Principal's Message
Hello McPherson Families
As we approach the end of the school year, there is much to celebrate and prepare for! I am proud to share that McPherson has been named a Project Lead the Way Distinguished School, recognizing our commitment to providing students with high-quality STEM education. This week, we have some exciting events: Tropical Free Dress Day on Wednesday and Donuts with Dad on Friday morning. See the newsletter for more information about end-of-year procedures, including textbook/library book return and 8th grade promotion details.
Have a great week Meteors,
Dr. Godsey
Principal
McPherson Goodbye Grams
The end of the school year is just around the corner and so is our McPherson Goodbye Grams Sales. Show your friends some love by sending one! You can send one to siblings, friends and even your teachers! Send your friends to summer with a Goodbye Gram!!!
How You Can Get One?
Grams will be sold in the front of the office every morning and after school. They are also sold during middle school and elementary lunches. The prices range from $0.25—$0.75, and will be sold Tuesday, 5/27 – Wednesday, 6/4. Grams will be handed out on Monday, 6/9 to all classes. Enjoy the end of the school year and send a gram to your friends and teachers.
🎨 Show Your School Spirit – T-Shirt Design Contest! 👕
DATE EXTENDED TO FRIDAY JUNE 6TH
Let your creativity shine and help design next school year’s Spirit Shirt! This is your chance to leave your mark and get the whole school wearing your artwork.
🖌️ Design Requirements:
· Must fit on one side of an 8½" x 11" sheet
· Use no more than 3 colors
· Include the school name and school year (2025–2026)
📅 Deadline: All designs must be turned in to the front office by Friday, June 6th
Whether you’re doodling by hand or creating digitally, we can’t wait to see your bold, spirited, and school-proud ideas!
🎉 The winning design will be featured on our official 2025–2026 Spirit Shirt!
8th Grade Promotion Tickets - Pick up in Office
8th Grade promotion will be held outside on the back concrete playground area on June 12 at 8:30 am. Attendance will be limited to 8th-grade students and 4 adults per family. (No young children or infants may attend). Admission will be by ticket only. TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP FROM THE FRONT OFFICE. Parents must sign for tickets when picking them up. Tickets will be collected at the entrance gate. (No balloons, umbrellas or personal chairs are allowed.)
Library Check in Information
PLEASE TURN IN MATERIALS AS FOLLOWS:
Kindergarten through 5th Grade - Wednesday, May 28 - All library books should have been turned into the library.
5th Grade Only-Tuesday, June 10 - Turn in devices
6th and 7th Grade - Monday, June 9 - Turn in all textbooks and library books
8th Grade Students will receive a check-out form during history. This form must be signed by June 5 by:
-
Miss Lucy, the librarian (to verify all books and devices are returned and fines paid by June 5)
-
Miss Jackie, the health clerk (to clear any absences)
- Mr. Mitchell, PE Teacher (clean out lockers)
Once all signatures are obtained, the completed form must be submitted to the front office. This is required for a student to be eligible for promotion.
Please make sure all responsibilities are completed on time to ensure a smooth end-of-year process.
If you have questions, contact the librarian, Lucy Verduzco, at lverduzco@orangeusd.org or our attendance/health clerk, Jackie Skarsten at jackies@orangeusd.org.
McPherson Magnet School Awarded PLTW Distinguished School
We are proud to announce that McPherson Magnet School has been recognized as a 2024–25 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Launch and Gateway Distinguished School. This prestigious national honor celebrates an outstanding implementation of high-quality STEM education through PLTW’s Launch program.
Awarded by Project Lead The Way, the Distinguished School designation highlights schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in STEM. Through hands-on, inquiry-based learning, PLTW Launch helps students develop essential skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world application.
McPherson earned this distinction by:
● Fostering student curiosity and confidence in STEM disciplines
● Supporting educators in delivering transformative, student-centered instruction
● Laying a strong foundation for future academic and career success
Congratulations to the dedicated educators and students at McPherson Magnet School!
McPHERSON REGISTRATION DAY AUGUST 13
All families will be completing their McPherson registration materials and turning in their McPherson documents on Wednesday, August 13. Times for Registration are listed below. ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND TO TAKE THEIR PICTURES, GET ID CARDS, PURCHASE AGENDAS AND PICK UP TEXTBOOKS
Last Name Begins With:
A-J: 8:00am-9:00am
K-P: 9:00am-10:00am
Q-Z: 10:00am-11:00am
McPHERSON CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION AUGUST 16
Campus Beautification @ McPherson - Saturday - August 16TH , 7:30am to 10:00am
Mark Your Calendar for BEAUTIFICATION DAY
All FAMILIES - McPherson Beautification Day is scheduled for Saturday, August 17th, to help us spruce up our campus. Many hands make the load light. We have a lot of small projects that can be done by all members of the family - i.e…..painting, planting new bushes in quad, refinishing benches, working in Earth Lab, working in California garden, hanging new backpack hooks, washing windows, cleaning - and much more. A Google Doc will be coming home in July to sign up for Beautification Day, so we will know how many volunteers will be coming to help.
WILD RIVERS EVENT COMING UP!!!! - TUESDAY, JUNE 17
Kick Off Summer with McPherson at Wild Rivers! ☀️
Join us for a fun-filled day at Wild Rivers Water Park on Tuesday, June 17, 2025! We’re making a splash to celebrate the start of summer—and you’re invited!
🎟️ Special Discounted Tickets
Just $40 per person (ages 3 and up)
Family and friends are welcome to join!
Purchase Tickets Here: https://wild-rivers-waterpark-day-2025.cheddarup.com
📌 Important Info:
This is not a drop-off event—all children must be supervised.
Parking is not included and will require an additional fee.
Let’s make waves and great memories together—see you there!
T-Dap Required for all Students Entering 7th Grade in 25/26
REMINDER - If your 6th-grade student has not turned in proof of the T-Dap vaccination before they enter 7th grade next year, they will not be able to register nor attend school until their T-Dap proof is turned in. Please make sure you turn in your T-Dap vaccination record before your student enters 7th grade for the 25/26 school year.
Dear OUSD Families,
New for Summer 2025!
We are excited to introduce a brand new OUSD College & Career Exploration Summer Camp for OUSD students entering grades 4–6 in the 2025–2026 school year! This hands-on program is presented by Orange Unified’s Career Technical Education department and provides a fun and engaging way to explore real-world careers.
Location: Yorba Middle School
Session 1: June 23–26, 2025 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Session 2: July 7–10, 2025 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
This program is FREE and spots are limited, so don’t wait to sign up!
Click here for more information. Sign up here!
College for Kids Summer Program
We are thrilled to once again offer the Santiago Canyon College “College for Kids Summer Program” for current Orange USD students in grades K-12! This free program provides fun, interactive, and engaging classes designed to support academic growth, close learning gaps, and offer rigorous enrichment opportunities. Each OUSD student may register for one free class. Space is limited, and registration will close once classes are full.
Register starting May 5 at 10:00 a.m. at www.sccollege.edu/ck
Browse the course brochure here: https://online.fliphtml5.com/qlhdz/pnet/#p=36
ELOP & CARES Summer Enrichment
Registration is currently open for the Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs at California, Cambridge, Canyon Rim, Esplanade, Handy, Lampson, Olive, Portola, Prospect, Sycamore, Taft & West Orange.
June 16-July 25, 2025 | 7:30-4:30 PM
The CARES parent paid program will be taking place at Chapman Hills, Fletcher, Crescent OPK, McPherson and CDC Preschool
June 16-August 15, 2025 | 7:00-6:00 PM
Click here for more information
Optional Summer Activities
We would also like to share a collection of optional activities to keep students engaged in learning throughout the summer.
Link to Optional Summer Activities
For questions, please contact the OUSD Office of Curriculum and Instruction at 714-628-5452 or curriculum@orangeusd.org
We look forward to a summer filled with learning and exploration!
Sincerely,
Orange Unified School District
Office of Curriculum and Instruction
PLEASE COLLECT YOUR BOXTOPS TO HELP McPHERSON
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
