Principal's Message
Hello McPherson Families,
We have a busy week ahead! This week is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week! We are celebrating our teachers all week with themed days. For Monday, show your appreciation for your teachers "In Their Teacher Era" by bringing a flower, drawing of a flower, or something in a floral print.
The month of May is brain cancer awareness month, so we are also participating in a "Caps for the Cure" event and a "Joy Jar Drive" this week for them to enjoy.
Also, Friday, May 10, we are honoring our McPherson Moms with a "Muffins with Mom" event. Students are invited to attend this event with their moms or any other special adult.
Lastly, please review the newsletter for a reminder from Ms. Manion, our Assistant Principal, about parking lot procedures. Please have patience when picking up or dropping off and follow all procedures to ensure the safety of all of our students.
Have a great week Meteors,
Dr. Godsey
Principal
Teacher Appreciation Week/May 6 thru May 10 - Theme "In Our Teacher Appreciation Era"
Help us celebrate our teachers all week long
Monday (5/6) -BEGIN AGAIN
Give your Super Star Teacher a flower (fresh, artificial, or hand-drawn) or something with a floral print.
Tuesday (5/7) – MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
Compliment your teacher with a note or email to explain how he/she has impacted your life this year.
Wednesday (5/8) – SWEET NOTHINGS
Bring a TREAT for your teacher (i.e. fruit, granola bar, trail mix, hot cocoa mix, candy bar, frozen yogurt or Starbucks card, etc.).
Thursday (5/9) – IT’S NICE TO HAVE A FRIEND
Bring your teacher a friendship bracelet, a thank you card and/or gift card.
Friday ( 5/10) – LOVE STORY
Be creative and share your appreciation however you would like. Draw a picture, make something special, bring a small gift or classroom supply.
Assistant Principal's Message
Recently, we have had a few incidents in the parking lots. We want to remind everyone of the proper parking lot procedures at McPherson Magnet School. Also, we ask that all individuals use caution and refrain from getting out of cars without parking as this is a safety hazard. Please follow the instructions of our staff and security guard as we have the safety of all children as our priority.
PARKING LOT PROCEDURES
Please cooperate fully with the McPherson Staff on parking lot duty as they have the safety of all children in mind as their highest priority.
• North Parking Lot: Enter off Prospect Ave. and Exit out to Palmyra Ave.
This is a ONE-WAY Parking Lot, please park if you will be waiting in the drop-off/pick-up line for more than a few minutes.
• Do not park behind other vehicles in the middle of the parking lot and wait for your student. You MUST park in a marked parking spot if you are not in the curb drive through area.
• South Parking Lot: Use the southern driveway located at the athletic field Entrance, and Exit from the north driveway, located near the McPherson cafeteria
• Pick-up/Drop-off zone: The right lane of the front and back parking lot is for the immediate drop-off and pick-up of students only.
NEVER park or leave your car unattended while in the “pick-up/drop-off zone.”
Pull all the way forward in the pick-up/drop-off zone.
Do not stop in the crosswalk.
Students will exit vehicles on the curbside only.
• Left-Hand Lane: This is a drive-through lane only. Do not drop off or pick up students in this lane.
• Do not park behind parked cars. Not only does this block cars that may be parked, but it increases the danger in the parking lot.
• Do not park your car near the entrance gates as this is part of the coned-off area for the pickup and drop-off zone.
• Use the crosswalk while walking in the parking lot, and crossing Palmyra and Prospect
• If a bus is present, please observe the bus loading area and do not drop off/pick up students in close proximity.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
• At arrival, students will walk through the two main gates. Adults are asked to sign in/out of the office before entering campus.
• Children are to be picked up promptly after school. There is NO SUPERVISION on campus 15 minutes after dismissal.
• Students will wait for class to begin in the designated areas with teacher supervisors until the bell rings.
• Elementary students are NOT to wait for a brother or sister in Middle School after school ends unless they are supervised by a parent outside of the school gates.
• Students who are habitually picked up late (over 15 minutes) from school will be referred to SART and possibly Child Protective Services. McPherson has the CARES daycare program on site for parents needing early drop-off and late pick-ups.
• Parents will wait outside the gates to pick up their student(s).
• Parents/visitors/volunteers on campus are welcome but must check in at the office and wear a visitor’s sticker. See guidelines for visitors and volunteers.
• Do not park in the front parking lot overnight, as gates are locked each night to secure the parking lot.
Caps for a Cure and Joy Jar Drive
The month of May is Brain Cancer Awareness month. This week, May 6-10, we are participating in the Caps for a Cure event and we are having a Joy Jar Drive. Caps for the Cure is a campaign in honor of McPherson student, Sarah Valdivia, who lost her brave battle with DIPG brain cancer. Next week, bring in a dollar each day and wear a cap (or large bow - Sarah's favorite) to support the research to find a cure for DIPG.
Also, McPherson students have also organized a Joy Jar drive happening this week. Joy jars are filled with small toys or games to entertain kids in the hospital getting treatment for cancer. Please donate anything you can from the approved list to help us make a difference in our community! Joy Jar items can be dropped off in the collection bin in the front office.
8th Grade News
Thank you McPherson Families! Our 8th grade promotion fundraisers were a success! Thank you to everyone who participated!!
Between the two fundraisers we earned over $1500! Thank you McPherson for all your awesome support!
And the Winners are...
For preferred seating: The Duong Family and the Kobata Family
For preferred parking: The Alvarez Family and the Duong Family.
The raffle for preferred seating went to ticket number: 385061
Please contact Erin at 714-264-1825 to claim the raffle prize!
Still want to help? Check out the Amazon list or post it on social media, or you can help by donating $10 gift cards for local restaurants or venues for the party goody bags (these can be sent in to the office marked 8th grade promotion.)
Thank you again, The 8th Grade Promotion Committee.
Congratulations to our American Essay Winners
Our McPherson students who entered the American Essay contest with the Orange Elks Lodge #1475, were awarded with certificates and cash prizes on Wednesday, May 1. We are very proud of our McPherson Magnet School student winners:
5th Grade:
Alayah Lawson, Giuliana Torres & Alicia Vine
6th Grade:
Aubrey Boniaby, Logan Duff & Olivia Halter
7th Grade:
Emma Ruppel & Bella Tobias
8th Grade
Isabella Granados, Tristan Spanner and Val Vega Padilla
Also, we would like to congratulate Malana Pelasky, 6th grade student, for receiving her Girl Scout Bronze Award.
Other OUSD students also received awards. See program attached for details.
Successful Hygiene Drive!
6th grade student, Lessandra Barragan, organized a hygiene drive for her classmates to donate needed hygiene products to the Assistance League of Orange to support their Operation School Bell project. Great work Lessandra and all 6th grade students who participated! It is great to see McPherson students serving and giving back to our community!
Attention 7th and 8th Grade Parents - California Healthy Youth Act Information
The California Healthy Youth Act requires that students in grades 7-12 receive comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education in middle school and once in high school. Instruction must encourage students to communicate with parents, guardians, or other trusted adults on the topics covered within the curriculum.
McPherson 7th and 8th grade students will receive this instruction in their Science class.8th grade students will receive instruction from 5/17 to 5/29 and 7th grade students will receive instruction from 5/28 to 6/5.
If you have any questions or wish to preview the instructional materials, please email Dr. Godsey. State law allows parents to remove their student from comprehensive sexual health or HIV prevention education. If you do not want your child to participate in this instruction, please fill out the attached form and return to your child's science teacher or Dr. Godsey.
Join McPherson PTSA for a night of family fun at the Angel's Stadium!
Come and join McPherson at the ballpark!!
5/24/24 at 6:38pm Angels Stadium
Angels vs Guardians
All tickets are just $11 and located in left field Pavilion rows S-W
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE! Limited tickets available!!
https://my.cheddarup.com/c/angels-game-night
SBAC Testing - Students with personal devices
In May, our 3rd-8th grade students will be taking SBAC Assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Before then, students will be taking interim assessments, which serve as smaller practice tests, to prepare for the test in May. Some classes have already started taking these assessments, but we want to be sure that everyone is prepared.
If your child uses a personal device, rather than a school issued device, you will need to download the secure browser for the assessments. Please follow the steps below to install the browser on a personal device. **If your child is using a school-loaned device, the browser is already on it, so you will not need to do these steps.
- Click here for the Secure Browser Download for Personal Devices.
- Click on your device's operating system on the left side of the screen.
- Click on the blue "Download Secure Browser."
- Follow directions for installation.
If you have difficulty installing the browser, your child may check out a school device from the library.
Your child will also need a pair of headphones for the tests. They must be hard wired headphones.
8th Grade Student Important Information!!!
Please complete the following form for Summer School/Health at El Modena HS by Friday May 3, 2024. The students will be notified of the session that they are attending in late May. Please communicate with Ms. Jimenez via email at jeanette.jimenez@orangeusd.org should you have any questions about the Summer School Health class.
iReady Reports are now Digitally Available for Your Students
We now have the ability to share the i-Ready Diagnostic results for your students digitally, which will allow you to know how your students are doing. Parents will now have digital access to the For Families report after logging in to your student’s i-Ready dashboard and entering our district report code HLKLPV on the top right-hand corner of the For Families tab. Please open the attached flyer for detailed instructions.
T-Dap Required for all Students Entering 7th Grade in 24/25
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 24/25 school year.
McPherson Wellness Center
We are developing the McPherson Wellness Center for the support and well-being of all students on our campus. If you would like to support us with purchasing any of the items on the Amazon Wish List or Target Wish List. The Links are listed below, we would appreciate your kindness and assistance.
Amazon Wish List Link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2Q0D5VI9UVBOC?ref_=wl_share
Target Wish List: https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/mcphersonwellnesswishlist
PTSA BIRTHDAY MARQUEE
It is always fun to post a special message for your child's birthday. You can purchase Birthday Marquee messages now at - https://my.cheddarup.com/c/map-birthday?cart=558b524f-dfb5-4dff-b5ee-620c1d38e040%21%2159728133
All birthday marquee messages must be purchased by the Wednesday prior to the week you are requesting.
BOX TOPS - WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
Hello McPherson Families! My name is Trinh and I'm your school Box Top for Education Coordinator.
Our school is participating in Box Tops, 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!
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
