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

Memories & Traditions

The Junior-Season Prom marks the beginning of the "end of school" events that concludes with our Graduation ceremony on May 17th. The Prom is such a wonderful high school tradition that serves as as an important rite of passage and milestone event in the lives of teenagers. Historically the Prom has signaled a transition from teenage years and high school to a new phase of life. It serves as an important social experience and teaches and reinforces social etiquette. Most importantly it provides memories and upholds traditions for not only students but parents as well. Please allow me to extend a special thanks to individuals who helped make the 2024 Prom such a great success. It's impossible to name all individuals and I will likely miss someone that deserves recognition. However know how grateful I am to everyone who helped.

Our 2024 Prom Sponsors Sam Resendiz and Leigh Ann McGregor worked tirelessly throughout the year to make Friday night flawless. I cannot thank them enough for their hard work and dedication to their students. It's rare as a high school principal to have an event of this complexity happen without any complaints, concerns, or minor catastrophes (or major for that matter). Sam and Leigh Ann provided a wonderful evening for our students which allowed them to make those special memories. I would also like to thank our high school sponsors who volunteered their time to support Sam and Leigh Ann:

Amber Findley

Krysta Matthews

Melissa Feroli

Jon Corea

Irma Calixto

Mayra Munoz

Emma Rolin

Amy Stone

Grant Gish

Stephanie Knowles (photographer)

Congratulations to our 2024 PHS Prom Committee for your outstanding work. Well done!

Haven Buchanan

Payton Lawson

Zoe Gaddis

Kenna Esparza

Leilani Hartleroad

Gavin Johnson

Devan Martin

Paisley Knowles

Kate Ginn

Hudson Andrews

Bianney Resendiz

Mia Jones

Ellie Feroli

Abbygail King

Logan Lovett

Haley Kretchmar

Ella Resendiz

Hadleigh Harp

Hannah Whitaker

Tinley Winters

Dee Clevenger

Kaleb Bailey

Christian Kirk

Parker Page

Thank you to our PHS Office Staff including Cara Simonton, Candy Tuck, and Kassi Buchanan. I could not be more fortunate to have this amazing team. They provide needed support and organization to ALL critical high school events. They are simply the best. If you don't believe me, I would urge you to come and shadow them one day!!

Our After-Prom parents deserve special thanks and recognition for hosting such a successful event. Over 180 students participated! None of this would have been possible without the hard work of such a dedicated group of parent volunteers and generous donations from our community. Thank you Char and Jeff Page for your leadership, organizational skills, and time. Thank you to all parents who volunteered their time to serve as chaperones and work into the early morning hours!

Thank you to our bus drivers who helped our students arrive safely at the After Prom Destination.

Thank you to the McClain County Sheriff's Department for providing security.

Thank you to Gisela and the Grand Canadian Theater for your wonderful hospitality and providing such a beautiful venue.

Jason

cell: 918-873-0354

email: sandersj@purcellps.org

Purcell High School 2024 Top 10 %

Back Row: Kelly Anderson, Callie Larman, Amy Munoz, Avery Barrett, Gracie Pruitt, Karlee Tolle, Kailynn Helton

Front Row: Sophia Butler, Eliut Duque, Noah Gracey, Carter Goldston, Katy Keith

This distinguished honor recognizes academic excellence and classroom achievement. Purcell High School honors the top 10% of the graduating seniors. Each will be honored and given the opportunity to speak at graduation.

Go Dragons!

SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING TOMORROW!

Tomorrow all high school students will have the opportunity to view the rare Solar Eclipse (the next total eclipse viewing in the U.S. is in 2044). Although we are not in the zone of totality we will see a rare 90% solar eclipse (weather permitting). Regardless of whether the clouds cooperate this is an opportunity for students to learn about the science of solar eclipses and experience a rare event. Please see the attached form for more information about safety protocols. Remember: students must have submitted a signed permission form to their advisor to view the eclipse.

https://www.smore.com/n/rnsk6

We conducted two important drills over the past week: Tornado Drill & Fire Drill.

The staff and students both did a great job practicing safety protocols. Practice and routine drills help keep our school safe and prepares them to respond calmly in an actual emergency. We exceed the number of drills the state requires in order to maintain safety readiness.

There is a link above which details our safety protocols for the rare Solar Eclipse this Monday afternoon. All students will have the opportunity to view the eclipse with parent permission. Students who have submitted a permission form will be issued safety glasses. Students who opt not to view the eclipse will relocate to the gym. All outside activities are canceled for tomorrow afternoon between 1-3 PM.

ACT FOR JUNIORS AND COLLEGE & CAREER ASSESSMENTS

All PHS Juniors will take the ACT Exam this Wednesday as part of their College & Career Readiness state requirements. Additionally all freshmen and sophs are in the process of completing NWEA MAP assessments through their English, Math, and Science classes. The MAP assessments are a strong predictor of ACT performance and provide teachers, students, and parents valuable information about learning progress in Math, Reading, and Science. Once all MAP Assessments are completed, parents will be provided a Family Report which will detail your student's learning and performance this year.

As we move into the heart of testing season it's important to ask all parents to remind their students to do their very best on all required assessments. It's also an opportunity for me to remind parents that the purpose of learning is NOT to do well on a test or standardized assessment. The purpose of learning is to gather new knowledge and skills, grow as an individual, and foster a love of learning for ALL individuals. Our primary goal is NOT to develop great test-takers.

Our goal is to help prepare our students for future success in their chosen professions and make positive contributions in their community. However the data we gather from assessments is critical to our overall school success. It tells us where we need to improve and helps us adjust our curriculum and instruction so our students will experience better outcomes. This data is only helpful if it's accurate. It's important for our students to take these assessments seriously and to do their very best.

We appreciate our parents support and will provide them access to this data in a timely basis.

Jason Sanders

Principal

ACT PREP COURSE A HUGE SUCCESS

Over 30 PHS students (and a few Lexington students) took advantage of the comprehensive ACT PREP course that was held on campus last week. Carolyn Devane from PowerPrep Inc. reported how impressed she was with our students as they prepare for this upcoming assessment. We are very fortunate to host this event and appreciate the support of our District who paid a significant portion of the cost of this on-campus course.

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT & PRE-ENROLLMENT

Thank you Melissa Feroli for organizing and hosting a highly successful College & Career Parent Information Night. We appreciate all parents who attended and Kyle Gardner & Daniel Byford from OCCC who provided important information about Concurrent enrollment options. Our students also completed their Pre-Enrollment process in Advisory last week. All freshmen, sophomores, and Juniors, selected their academic courses for the 24-25 Academic Year. I encourage all parents to discuss with their student their academic pathway and contact me if you have questions or concerns!

VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE FEROLI WITH ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT UPCOMING SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES!!!!

Please be sure to stay updated on all things counseling from Ms. Feroli. Click on the Counselor's Corner tab below for all relevant info. This newsletter is updated throughout the year and includes many important resources and info including:

• ACT Info
• Graduation Requirements
• FAFSA info
• Oklahoma's Promise
• Curriculum Guides
• Graduation pathways
• and much more

4/10 (WED): ACT TEST - All Juniors

4/15 (MON): US History Test (OSTP) - ALL Juniors

4/17 (WED): Advisory: OK Career Guide (ICAP Requirements)

4/24 (WED): Science Test (OSTP) - ALL Juniors

The senior website is can be accessed by clicking on the link below. It includes important updates and information relevant to seniors and parents.

Senior sponsors:

Michael O'Neal: onealm@purcellps.org

Amber Findley: findleya@purcellps.org

Jenny Allen-Price organized a visit to First United Bank as part of our PHS Transitions program. This provided students a first-hand opportunity to learn more about banks and the important role they play in our community. We appreciate our community supporters.

#phsdragons

We are thrilled to announce that PHS Sophomore Paisley Nichols has been accepted into the YES Oklahoma Program and Sooner Discovery for 2024. Paisley, a Citizen Potawatomi Nation citizen, qualifies as a Rising Junior and is interested in a career in pediatric genetics or genetic research.

YES OK is a NIH National Cancer Institute funded project through OU's Department of Anthropology that offers an 8-week summer STEM experience for Native American high school students interested in healthcare careers. YES OK scholars will live on the OU Norman campus, earn concurrent enrollment credit, and gain hands-on lab experience in state-of-the-art laboratories on the OU Norman campus.

Congratulations Paisley for this well deserved honor and amazing opportunity!

Healthcorp has made such a positive impact in our school this year. Presley Hayes is a regional program manager with Healthcorp and teaches lessons weekly in coordination with Stefanie Renfro and our Family and Consumer Science program. Their main purpose is promoting healthy habits amongst our students. Her projects this year have included Hydration Stations and Green Flags / Red Flags which helps promote healthy relationships with teenagers. Last week she taught them how to make healthy snack alternatives.

She has made a difference amongst our students. Thank you Healthcorp and Presley!

PHS had a great day at the USAO Scholastic Contest and Chalk Art Contest.

Parker Page—1st in Chemistry

Savannah Mauzerall—2nd in physical science

Lili Venegas—2nd in Art Talent

Rose Allen—2nd in British Literature

Mili Antonio, Kevin Resendiz, and Grace Van Oort also won a prize in Chalk Art Contest.

#phsdragons

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.

• After school tutoring is available Mon-Thurs from 3:15--5PM. PHS teachers provide direct and individual tutoring including access to a Math teacher nightly. There will be tutoring available this week.
• Teachers are available to meet daily from 11:45 -- Noon in their classrooms. Students should make arrangements with teachers.
• There are outside tutoring options available (listed under parent resources at the bottom of the newsletter,

Reading Enrichment Programs --- see contact info below

Summer 2024

see flyers below in English & Espanol

Ann Carls

Program Director

phone: (800) 964-1600 ext. 4191

fax: (888) 296-5456

I'm including below Prom Pictures from this past Friday. Stephanie Knowles served as our official prom photographer and will be linking pictures to her Facebook page

PHS FCCLA volunteered in Hopes Kitchen at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma on Wednesday. They worked to prepare Chunky Fiesta Soup in portion sized meals for people which special dietary restrictions. They were able to prepare 1,728 meals that will be distributed across the state in the next few days.

Great work and example of service to community by FCCLA & Sponsor Stefanie Renfro!

The yearbook class has been working hard on making a great yearbook this year. See attached flyer and link for purchase. Thank you HS Yearbook class and sponsor Leigh Ann McGregor for your hard work!

https://www.balfour.com/oklahoma/purcell/purcell-high-school

Earlier this year I complimented Erica Irwin on her artistic ability one morning in the Commons. She asked me if I would like her to draw me a picture. I told her I would love a picture of my dog. I forgot about the interaction but was surprised a few months later when Erica presented me this picture which now hangs in my office. It's moments like this that make this job so special to me.

FFA Results(58 Teams/ 159 Individuals):

Jr FFA Team (Carli, Carter, Chase, Jaxson)

Overall

Place Reasons!!!

Place Swine

4th Place Sheep/Goats

5th Place Cattle

Carli-

8th Place Individual

9th Place Reasons

12th Swine

Carter-

4th Place Cattle

5th Place Reasons

17th Place Individual

Kaden-

6th Place Cattle

5th Place Swine

18th Place Individual

Chase-

15th Place Sheep

20th Place Individual

Jaxson-

13th Place Swine

13th Place Reasons

23rd Place Individual

Another busy week ahead for Dragon Spring Athletics. Our track team will compete in meets at Ada & Lindsay. Tennis is at Elk City, Baseball hosts the HOOT, Softball plays at Hall of Fame, Golf @ Kingfisher, Soccer travels to Elk City and Girl's Soccer hosts Millwood. Please be sure to follow all of our athletic teams on their Facebook pages which are linked below. See results from last week below:

Number 1 doubles Seniors Katy Keith and Karlee Tolle came home with Consolation champs from the Tecumseh tournament. Great job girls!

Number 2 Doubles Team Places 3rd in a tough Tecumseh Tournament this week!

A huge congratulations to Dragon Soccer. They recorded their first ever regular season victory with a 7-1 win over Cordell in the consolation bracket of the Weatherford Tournament. History made!! Great job Dragons and coach Diego De Leon.

At high school athletic events, do you:

-Keep your cool OR come unglued?

-Show empathy OR criticize?

-Accept the officials’ calls OR shout obscenities?

Our character is ALWAYS showing. How does YOURS look?

#BenchBadBehavior

Rank One Forms are now available to be completed. Visit rankonesport.com or scan the QR code to complete your athletic forms for the 23-24 school year.

The OSSM Summer Academy for High School Students

2024 Sessions: July 14-19 and July 21-26

The OSSM Summer Academy is a one-week residential academic enrichment camp for high school students who are interested in science and math. Campers attend exciting classes taught by the OSSM nationally renowned faculty. They also take part in fun afternoon field trips and evening activities.

All classes are held on OSSM's beautiful Oklahoma City campus. Students live and eat in the OSSM Residence Hall. Outings are scheduled to nearby cultural attractions as well.

Tuition for the week-long camp is $975, including room, board and activities; however, scholarships are available and awarded to students with financial need. Applicants must complete a registration form as well as 1) the application for financial assistance and 2) a nomination form submitted by a teacher, counselor, or other community member who knows the student well.

More Information & Registration

For more information, including the financial assistance application, visit www.ossm.edu. To register for the Academy, click

Space is limited, so please register soon! The deadline is July 1, 2024, unless space becomes available due to cancellations. Register here or scan the QR code.

For any questions, please visit contact Dr. Brent Richards at Brent.Richards@ossm.edu.

Summer FAMcamp Registration is Open!

Robots, animation, stickball, mural art and more… FAM is THE place to be for summer fun.

First Americans Museum offers dynamic FAMcamps for youth ages 6 to 12 in arts, culture, STEM and wellness. Led by Indigenous instructors, FAMcamps emphasize First American values and narratives through hands-on activities, presentations and games. Youth of ALL backgrounds are welcome to attend—no tribal affiliation is required. Course capacity is 10–12 students per camp. Each course is supervised by an experienced instructor and Teen Guide.

FAMcamp sessions are one week long and run June 3–Aug. 2, 2024. No sessions the week of July 1.

Learn More >

Register Now >>

INSTANT SCHOLARSHIPS

During the registration process, families may receive discounted tuition based on economic need. The base price of tuition is $225 per week with scholarships ranging from 25–75% off. Some families may pay as little as $56.25 per week!

25% MEMBER DISCOUNT

FAM Members at the Household level and above (Donor, Patron, Sponsor and Founder) receive 25% off tuition.

One-Week Sessions | June 3 to Aug. 2 (No Session July 1–5) | 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Before and after camp care is available for $35 per child per week.

Ages 6 to 8 >

Inspired By Nature

Indigenous STEAM!

Stoodis Sports

Garden Adventures

Dance Party

Critter Camp

Story Jam

Culture Crew with Ashley

Ages 8 to 10 >

Native Design Studio

First American Story Art

Stickball 101

Wearable Art

Cultivating Culture

Science Studio

Wellness Adventure

Culture Crew with Ace

Ages 10 to 12 >

Stickball Heroes

Drawing & Painting Studio

BIG ART

Stop Motion Animation (Two sessions!)

Indigenous Agriculture

Native Tech Quest

Creative Movement

Learn More >

Register Now >>

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Composition Academy (Ages 11 to 15)

Together with renowned composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate (Chickasaw Nation), six students will write their own classical compositions to be performed by the CRUSA Quartet. This weeklong course runs June 10-14 with a required rehearsal and performance on Sunday, June 16. Students must be able to read music and play an instrument of their choice.

Learn more and apply by April 9 >

Job Opportunity for Teens

Youth ages 15–18 may apply to become assistants for summer FAMcamp sessions. This is a paid opportunity and all applicants will be interviewed.

Learn more and apply by April 3 >

QUESTIONS?

Email camp@famok.org or call (405) 594-2156

FAMcamp Sponsor

Museum Hours

Monday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tuesday CLOSED

Wednesday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday 10:00 - 5 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Guest Services (405) 594-2100

Become a FAMmember in 2024!

FAM Members enjoy unlimited admission, members only previews, private dinners, early ticket access to special events. Plus, a 10% discount at FAMstore, Thirty Nine restaurant, classes, camps and more!

Join!

First Americans Museum | 659 First Americans Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73129

The Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council will host the annual Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Camp (OKYPC), July 14-19 on the Murray State College Campus in Tishomingo, OK.

and

Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Camp (OKYPC), July 28-Aug 2 on the OK Panhandle State University Campus in Goodwell, OK.

The free overnight camp is open to students grades 9-12. Participants will stay in MSC or OPSU residence halls. All will need their own transportation to and from the campus.

The camp is geared to students who want to help their school and family become more prepared for emergency situations. Students will learn about community action planning and gain basic emergency response skills. At the end of the camp, all participants, including adult chaperones, will get a 20-hour Community Emergency Response Team certificate. The camp is a great chance for students to develop leadership capabilities while having fun. They will leave with the basic life skills needed to improve the safety and resilience in their homes, schools, and communities. Preparing these students is the greatest gift we can give them.

All students (teams) must have a chaperone (s) that will be attending the camp also.

The deadline to register is June 1, 2024.

Murray State College Link

Sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1guxObo3ghnYDZdFCXfp-pnq0ag0U_WBCtrK4MLTsKSM/edit or through QR code on poster.

OK Panhandle State University Link
Sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hlcVljQdJjmhIuOlh5LahjlZ0ILdbAFpftcyZl2tw-k/edit or through the QR code on poster.

About the Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council:

Since 2019, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security have worked with local emergency managers, tribes, volunteer agencies, youth and FEMA Region 6 to develop the Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council. The council educates Oklahoma youth in emergency preparedness to develop future generations of resilient adults.

To learn how you can support the council and the OKYPC camp. For more information, please contact tracey.bender@okohs.ok.gov.

Registration is now open for the Oklahoma Math Tutoring Corps (OMTC) for the 2023-24 school year. This high-dosage tutoring program is available for Oklahoma students in grades 7, 8 and 9, providing 50-minute virtual tutoring sessions three times a week in groups of no more than four students.

Along with feedback from students and families, 78% of 7th and 8th grade students who participated during the 2022-23 school year had 2023 assessment scores within the same performance level as in 2022 or improved a performance level. Remaining at the same performance level is considered growth as the state’s academic standards increase in complexity each grade level. Please note, 9th grade does not have a state assessment, so we do not have testing information on them.

OSDE’s Math Tutoring Corps will host two sessions during the 2023-24 school year. The first runs September 17 through November 18, and the second in Spring 2024. Each session can accommodate up to 1,500 students and students are eligible to participate in one or both of the sessions. Families and students can register through this link. The OSDE will provide any needed technology or internet access, and tutoring schedules will occur during students’ free time outside of the school day.

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