Purcell High School Contact Info
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
Message from the Principal
Why Teachers Matter More Than Ever
This past week I reconnected with my high school football coach, Mike Sperry. Mike's wife Linda passed away and we gathered to celebrate her amazing life. Linda was devoted to her church and family and had been a highly successful realtor for many years in Shawnee. Coach Sperry was my football coach in high school and later served as an administrator in Shawnee Public Schools. Coach Sperry and his wife Linda also gave me a home when I was in high school. I spent two years living with the Sperrys and their two daughters Stephanie and Kelly. They were a family to me when I needed it the most.
When it came time for me to decide what to with my life, the answer was easy. Coach Sperry had been much more than a teacher and coach. He was a mentor and a friend. All I wanted to do was return the favor by serving as a teacher and coach. It was the best professional decision I ever made. I reminded Coach Sperry last week how much he and Linda had meant to me and how he had inspired me to follow his path and hopefully give back what had been given to me.
This experience reminded again of the importance of teachers, coaches, and school staff members who have chosen to work with kids. We must all work together to help reaffirm how important these individuals are to our communities. The relationships that form between teachers and students have the potential to change lives. And great teachers do change lives every day through these relationships. Those relationships are strengthened through shared experiences of learning, activities, and team-bonding experiences. These relationships are the foundation of a positive school culture and matter more than anything.
A few weeks ago a student asked me why I chose to be a high school principal. I told them I didn't, I chose to be a teacher. He asked my why I wanted to be a teacher. I told him the story I shared above of Coach Sperry and Linda and how they had saved my life. I asked him if he would every consider teaching or coaching. He replied, "nah, they don't make enough money." While that part is certainly true, I do hope we never lose sight of how important our teachers and coaches are to the development of young people. Our kids are too important and need the mentorship and guidance of teachers/coaches more than ever.
Please take a moment this week during Parent/Teacher conferences and thank a teacher, coach, school secretary, or teaching assistant for their service. Nothing means more to a teacher than a simple thank you from a student or parent.
Always feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns
Jason
cell phone number: 918-873-0354
PARENT -TEACHER CONFERENCES THIS WEEK
Thursday 10/6: 3:30--7PM
Appointments are NOT required. However I would encourage parents to email teachers directly if they are unable to meet during scheduled times. Please keep meetings to no longer than 10-15 minutes so all parents can have an opportunity to visit with a teacher. Administrators and counselors are also available to meet during these times. Please let me know if you have any questions.
School Safety Updates: PLEASE READ
- We will conduct an unannounced Lock-In Safety Drill this week. A lock-in (formerly known as a soft lock-down) occurs when there is a threat to the general area, not specific to the high school. All exits and entrances are secured and all students and staff are moved to secured areas. No one can enter or exit the building when the school is on a lock-in or lock-down.
- I continue to express my sincere thanks to the Purcell Police Department. They have been a constant presence at our school from day one this year. I especially appreciate their presence form 7:30-8:15 during student arrivals.
- We continue to focus on locked and closed doors as a top priority for school safety. Either myself or Mr. Ricky Hammer, PHS Assistant Principal, conduct door checks daily. We are very pleased with the commitment of our staff to keep doors closed and locked.
- A key component of school safety is our student's mental health. There are many positive trends amongst high school students nationwide: Drug and alcohol use is down 30% from the 1990's and early 2000's. School fights have decreased significantly across high schools. Student are much more informed due to instant access to information. However there is a disturbing trend of increased depression and anxiety amongst teenagers. I've linked below a recent article I read detailing the four primary causes of a rise in teenage depression. Much of the data and research comes from a recent book by Jean Twenge, a psychologist and author of Generation Me:
IGEN: Why Today's Super Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less-Happy and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood.
The article I've linked below details the 4 primary reasons, according to the author,
teenagers are less happy today than 30 years ago. The reasons may not surprise you:
1. Social Media Use
2. Less face-to-face social interaction
3. The world is more stressful for today's teenagers
4. Increased pressure from adults
Please encourage students to reach out for help. Obviously we would always encourage students to come see a trusted adult at school when they need help. However students also have other outlets to get help including the Stopit App and the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Line. Please never hesitate to reach out to me if you feel a kid needs our help. Thank you!
VOTER REGISTRATION THIS TUESDAY @ 11:45 IN HIGH SCHOOL COMMONS
This Tuesday @ 11:45 the League of Women Voters will be on campus to register voters. Please stop by if you would like to register. The deadline to register to vote in November is October 14th.
Counselor's Updates
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE OF UPCOMING ACT TEST DATES. Students wishing to take ACT on 12/10 testing date will need to register prior to November 4th. See chart below of 2022-23 ACT testing dates. Please remember all juniors take the ACT on campus in the spring as part of their College and Career Readiness Exams. Juniors also take exams in Science and U.S. History
AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING BEGINS OCTOBER 18TH
We would encourage students and parents to take advantage of this important opportunity. After school tutoring will continue through December 8th for the fall semester.
Please reach out to individual teachers or an administrator for more information
NWEA MAP FALL ASSESSMENT FAMILY REPORT
MAP tests show growth that each student has achieved since their last assessment, demonstrate whether your student is college-ready (as measured by future ACT scores) in math and reading, and help teachers understand where they need to focus instruction.
I've linked a helpful video below that explains the family report and have copied a sample picture below of a family report.
All freshman and sophomore parents should check their emails this week for this important report. I would encourage you to visit with your student's math and english teacher as well during Parent/Teacher Conferences. Please contact Mr. Sanders if you have questions
https://teach.mapnwea.org/assist/help_map/Content/AboutMAP/VideoBrowse/FamilyVideo.htm?cshid=855
Choir All-State Tryouts
Parent and Student Portal Access
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