PHS Parent Newsletter

Happy New Year to all our PHS families! We hope you had a restful break and are ready for an excellent 2026. As we head into the spring semester, we remain focused on strengthening the bonds between students and teachers, challenging our students academically, and helping them chart their unique paths toward success as adults. At Purcell High School, our ultimate goal is to prepare future citizens who will make positive contributions to their communities.

We are incredibly fortunate to have a highly experienced and skilled teaching staff who hold themselves to the highest expectations. However, we know that our success depends on you, too. The two greatest predictors of a student’s success are highly involved parents and great classroom teachers. It’s a simple formula, and our goal is to sustain that success by keeping our talented teachers and strengthening our partnership with you. By working together, we can ensure every student has the support they need to thrive.

The next few months are the heart of the academic year and are critical for student growth. Freshmen and Sophomores will take their Winter MAP assessments during the last week of January, while Juniors will take their College and Career Readiness exams (ACT, Science, and U.S. History) in early to mid-April. The formula for student success is simple: attend school regularly, set high academic goals, and build strong relationships with your teachers.

Please feel free to contact me at the cell phone number listed below if you have any questions.

--Jason

Cell: 918-873-0354

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
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purcellhighschool/?hl=en

At Purcell High School, the safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities. We want to remind you that the STOPit anonymous reporting tool is available to all students and community members.

STOPit allows individuals to report safety concerns, threats, or other concerning behavior directly to school administrators. Key features of the tool include:

• Complete Anonymity: Reporters remain 100% anonymous.

• Two-Way Communication: Administrators can message the reporter to ask follow-up questions or provide updates while the reporter stays unidentified.

• Targeted Use: This tool is specifically for reporting information regarding the physical or emotional safety of individuals and potential threats to our school.

We encourage you to talk with your student about using STOPit responsibly to help keep our Dragon community safe.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our school safe.

PHS Administration

Join us in celebrating Coach Josh Beal! Now in his 3rd year at PHS, Coach Beal was recently nominated by multiple students for making a positive impact on their lives.

One student shared:

"Coach Beal is always so kind and he always helps me with anything I need... school can be tough sometimes and he will go out of his way to check on you. It can be so refreshing to have someone check on you even if you don't need it."

Whether it’s on the track or court or in the classroom, Coach Beal's dedication to his students' well-being truly makes a difference. Thank you for all you do for PHS!

Teacher Spotlight: Lynn Bayless!

We're continuing to spotlight our incredible PHS teachers! Lynn Bayless, our Geometry teacher, was nominated by numerous students for her kindness and dedication to learning.

"I have observed Lynn's classes on countless occasions and it never ceases to amaze me how hard she works to make sure her students understand difficult concepts."

-Jason Sanders

PHS Principal

Lynn is a vital part of our outstanding Math Department! We are so fortunate to have her!

Dear PHS Parents and Guardians

As we begin the new semester, we want to share several important updates regarding our ongoing commitment to a safe and healthy school environment.

Safety & Wellness Team Update

Before the winter break, Rick Hammer and our JET Safety & Wellness team met to discuss several key initiatives. Our current focus includes:

• Secure Facilities: Ensuring all students and staff work together to keep doors closed and locked at all times.

• Safety Surveys: We will soon conduct our annual school safety surveys to gather feedback.

• Student Wellness: We are continuing our partnerships with Healthcorp and YAHL (Youth Action Health Leadership), focusing on student mental health, regular exercise, and healthy eating habits.

Upcoming Safety Drills

We have two important drills scheduled this month. Our goal is to ensure students feel prepared and safe through practice, not alarmed.

• Lock-In to Lock-Down Drill: Friday, January 9, at 12:35 PM. This drill practices the transition from a "Lock-In" (soft lockdown/no immediate threat) to a "Lock-Down" (hard lockdown/immediate threat). We will provide instruction to students prior to the drill.

• Fire Drill: Monday, January 12, at 10:00 AM.

Traffic Safety Reminders

Thank you for your continued patience and awareness during daily drop-off and pick-up. To keep our students and staff safe, please remember:

• Drive slowly and stay off mobile devices.

• Remain aware of your surroundings at all times.

• Avoid cutting through the parking lot to bypass the line.

• 
  

Thank you for your partnership in keeping the Dragon community safe!

Best regards,

PHS Administration

Counselor’s Corner: Spring Semester Preview

Dear PHS Families,

Happy New Year! As we begin the spring semester, I want to share some grade-level highlights to help our students stay on track for a successful spring semester and smooth transition to next year.

Freshmen: Goal Setting for Success

This is an important time for freshmen to maintain a strong academic focus. I encourage all students to set specific goals for the semester.

• Academic Goal: For example, aiming for all A’s and B’s.

• Personal Goal: For example, committing to 8 hours of sleep each school night. Setting and achieving goals is a foundational skill for success both in and out of the classroom.

Sophomores: Planning Your Pathway

Sophomores are approaching a big transition. As enrollment for junior year begins, students should consider which pathway fits their future:

• College Bound: Looking into concurrent courses offered at PHS.

• Career Ready: Exploring programs at MATC.

• Workforce Entry: Pursuing an Internship or Work Experience opportunity. All of these options are available to our juniors and seniors next year!

Juniors: College & Career Readiness

This spring, juniors will take their College & Career Readiness exams, including the ACT, Science, and U.S. History assessments. These scores are important measures of readiness and school performance and often open doors for significant scholarship opportunities.

Seniors: Finishing Strong

For our seniors, the focus is on graduation and finishing their PHS careers with pride. To stay updated:

• Review the Senior Slideshow (linked below).

• Regularly check the Senior Website.

• Watch for meeting announcements from senior sponsors Amber Findley and Michael O’Neal.

Let’s make it a great semester, Dragons!

Best regards,

Melissa Feroli

Purcell High School Counselor

Alternative Education Director

ferolim@purcellps.org

Purcell High School congratulates Senior Student Council officer Aron Barrera on his selection as a Junior Counselor for OASC (Oklahoma Association of Student Councils) BASIC 2026, where he will serve during the July session.

This prestigious leadership role is awarded to only 21 students statewide from a competitive pool of more than 70 applicants. Aron’s selection is especially noteworthy as a first-year OASC participant — BASIC in July 2025 was his very first OASC event — while many other applicants had years of experience, including ADVANCE and multiple leadership workshops.

His leadership, dedication, and heart for serving younger leaders truly set him apart.

We are proud to have him representing PHS this July at Camp BASIC.

Freshman English students in Ms. Jasmine Quiñonez’s class recently tackled a powerful question: "What would you change?"

It was a great reminder to never underestimate our younger generations. These students aren't just bystanders—they care deeply about the world around them and are focused on how they can make a real difference in their own communities.

It is inspiring to see such thoughtful leadership in our classrooms. Great stuff, Dragons! 🐉🙌

#PHSDragons #FutureLeaders #CommunityStrong

Our PHS Choir joined forces with some amazing Purcell Intermediate 5th graders to take their show on the road!

They were caroling & singing at Westbrook Gardens, Lexington Nursing Home, Sunset Estates, the Elementary & Intermediate schools and the sidewalks of Main Street, these students shared some festive songs and bright smiles.

A huge thank you to everyone who welcomed us! Our students loved chatting with residents and spreading a little extra holiday magic.

Way to go, Dragons, and great job to Choir Director Cindy Donaldson!

We had an incredible November & December in our building thanks to Healthcorp "Gather with Gratitude" and "Bust your Stress" modules! Our 9th-grade Leadership students explored how food and mindfulness can build community, helping them develop essential life skills for a successful transition to adulthood (a key goal of our leadership programs/classes).

November Highlights:

Healthy Swaps: Our TMHH Club hosted a lunchtime "soda swap," serving "True Lemon" flavored water. The Raspberry Lemon was a massive hit!

Positivi-tree: Students created a beautiful display of gratitude, sharing what they are most thankful for—from friends to family.

Gratitude Letters: Many students took a moment to write heartfelt thank-you notes to their teachers, coaches, and peers.

December: We moved through the "Bust My Stress" module. Students learned how to identify stress and utilize healthy coping strategies to navigate the holidays and upcoming tests.

Special Thanks: A huge shoutout to our Healthcorp Regional Program Manager Presley Hayes, our dedicated site coordinators Megan Johnson & Joella Whitney, and Purcell 9th-grade leadership teacher Bryan Young for their support and leadership of our students’ wellness journeys!

What a spectacular performance for the Purcell Schools Music Theater program!

Huge congratulations to the entire cast and crew for a truly wonderful holiday production of Matilda!

Thank you to all our talented students—including our fantastic Set Design Class—for bringing the magic to the stage. And a special shout-out to Director Cindy Donaldson for her leadership and dedication. The hard work put in, both behind the scenes and on stage, truly shone through!

We are incredibly proud of everyone involved! Bravo!

photo credits: Candy Tuck

PHS Show Choir Takes Branson!

Our talented Purcell High School Show Choir, under the direction of Cindy Donaldson, are performing this holiday week in Branson! They brought their A-game to the big stages and represented our community with pride.

Trip Highlights:

Day 1: A whirlwind of travel, a professional voice clinic, and a fantastic first performance.

Day 2: A scenic boat trip around Table Rock Lake followed by a great performance at The Haygoods in front of a crowd of 1,200 people!

From the clinics to the bright lights, our students are making incredible memories and showed Branson what Dragon pride is all about.

Way to go, PHS Show Choir!

PHS Leadership & STUCO students proudly volunteered at Operation Christmas & at the Elementary school!

We appreciate these wonderful opportunities for our students to learn the value of community service and volunteerism! Go Dragons!

Show your support for the teams with our official "Winter Wonderland" PHS Basketball Homecoming T-shirts!

Deadline to Order: January 7th

Order Here: https://gofan.co/event/5698230

or scan the QR code below!

Important Upcoming BBALL Dates:

Jan 8–10: East Central Classic (@ Ada)

Jan 17: PHS Homecoming

Jan 21: Basketball Pep Rally

Jan 22–24: Heart of Oklahoma Tournament

Grab your shirt today and get ready for a huge spring semester on the court!

Thirteen of our high school FFA members recently attended the Lead 360 Conference.

They sharpened key leadership skills like self-esteem, goal setting, motivation, and teamwork. Our students are now bringing fresh ideas and energy back to our school and community! We are so proud! Thanks to Purcell FFA sponsor Erica Keen for working hard to provide our students these valuable opportunities!

Our Dragon basketball teams have wrapped up the first half of the season with hard-fought performances and clear momentum heading into the new year.

Boys Basketball (4-3)

The Dragons enter the break with a winning record and several marquee performances:

• Tournament Success: Finished as the runner-up in the competitive Madill Tournament.

• Ranked Wins: Secured impressive victories over ranked opponents Washington and Bridge Creek.

Girls Basketball (1-6)

While the record stands at 1-6, the Lady Dragons showed significant growth in their final game before the break. On the road against Class 3A #6 Anadarko, the team played a high-level game that remained a one-possession contest deep into the 4th quarter before ultimately falling 48-36. This performance sets a strong foundation for the spring.

Upcoming: East Central Classic (Ada)

Both teams return to the court on Thursday, January 8th, at the East Central Classic in Ada:

• Girls: Open against Durant at 10:00 AM.

• Boys: Open tournament play against Idabel (Time TBD).

Please see the brackets below for full tournament details. Let’s go, Dragons!

Football Postseason Honors Alert!

Huge congratulations to our players and coaches for their hard work and well-deserved recognition in 3A District 1!

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Dylan Smith

1st Team All-District:

Kaden Pliler (OL)

Oscar Wren (DB)

Deaken Dobbins (QB)

Carter Bennett (LB)

Landon Clarke (DL)

2nd Team:

Ty Thoming (OLB)

Aron Barrera (OL)

Honorable Mention:

Dalton McGrath (DL)

We are so proud of the effort these athletes put in all season. Well done, Dragons!

PLEASE CONTACT KELLY (SEE BELOW) IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HOSTING A FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT

If you currently accept exchange students, we thank you and your school for helping shape the future of our global community. We believe diversity of cultures is to be experienced and cherished. Providing someone with the opportunity to live and learn in another culture is very special.

Thank you for your help!

Sincerely,

Kelley Ridling

Council for Educational Travel USA

CETUSA Oklahoma Regional Director

Phone: 580-530-0094

Email: kelley.ridling@cetusa.org

CETUSA.org

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

Quick Access to Recent Updates

Families can view all recent messages and announcements for all children, across all teachers, in dedicated spotlight sections in new footer buttons.

• One Pager: Shares a summary of key updates (English)

• Help Articles: Provides more guidance to navigating the app

• Family Survey: Empowers families to share their feedback with Apptegy.
  

• VIDEO:

  English: https://youtu.be/zW9d0VzqDFI

  Spanish: https://youtu.be/W8Cnu-tgK9M
  

• Rooms Support

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