McPherson News for 9/27/26
Principal's Message
Hello McPherson Families,
October is almost here, and we’re looking forward to another fun and busy week at McPherson!
This week, we’re excited to welcome families to our Fall Book Fair and Lunch on the Lawn. These are always great opportunities to spend time together and build our McPherson community. Please be sure to review the details below, including important information about event times and parking. We also have our first PTSA and Principal's Coffee meeting on Wednesday. I hope you can join us in person or online.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Whether you’re volunteering, joining us for school events, or supporting your student at home, we appreciate all you do to make McPherson such a special place!
Have a great week Meteors,
Dr. Godsey, Principal
Congratulations, Ms. Manion!
A huge congratulations to Ms. Manion for completing the Berlin Marathon this weekend! This marks her 4th World Marathon Major — an incredible accomplishment! We are so proud of her dedication, perseverance, and hard work. Way to go, Ms. Manion!
Lunch On The Lawn
LUNCH ON THE LAWN - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
PLEASE READ BELOW FOR IMPORTANT DETAILS FOR LUNCH ON THE LAWN
Friday, October 2
Schedule
Kindergarten: 11:35 to 12:20
1st through 2nd Grade: 11:20 to 12:05
3rd through 5th Grade: 11:49 to 12:26
6th through 8th Grade: 12:34-1:09
- Parents or family members may bring lunch, picnic baskets, lawn chairs or blankets to the McPherson Lunch on the Lawn (easy ups and umbrellas are also allowed, and the entire grassy lawn area is available to use). School lunch is still available for all students.
- We will open the Palmyra gate located on the north east side of campus (on Palmyra) at 11:15am. Please be mindful of parking signs as the north side of Palmyra is parking by permit only. (Unfortunately, The Revive Church Parking Lot is NOT available for parking during the day)
- Students 1st through 5th will line up on the playground by teacher name during the first 5 minutes of the schedule ABOVE (please be sure to note that lunch schedules vary by grade level). After students are in line for 5 minutes they will be released to eat lunch and play. No one will be eating in the quad area near the cafeteria as everyone will enjoy lunch.
- ·Students that get school lunch will be picking it up before they line up. Please make sure your student knows if you are coming with lunch, they should not get a school lunch on Friday.
- Administration will make announcements for students to line up at the end of each lunch period. Please be sure to encourage students to line up at this time. We want to make sure that everyone has exited and the gate is locked by 1:20.
- Should you want to take your student home after Lunch on the Lawn, please have them bring their backpack from the classroom when they come out for lunch. If they have their things, you will be able to check them out at the Palmyra gate.
📚🍂 The Fall Book Fair Is Right Around the Corner! 🍂📚
Our Fall Book Fair is coming September 28–October 2, and we can’t wait to see our students get excited about reading!
📖 Why is reading so important?
Reading helps children build vocabulary, strengthen comprehension, improve writing skills, spark their imagination, and develop a lifelong love of learning. When children can choose books they are excited about, they are more likely to become enthusiastic and confident readers!
📅 Book Fair: September 28–October 2
📬 Flyers will be coming home this Wednesday in students’ Wednesday folders, so be on the lookout!
STUDENTS CAN SHOP CASH FREE WITH eWALLET - CLICK THIS LINK TO SET UP YOUR STUDENT'S eWALLET FOR THE MCPHERSON BOOKFAIR:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/mcphersonmagnetsch1
🙋♀️ We Need Your Help!
A successful book fair takes a village, and we need volunteers to help make this event a success! Please consider signing up for a volunteer shift. It’s also a great way to complete your volunteer hours for the school year!
❤️ Best of all, all proceeds go directly back to our school library, helping us provide even more books and resources for our students.
Thank you for supporting our students, our library, and a love of reading! 📚✨
McPherson PTSA
📈 GATE Screening Information — New Fall Testing Window
OUSD’s GATE screening window has moved to the fall for the 2026–2027 school year. Please review the information below for your child’s grade level.
3rd Grade — Universal Screening
📅 October 19–23, 2026
All OUSD 3rd grade students will participate in GATE screening in their regular classrooms. No referral is needed. Parents who do not want their child to participate may complete the 3rd Grade GATE Screening Opt-Out Form. Please return this form to your child's teacher if you do NOT want your child to participate.
2nd, 4th & 5th Grades — Screening by Referral
📅 October 26–November 6, 2026
Students in 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades are eligible for GATE screening by referral. Parents, teachers, and staff may refer a student for screening using the GATE Screening Referral Form. Referral forms are due by OCTOBER 9.
2026–2027 GATE Identification Timeline
October–November: Screening
December–January: Data Review
End of January: Parent Notification of Results
Planning Ahead for Overnight Field Trips: Information for 3rd-8th Grade Families
One of the special opportunities our McPherson students have in middle school is participating in overnight field trips that bring learning to life outside the classroom! Families can begin fundraising for these trips as early as 3rd grade, and we keep track of the money each student earns in their individual fundraising account.
Our Charleston Wrap fundraiser kicked off on Wednesday and is one way students can start earning money toward their future overnight trips. This fundraiser is for individual student accounts and is separate from our upcoming PTSA schoolwide fundraiser.
Be sure to watch the linked video for more information about our overnight field trips and how fundraising works at McPherson!
🎁 Charleston Wrap Fundraiser 🎁
3rd–8th grade students - this fundraiser is for you to help fundraise for overnight field trips! 🚌✨
🛍️ Shop online for high-quality gift wrap, kitchen gadgets, home decor & more!
💰 Up to 40% of purchases goes directly into your student’s individual fundraising account!
📅 Fundraiser Dates: September 23 - October 10
🧒 Who: 3rd–8th grade families
🌙 Why: Support overnight educational adventures!
📦 Everything ships right to your door — perfect for early holiday shopping!
Thank you for your support! ❤️
Principal's Coffee & PTSA Meeting
Come join us for our first PTSA Meeting and Principal’s Coffee of the school year!
Wednesday, September 30
8:30 AM
Room 700 – next to the back gate
Come learn about all the fun activities and events McPherson’s PTSA has planned for this school year! Dr. Godsey will also be sharing information about upcoming school events and important happenings at McPherson.
Please note our new meeting location: We will now be meeting in Room 700, located next to the back gate. We will also provide a virtual link if you can't make it in person.
https://meet.google.com/gqh-gxwz-noj
We hope you can join us!
🎓❤️ Support Our 8th Graders! ❤️🎓
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! ❤️
PTA Reflections Contest
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!
McPHERSON PARENT VOLUNTEER PROCEDURES
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:
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
HELP MCPHERSON EARN CASH WITH BOX TOPS!
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!
UPCOMING DATES
9/28 - Book Fair Begins
9/30 - Principal's Coffee/PTSA Meeting
10/2 - Lunch on the Lawn
10/5-10/9 - Minimum Day (Elementary Only) for Elementary Parent Conferences