McPherson News Dec 22, 2024
RETURN TO SCHOOL ON JANUARY 13, 2025
Principal's Message
“The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings
and seek out ways to make life better for those around us.”
Happy Holidays!
Here’s wishing you all the joys of the season
and happiness all throughout the upcoming year.
Dr. Godsey, Ms. Manion and the McPherson Staff
THANK YOU PARENTS FOR YOUR GIFT DONATIONS
We were overwhelmed by the generous donations for our
Joy for the Holidays Gift Giving and helping a child receive a gift. Due to your generous donations, we were able to donate to a child that my not be able to have a gift purchased for them. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING A CHILD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
Orange Public Library Winter Reading Club
Join the Winter Reading Club at any Orange Public Library and earn a chance to win prizes by reading or being read to! Visit https://bit.ly/opl-winter-rc to print your Challenge Log or pick one up at any Orange Public Library Reference Desk or One Desk, beginning December 16. Return your completed log by Thursday, January 30.
Middle School Basketball Practice Begins in February
Basketball practice begins on February 3, 2025 for our middle school basketball teams. The first soccer game will be on Monday, February 24. See all practice and game dates in "Upcoming Dates". Athletic Packet is required for all students to participate in any sport at McPherson. If your student is going to play basketball and has not filled out the athletic packet, please complete the packet by Friday, January 17 . ATHLETIC PACKET MUST BE TURNED IN TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS. ** All practices are from 3:00- 4:00 PM. Coaches may add additional or alternate practices dates. See Attached Flyer for ALL DATES of practices and games.
Parent Workshops Offered by Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College is available to provide Parent workshops free of charge to the McPherson community!
Please give your input for planning:
McPherson Lottery Information for 2025-2026
Lottery Information for 2025-2026
McPherson's Virtual Lottery Orientation Will be Held on
January 28, at 9:00am
PLEASE GO TO McPHERSON'S WEBPAGE AND READ ALL ABOUT McPHERSON''S LOTTERY,
https://mcphersonhome.meteormail.net/home/about/lottery-information
THE LOTTERY APPLICATIONS WINDOW WILL BE OPEN
ON JANUARY 28, 2025 @ 10:00AM
ANY APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AFTER
JANUARY 30, 2025, 3:30pm, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
McPherson's Lottery will be run on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. You will receive an e-mail from Lotterease by the end of the day on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, regarding your lottery status.
Sibling Staff Lottery for McPherson
Priority #1 - Siblings of current Kindergarten through 7th grade Students and Children of McPherson Employees
Sibling status will be verified. In case of guardianship other than same birth parents, legal proof must be provided to our registrar, Christina Cruz. The Sibling and McPherson Staff Lottery application window will be open from Friday, January 17, 2025 @9:00am to Wednesday, January 22, 2025 @ 3:00 pm. Sibling status will be verified. Siblings include brothers, sisters, step-brothers and step-sisters only. Siblings must reside within the OUSD school boundaries. There are NO EXCEPTIONS for Sibling Status. If we are unable to verify sibling status, the application will be removed and disqualified for the 2025-2026 Lottery.
Prospective McPherson students who have siblings currently attending kindergarten through 7th grade at McPherson must submit the required application. If a sibling application is submitted during the General Public Lottery application window, the application will run with the General Public Lottery and not given priority.
Inaccurate or incomplete information on the lottery entry submitted will result in disqualification.
PLEASE GO TO McPHERSON'S WEBPAGE AND READ ALL ABOUT McPHERSON''S LOTTERY,
https://mcphersonhome.meteormail.net/home/about/lottery-information
School Tours for Prospective Families
Our annual lottery will be opening in January and we want to get the word out about McPherson! If you have friends, family, or neighbors interested in McPherson, please share the flyer below. We are hosting school tours for prospective families starting in December.
Visual and Performing Arts McPherson 5th Grade Winter Showcase
Visual and Performing Arts McPherson 5th Grade Winter Showcase
Monday, January 27th - At 8:20 AM
Location: McPherson Stage
THEATER STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR COSTUMES PER CHARACTER
BAND AND ORCHESTRA ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR DARK PANTS AND WHITE SHIRT
(See Attached Flyer)
Calling all student RUNNERS!
Calling All Student RUNNERS!
We want to bring back the McPherson Magnet KROC team this year. We are excited to launch in the new year, so please consider joining the team.
Event Date: May 3, 2025 at the OC Fairgrounds
Entry fee is $29 which gives each runner a bib, shirt, and the marathon kids' medal
The entry fee also allows you to participate in the 10-week training program which begins in March.
8th Grade Yearbook Ads
Looking for a way to recognize your child's hard work and amazingness over the past 8 years? Want to show your child how proud you are of them for finishing up this K-8 chapter of their lives? Then a recognition ad in the yearbook (section or full page) is the perfect way to do it! The deadline will be here before you know it so don't delay! More details are in the attached flyer. Open attached flyer, or open link below to order this special page for you 8th grade student. When opening the link, choose California, McPherson Magnet School and the phone number of 7149976384 (no spaces in phone number)
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
UPCOMING DATES
1/16 & 1/22 - School Tours
1/27/25 - VAPA 5th Grade Performance
1/17 - 1/22/25 - Sibling and McPherson Staff Lottery (Closes @ 3:00pm on 1/22/25)
1/28/25 - McPherson's Virtual Lottery Orientation
1/28/25 - Lottery Application Process Opens @ 10:00AM
1/30/25 - Lottery Application Closes @ 3:30pm, (Applications will not be accepted after 3:30PM)
2/5/25 - McPherson's Lottery Will Be Run
OUSD HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASE DATES:
January 29: Villa Park HS Showcase
January 22: Orange HS Showcase
- February 5: El Modena HS Showcase
- February 19: Canyon HSA Showcase