McPherson News December 3, 2023

Hello McPherson Families,

This week, we have a Fun Friday event hosted by our Leadership students at lunch time. On Friday, 12/8, students may wear free dress in their favorite holiday or winter colors. Our annual PTA Holiday Shop will also be open this week.

Please see the newsletter for more information on upcoming events, including the Holiday Shop, the private movie theater showing on 12/16, Operation Gift Giving, and Holiday Grams. Also, if your child submitted a project for the PTA Reflections please contact the PTA for an update. Lastly, thank you to everyone who attended our Saturday Enrichment Academy. We have another one coming up on Saturday, December 9. We encourage students to attend for a fun day and it helps McPherson recoup lost ADA funds due to absences.

Have a great week Meteors,

Dr. Godsey

Our world is full of technology and our children are learning at a young age about internet safety. Here are a few reminders to help all our McPherson Meteors be safe online.

1. Only use websites that are approved by the school and/ or parents

2. Keep your personal information private.

3. Know who is in your online community and can view your posts.

4. Keep your passwords private.

5. Be positive online with your posts.

6. Report any unfamiliar people in chats.

7. Ask for help from a trusted adult if needed.

All students in the Orange Unified School District participate in Digital Citizenship Instruction each year through the district-approved Common Sense Education. Here is a link to the district section about Common Sense Media.

https://www.orangeusd.org/departments/educational-services/educational-technology/parent-resources

Operation Gift Giving-You Can Help A Child by Giving A Gift!!

Donating gifts to McPherson’s Operation Gift Giving 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, November 27 through December 6.

You can have your child pick a tag up off the tree for a specific age, or drop off your gift in the Holiday Boxes located at the entrance of the back gate and the front gate parking lot.

Please make sure your gift is an unwrapped new toy. These gifts will be given to children who do not have the means to receive gifts during the Holiday Season. This is a great way to share the gift of giving during the holiday season!!!

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Teresa

On Saturday, December 9, we will be holding Saturday Enrichment Academy (SEA) session! We will have fun activities for the kids and parents can have the morning off to take care of errands or start planning for the holidays! Also, for any student who has missed a day of school because of illness or other personal reasons, we are able to recover the lost ADA funding if you “make up” your absence by attending SEA. Our goal is to provide students with additional academic instruction in a more relaxed and fun environment while recovering lost attendance funds for McPherson!

When: Saturday, December 9, 8:00 am - 12:15pm

What: Fun, Winter Themed STEAM Activities

Drop off/Pick Up: Front gate, near the office

What to wear: Cozy PJs (no slippers)

What to Bring: A charged device for 3rd-8th graders; a free school snack will be provided

Fill out the Google Form to Sign Up FOR 12/9/23:

12/9 Sign Up Link: https://forms.gle/mPTuudiUsoGsAjL87

December 8 - Fun Friday with recess games and Free Holiday/Winter Dress. Wear Red, Green, White, Blue or Holiday Wear.

December 15 - Wear your favorite PJ's on Friday, December 15. MINIMUM DAY ON DECEMBER 15 FOR ALL STUDENTS

If your student participated in this year's reflections program and submitted their entry prior to the deadline, can you please email President@mcphersonptsa.org for further updates on this year's reflections program.

Tickets go on sale TOMORROW MORNING for Wonka - a private movie screening with your schoolmates on December 16th at 10am. Tickets are $10 each. The last private screening sold out fast so set yourself a reminder to get tickets as soon as they go on sale.

https://wonka-movie-ticket.cheddarup.com

Holiday Shop!!!

Our Holiday shop will take place this week! Parents can upload money to their students' accounts so students can shop during and after school with the money uploaded to their account. Cash is also accepted at the shop.

https://mcphmag.myschool.holidayshop.org/

The Holiday shop will be open for shopping during school and after school Monday,Tuesday, Thursday and Friday until 3:30 and Wednesday until 1:30.

We are also still in need of help running the Holiday Shop. If you are able to help please sign up here: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/4090E4EADA829A7FA7-46235044-holiday

Mcpherson PTSA is in the process of compiling a directory of businesses. This directory will help us and other families support our own McPherson community. If you would like your business included in the directory email President@mcphersonptsa.org

Your full name

Business name

Website

Small description of your business

Fact: The holidays are happier with a gram!

When? Holiday Grams will be on sale from Wednesday, November 29 through December 11 . Grams can be purchased before school, during lunch, and after school.

Where? In front of the main office.

Delivered on Wednesday, December 13.

Gram prices vary from $0.25 to $0.75 depending on which gram is bought. Spread holiday cheer by sending a friend a Holiday Gram!

Order your McPherson Magnet School 2024 yearbook now at a discounted price and save $$. Order before January 26 for $50, after that the price will increase. The yearbooks will only be offered to purchase online. Cash sales will ONLY be accepted at the end of the year provided there are books left to sell. To guarantee your child a copy at a discounted price now, go to www.jostensyearbooks.com. Don't let your child miss out on the opportunity to ask their friends "Will you sign my yearbook?". ORDER YOUR 2024 YEARBOOK ONLINE AT WWW.JOSTENSYEARBOOKS.COM, locate McPherson Magnet school, choose to purchase the yearbook, and select any additional optional options you would like to purchase.

McPherson Parents: WE NEED YOUR INPUT

It is time for our annual LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan) Survey. Our survey is essential in informing our actions outlined in our LCAP. Thank you in advance for participating in our survey! Please use the link provided to take the survey today on any device.

Please use the link provided to take

the survey today on any device. Survey window is open from October 23, 2023 through January 12, 2024. https://bit.ly/LCAPSurvey23-24

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.

OUSD 3rd grade students: May Opt Out and the Opt Out Form is attached.

Students will be tested between 1/30/23 and 3/3/23.

All OUSD 2nd and 4th-6th graders are eligible for GATE testing. Parents, teachers & staff may refer students by January 10th, 2024. See attachments for more details.

Connecting the DOTS. The 2024 NASA Student Art Contest opens on December 1, 2023 and will accept artwork submissions in accordance with the rules through December 31, 2023. See Attached flyer for all the details.

Mini Dancer Clinic - Sunday, January 14th AND Varsity Basketball Game – Tuesday, January 16th

Participants will experience the excitement of being a VPHS dance team member! Your VPHS Dance Team and Coaches will share our latest dances! SEE FLYER ATTACHED FOR ALL THE DETAILS

OUR SPARTAN MINI DANCER CLINIC: (Sunday, January 14 th ) is open to grades K-8th.

Cost : $50.00 (includes VPHS Dance T-Shirt, treat, and free admission to the basketball game for the

participant.) Parents/Guardians, siblings, etc. will have to purchase a ticket for the game.

Check in Time : 12:00pm – 12:30pm Clinic Time : 12:30pm - 3:00pm

***For more information, please feel free to contact Jennifer Howerton at jhowerton@orangeusd.org

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

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.

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

11/27 thru 12/6 - Operation Gift Giving

11/29 thru12/11 - Holiday Grams For Sale

1/25/24 - VAPA showcase for All 5TH GRADE STUDENTS

12/15/23 - MINIMUM DAY BEFORE WINTER BREAK. ALL STUDENTS OUT EARLY RELEASE TIME

ATHLETIC SCHEDULES

Students should have no D’s or F’s for grades and citizenship

with no U’s to be eligible. Tryouts will be based on grade standings, effort, and skill for Football and Volleyball

FLAG FOOTBALL

Mondays Practices 3:00-4:00

Wednesdays Practices 1-2 (supervised lunch 12:40-1)

December 4- Game vs El Rancho 3:00

December 6- Practice

December 11- Game @ Santiago 3:00 (bus @ 1:30)

Football Coaches: Jeno Jorgensen and Marc Merchant

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball Practice/ Game Dates

Mondays and Thursdays Practices 3:00-4:00

December 4- Game @ El Rancho 3:00 (bus @1:45)

Please note that the return time will be 5:30-6 PM

December 7- Practice

December 11- Game vs Santiago 3:00

Volleyball Coaches: Julie VanderWall and Nicole Wyckoff