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 Purcell High School Parents:

As the school year draws to a close, our hearts swell with pride as we eagerly anticipate celebrating the remarkable achievements of our graduating Class of 2025! This year's commencement ceremony holds a special significance as we will be awarding our inaugural Honors Curriculum Diplomas, a testament to the dedication and academic excellence of many within this extraordinary group.

This class has truly left a lasting mark on Purcell High School. Their successes in the classroom are matched by their accomplishments on the playing fields and courts, and in the myriad of activities and organizations they have embraced. Whether their paths lead them to college, technical schools, the military, or directly into the workforce, we are confident that these future leaders will make a significant impact on their communities.

The Class of 2025 has set a high standard for those who will follow, demonstrating exceptional academic achievement, active participation in leadership programs, and a deep commitment to service. Graduation is more than just a ceremony; it is a momentous rite of passage, a transition into a world full of possibilities. It is also a powerful celebration and a heartfelt thank you to the parents, grandparents, teachers, and countless individuals who have poured their time, support, and love into the success of these incredible young people. We look forward to sharing this special occasion with you.

So mark your calendars, Dragon families! The next two weeks at Purcell High School are packed with celebrations and milestones! 🎉

Next Week: Awards Week! We're excited to recognize the incredible achievements of our students with a series of special events, including Academic Awards, Senior Awards, National Honor Society Inductions, our Athletic Awards Assembly, and much more! Check below for specific dates and times to celebrate these deserving Dragons! 🏆

Following Week: Graduation Week! The countdown is ON! 🎓 We're just around the corner from celebrating our amazing Class of 2025 at graduation! Get ready for this momentous occasion as we send off our seniors in style! More details about graduation week events will be shared soon.

It's an exciting time to be a Dragon! Let's make these final weeks memorable! #PHSActivities #AwardsWeek #GraduationWeek #Classof2025 #GoDragons

Jason

Principal,

Purcell High School

cell: 918-873-0354

Dear Purcell High School Parents:

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we want to take a moment to highlight the incredible dedication and hard work of our amazing staff at Purcell High School.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to reach out and thank a teacher who has made a difference in your student's life. Our teachers are not only highly skilled and passionate in their classrooms, but they also understand the profound impact of building strong relationships with teenagers, guiding them on their journey toward successful adulthood.

We are truly fortunate to have such a caring and committed team who go above and beyond for our students every day. We are deeply grateful for all that they do.

We also have some fun and engaging activities planned this week to recognize our teachers and build excitement for our upcoming graduation!

Thank you for partnering with us in your student's education.

Sincerely,

Purcell High School Administration

Tinley, the daughter of Tevi and Tyler Winters, has truly made her mark as a Dragon! 4X Letter P recipient and consistently on the Superintendent's Honor Roll, Tinley is also a proud member of the 2025 Top 10 Percent, Oklahoma Honor Society and a 2025 OGBCA Academic All-State honoree.

Her involvement doesn't stop there! Tinley is active in Basketball, Golf, Track, NHS, STUCO, and Spanish Club. Her favorite class is Calculus with Mr. O'Neal.

Looking towards the future, Tinley will be attending UCO to major in Biology and will be part of their Rowing Team! We're so excited to see her excel both in the classroom and on the water!

Chosen by our PHS faculty, Tinley is now in the running for the Faculty Scholarship, awarded at the end of the year.

Join us in celebrating Tinley's achievements! Drop some congratulatory messages below! #PurcellProud #SeniorOfTheMonth #DragonPride #Classof2025 #FutureBroncho

Lily, daughter of Eric and Shay Brown, is an example of dedication and achievement here at PHS. She is a 4 Year Letter P recipient and consistently on the Superintendent's Honor Roll

Beyond academics, Lily is deeply involved in our Dragon family as an active member of the Band and the Captain of our Color Guard. Her favorite class is Botany with Mr. Samford

Looking ahead, Lily will be heading to OU to pursue her passion for meteorology. We have no doubt she'll forecast a bright future for herself!

Student of the Month is selected by our wonderful PHS faculty, and Lily is now eligible for the Faculty Scholarship awarded at the end of the year.

Join us in celebrating Lily's accomplishments! Give her a virtual round of applause in the comments below! #PurcellProud #StudentOfTheMonth #DragonPride #Classof2025 #FutureSooner

Mili was selected for this honor by her teachers and is now automatically eligible for the Faculty scholarship - way to go!

Mili is the daughter of Ashley Cannon, Adam Cannon, and Moses Antonio. She's an active member of Cheer, Spanish Club, Youth Coalition, and NHS. Her dedication shines through as a 4X Letter P Recipient and a 4X Superintendent's Honor Roll member.

Her favorite subject is English, and she has exciting plans to pursue a degree in Psychology at Missouri State University, where she will also be competing on their Acrobatics & Tumbling Squad!

Please join us in congratulating Mili on this well-deserved recognition! Leave a comment below to share your congratulations!

Purcell High School proudly names Erica Estrada, our Lead Custodian, as Staff Member of the Month! Erica is an exceptional asset, consistently exceeding expectations in her role by ensuring a clean and presentable school environment with a positive and helpful attitude. Her expertise in all things custodial makes her a valuable resource across the district. What truly sets Erica apart is her remarkable commitment to our students. As a dedicated mentor and trainer in our transitions program, she provides invaluable skills and support, fostering their growth and preparing them for future employment. Erica's dedication to both our facilities and our students makes her an outstanding choice for this recognition.

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the inaugural class of 2025 Honors Diploma Graduates!

Today, we celebrate a monumental achievement as these exceptional students become the FIRST at Purcell High School to earn this distinguished honor! This recognition marks their unwavering commitment to academic excellence throughout their high school journey.

These outstanding graduates have not only maintained a GPA of 3.25 or higher with no grade lower than a C, but they have also successfully completed a minimum of FIVE rigorous Honors, AP, and/or concurrent enrollment classes, including four years of both math and science!

Their diplomas will proudly display a special designation, reflecting their completion of this advanced course of study.

We are incredibly proud of your hard work, dedication, and pursuit of knowledge! Your achievements pave the way for future Dragons!

Get ready for a whirlwind of Dragon pride! 🌪️ Purcell High School is buzzing with activity as we gear up for the end of the school year! Check out this awesome schedule:

🏆 It's Awards Week! Let's celebrate our students' incredible achievements at the Academic Awards Assembly, Senior Awards Assembly, and National Honor Society Inductions! 🎶 Our talented musicians will shine at the Band Banquet and the Band Spring Concert! 🏅 Let's hear it for our amazing athletes at the Athletic Awards Assembly! Track athletes are competing at State! Good luck to Emma Lynn at the Girls Golf State Tournament! 🥎 Cheering on our Softball team as they compete at the State Tournament! 🌾 Wishing our FFA members all the best at the FFA State Convention! 💪 Time for physicals at Physical Day! 🏫 Welcoming our future Dragons with 8th Grade Tours!

It's going to be an action-packed week! Let's show our Dragon spirit and support all of our students! Have a fantastic week, everyone! 🎉 #PHSActivities #AwardsWeek #GoDragons #StateBound #FutureDragons

Dear Purcell High School Parents and Students,

As the school year comes to a close and summer approaches, we want to emphasize the critical importance of safe driving habits. Unfortunately, statistics show that the number of accidents involving teenagers tends to increase during the summer months.

We urge all our students, especially new drivers, to be extra vigilant behind the wheel. Please remember to prioritize safety by:

• Eliminating Distractions: This includes putting your phone away and avoiding texting or other activities that take your focus off the road.
• Driving Responsibly: Understand and obey speed limits. Be mindful of your inexperience and drive defensively.
• Staying Sober: Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Your safety is our top priority. Please make smart choices every time you get behind the wheel. Let's ensure a safe and enjoyable end of school year and summer for everyone.

Sincerely,

Jason Sanders

Principal, Purcell High School

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories. The 988 Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources with national standards and best practices.

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.

Purcell High School Students and Parents:

As we navigate these final few weeks of the school year, your focus and engagement in your coursework remain incredibly important. I understand that this time can bring a mix of excitement for upcoming events and the pressures of final grades, potentially leading to increased anxiety.

Please remember that staying on task and keeping up with your assignments is the most effective way to manage stress and avoid unnecessary anxiety. Procrastination can unfortunately amplify these feelings.

This is our last full week of regular classes, followed by semester tests next week. It's crucial to dedicate your attention to your studies during this time.

For all students, and especially our graduating seniors as they anticipate their next chapter, it's important to acknowledge that the transition at the end of the school year can bring about anxiety. Even with a touch of "senioritis," the move towards post-high school life and adulthood can feel overwhelming.

Please prioritize your well-being during this time. Ensure you are getting plenty of sleep, engaging in regular exercise, staying hydrated, and nourishing your body with healthy foods. Additionally, exploring helpful strategies for coping with anxiety can significantly improve your mental health.

Practices like prayer, meditation, and yoga can offer valuable relief from stress and anxiety.

Most importantly, know that you are not alone, and help is always available if you start to feel overwhelmed. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, your teachers, or a trusted adult if you need support.

We are incredibly proud of your hard work and dedication throughout the year. Let's finish strong together!

Sincerely,

Your Purcell High School Counselor

Sincerely,

Melissa Feroli

Purcell High School Counselor

Semester Test Quick Facts for Parents:

• Semester Tests are required in ALL classes.
• Semester tests must be administered during assigned times (see schedules below) unless permission granted by principal.
• Semester tests are 20% of final grade and must be comprehensive (covers the entire semester of content taught.)
• Students can gain exemption from Semester Tests: see criteria for exemption below

Guidelines for Semester Test Exemptions

Students will be exempted from Semester Tests in individual courses based on the following

criteria of grades and attendance:

A and 3 absences or less

B and 2 absences or less

C and 1 absence or less

❖ All absences, excused and unexcused, except for activity absences and principal excused absences, count against the absence/grade exemption policy.

❖ Absences occurring from an injury resulting from participation in a school activity will NOT count

against the absence/grade exemption policy.

❖ The high school administration will run an absence/grade exemption list from Infinite Campus at

least 2 days prior to the first day of scheduled semester tests. The exemption list will be provided to

all students and teachers. This list is final and can only be changed per approval from the high

school principal or Dean of Students.

❖ Students who receive either an in-school suspension and/or an out-of-school suspension during a

semester will not be exempted from Semester tests regardless of their grade or attendance status.

❖ Students exempted from semester tests are not required to attend class on the day of the semester test. This applies only to classes in which the student is exempted from the test.

Register Now for Enrollment!

Will your child be returning to Purcell Schools next year? Fill out registration forms now and be ready for enrollment in July.

https://www.purcellps.org/o/purcell/page/enrollment

¿Su hijo/a regresará a las Escuelas Purcell el próximo año? Complete los formularios de inscripción ahora y prepárese para la inscripción en julio.

https://www.purcellps.org/o/purcell/page/enrollment

Please see information below about volunteer opportunity at Purcell Hospital. Applications can be picked up at the Purcell High School Front office.

Hey Class of 2026 (Current Juniors)!

Ready to boost your leadership skills this summer? Applications are NOW OPEN for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp! This awesome program runs from June 16-20 and focuses on the core Rotary value of "Service Above Self" while equipping you with essential leadership qualities.

Developing strong student leaders is key to a thriving high school, and RYLA is a fantastic opportunity to grow! Don't miss out on this incredible experience.

See Mr. Sanders or Ms. Feroli if you are interested and/or apply online at the link below:

https://rotary5770.com/50022/Page/ShowSitePage...

Get answers to some of the most common financial aid questions, such as:

• What is financial aid?
• Why is financial aid important?
  
• Who qualifies for financial aid?
  
• How do I apply for federal financial aid?
  
• When do I apply for financial aid?
  
• How often do I have to complete the FAFSA?

Paws-itively awesome learning happening at PHS! Our Human Growth & Development students from Stefanie Renfro's class took a field trip to Erica Keen's AG 1 "Dog Show" today, and the connections were PAW-SOME! They interviewed our AG experts about different dog breeds to figure out the perfect furry friend for various age groups and lifestyles. Talk about making real-world connections! 🐕‍

Huge shoutout to these two incredible teachers – and former PHS Teachers of the Year! Erica Keen and Stefanie Renfro, you're knocking it out of the park with this cross-curricular project that's boosting student engagement, collaboration, and critical thinking! This is what it's all about – making learning meaningful and showing how different subjects wag together! Great teachers truly DO make a great school! #PurcellHS #CrossCurricular #AgEd #HumanGrowthandDevelopment #RealWorldLearning #DogShow #GreatTeachers #PHSPride

All Oklahoma graduates are required to receive CPR & AED training. This training is mandated by law. Jack McNeely is the chairperson of our science department and also a certified CPR trainer. Along with the Purcell Fire Department, he provides the majority of our students their required training. This valuable training could possibly help save a life one day. Last week Jack provided this important training to our Alternative Education students.

Huge shoutout to our awesome Class of 2028 for participating in Reality Check! This incredible event gave our freshmen a real-world look at budgeting and the costs of everything from childcare to utilities – talk about eye-opening!

We're so thankful for our continued partnership with First United Bank Purcell, the McClain County OSU Extension Office, and Wayne Public Schools for making this valuable learning experience possible!

A special thank you to our very own PHS Counselor, Melissa Feroli, for organizing this important opportunity for our students! Your dedication to their future success is amazing!

Get ready, Class of 2029! Next year, we're leveling up with curriculum in your freshmen leadership/life-skills course to help you understand the ins and outs of Credit Scores!

#RealityCheck #Classof2028 #RealWorldLearning #Budgeting #FinancialLiteracy #Partnerships #FirstUnitedBank #OSUExtension #WaynePublicSchools #PHSCounseling #FutureReady #GoDragons

HUGE Success! Last week the Purcell High School Transitions Program, under the direction of PHS Teacher Jenny Allen-Price hosted its FIRST EVER Transition Resource Fair, and it was a fantastic event! We made history connecting 15 students and their families with an incredible 16 vendors offering vital resources!

Hear what attendees had to say:

"There is lots of help in finding jobs and assistance paying for college or school!"

"Very Informative! A lot of resources I didn’t know was available."

A massive thank you to all the vendors who participated and to everyone who came out to learn about these valuable opportunities. The PHS Transitions Program is thrilled with the turnout and looks forward to seeing you all again next year! #PurcellPride #PHSTransitions #ResourceFair #CollegeBound #JobOpportunities #CommunitySupport #MakingADifference

Attention upcoming Juniors and Seniors!

Boost your ACT score this summer with Power Prep! Carolyn Devane, who regularly hosts ACT prep at Purcell High School, is offering an ACT prep session on Tuesday, June 4th, at the OSU/OKC campus.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get a head start on your college applications. Limited spots are available, so don't miss out!

Click the link below to register or for more information:

http://actprep.info/osu-okc

Get ready to click your heels! HUGE congrats to the incredibly talented music theater classes at Purcell High School, Purcell Junior High, and Purcell Intermediate School for their amazing presentation of the timeless classic, "The Wizard of Oz"! Oh my goodness, what a show! The performances were absolutely outstanding, and we were completely swept away to the Emerald City!

A massive thank you to our Purcell District Teacher of the Year, Cindy Donaldson! Your passion and leadership have fostered such incredible growth in our fine arts programs – it's truly inspiring to witness!

And a special shout-out to the amazing parent volunteers, especially Rebecca Stell, for the incredible costumes! Your hard work and creativity truly brought the characters to life!

What was your favorite part of the show? Let us know in the comments below! #PurcellPride #WizardOfOz #MusicTheater #FineArts #TalentedStudents #CommunitySupport #ThankYouTeachers #AmazingCostumes

Attention parents!!

Physicals for the 2025/2026 school year will be May 7th in the high school commons. This will be for any JH or HS student involved in sports or any extra curricular activity. HS will begin at 2:30 and JH at 3:15. Cost is $10. Physical forms are in the main office of both the HS and JH. Bring physical form completely filled out and signed with money on this day.

Dragon Pride Marching Band performed at the OSSAA State Solo & Ensemble Contest this week at OSU! HUGE congrats to all our talented HS band students under the direction of David Hilger and Jacob Willing!

We're celebrating:

Superior rated solos!

Excellent rated solos!

Superior rated ensembles!

These incredible achievements show the dedication and hard work our students put in outside of regular band practice. Bravo to each and every one of you! #band #music #ossaa #soloandensemble #dragonpride #stillwater #osu #superiors #excellent

Get Ready to be Entertained!

Purcell's talented band students, under the direction of David Hilger (High School) and Jacob Willing (Junior High), are excited to present their Spring Concert this Monday night!

Join us at the Reimer Center for an evening filled with incredible music and performances by our amazing band program. Be sure to check the graphic for all the specific details you won't want to miss!

The band celebrations continue later in the week with the Band Banquet on Friday evening, so let's show our support and appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our high school and junior high band students!

We can't wait to see you there! #PurcellBand #SpringConcert #GoDragons #MusicEducation #ReimerCenter #PHSBand #PJHBand

Purcell FFA is bringing home the GOLD! Huge congrats to Carli Thomas for becoming the State Champion Plant Science Speaker! We're so proud of you, Carli, and can't wait to see you shine on stage at the Oklahoma State FFA Convention! Good luck as you compete for a spot at Nationals!

Shoutout also to Kaden Pliler and Grady Andrews for their awesome performance, finishing in the TOP 10 at the State FFA Speech Contest! Way to represent Purcell FFA! #okffa #ffa #statespeech #purcellffa #plantscience #champion #proud

State FFA CDE Contests

Congratulations to the Purcell Livestock team for placing 10th the state contest!!!

Team members: Chase Anderson, Jaxson Staggs, Kaden Pliler & Carli Thomas

Jaxson was 16th Overall and Chase was 19th Overall out of 200 students.

Vet Science Team Members: Kyleigh Green, Savannah Mauzerall & Kylee Barrett

Turf Grass Management: Hudson Andrews

WOW! The 2025 Purcell High School Talent Show was absolutely AMAZING! We had OVER 21 incredible acts grace the stage! The talent level was seriously off the charts!

A HUGE round of applause to our phenomenal performers!

Let's give it up for the masterminds behind the magic: Vocal Music Director Cindy Donaldson and Band Director David Hilger - your hard work made our Fine Arts Department SHINE BRIGHT!

Our entertaining MCs, Devan Martin and Gunnar Baker, you guys were fantastic!

And a big thank you to our esteemed panel of judges and scorekeepers: Ethan Scott, Ray Samford, Jenny Allen-Price, April Trumbo, and Sam Resendiz! Your expertise was much appreciated!

A massive congratulations to our TOP TALENT!

1st Place: The one and only Kaden Pliler!

2nd Place: The fantastically funky "The Funky Monkeys"!

3rd Place: The incredibly talented Duc Giang!

What an afternoon showcasing the amazing talent we have at Purcell High! We are SO proud of everyone who participated! #PHSTalentShow #PurcellProud #TalentUnleashed #FineArts #GoDragons

We celebrated School Lunch Hero Day last week, and we're sending a HUGE Dragon-sized thank you to our incredible lunch heroes at Purcell High School!

We're so grateful for our partnership with Keystone and the amazing team of Linda, Jane, Bobby, Arely, and Desiree!

They bring kindness and friendly smiles to work every single day, along with serving up delicious and nutritious meals that fuel our students' learning. They truly play such an important role in the education of our children!

Let's show them some love today! If you see Linda, Jane, Bobby, Arely, or Desiree, take a moment to say THANK YOU!

#SchoolLunchHeroDay #PurcellHighSchool #KeystonePartnership #ThankYou #SchoolLunchHeroes #MakingADifference #GoDragons

We recently celebrated our front office staff want to give a HUGE shout out to the administrative professionals who are the backbone of our school! Candy Tuck (Front Desk & Attendance Secretary), Kassi Buchanan (Registrar & Principal's Secretary), and Cara Simonton (Financial Secretary) – you are the glue that holds us together! Your dedication and hard work don't go unnoticed. We also want to extend a special thank you to Susan Bennett from our Special Education department for stepping in and providing invaluable support this semester. Each of you consistently puts the needs of our students and staff first, and we simply couldn't function without your tireless efforts. Thank you for your selfless service! #AdminProfessionalsDay #SchoolSupport #ThankYou #PublicServants #PurcellPride

Yesterday did not end the way we wanted to but we are very proud of this team. They fought hard all year and never gave up.

Parents: Thank you for always stepping up to help. We appreciate all the time you spend organizing, planning, and providing. We could not do all we do without you.

Fans: Thank you for showing up near and far to cheer us on. We appreciate your support.

Seniors: Thank you for your leadership. You all will have a very successful future. Your time as a PHS baseball player may be over but we know that you will take your leadership skills to the next chapters of your life.

GO DRAGONS!

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

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