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,

I want to share a story with this newsletter that made an impact on me. As I was walking through our conference room last week during a hectic and busy morning, I noticed a note and drawing had been left on the conference table. It was a simple sketch on plain white paper that said "If you are reading this you are beautiful." I thought, wow, that was really nice of a student. Sometimes some of the sketches or drawings students leave around the school are not quite so pleasant! Anyway I tried to remember what students had been in our conference room recently. I then remembered Brianah "Bri" Wren was in our conference room earlier during her internship hour. I located Bri in the library and asked her if she had left the drawing and she said yes. Having gotten to know Bri a little bit I knew she wasn't seeking attention.

This simple act of kindness and positivity really made an impact on me. I then remembered Bri was the student I observed last week taking some time in her day to welcome our brand new foreign exchange student who was brand new to not only the school but the country! It really impressed me. These type of simple acts of kindness and empathy can have huge impacts throughout a school. They set an example for others. They make a school feel more like a community. They make others feel welcome and included. And for me it was reminder to slow down during a busy day and remember what really matters: people.

My secretaries framed the picture and I asked Bri if we could display it permanently in the conference room. Bri graciously agreed but I could tell she wasn't seeking the attention. But her simple act of kindness was a reminder to us all to slow down, step back, and remember what really matters: being kind to each other.

Brianah Wren is a senior at Purcell High School. She is pictured below with her message now permanently displayed in the our office conference room.

Jason

Please feel free to text or call me if can help

Cell: 918-873-0354

Student of the month is a prestigious honor voted on monthly by PHS staff. Seniors honored with Student of the Month are eligible for the Faculty Scholarship given each year. We were able to find a throwback photo of this months winners!

Ella Resendiz is the daughter of Morgan and Modesto Resendiz. She is active in fastpitch & slowpitch softball, track, STUCO, and Spanish Club. She is a member of National Honor Society, Superintendent's Honor Roll, a track All-Stater, 2023 State Shot-Put Champion, State Runner-Up in softball, fastpitch player and pitcher of the year. Her favorite class is Trigonometry with Michael O'Neal and English honors with Amber Findley. She will attend Oklahoma Christian to play softball and plans to become a pediatric nurse.

Ellie Feroli is the daughter of Melissa Feroli and Jared Feroli. She is center snare on the drumline, Student Council President, Vice-President of Spanish Club, FCCLA, and a 2024 member of Youth Leadership Oklahoma. Her honors include National Honor Society, Superintendent's Honor Roll, and National Technical Honor Society. Her favorite class is Trigonometry with Michael O'Neal. She plans to study architecture in college and make the college drumline.

PHS Senior Hudson Andrews was awarded the Bronze Sons of the American Revolution Good Citizenship certificate and medal today. This national award recognizes student achievement, character, patriotism, and citizenship. Hudson was presented the award today during our school assembly. Mark Atterson, President of the Norman Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, presented the award to Hudson.

Hudson is the son of Kevin and Lisa Andrews. He is an FFA officer and was recently selected to serve on the State Department of Agriculture Youth Council for 2024-2025. Hudson is also an area speech qualifier from last year. He currently holds a 4.02 G.P. A. and excels in the classroom in addition to his accomplishments outside the classroom.

Congratulations Hudson, and on behalf of Purcell High School, I would like to thank Mr. Atterson and the Sons of the American Revolution for recognizing our students and for promoting important virtues such as citizenship and patriotism.

Jason Sanders

Principal

Purcell High School

Lock-in situation at the junior high and high school last week

Last week we received a RAVE alert of a suspicious individual in the junior high parking lot. This is a great example of the critical importance of the RAVE alert system. The RAVE alert, issued by the junior high principal, immediately alerted other administrators, and law enforcement personnel, of a potential threat to both schools. Fortunately we were able to quickly determine that there was not a serious threat to the high school. However, we remained in a lock-in situation until the Purcell Police Department gave us the all clear. Our students and staff responded in a calm and responsible manner to the situation. Information and updates were provided directly to staff in order for them to stay informed of the situation. Parents were also provided real-time updates from the district and a email recap of the situation later that morning.

Here are a few important points for parents to remember about a lock-in/lock-down situation

• A lock-in is declared when there is a threat to the general area (not specific or immediate to the high school). All students and staff are moved into secured areas. Any students, staff, or parents immediately outside the building are moved into secured areas inside. Any parents in the parking lot are advised to stay in their cars or exit the school grounds. No one is permitted to enter or leave the building once a lock-in (or lock-down) is declared.

• A lock-down is declared when there is an immediate and specific threat to the high school.

teachers and staff direct any students in the immediate vicinity of your room inside and shut and lock the door. Lights should be turned off and if possible the door should be barricaded with large objects. All staff and students should hide from the view of windows and doors and remain out of sight until the lockdown has been lifted.

• No individual will enter or leave the building during a lockdown until the lockdown and/or lock-in has been lifted.

• Upcoming Security Drill: We will conduct a lock-in to lock-down drill next Wednesday at 12:37 PM. This drill simulates a scenario in which we transition from a lock-in to a lockdown situation. As always our purpose for conducting drills is to prepare students, staff, and administrators for potential emergency situations. They help familiarize individuals with emergency procedures, they identify weaknesses in security plans, and they build and promote a culture of safety.

• Teen Driving Safety: Please remind your student how important it is to drive safely and responsibly. We encourage our students to always practice safe driving habits. For most people, driving or riding in a car is the most dangerous things we do in our lifetime. For teenagers it can be even more dangerous. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in America. Please remind your students that any acts of unsafe driving can and will result in a loss of driving privileges on campus.

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:

• Our College & Career Fair was a huge success Thursday night. Students and parents had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Oklahoma Colleges & Universities, Military Branches, Career Tech, and Paul Mitchell. They also had the opportunity to meet with Kirk Rushing to learn more about important college financial aid information.
• 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.

Freshmen and sophomores completed our fall NWEA MAP Assessments this week. Students are assessed in the fall and winter to measure their reading, math, and science learning progress. These important assessments not only allow us to measure their learning progress but also measure our instructional effectiveness. These assessments are a highly accurate predictor of future success on the ACT exam. Although the ACT exam is not as important as it once was when it comes to college access (many colleges are now test optional), the ACT is a still a strong indicator of student learning and achievement. Additionally a high ACT score can led to scholarship awards for students.

In the next few weeks you will receive an individual family report in your email. This report will provide you your student's raw scores (RIT scores) and track learning progress since their last map assessment. I've attached a family guide to MAP growth below in English and Spanish. If you have any questions about your student's scores please reach out to me or your student's teacher. MAP assessments are given in a student's english (reading), math and science classes. Only freshmen and sophomores complete MAP assessments.

Sophomores are writing autobiographical essays about an event or time in their lives when they learned an important lesson. It's been awesome to witness them reflecting on things that happened in the past and how they've grown and learned crucial lessons. Candy Clark teaches sophomore English.

The Computer Applications 1 and 2 classrooms have successfully completed a series of unplugged problem-solving activities designed to teach students the engineering process, critical thinking skills, and teamwork.

These activities provided students with hands-on opportunities to engage in collaborative tasks that mirror real-world engineering challenges. By working without computers, students focused on:

• Understanding the Engineering Process where they followed steps such as identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, prototyping, testing, and reflecting on what they learned.
• Developing important critical thinking skills where each activity encouraged students to analyze problems and think creatively to devise effective solutions.
• Lastly, students worked in groups, enhancing their communication, cooperation, and ability to function as part of a team.

These unplugged exercises have enriched the learning environment and prepared students for future technology-related tasks in the classroom by reinforcing essential foundational skills.

Computer Applications is taught by PHS Technology Student Association advisor April Trumbo

Samantha Resendiz skillfully used the study of Puritanism to help her students learn about cultures, beliefs, and the impact they have on the laws societies develop to govern themselves. The students used the knowledge to develop their own classroom laws. I've posted a few examples below. Ms. Resendiz does a great job of making her content relevant to teenagers today.

PHS Set Design class works to apply some upgrades to our auditorium at the old junior high in preparation for upcoming performances. Our set design class is a new addition to our flourishing vocal music and music theater program. Cindy Donaldson, Purcell Vocal Music Coordinator, is doing great work with this program!

#phsdragons

PHS Transitions helps students build the so-called "soft skills" students need to achieve success in their personal and professional lives. These skills include communication, problem-solving, time management, and teamwork. Our goal is to provided ALL students and opportunity to build these skills in "real-world" scenarios. PHS Transitions is led by PHS teacher Jenny Allen-Price. If you would like to get involved with this program please contact Jenny by email at allenj@purcellps.org.

ALL PHS juniors and seniors have opportunities to access these opportunities through our PHS Internship & Work Experience Program which is led by PHS teacher Amber Findley. You can contact Amber by email at findleya@purcellps.org

Last week, Purcell Esports assessed the students' abilities in teamwork, communication, skill, strategizing, and game-based learning. We experimented with various student combinations in semi-competitive matches, ensuring a lot of fun along the way. The students primarily engaged in Rocket League, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros. Competitions will start later this month.

2024-25 PHS Spanish Club Officers & Sponsor Mayra Munoz

This organization has over 80 members and provides numerous service learning opportunities to students who learn the value of giving back to their community.

#phsdragons

President: Payton Lawson

Vice-President: Ellie Feroli

Secretary: Jose Salinas

Reporters: Logan Lovett & Bianney Resendiz

Treasurer: Emanuel Escobedo

Representatives: Adylee Jurado & Paisley Nichols

Get your 2024 Purcell High School Football Homecoming shirt! Homecoming is September 27th vs. Plainview. Click on link to order

https://thedistrictdesigns.com/collections/phshoco24

Athletics Update 8/24-9/6

8/24 Softball beats Noble 12-2 in final game of Heart of Oklahoma Tournament.

They finished 2-3 in the HOOT.

Cross Country Bridge Creek Meet Results:

Jayden Polk wins the race with time of 16:45.36

Boys finished 7th

Top Girl Runners:

Mykailah Leatherman 17:45.95

Kori Doyal 18:06.62

8/26 Softball Beats Dickson 16-1 at Home

8/27 Softball travels to Madill to play double header. Wins 18-4, and 18-2

8/28 Cross country at Marlow Results

Boys Varsity finished 2nd

8th/9th finished 2nd

Jayden Polk beats course record by 14 seconds with 10:30 wins the race.

Mykailah Leatherman finished 15th with 7:08.14

Erick Suarez finishes 5th with 11:45.33

Tripp Eck finishes 13th with 12:33.06

8/29 Football played well in scrimmage vs Bethel and Harrah

9/3 Softball gets comeback win vs Byng 8-6

9/5 Softball plays two games in opening day of Dale Festival. Beats Chickasha

14-0. Loses to Dale 10-0

9/6 Softball Results: Lost to Tecumseh 3-2, Win vs Seminole 10-0

Football Results: 17-16 win over Lindsay

9/7 Cross Country Results

Future events:

Sept 13 Football @Washington

Sept 17 Softball Homecoming vs Ada

Sept 27th Football Homecoming vs Plainview–Parade starts at 1:30

Oct 2nd-Softball Playoffs Start

Oct 26 CC Regionals

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

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