weinhold
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Campus Aesthetics
A
s a community that pursues the Beautiful, we believe that our campus aesthetics matter. That's why we have hung beautiful artwork from the Western Tradition in our hallways and classrooms. That's why we are developing the community garden in our Courtyard. That's why we feature excellent student work on display boards around the campus. These may seem like small details, but taken together they create an atmosphere of order and purpose for our whole Academy.
Looking forward, our faculty and staff are turning our attention to the issue of litter and debris in our communal spaces such as our hallways, courtyard, and multi-purpose room. Our goal is to instill a sense of responsibility and order in our students and to foster a student culture of cleanliness and attention to detail. The campus belongs to everyone in our community, and so we all must take care of it. This does not mean that we expect our campus to be perfectly pristine. The work of cultivating adolescent hearts and minds is inherently messy, so we expect some amount of flotsam and jetsam around the campus. But we also believe that there is an analogical relationship between that which is material and that which is moral or intellectual. Properly ordering the one helps our students to order the other.
As a first step, we have begun emptying the "Lost and Found" cart at the entrance to the academic building on a weekly basis. This was done last week after several notifications to students that it had become a pungent eyesore. The uniform items, lunch boxes, and water bottles that were collected will be available for purchase through the PSO at the next resale.
We will turn our attention to the common spaces on our campus next week, and we will likewise give our students the opportunity to keep the campus neat and tidy on their own. If it becomes clear that the students need our help, then our faculty and staff are also happy to provide solutions of our own. Please join us in talking with your students about cleanliness and attention to detail, especially this coming week. Together, we can pursue the Beautiful on our campus.
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Student-Led Conferences:
Be on the lookout for an email to sign up for fall conferences.
During these 15-minute conferences, students will lead a discussion with their teachers and parents on their academic growth goals.
This applies to all
new-to-North-Phoenix Campus students.
In addition, all
12th grade students will be working on their Senior Thesis
on the Monday and Tuesday after Fall Break, October 15th and 16th.
Returning students will conference in January after the Winter break, January 7-9.
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A Note from the Assistant Headmaster
Dear Families,
As your children put in their final push of the quarter - studying for tests, submitting papers, and tracking down missing work - I thought I would leave your families with this beautiful poem of encouragement by Ella Wheeler Wilcox:
Will
There is no chance, no destiny, no fate,
Can circumvent or hinder or control
The firm resolve of a determined soul.
Gifts count for nothing; will alone is great;
All things give way before it, soon or late.
What obstacle can stay the mighty force
Of the sea-seeking river in its course,
Or cause the ascending orb of day to wait?
Each well-born soul must win what it deserves.
Let the fool prate of luck. The fortunate
Is he whose earnest purpose never swerves,
Whose slightest action or inaction serves
The one great aim. Why, even Death stands still,
And waits an hour sometimes for such a will.
Special challenge: Can your child identify the poetic form?
Your partner in education,
Cindy Coughlon
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Assistant Headmaster
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College Counseling Corner:
Rep Visits
This week, NPX will be hosting representatives from:
· Drew University, Friday, lunch/rec
· Bard College, Friday, lunch/rec
Seniors
Mark these important dates this week:
· Senior Picture Day is WEDNESDAY (10/3).
· ASU Barrett Honors College Lunch & Learn is THURSDAY (10/4).
Juniors
Thank you to all the students and parents who attended Tackling Testing and Junior Night last week! Juniors, remember if you or your parent were not able to attend, it is YOUR responsibility to get the information you missed.
Next up: the 11th Annual
Great Hearts College Symposium
on
Saturday, October 20
th
, 9:00 am-11:00am
. This year the event will be hosted by Scottsdale Preparatory Academy. Below we are providing the information regarding this fun and informative event, which includes a college fair with over 55 colleges, parent presentation and optional east coast college tour presentation. Please click on the links below to view the Symposium Invitation and to print-off and complete student information cards so that you are well-prepared for the college fair portion of the event!
PSAT
On Wednesday, October 24
th
, all high school students in grades 9-11 will take the PSAT. For 11
th
grade students, this will also be their NMSQT or National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test. Last Friday, Juniors spent their half-day working with Ms. Smith and Ms. Cole reviewing their 9
th
and 10
th
grade PSAT scores, linking their College Board accounts to Khan Academy, learning testing strategies, and taking sample tests. Contact Ms. Smith if you are a Junior interested in Test Prep Club prior to the PSAT. Follow-up test prep sessions will be held in the Spring as we approach the SAT, which replaces AZMerit for all high school students. In addition, Juniors received their PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide last Friday. 9
th
and 10
th
graders will receive their guides before fall break so they will know what to expect on the PSAT, but it is NOT recommended that 9
th
and 10
th
graders spend extra time with test prepping.
In the News
In the college selection process, finding the balance between encouraging your child and driving the process yourself is a difficult one. This topic was recently featured in
US News & World Report
. You can read about how to be a ‘consultant’ rather than a ‘director’ as your child explores the post-secondary waters here:
“How to Help Your Child Navigate the College Search”
Amy Cole
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College Counselor
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PSO Fundraiser!
Save the date: October 20th
Come have a great time at SkyZone!
North Phoenix will receive 40% of proceeds if we get 100 or more participants.
Please know that Skyzone Socks are mandatory (available for $2 at Skyzone)
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North Phoenix Preparatory | 14100 N 32nd Street | Phoenix, AZ | 85032 | 602-996-4355
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