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

ICAP & College & Career Readiness

The past two weeks all PHS students have met in advisory and worked on their individual college & career pathways. This is part of the ICAP (Individual Career Academic Plan) that was enacted into law in 2017 and implemented as part of the high school curriculum in 2019. Therefore the 2023 graduating class will be the first class to graduate with the ICAP requirement. We have worked hard to implement these new requirements and as a result are strengthening each student's high school to college and career pathway.

Thirty years ago high school and the workforce was a very different place. Students who did not attend college after high school could expect to find a good job with only a high school diploma. The 21st Century workforce has evolved considerably. The good news is that non college attending high school students can still find well paying jobs. The difference today is those jobs generally require specialized training. The workforce is in desperate need of welders, electricians, HVAC, and other specialized areas of work.

High Schools must continue to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of a workforce. ICAP is a critical part of that evolution. ICAP provides students an individualized plan for high school to college/career transition. Our advisory program is a fundamental part of each students ICAP. For the last two weeks each student spent time with their advisor working on their college and career guide through the OK Career Guide Program. This is supervised by our high school counselor, Melissa Feroli, and facilitated by our high school advisors.

I'm grateful for the hard work of our faculty and staff to adapt and embrace these new requirements. These changes will benefit our students and their transition to post-high school life. Advisory, ICAP, Career Tech, Internship and our Concurrent (dual high school and college classes) are all key pieces to every student's high school experience. I want our students prepared to fill those high-paying jobs that are in high demand today and don't necessarily require a college degree.

Please contact me if you have more questions about ICAP. I've attached a one-pager below for more information.

Jason

cell phone number: 918-873-0354

https://www.okedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ICAP-Overview.pdf

PHS Boys Cross-Country are honored as OSSAA 3A State Academic Champions

This talented freshman performs his solo as part of the National FFA Choir at last weeks National FFA Convention.

Jasmine teaches 9th grade English and 8th grade Spanish I. She was recognized this week by Marathon Oil as one of their 30 recipients for Unconventional Thinking in Teaching award. Jasmine also received a grant for $2500.

I shared a survey in my previous Parent Newsletter regarding our current grading policy which mandates a 70/30 split between tests and daily work for every class. We had 38 responses from parents. I'm sharing the results below. Thank you for your participation. Our leadership team will continue to study our current grading policy.

• We will conduct an unannounced Lockdown (hard lock-down) drill this week. A lockdown occurs when there is an imminent threat to the school. All students are moved into secured areas of the building and school operations cease until there is no longer a threat. Drills are an important part of safety readiness and preparation. No one can enter or exit the building once a lockdown is declared. In a real scenario, parents would be notified and updated as soon as possible through email and district generated text message.

• As always please keep and eye on the weather. Fall weather conditions can be unpredictable and there is a stormy weather pattern predicted for the end of the week.

Please be sure to check the regularly updated Counselor's Corner Newsletter linked below. Ms. Feroli has added important information for each individual class. PLEASE SEE UPCOMING DEADLINE FOR DECEMBER ACT DATE.

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

Stefanie Renfro's 1st Hour Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness Class

This week in our Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness classes, students learned about the differences between simple and complex carbohydrates as well as the health benefits of incorporating more whole grain foods in their diet. They completed a cooking lab where they cooked waffles made with whole wheat flour and had the option of adding strawberries or blueberries on top.

PHS National Honor Society will host a Veteran's Day Program on Friday, November 11th at 11:00 AM. The program will feature music from the PHS Choir and Dragon Pride Band, Guest Speaker Staff Sergeant of the United States Army, Tanner Schonasky, a slide show and readings to honor our local veterans. A lunch will be provided for veterans who attend, in the high school library directly after the program. If you would like to feature a veteran in our slide show, please email a picture and information to Mrs. Trumbo at trumboa@purcellps.org by Monday, November 7th to ensure our NHS officers time to put the slide show together.

Please encourage your student to take advantage of our After School Tutoring Program. This is through PHS teachers we have at least two tutors available every evening Mon-Thurs. I've linked the schedule below. Students can also use this time for an after school study hall and snacks are available.

Students can also attend tutoring sessions to make up absences. Students absent more than 10 times per semester (for any reason) are considered chronically absent by the oklahoma state department of education. This week I emailed all parents whose student is in danger of being chronically absent for the first semester.

Additionally students with 10 unexcused absences for any class per semester will receive a NO Credit Grade for that course

I have completed sending all freshman and sophomore parents a family report from their student's fall MAP assessment. These assessments provide valuable data regarding your students growth and progress with math and literacy skills. They also predict future ACT performance and tell you whether your student in ON track for college readiness.

Please consider referring your student for tutoring if they are NOT on track for college readiness. You can also email your students math or english teacher or the principal or counselor for more detailed information about your student's scores.

We will assess student progress again this January. Always encourage your student to try their best on these assessments in order for us to collect accurate data.

https://teach.mapnwea.org/assist/help_map/Content/AboutMAP/VideoBrowse/FamilyVideo.htm?cshid=855

Last week Jon Corea, PHS Art Teacher, and Cady Wollenberg, Lexington Art Teacher, collaborated and created the Battle of the Bridge Chalk Art Contest. This was such a creative way to showcase talented artists from both schools and to build cooperation between the two schools. Great job!

Pictured below are sophomore artists Erick Suarez, Lili Venegas, and Mili Antonio

The combined Purcell Junior High and High School Choirs will present their Country Comedy Hour on Sunday, November 6 at 3pm in the Auditorium. Admission is $5 for adults at the door. Students are free. Be ready to sing along to some country music and laugh at some country humor. Doors open at 2:30pm. Come join us.

The junior class raised $9,105 from the butter braid sale! Our top sellers were Kelly Anderson, Alexis Wenthold, and Karlee Tolle. Those 3 girls alone raised over $2,000!

-Pep Assembly on Friday for Senior Night during Advisory at 1:55PM.

-Game Day Regionals competition on Saturday (Nov. 5) at Crossings Christian School in Oklahoma City. Purcell competes at 2:05!

Parents, if you contacted Mrs. Trumbo to set aside a 2022 yearbook for your student, please send payment of $55 as soon as possible. We have just a few of the 2022 yearbooks left for sale, so be sure to grab one before they are gone!

Picture retake day is scheduled for Thursday, December 1st for 9th-11th and Seniors who were not here for panel pictures. Panel pictures will have a $10 sitting fee payable to Prestige. This will be the last opportunity for Senior panel pictures through the school.

Presell of the 2023 Yearbook will begin on Black Friday for a discounted price of $45!!!! The price will go up on January 1, 2023 to $55. More information to come soon!!

PHS Yearbook is also excited to begin work in collaboration with Parker Davidson of Healthcorps and Michael Lopez, Traffic Safety Specialist with OK SAFE, on a new seatbelt initiative to encourage students to wear their seatbelts at all times when in a vehicle. Our yearbook staff will be using their skills to produce a campaign to encourage their peers to be safe drivers and passengers.

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