McPherson News for Oct 27, 2024

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND PLAN AHEAD

Daylight Savings Time - adjust your clocks one (1) hour BACK on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD

NO SCHOOL, NOVEMBER 5TH – STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY

NO SCHOOL, NOVEMBER 11TH – VETERANS' DAY

MINIMUM DAY, NOVEMBER 15TH - END OF 1st TRIMESTER

Hello McPherson Families,

This week is Red Ribbon Week! We have a fun week of spirit days ahead to promote a safe and healthy lifestyle. We are also in the last few days of our Reach for the Stars fundraiser. We are so close to meeting our goal! Thank you to all who have participated, we appreciate your support!

This week we have a PTSA and Principal's Coffee meeting on Wednesday immediately following the Flag/Award assembly.

Please see the newsletter for more information on Overnight Field Trip fundraising, the District LCAP survey, and important upcoming dates.

Have a great week Meteors,

Dr. Godsey

Principal

Life is a Movie! Film Drug Free!

Monday, October 28 - Don't tie yourself up with Drugs! Wear ties and bows

Tuesday , October 29 - Red means stop the film and think! Wear red accessories

Wednesday , October 30 - Care for your body and don't do drugs! Bring a stuffed animal.

Thursday , October 31 - Keep drugs away! Wear your Halloween costume or fall colors

Friday , November 1 - Be cool and say no to drugs! Wear sunglasses and hats.

On Thursday, October 31, students will be able to dress in their school appropriate Halloween costumes or wear Fall Colors to celebrate the fall season. No masks and no bloody costumes and no weapons of any kind.

Great news! Our "Reach for the Stars" fundraiser is extending through Tuesday! We're already at 82% of our goal. The money raised goes toward an outdoor STEM lab and other great programs at McPherson. We want to give everyone one more chance to be part of this exciting mission!

Current Status:

• 82% funded - so close!
• Extended through Tuesday
• Every donation helps transform science education

Why Support?

• Fund an innovative outdoor STEM lab
• Create hands-on learning opportunities
• Be part of McPherson's next big leap

The Fun Part: When we reach our goal, Dr. Godsey becomes an alien visitor! 👽

Ready to Launch Dreams? Donate here: https://mms1.futurefund.com/go/43956-reach-for-the-stars-mcpherson-ptsa-fall-fundraiser-2024

Thank you for considering a donation to boost our students' STEM journey! 🌟

P.S. Haven't received an email from your student yet? There's still time - students can earn free dress by sending 10 emails!

Come and enjoy coffee and donuts and join our Principal's Coffee/General PTSA Meeting on OCTOBER 30 in the library after the Flag/Award assembly. All Parents are welcome to join us!!

Virtual link: https://meet.google.com/kkr-chsz-pab

McPherson students get the wonderful opportunity to attend multiple overnight field trips in middle school. Traditionally, our 6th graders attend an Outdoor Education program in Running Springs, 7th graders attend Astro Camp in Idlywild, and 8th graders attend the CIMI camp in Catalina. These are great experiences for our students, but they are expensive. We cannot require payment for these trips but they can't happen unless we have the funds. We rely on donations and/or fundraising to ensure students can have these great experiences.

How it works:

• Starting in 3rd grade, we keep records for Individual Accounts for each student. If you participate in any Individual Account fundraising, you child's account will be credited with the amount of money you fundraised. When payment is due for an overnight trip, that money will be credited towards the cost of the trip.
• Participating in the IA fundraising opportunities is optional but without the money raised our overnight trips may not happen.
• IA account money can only be applied to overnight field trips (not day trips). However, if a child has additional money in their account as an 8th grader, the remaining balance can be applied towards the 8th grade Disney trip or rolled to a younger sibling in only in 3rd grade or above.
• Students in Kinder-2nd grade can participate in the IA fundraising opportunities but the money will not be recorded for particular students. Money raised from Kinder-2nd grade students goes to a general fund that can be used to provide student scholarships for overnight field trips.

There is an upcoming IA account fundraising opportunity! The Charlestown Wrap (wrapping paper and other goods) fundraiser will kick off this Friday.

Dr. Godsey will share this information at the Principal's Coffee meeting on Wednesday, 10/30, if you would like to hear more or have any questions.

We are committed to providing the best possible educational experience for all of our students, and your input is essential to help us achieve this goal. As part of our ongoing efforts, we invite you to participate in the OUSD Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Survey.

The LCAP Survey is an important opportunity for parents, guardians, students, and community members to share their thoughts on how we can improve academic programs, school facilities, student support services, and more. Your feedback directly impacts decisions that shape our schools and ensures we continue to meet the needs of all students.

How You Can Help:

- Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and let us know your thoughts.

- Your responses will help us prioritize areas of improvement for the upcoming school year.

Take the Survey Here: https://tinyurl.com/ousdfamily24

Survey Deadline: 10/28/24 - 1/17/25

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and help us build a brighter future for our students.

Astronomy Night at McPherson Magnet School

Family and friends are welcome at this free event hosted by the McPherson Education Foundation.
Get ready for an evening of cosmic exploration and family fun! On November 7th, 5:30-7:30, come learn from local astronomy enthusiasts, bring your telescopes, and discover how to best set up and use your equipment. Enjoy a delicious pizza dinner while supporting our Science Olympiad bake sale! To make your night even easier, skip the lines by ordering our family meal deal for just $30, which includes a whole pizza, 4 drinks, and 4 desserts. Don’t miss this stellar opportunity to connect with the universe and your community! ✨🔭

Boo Grams will be on sale Thursday, 10/17 thru Monday, 10/28. Show you care and send a scare!!! Boo Grams are on sale before school and after school at the back gate and in front of the office. Boo Grams are also sold at lunch in the quad. Grams cost 25 cents to 75 cents and will be delivered on Thursday, October 31st.

Released Time Christian Education (Chapel on Wheels) is excited to begin our 71st year in OUSD! We are a nationwide Program offering FREE Bible Story classes for 4th & 5th graders at a Chapel right in front of school campus; (parked on Public property) which focus on great heroes of the Bible with a moral lesson applicable in today's society. Registration forms are available in the office or you can register online at orangert.org or to find out more information see our website. Permission slips must be signed for students to participate.

Legal Reference: Cal. Education Code § 46014.

Attached please find information on the GATE testing provided by OUSD Universal Screening

All 3rd-grade students are tested in their classrooms unless parents "opt out "of testing.

3rd Grade Students will be tested between 1/27/24 and 2/7/24.

See Flyer Attached for Fall Parent Information Sessions and GATE Testing Dates

ELAC Meetings this year are scheduled for September 30, October 28, January 27, and April 28. Meetings review the resources available for all our English learners and ways to help support students in succeeding. All families are invited to attend.

Please join us at 8:15 AM in room 500 for ELAC.

We are excited to offer math tutoring BEFORE school for all middle school students on Thursdays and Fridays (starting September 5). This is a great opportunity for students to get extra help with math assignments, prepare for tests, or simply improve their math skills. No sign-up necessary. These are drop in tutoring sessions.

When: Every Thursday & Friday morning from 7:15am to 8:00am (Starting September 5)

Where: Mr. Castro's Room #107

Who: Any 6th, 7th or 8th grade student

At McPherson, we value a partnership with parents and families and we want you to take an active role in your child's education. We do have an expectation that every family will contribute ten hours of volunteer time every year. There are many ways to volunteer throughout the year but if you intend to volunteer on campus during the year (classroom help, parties, field trips, etc) we must have you complete OUSD's volunteer application. You can complete this now and it will be good for the entire school year. The majority of our campus volunteers will be working 5 hours or less on campus so you will only need to complete the requirements listed under #1 and #2 on the links below. Please call the office if you have any questions regarding the volunteer application process.

English:

https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjY4OmVuLVVT

Spanish:

https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjY4OmVzLVVT

It is always fun to post a special message for your child's birthday. You can purchase Birthday Marquee messages now at - https://mcp-birthday-marquee.cheddarup.com

All birthday marquee messages must be purchased by the Wednesday prior to the week you are requesting.

Our school is participating in BoxTops, which means that you can earn cash with the products you already buy to help our school earn money for classroom supplies. We need your help, collecting Box Tops to earn cash for McPherson. Each one is worth 10¢! Everyone’s participation is helpful. Let's work together to give our students what they need to succeed — and see how much we can earn this year!

If you're new to BoxTops, you can download the app, select McPherson and input referral code C86O5H22 to earn an extra $2.50. Spread the word!

Here's how you can help:

· If you haven't done so already, Download the Box Tops app on your smartphone.

· Buy Box Tops products, Scan your receipt with the Box Tops app within 14 days of purchase and earn for McPherson with every Box Tops product you buy. The earnings through the application are recognized immediately.

· Our school will get a check to spend on classroom supplies. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE STUDENT & TEACHER’S NAME UNDER “GIVE CREDIT MEMO.”

· Refer your friends, family and other parents in the school to sign up for Box Tops. You'll earn Bonus Box Tops for our school when your referral scans their first receipt!

· Turn on notifications in your Box Tops app to get scan reminders and stay updated on special offers, new products and opportunities to earn for our school. Go to your Communications Settings by tapping on the person icon in the upper-right corner of the app.

· If you shop online, you can earn with your digital or email receipt, too.

MCPHERSON MAGNET SCHOOL | School ID: 227368

If you have trouble scanning your receipts, please email Trinh a copy of the receipts immediately.

Thank you for your support of the Box Tops Program and McPherson! We couldn’t do it without you!

Trinh Guevara
Box Tops Coordinator
trinhandcarlo@gmail.com

10/28 through 11/1 - Red Ribbon Week Spirit Days

10/30 - Flag Awards - PTSA Meeting & Principal's Coffee

10/31 - Free Halloween Costume Day

11/3 - Daylight Savings Time - Adjust your clocks one (1) hour BACK

11/5 - Staff Development Day - Non Student Day

11/7 - Astronomy Night - 5:30-7:30 pm

11/11 - Veterans' Day - No School

11/15 - Minimum Day - End of 1st Trimester