McPherson News for October 11, 2026

Hello McPherson Families,

Our PTSA “Get the Ball Rolling!” Fall Fundraiser is off to an amazing start! In just the first few days, we've raised nearly $10,000 to support our elementary PE program and enrichment activities for our middle school students! Thank you to everyone who has participated so far. Let's keep the momentum going and see if we can meet our school goal of $40,000!

A few reminders for the week ahead: Make-Up Picture Day is Tuesday, so be sure your student is ready if they missed the original picture day. We're also looking forward to our Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 23! We need families to help make this fun event a success by signing up to host a trunk or donating candy. We hope you'll join in the fun!

Thank you for all the ways you support our McPherson community!

Have a great week Meteors,

Dr. Godsey, Principal

🏀 LET’S GET THE BALL ROLLING! 🏀

The McPherson PTSA Fall Fundraiser launches this week, and it will take all of us to reach our $40,000 goal! Funds raised will support the elementary P.E. program our teachers have requested, giving students dedicated P.E. time while providing teachers valuable time for lesson planning and classroom preparation, as well as monthly enrichment activities for our middle school students. Students can earn fun prizes along the way, and if we reach our goal, the Principal and teachers from the top-fundraising classes will face off for the Top Ball Trophy! Check out the attached flyer for all the details and scan the QR code—or visi https://tinyurl.com/McPhersonPTSA2026 register and get started. Let’s rally our teams, score some prizes, and get the ball rolling! 🏀⚽🏐

We’re getting closer to our PTSA membership goal for the year, but we still need your help to get there! Joining PTSA is an easy way to show your support for McPherson and the many programs, activities, and opportunities that make our school special.

There’s no volunteer commitment required—your membership alone makes a difference! Help us reach our goal by joining today!

https://jointotem.com/ca/orange/mcpherson-ptsa

Picture retake day is Tuesday, October 13. Only those students having their picture taken can wear free dress. The Absent/Retake picture day is an event for students who missed the initial day, for students who aren't happy with their original portraits, and for new students. For students who are requesting a retake, You must bring in your proof booklet, so that the production lab may process the session as a retake.

Get ready for a night of candy, costumes, creativity, and community! We’re excited to invite all of our McPherson families to join us for this year’s Trunk-or-Treat!

📅 October 23rd
🍬 5:30–7:00 PM — Candy Collection
🏆 7:00–7:30 PM — Costume Contest & Trunk Awards

🚗🎨 DECORATE A TRUNK!

Show off your creativity and bring your best trunk-decorating ideas! Come out, have some fun, and help make this a spooktacular night for our McPherson community!

Want to participate? Sign up to decorate a trunk here:

Sign Up to Decorate a Trunk

CANDY MONSTER & VOLUNTEER HOURS

Our Candy Monster will be in front of the school beginning Monday, 10/12!

Need volunteer hours? Donate 1 large bag of candy to help support Trunk-or-Treat. Be sure to label your candy donation with your student’s name to receive 1 volunteer hour.

🍿 Support Leadership & 8th Grade! While you’re enjoying the festivities, stop by the concession stand to purchase a treat and support our Leadership and 8th Grade students! Please bring cash for concession purchases.

We look forward to celebrating with our McPherson families!

Boo Grams will be on sale Friday, 10/16 thru Tuesday, 10/29. Show you care and send a scare!!! Boo Grams are on sale before school and after school at the back gate and in front of the office. Boo Grams are also sold at lunch in the quad. Grams cost 25 cents to 75 cents and will be delivered on Friday, October 30th.

Our school will participate in the Great American Shakeout on Thursday, October 15. During this drill, students will duck and cover in their classrooms.

The Great American Shakeout is an annual global event held on the third Thursday of October dedicated to practicing earthquake safety and disaster preparedness. Be sure to review your family's emergency preparedness plan at home as well!

We are excited to announce that McPherson teachers and staff will be taking over McDonald’s for our very first McTeacher’s Night on October 20!

This is a fun-filled fundraiser for the whole McPherson community, and we hope to see lots of our students and families come out for dinner, visit with their teachers and staff, and support a great cause!

During McTeacher’s Night, you may see some familiar McPherson faces taking orders, calling out order numbers, filling drinks, greeting families, selling raffle tickets, and maybe even making a special appearance at the drive-thru window!

Best of all, while we’re having fun together, we’ll also be raising money for our scholarship field trip account.

So bring the whole family, grab some dinner, say hello to your favorite McPherson teachers and staff, and help us make our FIRST McTeacher’s Night a huge success! Good Food • Great Fun • McPherson Community! We can’t wait to see you there!

SAVE THE DATE: SciOly Astronomy Night is Tuesday, Nov 10 from 5pm-7:30pm. In addition to the annual Bake Sale to raise funds for SciOly competition fees, the In N Out truck will be there to make it a full dinner family night.

Pre-order your In N Out meal now for only $8! Yes, a full In N Out meal, hamburger or cheeseburger, chips and a drink for $8 with 75% of the proceeds benefiting the McPherson Education Foundation to support SciOly and all of our other STEM programs.

Quantities and Time slots are limited, so order early for the most options. When we are out, that’s it, we are limited with how many we can sell. There will be no In N Out sales at Astronomy Night as the focus will be on the Bake Sale! More info about the Astronomy Night program and Bake Sale coming soon.

Purchase your In N Out meal here: https://www.jotform.com/form/262255082291051

On Friday, October 30, students will be able to dress in their school appropriate Halloween costumes or wear Fall Colors to celebrate the fall season. No masks and no bloody costumes and no weapons of any kind.

Breakfast and lunch are free for all students. Students who forget a lunch will be provided with a school lunch. Facilities are not available for students to heat lunches on campus. Fast Food and Food delivery services (Door dash, Grubhub, Fast Food. Etc.) are not permitted and will not be accepted by the office. Parents/guardians are asked not to deliver fast food lunches to school.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with Technology Services at Orange Unified School District. As a student or family member, your feedback helps us understand what's working well and where we can improve. We appreciate you completing this short anonymous survey.

https://orangeusd2.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ET1FhjYDn1kY5M

Help us make the end of the year extra special for our 8th graders! Purchase a beautiful $15 red poinsettia and support their end-of-year events and celebrations.

🌺 15" Red Poinsettia
💲 $15 each
📅 Pick-Up: Wednesday, December 9

We want to give our 8th graders a memorable end to their elementary/middle school journey, and we can’t do it without our amazing school community's support! Every purchase helps us get one step closer to making their celebrations unforgettable. 🎉

Thank you for supporting the Class of 2027! ❤️

https://8thgradepoinsettiasale.cheddarup.com

PTA Reflections Contest: It’s time to call for entries for the 2026–2027 National PTA Reflections program! This year's theme is "What My Culture Means to Me." Students are invited to submit new, original work in visual arts, photography, literature, film, music, or dance. Every submission requires a title and an artist statement (no group projects permitted). Details about submission and due date coming soon!

At McPherson, we value our partnership with parents and families, and we encourage you to take an active role in your child’s education. We have an expectation that every family will contribute 10 hours of volunteer time each school year.

There are many opportunities to volunteer throughout the year. However, if you plan to volunteer on campus or with students during the school year—including classroom help, classroom parties, field trips, school events, and other activities—you must complete the OUSD Volunteer Application and approval process.

You may complete the application now, and once approved, it will be valid for the entire school year.

The majority of our McPherson volunteers will be volunteering 5 hours or less on campus, so please complete the requirements listed under #1 and #2 on the links below and select the “5 Hours or Less” Volunteer Application.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ

Completing the required trainings alone does NOT mean you are approved to volunteer.

To receive volunteer approval, you must:

• Complete all required trainings.
• Take and upload screenshots of your completed training documents/certificates.
• Complete the 5 Hours or Less Volunteer Application in its entirety.
• SUBMIT the application.
• Receive an email confirming that your application has been approved.

YOU MAY NOT VOLUNTEER UNTIL YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED, SUBMITTED, AND APPROVED.

Please do not wait until the day of a field trip, classroom party, or other activity to complete the process. You must receive your approval email before you are permitted to volunteer.

If you have any questions regarding the volunteer application process, please contact Ms. Erica in the McPherson office.

English:

https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjY4OmVuLVVT

Spanish:

https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjY4OmVzLVVT

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

McPherson Magnet School participates in Box Tops for Education, which means you can help our school earn cash simply by purchasing products you may already buy!

Each Box Top is worth 10¢ for McPherson! Every scan counts, and everyone’s participation makes a difference. Let’s work together to help provide our students and classrooms with the supplies they need — and see how much we can earn this year!

NEW TO BOX TOPS? EARN AN EXTRA $2.50!

If you are new to Box Tops:

Download the Box Tops app, select McPherson Magnet School, and enter referral code C86O5H22 to earn an extra $2.50 for our school!

Please spread the word to grandparents, relatives, friends, neighbors, and other McPherson families!

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Download the Box Tops app on your smartphone if you haven't already.

• Purchase participating Box Tops products.

• Scan your receipt within 14 days of purchase. Every eligible Box Tops product on your receipt earns money for McPherson, and your earnings are recognized in the app right away.

• Give your student credit! Be sure to enter your student's name and teacher's name under "Give Credit Memo."

• Refer friends and family! Invite others to sign up for Box Tops. Our school can earn Bonus Box Tops when your referral scans their first qualifying receipt.

• Turn on notifications in the Box Tops app to receive scan reminders and information about special offers, bonus opportunities, and new participating products. Tap the person icon in the upper-right corner of the app to access your Communication Settings.

• Shopping online? You can earn Box Tops with eligible digital and email receipts, too!

MCPHERSON MAGNET SCHOOL

School ID: 227368

MEET OUR NEW BOX TOPS COORDINATOR!

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR NEW BOX TOPS COORDINATOR, JULIE ALTSTAETTER!

If you have any questions about Box Tops, you can reach Julie at meteorsboxtops@gmail.com. If she doesn't have the answer right away, she will find it for you!

Thank you for supporting the Box Tops Program and McPherson Magnet School. We couldn't do it without you!

10/13 - Picture Make Up day

10/15 - Great American Shake Out

10/16 - Boo Grams Go on sale

10/20 - McTeacher Night @ McDonalds

10/23 - Trunk or Treat

10/30 - Free Halloween/Fall Dress

11/10 - Education Foundation Astronomy Night

SPORTS SCHEDULE:

SOCCER - MONDAY, OCTOBER 12

GIRLS AT@ CERRO VILLA

BOYS @ McPHERSON