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

Good Afternoon Dragon Family:

We are excited to welcome your students back to school this week. Please remember school starts this Thursday, August 11. The purpose of this newsletter is to direct your attention to all the academic opportunities, requirements, and information relevant to parents and students. This is particularly helpful for all incoming freshman.

We enjoyed welcoming so many freshman parents and students last week. I received several emails requesting more specific information regarding various issues. We prefer to keep the orientation informal, fun, and focused on the students and building new relationships. Also, much of the information was included in the Back to School Info newsletter sent to parents in late July. However we certainly understand parents, particularly parents new to High School, may have missed the previous newsletter.

Please keep in mind I provide regular Parent Newsletters (bi-weekly), that provide updates and timely information involving all things PHS. Additionally we have significantly upgraded our PHS website to provide parents a one-stop shop for information. Please be sure to regularly check those resources when needed. I'm attaching to this newsletter numerous resources, links, and other relevant information you may find helpful. Of course we always welcome your phone calls and emails!

Jason

Go Dragons!

Always feel free to call or email me if you have questions,

sandersj@purcellps.org

405-442-0099 ext 505

I'm pleased to introduce Ashleigh Schaffer as our new social studies teacher. Ashleigh will teach Modern History and Government, Geography, and one section of JH social studies. Ashleigh taught @ Epic for the past two years and is excited to join the classroom and share her love of history with our students. Ashleigh graduated from Arizona St. University with a B.A in History.

Ashleigh and her husband Thomas reside in Pauls Valley with their sons, Axel 3, and Crew, 11 months.

Ashleigh demonstrated during her interview not only a passion for history but her obvious ability to connect with people and desire to teach and mentor teenagers.

Welcome to the Dragon Family!

We have worked hard to make accessing information easier for parents. This includes providing parents bi-weekly newsletters, the creation of a course/curriculum guide, social media enhancements, a revamped website, and more. No one wants to be inundated with constant emails. I've strived to create multiple avenues of information access for parents. Please note that our website is a one-stop shop for many pieces of information parents seek, including tabs on the home page to the following:

• social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
• staff directory
• stopit anonymous reporting tool
• school calendar
• bell schedule
• course and curriculum guide
• student handbook
• athletics website
• online transcripts
• online ticket purchase to school events
• link to live streaming of sports events
• PHS Severe Weather Plan
• enrollment forms
• regularly updated photos
• live feed of all social media posts

I would urge parents to always go to the PHS Website when in search of information!

https://www.purcellps.org/o/phs

We urge you to always contact us if you have questions or concerns. All relevant contact information is located at the top of each newsletter and linked on the PHS Website. Of course you can always contact the front office directly by phone. However school email is always the easiest way to contact teachers and coaches directly.

Please keep in mind that teachers and coaches are not able to respond immediately to requests or take phone calls throughout the day. They are busy teaching and supervising students. However we do expect all staff to respond to parent and student requests in a reasonable amount of time.

All concerns with a class or activity should ALWAYS be directed initially to the individual class/activity teacher, sponsor, or coach.

PHS Bell Schedules are attached below. We have two bell schedules: Regular and Flex. Our flex schedule is used when we have advisory or assemblies. School still begins and ends at the same time. However you should take note of the different lunch times. Please remember Freshman parents: Freshmen are NOT allowed to leave campus during lunch.

Students are assigned advisors upon entering high school. They keep the same advisors throughout their high school career. Students meet regularly with their advisors for college and career guidance, school safety updates, receive important messages from principal, and students enroll through their advisory class.

Most importantly advisory is another opportunity to focus on our most important goal: strengthening relationships between staff and students.

Please see link above for Parent Portal Access. This will allow parents to access important student information including grades and attendance.

Please keep in mind that Infinite Campus is separate from your student's google classroom. Infinite Campus is our student information system and teachers post grades and daily attendance to Infinite Campus.

All teachers are required to maintain a Google Classroom. Assignments are posted to google classroom as well as class resources. Students are able to access coursework online when they are absent as well as communicate with teachers. All teachers are also required to submit weekly agendas (week at a glance) for every class to Google Classroom by Monday morning of the upcoming week. Parents can of course access their student's Google Classroom by logging in directly with their students.

Although parents cannot join a google classroom, they can receive email summaries on a regular basis. Parents can only receive email summaries through an email invite from the teacher.

I've linked below an easy to follow guide for parents who would like to learn more about Google Classroom.

All students will receive a digital link to the 2022-23 Student Handbook. I've attached a link below to the updated handbook. Students will review updates and important parts of the handbook in their advisory class this Thursday and Friday. Students will also sign and submit a form acknowledging information, rules, and procedures outlined in the handbook.

I've copied below specific information that will be shared with students regarding the following school policies:

• Sexual Harassment
• Bullying
• Hazing
• PHS Drug Testing Policy

I've also copied the PHS Cell Phone Policy. Keep in mind that classrooms are cell phone free areas. However teachers have the authority to establish policies within their own classrooms and may allow students to access their cell phones when necessary.

Other changes to 22-23 Handbook:

• Students are allowed to wear hats/ball-caps in the building. Teachers DO have the authority to prohibit hands in their individual classrooms. Hats may not violate other areas of the PHS Dress Code and may not obscure or cover the face.
• Semester Test Exemptions are now allowed for students with three or less absences per semester. This does NOT include activity absences: This applies to all classes.

A and 3 absences or less

B and 2 absences or less

C and 1 absence or less

• We strongly encourage all students and parents to be familiar with the Stopit APP. Students can access the APP at any time from the bookmark on their school computer, the school website and every parent newsletter. Students can also download the free Stopit app to their smartphone. The Stopit App allows any individual to report information directly to the school principal while remaining anonymous.
• The app allows the principal to communicate directly with the individual while they remain anonymous. Once students click on the link, they will see a message that asks for the name of the school. They type in Purcell High School and they are immediately prompted to the tip line (see image below). It's that easy.
  

Students and Parents are encouraged to review the 22-23 Student Handbook regarding school policy regarding attendance:

Here are key points to know:

Types of Absences:

• Excused (responsibility of parent to notify school by phone the morning of absence)

1. Personal or Family Illness

2. Medical Appointments

3. Legal Matters

4. Extenuating circumstances deemed necessary by the principal

5. Observance of holidays required by student's religious affiliation.

• Absence by Arrangement

1. A student may take 3 absence by arrangement per semester

2. all work may be made up

3. written request to principal required at least two days prior to absence

4. counts against semester test exemptions

• Unexcused Absence

1. Any absence not within the above categories

2. Work may be made up

3. 10 unexcused absences in a semester results in a No Credit grade.

• Activity Absence

1. Any absence either due to extracurricular activity or school trip

2. Students limited to 10 per school year

3. Does not count towards semester test exemptions

• Access points will be significantly changed this year. The front door to the school will be unlocked from 7:30 AM until 8:15 AM (morning) and from 11:45 until 12:35 (lunch). An administrator will be posted near the entrance of the school during these times. The front door will be locked at all other times and all individuals will have to buzz the front office with the door camera to access the school.
• All other access points to the school will be permanently locked and closed at all times. Teachers and staff will still be able to access doors with key fobs adjacent to the faculty parking lot. The only exception will be door on the east side of the school that provides access to the band room and gym. Students will be able to access this door from the junior high with staff supervision. However this door will remain locked and closed at all other times.
• ALL parents and guests must check into office and receive a visitor's pass to access the school. There are no exceptions to this policy.

• There will be safety meeting on August 9th that is open to all parents. Please see event below.

I would like to provide parents a reminder that Purcell High School offers multiple learning pathways that are detailed in our update Course and Curriculum guide that can be accessed with the link below. I've provided some information here about those pathway options. Please contact either myself (Mr. Sanders) or our high school counselor, Melissa Feroli for more information.

PAVE Hybrid: PAVE Hybrid courses allow students to complete coursework online independently with the daily support of PHS teachers. Students report to our Dragon Success room and/or library where attendance is taken, students are supervised, and instruction is delivered primarily through Odysseyware. PAVE Hybrid is an excellent option for students who need more time to work independently during the day. It’s also an excellent way for students to experience elements of virtual learning while still accessing PHS teachers in an in-school setting. Obviously with a hybrid model, students can take a combination of traditional and online classes.

PAVE Hybrid courses are available for all sophs, juniors, and seniors. PAVE Hybrid courses are not currently available for Math and advanced Science classes. Students must be approved for a PAVE Hybrid class by our counselor, Melissa Feroli and PAVE coordinator, Greg Dillard. Students must demonstrate a strong academic foundation, personal initiative and responsibility in addition to citizenship and maturity. Students do not need to complete a PAVE application or contract to enroll in PAVE Hybrid classes.

PAVE Virtual: Students are offered the ability to enroll in a full virtual learning platform. The curriculum is completely online and delivered through Odysseyware Online Learning. Students do not meet in traditional classes but do have daily access to PHS teachers both in-person and online. PAVE virtual students are supervised by Greg Dillard, PHS PAVE coordinator. There is a PHS teacher available at this time for every core subject. Some students may be required to attend in-person classes based upon grade deficiencies or lack of online progress in certain courses. Students and parents should access the PAVE Virtual Handbook and review policies thoroughly regarding virtual learning. Students are also required to complete an application and sign the PAVE Virtual Contract. All students are eligible to apply for PAVE Virtual Learning but must be approved by our PAVE committee: PAVE Application

Melissa Feroli, HS Counselor

Greg Dillard, PAVE Coordinator

Candy McCurdy, Teacher

Purcell High School Alternative Education Program: The Purcell Alternative Education Program is designed to provide an alternative means of education for students that are at-risk for high school failure for a variety of reasons. These reasons may include academic deficiency, behavioral difficulties, excessive absences, pregnancy or parenting, adjustment problems of juvenile justice involvement. The goal of Purcell’s Alternative Education Program is to be a school of choice for those that require a different style of receiving their education. Click on Click on link for more information.

Melissa Feroli; PHS Alternative Education Director

Purcell High School offers three pathways to graduation:

Honors Curriculum Path: see details below

College/Career Ready Path: students automatically assigned this path

Core Curriculum Diploma: Parents must opt out of College and Career Ready

• We strongly urge all students planning on acquiring a 4 year college degree to choose the Honors Curriculum Path.
• Please click on link below to learn more about each specific path and learn about specific Honors Curriculum Requirements.
• Also the PHS Course and Curriculum guide (developed last year) includes detailed information regarding courses, academic paths, learning pathways, CareerTech, concurrent and more.

*Please note the current sophomore class (class of 2025) is the first class eligible for the Honors Curriculum Diploma.

• Top Ten Percent
• PHS Honor Rolls
• Oklahoma Honor Society
• National Honor Society
• Academic Letter P
• Students of the Month

Please see information attached below for all guidance regarding academic and athletic eligibility. This includes semester and weekly eligibility, classifications by credits, and special provisions regarding eligibility of new students to the district.

Important information from our high school counselor is updated regularly in the Counselor's Corner newsletter. This update is included in each Parent Newsletter and linked to the PHS Website. I've linked it here below. This includes links to Fafsa info, ACT info, Oklahoma's Promise, and Scholarship info. The scholarship information is updated regularly.

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