McPherson News for November 8, 2026

NO SCHOOL, NOVEMBER 11TH – VETERANS' DAY

MINIMUM DAY, NOVEMBER 13TH - END OF 1st TRIMESTER

Hello McPherson Families,

We have several important events and reminders to share this week! Please join us on Tuesday evening for Astronomy Night and our Education Foundation meeting. It's a great opportunity to connect with our school community and enjoy a fun evening of learning together!

As a reminder, there will be no school on Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. We also have a minimum day on Friday, November 13, as we wrap up the first trimester. It's hard to believe we are already one-third of the way through the school year!

Have a great week Meteors,

Dr. Godsey, Principal

We want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete the OUSD LCAP Parent Survey and help shape the future of McPherson and OUSD. Our goal is to have at least 50% of our families participate!

A signature page will be sent home in next week's Wednesday folder. Students who return their signed page confirming their parent completed the survey by November 30 will earn a free dress day on December 4!

Thank you for sharing your feedback and helping us reach our goal!

Join us for our annual Science Olympiad Astronomy Night on Tuesday, November 10, from 5:00–7:30 PM! The weather looks like it will be wonderful, with clear skies for a great night of stargazing! Families are welcome to bring their own telescopes, and we will also have volunteers setting up some amazing telescopes for everyone to enjoy. Our annual Bake Sale will raise funds for Science Olympiad competition fees, and the In-N-Out truck will be on campus for families who pre-purchased dinners. Please note that In-N-Out meals were available by presale only. We look forward to a fun evening under the stars with our McPherson families!

Double, triple, or multiply your school spirit! Dress as twins or a team and choose your theme! Team up with your friends, pick a fun theme, and dress alike! Whether you're twins, triplets, or a whole group, show your school spirit by matching your crew on Friday, November 13th

For much of the rest of the world and especially in Europe, it is Armistice Day, the day that marks the end of World War I. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the armistice was signed, over 20 million people had lost their lives. Eisenhower signed a bill rededicating November 11 as Veterans Day, encouraging Americans to commit themselves to the cause of peace and to honor America's Veterans for their courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. McPherson would like to thank all Veterans that have served our country, past and present. In acknowledgement of Veterans Day,

McPherson Veteran's Day Padlet

We created a Padlet to honor and recognize all of the veterans in our McPherson family. Please add to our Padlet and post a picture of the veterans in your family or a post of appreciation. The Padlet will be shared with classes on Thursday, November 12 in recognition of Veteran's Day.

Veteran's Day Padlet: https://padlet.com/bgodsey/mcpherson-veteran-s-day-padlet-lbg568nnhil5egov

Congratulations to 7th grader Matthew Razo, who took first place in the annual McPherson Football League's Madden Tournament after an exciting championship match against fellow student Devin Torres! Matthew won a Rams football that was on the 50-yard line during the recent Rams/Bills Monday Night Football game. Congratulations to both students on a great tournament, and a special thank you to Mr. Turner for organizing and hosting this fun lunchtime competition for our middle school students!

Come support McPherson while enjoying Chick-fil-A! Simply show the flyer attached to a team member and a portion of your purchase will go towards McPherson. Mobile users please use the code "METEORS" to participate.

Chick-fil-A

Wednesday, November 18

6:30am to 10:00pm

2575 N. Tustin, Orange

OUSD is inviting parents of GATE-identified students to participate in a focus group to help shape the future of our GATE program. Virtual meetings will be held on December 3 at 12:00 PM or December 8 at 5:00 PM. Interested parents can complete this form to participate.

Attention 8th Grade Parents!

We know how wonderful your children are, so why not let everyone else know, too?

Celebrate your 8th grader's accomplishments and upcoming journey to high school by placing a special recognition ad in our 2027 Yearbook!

This has become a wonderful tradition at McPherson Magnet School and is a special way to congratulate your child, share cherished memories, and create a keepsake they will treasure for years to come.

Don't miss the Early Bird Discount!

The deadline to submit your photos and personal message at the special discounted price is Thursday, November 12, 2026.

Take advantage of this opportunity to celebrate your 8th grader while getting the best pricing!

For more information or to create and submit your recognition ad, please visit:

https://tinyurl.com/McPher-Yearbook-Ads

Let's make the Class of 2027's final year at McPherson one to remember!

Please stop by the front office quad area to check the lost and found racks for any missing clothing items. We have a VERY LARGE NUMBER - IN FACT, THERE ARE MANY PIECES OF CLOTHING AND A LARGE QUANTITY OF LUNCH PAILS AND WATER BOTTLES THAT BELONG TO McPHERSON STUDENTS!!!

All unclaimed items will be donated on November 20, 2026. Thank you for helping us reunite these lost items with their McPherson Students!

Thank you to those who have already shared their insights on our Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Survey! If you haven't had a chance yet, we encourage you to take a few minutes to participate.

Your voice is essential in shaping the future of our schools. Through the LCAP Survey, you can influence important areas like student achievement, school climate, professional development, and resource allocation. Your feedback will directly guide our planning and priorities for the coming school year.

Please make your voice heard and help us continue to grow and improve. We look forward to your input and appreciate your dedication to making a difference!

Survey Window: 10/27/25 - 1/16/26

This survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. All information you provide is anonymous and individual responses will be kept confidential. It will only be viewed by authorized staff for use in the evaluation of the District’s progress in achieving our LCAP goals. We hope you will answer every question honestly, but you may skip any question you do not wish to answer.

Please Click Here to Take Survey:

https://tinyurl.com/LCAP2627Family

Mark your calendars to drop off your gifts, under our tree starting November 30.

“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, November 30 through December 10. 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!!!

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

Attention 6th Grade Parents!

All 6th grade students are required to receive the Tdap vaccination before entering 7th grade for the 2027–2028 school year.

Students must have proof of their Tdap vaccination on file with the school before they can register for or attend 7th grade.

Please don't wait until the last minute! Make sure your student receives the required vaccination and submit a copy of their updated immunization record to the school office before the start of the 2027–2028 school year.

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!

11/10 - Education Foundation Astronomy Night

11/11 - No School, Veteran's Day

11/13 - End of 1st Trimester; Minimum Day for all grades

11/13 - Spirit Day - Multiplicity Day

11/18 - Principal's Coffee and PTSA Mtg

11/30 - Joy For the Holiday Gift Giving Begins