Principal's Message

Picture of Brenna Godsey

Brenna Godsey
Principal

 

McPherson was built as a junior high school in 1960 in a residential area on Prospect St. between Chapman and La Veta Avenues. The school sits on 24.2 acres. Due to declining enrollment, the school was closed in the late 1980’s. McPherson reopened in September, 1997, as a science, mathematics, and technology K-8 magnet school on the traditional academic calendar. Currently, eight hundred and fifty students are enrolled in grades kindergarten through eighth.

The vision of McPherson Magnet School is to integrate all aspects of learning and education, by using a thematic teaching approach that focuses on science, mathematics, and technology. Our staff expects the students to utilize a variety of methods to demonstrate their learning, to take risks, and to use productive skills. We are committed to:

  • Educating the whole child to reach their greatest potential
  • Valuing a range of learning styles
  • Utilizing a variety of learning tools and strategies
  • Extending the learning environment beyond the walls of the classroom
  • Encouraging students to become confident, lifelong learners

Our vision is based on an appreciation and a celebration of the differences among us, as well as the cooperation that we employ as we work together to create a total learning environment for all. We value various ways that individuals learn. Our school is committed to providing a variety of experiences that allow the learners to discover their areas of greatest intellectual development.

The school’s focus and magnet area is in math, science, and technology. McPherson is a Project Lead the Way School. All of our K-5 students have the opportunity to visit our STEM Lab weekly and are taught by a STEM specialist with a CTE (Career Technical Education) credential. Middle school students at McPherson also take a STEM course as one of their 7 classes (this middle school course is also part of the Project Lead the Way curriculum and a STEM Lab space has been developed especially for each of these courses):

·       6th Grade Engineering course through Project Lead the Way curriculum includes Design & Modeling and Automation & Robotics.

·       7th Grade Computer Science course through Project Lead the Way curriculum includes: App Creators and Computer Science for Innovators and Makers.

·       8th Grade Biomedical Science course through Project Lead the Way curriculum includes: Medical Detectives, Green Architecture and Flight and Space:

If you have any questions or desire any further information, please call the office at (714) 997-6384.