Principal's Message
Hello McPherson Families,
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Reach for the Stars PTSA fundraiser! We met our goal and raised over $40,000. This means that I will be invading campus as an alien someday soon! This Tuesday, 11/5, is a non-student day due to district wide staff development. Also, our Education Foundation is hosting an Astronomy Night on Thursday, 11/7. Come enjoy a fun evening with friends and family under the stars.
Please see the newsletter for information on two fundraisers for overnight field trips and other upcoming events.
Have a great week Meteors,
Dr. Godsey
Principal
🌌 **Join Us for Astronomy Night at McPherson Magnet!** 🌌November 7
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! ✨🔭
Winter See's Candy Sale: now through December 6
We have a sweet opportunity for everyone to earn funds for our school. Families with students in grades 3-8 can use the funds earned for overnight field trips, and orders from families in grades K-2 will benefit our school's Scholarship and Ed Support account.
This sale is online only, through See's Candies Yum-Raising program, participants will receive an email from "emily lawrence <invite@yumraising.com>" with the subject of "McPherson Magnet School See's Candies Yum-Raising Invitation." The link in the body of the email is a personal link with a QR code for your child. Simply share this link with family and friends to ask for their support by purchasing candy, and a portion of the proceeds (15-50%, depending on the item) will be credited to your child's individual account at the conclusion of the sale.
To opt in for the invitation, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0ub1IkABNx98nSWD9xWQVJcFDxFZ6lvp--vT_lU_dboGKKg/viewform?usp=sf_link
Once you have completed the form, Our Parent Volunteer will enter your contact information for your personalized link. Please note that this is a manual process and may not happen immediately.
This is a really easy fundraiser. All you have to do is forward the link and/or QR code to your families and friends and ask for their support by purchasing See's candy or chocolates. The orders will be shipped directly to them for a small shipping fee (free shipping for orders of $70 or more). Orders will ship starting on November 11th.
Individual Account Fundraising for Overnight Field Trips
McPherson students have 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 Idyllwild, 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, your child's account will be credited with the amount of money you fundraised. When payment is due for an overnight trip, the IA account 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 3rd grade or above.
Each grade level, 3rd-8th, has a parent volunteer that manages the accounting for IA accounts.
Students in Kinder-2nd grade can participate in the IA fundraising opportunities but the money will not be recorded for particular students. Money raised by Kinder-2nd grade students goes to a general fund that can be used to provide student scholarships for overnight field trips.
The Charlestown Wrap fundraiser packet was sent home with students on Friday. This is a great way to earn funds toward IA accounts.
Please contact Dr. Godsey at bgodsey@orangeusd.org if you have any questions.
Mark your calendars to drop off your gifts, under our tree starting December 2.
“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Teresa
Donating gifts to McPherson’s Operation Gift Giving Joy for the Holidays is one way you can take your part in giving during this Holiday Season. How YOU can help! Leadership will be collecting gifts for McPherson’s Operation Gift Giving, which will run from Monday, December 2 through December 13. Please drop off an unwrapped new toy in the Holiday Boxes located at the entrance of the back gate and the front gate parking lot. These gifts will be given to children who do not have the means for receiving gifts during the Holiday Season. This is a great way to share the gift of giving during the holiday season!!!
Your Feedback is Needed! Participate in the OUSD LCAP Survey
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: 1/17/25
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and help us build a brighter future for our students.
Released Time Christian Education
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.
GATE Testing - Please Open Attachment for Information on Gate Testing
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 Meeting Information
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.
FREE MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TUTORING
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
Campus Volunteer Procedures
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:
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://mcp-birthday-marquee.cheddarup.com
All birthday marquee messages must be purchased by the Wednesday prior to the week you are requesting.
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
