PHS Parent Newsletter

Email: sandersj@purcellps.org
Website: https://www.purcellps.org/o/phs
Location: 2020 North Green Avenue, Purcell, OK, USA
Phone: 405-442-0099
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purcellhs
Twitter: @purcellhsdrgns

Dear Parents,

High school internships offer a valuable opportunity for students to gain real-world experience, explore career paths, and develop essential skills. They also provide benefits to future employers by introducing them to potential talent and contributing to their community. We are excited about the continued growth of our Internship program.

Benefits for Students:

• Real-world experience: Internships allow students to apply their classroom knowledge in a practical setting, giving them a better understanding of the industry they are interested in.
• Career exploration: By working in different fields, students can identify their passions and interests, making informed decisions about their future education and career paths.
• Skill development: Internships help students develop essential skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. These skills are highly valued by employers and can set them apart from their peers.
• Networking opportunities: Internships provide students with the chance to connect with professionals in their field, build relationships, and potentially secure future job opportunities.
• College admissions: A strong internship experience can enhance college applications, demonstrating a student's commitment to their education and career goals.

Benefits for Future Employers:

• Talent pipeline: Internships offer a way for employers to identify and cultivate potential talent for future positions.
• Reduced training costs: Interns can be trained on the job, reducing the need for extensive onboarding and training when they become full-time employees.
• Fresh perspectives: Interns can bring new ideas and perspectives to the workplace, helping to drive innovation and improve efficiency.
• Community engagement: By offering internships, employers can contribute to their community by providing educational and career opportunities for young people.

Example: A high school student interested in veterinary medicine might intern at a local animal clinic. The student could assist with tasks like cleaning cages, feeding animals, and observing veterinary procedures. This experience would allow the student to learn about the day-to-day responsibilities of a veterinarian, confirm their interest in the field, and develop relevant skills. For the clinic, the internship would provide a potential future employee and help to fill a temporary staffing need.

High school internships offer numerous benefits for both students and future employers. By providing students with real-world experience, career exploration, and skill development, internships can help them achieve their educational and career goals. At the same time, internships can help employers identify and cultivate talent, reduce training costs, and contribute to their community.

Please contact me directly or Amber Findley, PHS Internship Coordinator (findleya@purcellps.org) if you would like to partner with us and provide students this opportunity.

Jason

Please feel free to text or call me if I can help

Cell: 918-873-0354

Mayra teaches Spanish and is also sponsor of our amazing Spanish Club with over 80 members. They are active throughout the school and community providing service learning opportunities for our students. Mayra is a dedicated educator who devotes herself to her students and their learning. She spends countless hours outside of regular contract time making sure her students have the learning experiences they deserve. She loves Purcell High School and the community and is a great example of a teacher who truly cares about ALL of her students. We are lucky to have Mayra! She is a treasure.

**thank you Kasey Knowles & Pastime Engraving for our new Staff of the Month awards!

Congratulations PHS Senior Hannah Whitaker: She was named the Oklahoman's Student of the Week!! Thank you to everyone who voted for Hannah. She is an exceptional leader and tremendous role model for our younger students. We are proud of you Hannah! Hannah is the daughter of Stephanie & CJ Whitaker.

#phsdragons

https://www.oklahoman.com/.../student-of-the.../75132767007/

One of the best ways to keep our school safe is for students to report any behavior or information that could impact the safety of our school, students, or staff. Students are always encouraged to provide information to trusted adults whether that is parents or school officials. This includes individuals making threatening statements or information regarding the safety and welfare of students. Our students have access to Stopit, our anonymous reporting system. Stopit reports come directly to me and allows me to communicate with students while they remain anonymous. It is critical to the safety of our school.

Unfortunately many schools across the nation and Oklahoma are experiencing a significant rise in threats against schools. Fortunately most of these threats turn out to be baseless. However, any and all threats will ALWAYS be taken seriously by our administration team and reported to the local law enforcement. We must all work together to stop these trends and do all we can to keep our schools safe and orderly. I strongly encourage you to speak with your students openly about school safety. Keep open lines of communication and always encourage them to come forth with any information that we might need to know. Here are some helpful tips for speaking with your students about school safety.

1. Approach the Conversation with Empathy and Understanding:

• Listen actively: Show genuine interest in their concerns and feelings.
• Avoid judgment: Allow them to express themselves without fear of criticism.
  

2. Ask Open-Ended Questions:

• Start the conversation: Ask questions like, "How do you feel about school safety?" or "Have you heard anything about safety concerns?"
• Encourage discussion: Ask follow-up questions to dig deeper into their thoughts and feelings.
• Be patient: Give them time to process their thoughts and respond.

3. Provide Reassurance and Support:

• Share your values: Express your belief in the importance of safety and well-being.
• Offer support: Let them know you are there for them, no matter what.
• Encourage open communication: Remind them that they can always come to you with any concerns or questions.

4. Discuss Safety Measures and Emergency Procedures:

• Review school policies: Discuss the school's safety plans, emergency procedures, and lockdown drills.
• Practice safety drills: Help them understand the importance of following these procedures.
• Create a family emergency plan: Develop a plan for how your family will communicate and stay safe in case of an emergency.

5. Stay Informed and Involved:

• Attend school events: Participate in parent-teacher conferences, school board meetings, etc.
• Stay updated: Keep informed about school safety initiatives and any incidents. (always reported in my newsletter)

• Be involved in the community: Support local efforts to promote safety and well-being.

6. Encourage Healthy Coping Mechanisms:

• Talk about stress management: Discuss healthy ways to cope with anxiety or fear.
• Encourage self-care: Help them prioritize their mental and physical health.
• Seek professional help if needed: If your child is experiencing severe anxiety or distress, consider seeking counseling or therapy.

Tornado Drill this Week: We will conduct a tornado drill Wednesday 9/25 @ 2:15 PM (end of 6th hour). September and October can bring severe storms. Of course tornadoes can occur any time of year and it's important to remain weather aware at all times in Oklahoma.

Please drive safely in our parking lot. I've observed several instances of parents/guardians driving in an unsafe manner in our parking lot this year. Please know that the vast majority of our parents always drive safely when visiting our school. Help us keep our students safe. Drive slowly and cautiously, stay off your phone, and be courteous and respectful to other drivers.

Our Counselor's Corner is a resource for all things Counseling Related. Please click on the link below to access relevant information including Academic Guidance, Student Supports, Scholarships, College & Career counseling, social and emotional supports, and more. This link is updated regularly. Seniors and senior parents can also access the Senior Website which is also linked below.

Highlights:

• We will offer an ACT test on campus October 8th for interested seniors. Ms. Feroli has sent out a survey to sign up. Please email or contact her directly if you are a senior and interested in taking the ACT on campus on October 8th.
• The next national ACT exam is October 26th.. The application deadline is September 20th.
• Remember: ALL juniors take the ACT on campus in the spring.

High school seniors, even if you haven’t chosen your college yet, complete the FAFSA now. Don’t wait! Some types of financial aid are first-come, first-served. Learn more at:

https://www.startwithfafsa.org/

Our PHS Botany class provides students not only a chance to learn about the science of plants but also to apply practical applications. PHS Botany students recently trimmed our roses near the front entrance as well as some early fall work on the flower beds (although it sure doesn't feel like early fall!)

Ray Samford teaches Botany @ PHS.

PHS Teacher Stefanie Renfro teaches an Interior Design Program as part or our Career Tech Family & Consumer Science program. Her students are designing and building model homes and learning about different home designs, architectural styles, etc. It's a great hands-on, project based, learning experience that helps students build the type of skills needed in the modern workplace.

Pioneer Library hosted a fun, Hispanic Heritage month celebration for local families. Our very own PHS Spanish Club members were leading arts & crafts, games, and events. Thanks to our Spanish Club sponsors Mayra Munoz and Irma Calixto-Narvaez for helping organize. Special thanks to Kaylynn Tresler and Irma for representing our English learner team at the event. This is a great example of a service learning opportunity for students. Students learn to participate and be a productive part of their community.

Our Aviation 2 students recently began operating their commercial grade drones that were purchased as a result of a generous grant from the Purcell Public Schools Foundation. It was very convenient to request needed aerial photos from our own students. As part of our Aviation program, students are working towards obtaining a commercial drone license before they leave high school.

The drone industry is rapidly expanding, with applications in various fields such as agriculture, construction, photography, delivery, and search and rescue. As the technology continues to advance, the need for skilled drone operators is expected to grow. Additionally, Oklahoma's aeronautic industry is growing fast! These are potentially high paying jobs that students can access straight from high school.

Aviation 2 students Greyson Lester and Daniel Sprague provided the aerial photos. Purcell High School aviation instructors are Jack McNeely and Corryn Breidinger

Purcell HIgh School and Junior High Technology Association Students (TSA) gave presentations to the Purcell School Board recently about their success at Nationals last summer. Several students placed in the national competition which helps students build tech based skills in science, computers, engineering, graphic design, and more. This award winning organization is led by Paul Wollenberg and April Trumbo.

Heartland Wealth Management congratulates April Trumbo, from Purcell Public Schools, for being our "Give a Teacher a Touchdown" winner. Thank you to April, and all our outstanding teachers, for your dedication to students. Enjoy the game, April!

• See schedule below
• Mon-Thurs
• Math/English teacher available nightly
• help available in all subjects
• snacks provided

We are super excited to have Sam Schafer assisting our custodial staff at the Elementary! She works very well with Sandra Hernandez and Maria Rangel and the 3 of them are making the Elementary SHINE!

We are thankful for our PHS Transitions program led by Jenny Allen-Price at PHS! This is such an important piece for students and we are thankful to be apart of this transition.

Way to go Sam! We are proud of you and your hard work!

Special thanks to Jenny-Allen Price, Susan Bennett, Sandra Hernandez & Maria Rangel for helping make this a success!

Purcell High School students share their experience with attending Ryla last summer, which the Purcell Rotary Club sponsors. Seniors Kate Ginn, Hannah Whitaker, Paisley Knowles, Ellie Feroli, and Devan Martin are pictured below

RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a phenomenal program by Rotary International designed to empower young leaders. Through RYLA, participants engage in activities that build communication and problem-solving skills, discover strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in their school or community, and network with like-minded peers and inspiring mentors.

Scan QR code in image or go to https://www.okschoolpics.com/

Click on order school pics and enter purcell high school on search ba

2024 Ok State Fair Livestock Judging. We had a great day judging and had several new students who got an opportunity to judge today. We really do have the best kids! Thank you Tara Anderson, Lisa Andrews and Kenzie Cunnis for coming with us today help out! We really appreciate it. They have a record amount of participants this year.

https://www.judgingcard.com/Results/Events.aspx?ID=23100&fbclid=IwY2xjawFbrCtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdMzPK9iP5adIKHs74BbCLe9oTY1_RnCs2o-Kcp-5ScVPb9-VwMF4Lj_Uw_aem_4mviaWWsioACe58HFiQc7Q

The 2024 Chapter Officer Leadership Training was earlier this month. I finally have all of our pictures edited. Our officer team had a great time working on team building and leadership development.

Last week PHS senior FFA officers Hudson Andrews & Haley Kretchmar had an opportunity to go read and do a craft with Mrs. Frankenberg and Mrs. Nicklas’ classes at Purcell Elementary. This is a great example of how FFA programs provide important service learning opportunities for students.

Dragon Esports continues pre-season competition this week in preparation for the upcoming OSSAA Fall Season.

Dragons took on Covington Catholic High School from Kentucky in Mario Kart. We triumphed in a best-of-three series. Our players for the match: Fatima, Bradley, Brendan, and Brody T.

In Smash Bros Ultimate! Our first team, featuring the trio of Aden, Aidan, and Ezra, took on Prague High School and delivered a 3-1 victory.

In Super Smash Bros. our second team—AJ, Bryar, and Fatima—went head-to-head with Brookhaven High School from Mississippi in a thrilling match. The Dragons emerged victorious over the Panthers in the end 3-2!

PHS Cheerleaders are working hard leading cheers at games, promoting school spirit, volunteering in community and hosting an upcoming Cheer camp!

PHS Lil Cheer camp is coming next month. See flyer below.

The Dragon Pride Marching Band placed 8th in Prelims and 11th in the Finals at the Moore Outdoor Music Festival yesterday. I was very proud of our proud members and directors David Hilger and Jacob Willing. The conditions were downright brutal with the heat index well above 100 degrees. Great job band and thank you to our parents and supporters.

The Dragon Pride Marching Band performs at the Moore Outdoor Music Festival today @ 2:45 PM to start marching season. I cannot say enough about all the hard work that contributes to a successful band program. It's a major operation. Our Band Boosters deserve recognition for their support of this program. A great example is the props (still unpainted in these pics) the band will use in their performance. The Band Booster club provided the materials and Band parent Eric Brown made them. This is the type of community and parent support that are critical to a school. Thank you!

2024-25 Band Boosters:

President: Joanna Hartleroad

Vice President: Josh Howsley

Treasurer: Mitzi Lindsay

Secretary: Melissa Feroli

Football & Softball Schedules are linked below. Cross-Country Schedule will come out later this summer. We will share online once those schedules are released.

Say “hello” to two-way messaging and classroom announcements in the Purcell app! With the addition of Rooms, our district app keeps getting better. Parents/guardians check your email and text messages tomorrow (9/3) with instructions to sign up and access new features.

To make sure you are ready to use Rooms, download the Purcell app today!

Download for Android https://aptg.co/Bp9PVp

Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/H7tnMs

We wanted to inform you that OSU’s Randall and Carol White Reading and Mathematics Center has several online and in-person opportunities available for students in grades 1-12 this semester! Please see the images below for details. The first provides information about reading tutoring for students in grades 1-8 and math tutoring or enrichment for students in grades 2-6. The second provides information about an online reading workshop for students in grades 6-12.

Please share this with any families you feel would benefit, and let us know if you have any questions.

Randall & Carol White Reading and Mathematics Center

College of Education and Human Sciences

102 Willard ~ 405-744-7119 ~ RMC@okstate.edu

Functional Family Therapy

The Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs is offering the Functional Family Therapy (FFT) program for highly at-risk youth and adjudicated youth in specific Oklahoma counties. FFT is an evidence-based treatment program designed to reduce at-risk behavior in adolescents with an 70%-80% effectiveness rate. FFT is the leading treatment to address adolescent substance use, delinquency, and family system change. FFT targets youth aged 11-18, younger siblings, and their parents/caregivers. Intervention ranges from, on average, 8 -12 one-hour sessions for mild cases and up to 30 sessions for more difficult situations. FFT is conducted over an approximate three-month period and is largely an in-home intervention that is provided at no cost to the family.

FFT is appropriate for youth ages 11-17 exhibiting frequent and high degrees of the following problematic behaviors: defiance of authority figures (home and school), aggressiveness toward other people, extreme sibling rivalry, running away, truancy, vandalism, negative peer association, poor academic performance, chronic absenteeism from school, frequent school suspensions/expulsions, current/history of arrest, bullying issues, gang affiliation, and or substance abuse.

Is FFT available to students in my county?
To learn if FFT is available in your county please click below. Counties are where FFT is available are highlighted in blue: Functional Family Therapy (FFT) (oklahoma.gov)

How to do I make a referral?
To make a referral, please reach out to your local county Office of Juvenile Affairs. FFT can be provided as a preventative intervention. You will have to make a referral to OJA services and request FFT if the student does not have OJA involvement.

Students can access Varsity Tutors platform on their school-issued Chromebooks through their Clever account. Students & Parents can also access Clever account @ purcellps.org by selecting the Student Learning Page from the menu.

You can learn more about the tools available to your student here.

Please contact the high school if you are unable to access Parent Portal. This allows students and parents to access real-time grades 24/7, attendance information and update personal information. I include a parent/portal link for all parents/guardians on every Parent Newsletter. This link is located immediately below this message. It's very important all parents have access to parent portal.

Please complete this form linked here if you are need of a Parent Portal Account:

https://forms.gle/kcw4yFh9UghpFKW76

If you have any problems accessing Parent Portal please contact the school directly: (405) 442-0099