Purdy R-II

🚌☀️ Summer School Bus Information ☀️🚌

Students riding the bus for Summer School should be at their town bus stop by 7:00 AM.

We’re excited to kick off a great summer of learning and fun! 📚💛🖤 #YouMatter #EagleExcellence

That’s a wrap, Eagles! ☀️🦅

Enjoy your summer break, make memories, stay safe, and have fun! We can’t wait to welcome everyone back in August for another great year at Purdy. 🖤💛

#YouMatter#EagleExcellence

Celebrating Retirement:

Melissa Hayslip joined Purdy Schools in 2023, bringing with her 26 years of experience in education and a passion for helping students succeed. Even in her short time at Purdy, she quickly became a valued part of the Eagle family.

One of Melissa’s favorite memories at Purdy was participating in the Multicultural Celebration directed by Mrs. Funkhouser. She remembers the evening as a spectacular showcase of costumes, traditions, and culture. Watching students proudly walk the runway in their native attire and perform traditional dances created a night she says she will never forget.

For Melissa, one of the best parts of being an Eagle was working alongside the 7th and 8th grade team. Those coworkers made her feel immediately welcomed and supported, creating a close-knit environment that made Purdy feel like home. She says she will especially miss those friendships, along with the students who made every day memorable.

Although she was initially nervous about transitioning to middle school after spending so many years teaching elementary students, Melissa quickly discovered she had nothing to worry about. She found her middle school students to be funny, energetic, and wonderful to teach, and she truly enjoyed building relationships with them.

There are a few things she won’t miss, however—grading papers, waking up at 5:40 every morning, and hearing “6-7” repeated “a million times,” even if, as she jokes, “that’s sooo yesterday now.”

Looking back on her career, Melissa hopes the greatest impact she leaves behind is helping generations of children become stronger readers. Teaching reading has always been her passion and the driving force behind her many years in education. She hopes her work has left the school with students who are more confident, capable readers.

If she could go back and give advice to her younger self, Melissa says she wouldn’t necessarily change anything, but she would remind herself to trust herself more. Too often, self-doubt created unnecessary stress, and she wishes she had recognized her own abilities sooner.

As retirement begins, Melissa is looking forward to moving closer to family, saying goodbye to those 5:40 a.m. alarms, and taking a well-deserved mental health break after a stressful year. She is excited to embrace a slower pace and enjoy the next chapter of life.

Thank you for your dedication to education! #YouMatter #EagleExcellence

Celebrating Retirement:

Marsha Williams began her time at Purdy Schools in 2001 and has spent the years since serving students and staff with kindness, encouragement, and Eagle pride. Some of her favorite memories include working with students as a Reading Coach and the unforgettable moment when Kim Utter accidentally walked straight into a door while carrying a cup of coffee—a memory that still brings laughter today.

Being an Eagle has always meant more to Marsha than just working at the school. With four generations of her family graduating from Purdy, the school has long been part of her life. She especially enjoyed supporting Purdy students at sporting events and school activities.

As she retires, Marsha says she will miss the staff, students, and especially the hugs from students each day. However, she won’t miss waking up early or figuring up the school credit card accounts.

Marsha hopes the impact she leaves behind is one of positivity and encouragement. She believes a smile or kind word can make a difference because you never know what someone may be going through.

If she could give advice to her younger self, it would be to enjoy life because it goes by quickly.

In retirement, Marsha looks forward to spending more time with her grandchildren, family, and friends, helping care for her mother, and traveling to places she has never been.

Thank you for your dedication to our district. #YouMatter #EagleExcellence

Celebrating Retirement:

Bill Utter began his time with Purdy Schools in September of 2011, but in many ways, his story as an Eagle started long before that. Having been part of the Purdy community since 1972, being an Eagle has simply been a way of life. As Bill reflects on retirement, he admits he’s not even sure what it feels like not to be an Eagle.

One of Bill’s favorite memories during his years at Purdy was being part of the Elementary Polar Express activities. The excitement and joy on the children’s faces made those moments unforgettable and perfectly captured what he loved most about working in the school environment.

What Bill will miss the most are the children and, with a laugh, payday too. The relationships built with students over the years made every day meaningful. However, there’s one thing he certainly won’t miss—getting up early every morning.

Throughout his time at Purdy, Bill hoped to leave behind an example of positivity, strong work ethic, and pride in doing a job well. He believed in showing students the importance of hard work and maintaining a good attitude no matter the task.

If he could go back and offer advice to his younger self, Bill says he would encourage himself to develop a positive outlook on life sooner. He credits that perspective to his personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which helped shape the way he approached life and work.

As retirement begins, Bill looks forward to slowing down and embracing a new season of life. He plans to spend more time with his wife, Peggy, and learn how to simply “just be”—enjoying life’s quieter moments after years of dedicated service to the Purdy community.

Thank you Bill for your dedication to our district. #YouMatter #EagleExcellence

High School softball game for tonight, Tuesday, May 5, has been cancelled.
#YouMatter #EagleExcellence