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

Transitions to Success

Students will select courses this week for the upcoming 2024-25 Academic Year. They will meet in advisory this Wednesday to pre-enroll. All pre-enrollment (selection of courses) is completed through their advisory. It is VERY important that all students attend advisory, including concurrent and internships students, in order to register their course selections. Current seniors will meet with senior sponsors and discuss important end-of year activities leading to graduation on May 17.

It is more critical than ever for parents to discuss options and pathways with students. The world has changed and the skills and knowledge students need to compete in the modern job market have changed. A high school graduation alone is not sufficient to obtain a job that meet the economic demands students will experience as they transition to adulthood. Mortgage/rent payment, car payments, insurance, bills, etc. are higher than ever due to the rising cost of living. High schools are shifting to meet these needs of our students. High School should no longer be viewed as an end point for students not attending college (roughly half of our students historically attend college). Of course college is NOT the only pathway to economic success: There is a shortage of electricians, HVAC, plumbers, contractors, and other trades that pay well and do NOT require a college diploma.

As part of a student's high school ICAP (Individual Career Academic Plan), students are encouraged to plan early (before high school) to choose a pathway to economic success. For example, if a student plans to attend college they should enroll in the most academically challenging courses we offer and strive towards an Honors Curriculum Diploma. If a student plans to pursue a specific trade (for example welding) they should plan to spend part of their junior and senior years at Mid-America Technology Center. If students are unclear about their interests (completely appropriate) they should seek internships to learn more about specific careers. Students interested in our emerging Aviation program need to make decisions as early as 8th grade. Aviation is a four year program that begins with 9th grade.

Our new Aviation program highlights the key shift in high schools and transition programs. Students choosing the Aviation pathway are essentially making future career decisions in 8th grade. Students will begin specific career training as high school freshmen. They will attain a commercial drone operators license by the time they are seniors. They will qualify for jobs that pay as much as $60 an hour when they leave high school. Not only will they earn a high school diploma, but will make a smooth transition from high school to a lucrative career.

Discuss with your students their enrollment plans. What decisions are they making? Are they taking advantage of programs and pathways we offer to help them transition to success? Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can help or provide guidance. A strong partnership between school and parents is the best recipe for student's achieving that success.

Jason

cell: 918-873-0354

email: sandersj@purcellps.org

Parents & students of current sophs and jrs (class of 2025 & 2026) should plan to attend Enrollment Information night Mon, March 25th. We will provide important info regarding Concurrent, Internships, AP Classes, Work Experience, and general enrollment questions. Students will select classes for the 24-25 school year on March 27 in Advisory.

Congratulations to PHS Juniors Paisley Knowles & Ellie Feroli for their selection to Youth Leadership Oklahoma for 2024. They will join 52 outstanding students from across the state and travel through Oklahoma this June. I was thrilled to see TWO PHS students selected for this prestigious honor. We are proud of the work of our STUCO and Leadership programs @ PHS which help build student leadership skills.

We will conduct two important safety drills this week when we return to school:

• Tornado Drill: Monday 3/25 - 1:20 PM (end of 5th hour)
• Fire Drill / Relocation Drill: Tuesday 3/26 - 11AM (beginning of 4th hour)

The fire drill/relocation drill will simulate an emergency that requires a relocation of students and staff. For example, if our building was no safe to re-enter and we needed to provide students and staff an alternative shelter. This would also provide a location to coordinate alternative student/parent pick-up. Our relocation site is the Ag Building located immediately south of the high school. In the case of an actual emergency students and teachers would relocate to the AG building and attendance would be taken and student and staff count reported to administration. We will NOT actually relocate during our drill Tuesday. We will train students and staff what to do in an actual emergency,

Safety PSA: Our bus drivers have reported multiple instances of cars pulling around buses with stop sign extended and red lights flashing. A friendly reminder as students return to help us protect our students and stop when a bus is loading or unloading. #phsdragons

Students (current fresh, sophs, jrs) will meet in advisory this Wednesday and select courses for the upcoming year. Seniors will meet with senior sponsors to discuss plans for graduation (May 17). Parents are invited to attend an information night Monday to learn more about course options, new virtual learning options and pathways. There will be a question and answer session with High School Counselor and Alternative Education Director Melissa Feroli & High School Principal Jason Sanders. Please see key points below for enrollment information.

Key Enrollment Points for Parents to Review:

• The number of total credits required for an Honors Diploma was mistakenly listed as 29 required credits. This should read 27. We have made the necessary correction on our pathways chart. Also: Honors Curriculum pathway does NOT require both foreign language and tech course. The same requirement exists as College/Career Pathway. Remember: Current Juniors are the first class eligible for Honors Diploma. The primary differences required for earning an Honors Diploma are listed here:

1. 4 years required of Science, Math, and English
2. Minimum of 6 Honors, AP, or Concurrent Classes required
3. Minimum 3.25 G.P.A.
4. No Grade lower than C
5. 27 Total Credits

• There will be a change in social studies course pathway beginning next year. All sophomores will take World History as a required course. Incoming freshmen will take Oklahoma History (Semester Course) and Life Skills (Semester Course). The life skills course will include personal financial literacy, cpr/first aid, high school transition support, and life skills which help build student "soft-skills" Examples: resume writing, mock interviews, etc. Current freshmen will take Government (semester course) as seniors. Government (civics) will be offered as a senior level course moving forward. It was previously offered as a sophomore level course.
• We will offer Advanced Placement (AP) World History as a new course next year. This is a college-level course for sophomore students who are prepared and want to challenge themselves academically. We will certainly encourage our current Honors English 1 students to consider this course.
• Girl's Show Choir (select choir) will be offered next year. This will be an extension of our Vocal Music program led by Cindy Donaldson. I've copied below specific information about this course below:
• Leadership Program will be expanded offering a Leadership 2 Course

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During this course students will learn about different aspects of leadership, such as communication, team work, and problem-solving. Students will work together planning and executing school and community projects throughout the year. Requirements: Must be a STUCO officer. There will be assignments and events outside of school they must be able to attend.

• Aviation 1 Students will transition to Aviation 2. We will offer two sections of aviation next year: Aviation 1 and Aviation 2.
• Esports will continue to be offered as an elective course.
• Please see new virtual elective options (detailed in my Principal Message at the top of this newsletter

PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENTS TO PLAN AHEAD IN REGARDS TO PRE-ENROLLMENT.

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

3/27 (WED): Advisory: Pre-Enrollment / Senior Meetings

4/3 (WED): Advisory: OK Career Guide (ICAP Requirements)

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

Register Now for This Fall’s ACT College and Career Readiness Workshops

Start your 2023-24 school year off right with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn from college and career readiness experts and to network with fellow counselors in your region. We’ll cover trends, tips, and tools to help keep your students fully informed and prepared to start their post-high school journeys.

• All workshops are free to attend.
• A variety of in-person and virtual workshops are available.
• Some events focus on specific ACT solutions.

Sign Me Up!

Please see letter below from Superintendent Dr. Sheli McAdoo regarding an exciting new tutoring option available to students. 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

PHS StuCo’s Spring Blood Drive is this Friday, March 29th from 8:30am to 2:30pm in the PHS gymnasium. You may walk in at any time or set up an appointment with Ms. Matthews matthewsk@purcellps.org

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

We raised $4955! Thank you to Krysta Matthews and Emma Rolin, HS faculty and students, the Intermediate faculty and students, all the donors, and the HS Student Council! We did it!#inmyroadweekera

It was an incredible couple of weeks at the World’s Largest Youth Livestock show- OYE! The Purcell Show Team represented well. There were multiple places, several hill makers in the hog barn, and lots of great memories.

Gilt Show Results:

•Sylas Dalton- & 8th Overall Spot, Sale Qualifier

•Grady Fox- & 12th Overall Berk, Sale Qualifier

•Kyleigh Green- 6th Place & 10th Overall Poland, 8th Place Berk

•Hudson Andrews- 8th Place & 8th Overall Hampshire

•Grady Andrews- 8th Place Duroc

Ewe Show Results:

•Bentlee Nicklas- 4th Place Hair Sheep

•Blane Nicklas- 10th Place Hair Sheep

Heifer Show Results:

•Emma Lynn- Division Champion Horned & Polled Herefords, Champion Bred & Owned Polled & Reserve Breed Bred & Owned Horned

Finals Senior Showmanship Qualifier

•Jaxson Staggs- % Red Angus, Charolais Composite, & Reserve Breed Bred & Owned Charolais Composite

•Avery Staggs- Red Angus & 8th Place Charolais

•Chase Anderson- % Simmental

•Trigg Anderson- Simmental & Reserve Breed Bred & Owned Simmental

•Hayes Anderson- Simmental

•Carli Thomas- Polled Hereford

•Carter Thomas- Horned Hereford

Barrow Show Results:

Grady Fox- & 9th Overall Light Cross

Brody Fox- 4th Place & 22nd Division 2 Dark Cross

Kaden was also selected to perform his song "Dying Ember" @ 98th Annual State FFA Convention & Expo in May. Congratulations to this talented young man!

The spring sports season kicks into full gear this week with Soccer, Baseball, Track, Tennis, Golf, and Softball all in action. Please see Weekly Schedule at the top of this newsletter and the individual sports schedules below. Also be sure to follow individual sports social media pages (facebook) which are all linked on each newsletter. Following individual sports facebook pages is the best way to stay up-to-date with events, results, pics, and more.

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 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