PHS Parent Newsletter

Email: hammerr@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

Dragon Family: Finishing Strong! 🐉

It is hard to believe, but we have officially entered the final two weeks of the 2025-2026 school year! While the finish line is in sight, these next ten days are some of the most important—and celebratory—days on our calendar.

Our focus for the remainder of the year is simple: Celebrating our Dragons. We are taking this time to honor the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers and staff, the grit of our athletes, and all the incredible milestones we’ve achieved together this year.

Important Upcoming Events

• This Week: Academic & Athletic Awards Assemblies We look forward to recognizing the outstanding achievements of our students in the classroom and on the field. These assemblies are a highlight of the year as we get to publicly celebrate the "excellence" that defines Purcell High School.

• Next Week: Final Exams Next week is Final Exam Week. We want every student to finish the year as strong as they started. Parents, please help us by ensuring your students are studied up, well-rested, and ready to give their best effort on their tests.

• Next Week: Graduation We will wrap up the year with the ultimate celebration—Graduation! We can’t wait to honor our outgoing Seniors as they transition from PHS students to PHS alumni.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Let’s make these final two weeks memorable and finish this school year on a high note!

Go Dragons!

With spring weather quickly approaching, we want to remind our families of the Purcell Public Schools Severe Weather Protocol.

When a Weather Lockdown is issued, our primary focus is the safety of our students and staff. Please keep the following in mind:

• Secure Status: During a lockdown, no one is permitted to enter or exit the building, and students will not be summoned for dismissal until the administration deems it safe.

• Clear Lines: We ask that you keep phone lines clear and avoid blocking campus traffic lanes so they remain open for emergency responders.

• Stay Informed: You will receive alerts via Infinite Campus/School Messenger when a lockdown begins and when it is lifted.

• Safety First: Students will only be released to designees listed in Infinite Campus, and photo ID is required for all pickups.

We encourage you to update your contact information and pickup lists in Infinite Campus now to ensure you receive all timely notifications. Thank you for your patience and for helping us keep our Dragons safe!

I’m writing to share two summer opportunities for your students through the University of Oklahoma Biological Station on Lake Texoma. These programs are designed to introduce students to authentic field science experiences and, for older students, provide a pathway to earning University of Oklahoma college credit before graduation.

For rising 8th and 9th grade students, the Biostation Summer Camp (June 15–19) is a four-day residential experience where students live and learn together on the shores of Lake Texoma while participating in hands-on investigations in environmental systems, microscopic life, mapping and navigation tools, and native plants. Students work alongside OU faculty and staff and gain exposure to how scientists collect and interpret data in outdoor research environments. This program is often a student’s first experience living on a university campus and exploring STEM through field-based learning.

For rising 11th and 12th grade students, the Biostation Concurrent Enrollment program (July 13–24) offers the opportunity to earn University of Oklahoma college credit while participating in a residential academic experience at the Biological Station. Students enroll in a college-level course taught by OU faculty, choosing from General Biology, Introduction to Sociology, Math for Critical Thinking, or United States History to 1865. In addition to earning credit, students experience structured university learning before transitioning to full-time college after high school.

Together, these programs create a progression of opportunities for students in your district—from an early introduction to field science to a true college academic experience at the University of Oklahoma.

Program details, eligibility requirements, and application information are available at youth.ou.edu.

Purcell competed on Friday as the only 4A school at the Southwest Conference Tournament, filled with larger classification programs.

The boys team finished 5th overall with 14 team points, and one of the biggest accomplishments of the day was every boys position advancing to the Consolation Championship match in their respective brackets.

Boys Team Standings:

Duncan – 32

Altus – 28

Guthrie – 20

Lawton MacArthur – 16

Purcell – 14

Lawton High – 10

Lawton Eisenhower – 9

Newcastle – 7

On the girls' side, Purcell finished with 6 team points, highlighted by the No. 2 Doubles team winning the Consolation Championship match.

Girls Team Standings:

Duncan – 31

Altus – 30

Guthrie – 21

Lawton High – 18

Lawton MacArthur – 17

Newcastle – 16

Lawton Eisenhower – 8

Purcell – 6

#WeArePurcell

At Purcell High School, student safety and mental health are our top priorities. We want to remind our families that the STOPit app, which our students use for anonymous reporting, also serves as a comprehensive 24/7 wellness resource.

Inside the app, students have access to vital tools designed to provide immediate support during difficult moments:

• 24/7 Crisis Hotline: Students can connect with a trained professional at any time of the day or night, seven days a week, directly through the app.

• The Resource Tab: This section is a "digital toolkit" for students, featuring direct links and contact information for:

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline & Text Line

• Depression & Mental Health Support

• Drug & Alcohol Treatment Resources

• Cyberbullying Help & Intervention

We encourage parents to sit down with their students this week to ensure they have the app downloaded and know how to navigate the Resources tab. Whether it is a concern for a friend or a personal struggle, help is always just a few taps away.

Your well-being matters, Dragons. Don't hesitate to reach out.

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