Recent News

Dear McSwain Community,
I hope you are doing well. As warmer weather is expected over the next several days, we want to provide families with a reminder about the measures we use to keep students safe and comfortable while at school.
Physical Education Adjustments
On warmer days, Physical Education activities may be modified to include less strenuous exercises. When necessary, instruction may move indoors to air conditioned spaces such as classrooms, the cafeteria, or the gym.
Cooler Recess Options
Students will have access to air conditioned spaces during recess when needed to limit prolonged heat exposure.
Activity Scheduling
Strenuous outdoor activities, such as running, may be scheduled earlier in the day when temperatures are cooler.
Transportation
We use air conditioned buses for our morning and afternoon routes to help keep students comfortable during transportation.
We also encourage families to send students to school with a refillable water bottle each day. Hydration stations are available throughout both campuses, allowing students to refill their bottles and remain hydrated.
Thank you for partnering with us to ensure our students remain healthy, safe, and ready to learn during warmer days.
Stay cool and hydrated!
Best regards,
Mr. Pannu
Superintendent
McSwain Union Elementary School District

Hello Mustang Families!

There is no Mustang Express this week because there is simply too much information I want to make sure you know about! Please take a few minutes to check out this week's updates and opportunities below.

Join Our McSwain Committees!
We are looking for parents, guardians, and community members who are interested in participating on one of our McSwain committees. Our committees include administrators, parents, community members, and staff, and your participation and input are valuable to our school community.

School Site Council (SSC)

The SSC plays a vital role in developing and reviewing school policies and ensuring our students have access to the best educational resources. The council collaborates with administration, teachers, parents, and students to help create a well-rounded and effective learning environment.

Members of the SSC will also serve on the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC), helping to support and advocate for our English Learner students and their families. Meetings will be held primarily after school and outside of school hours.

Wellness Committee

The Wellness Committee is dedicated to promoting the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our students and staff. The committee helps plan and implement wellness initiatives to ensure McSwain remains a healthy and supportive place for everyone.

Meetings will be held after school.

Safety Committee

The Safety Committee focuses on maintaining a safe and secure environment for all members of the McSwain community. The committee reviews safety protocols, conducts drills, and works to prevent and address potential hazards on campus.

Meetings will be held after school.

If you are interested in participating in one or more of these committees, please fill out the attached Committee Interest Form.

NWEA MAP Assessment Window: September 9–23
Our first NWEA MAP assessment window of the school year will take place September 9–23.

NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments help determine students' instructional levels and measure academic growth throughout the school year and from year to year.

Students in grades 1–8 take MAP assessments in Reading and Math during the fall, winter, and spring. Kindergarten students take MAP assessments during the winter and spring. Students in grades 4–8 also take the MAP assessment in Science.

MAP assessments are adaptive and are taken on a computer. This means the assessment adjusts based on a student's responses. When a student answers questions correctly, the questions become more difficult. When a student answers a question incorrectly, the questions become easier. This allows each student to take an assessment based on their learning level.

MAP results are reported using RIT scores rather than a traditional percentage correct. The RIT scale allows us to measure student growth in learning over time and helps teachers identify areas on which to focus attention for student learning.

MAP results are an important tool for monitoring student growth. We also use the results to help identify students for intervention and to measure overall student growth and mastery throughout the year.

McSwain Birthday Book Club


The McSwain Birthday Book Club is a fundraiser that helps support our school libraries!

During their birthday month, students will receive a packet with information about the Birthday Book Club. Families who choose to participate donate $25, and their student gets to select one of our brand-new library books. A sticker is placed inside the book recognizing that the student donated it for their birthday.

Participating students also get to choose a birthday pencil and bookmark, have their picture taken for our Birthday Book Club bulletin board, and are invited to a special library birthday party at the end of the year.

The Birthday Book Club helps us add new books to our McSwain libraries for all of our students to enjoy.

Please see the attached Birthday Book Club flyer for additional information, including how to register online.

Thank you, Mustang Families, for your continued support and involvement in our school community!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hello McSwain Community,
I hope you are doing well. Last week, we shared information with our school community regarding the process for becoming a Tier 1 or Tier 2 volunteer.

As part of our volunteer opportunities at McSwain, we are seeking a few dedicated volunteers to assist with morning crosswalk supervision from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Volunteers will help ensure that our students arrive on campus safely.

If you are interested, please complete the volunteer interest form below. Once submitted, a member of our team will contact you to confirm available dates and complete the required onboarding process.

All volunteers will need to attend a short training session before starting.

If you are interested, please fill out the volunteer form, and we will be in contact with those who would like to participate.

Thank you for helping us create a safe and supportive environment for our students.


Road Construction

Road Construction will soon begin on Buhach Road between State Route 140 and SP Avenue.

The work is expected to continue through September 28, with one-way traffic control in the construction area.

Vehicles will still be permitted through the area; however, delays should be expected. Please allow additional travel time when arriving at and departing from school.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Best regards,
Mr. Pannu
Superintendent
McSwain Union Elementary School District

Greetings McSwain Mustangs,


Now that we are back in the full swing of school, we want to share some important reminders and updates regarding student transportation. Please review the attached Transportation Best Practices & Expectations document for complete details. It is attached to this email.


Our Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation (MOT) Department has been working hard to ensure a safe and smooth start to the school year.


Transportation Safety Policies & Expectations

Please review these guidelines with your student:

Arrive on time: Be at the bus stop at least 10 minutes early.


Wait safely: Stand back from the curb or roadway and avoid pushing or crowding.


Follow directions: Listen to and follow the driver’s instructions.


Stay seated: Keep aisles clear and remain seated while the bus is in motion. Seat changes are only allowed if directed by the driver.


Use quiet voices: Loud noises can distract the driver.


No throwing objects: This includes inside the bus and out the windows.


Keep it clean: No litter, food, or drinks on the bus.


Show respect: Be courteous to the driver and other students; use appropriate language.


Bus Rules & Consequences

Students who violate bus rules may receive a bus referral, which can result in a warning or suspension of transportation privileges.


The driver will notify parents for the first offense and contact them by phone for subsequent offenses.


Suspension from the bus includes all school activities requiring bus transportation during that period.


TK–2 students must have an adult in clear sight at drop-off. Without an adult present, the student will be returned to school.


Three or more “no receiver” instances may result in suspension of bus privileges.


Students causing damage to bus property will be responsible for repair costs.


Repeated refusal to follow rules may result in the loss of transportation services.


Additional Transportation Information

Bus Capacity: All buses are currently full. New requests will be placed on a waitlist. Please contact the office for new requests.


Morning Drop-Off: Campus gates open at 7:30 a.m.


Attendance for Riders: If a student does not ride for three consecutive days without notice, their seat may be reassigned to a waitlisted student.


Sports Transportation: McSwain will not provide transportation to athletic events this year. Families are responsible for arranging rides to and from games as has been done in the past.


For a helpful review, check out the Mr. Lance Talks video attached, which goes over school bus expectations in a fun, engaging way.


Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe and our buses running smoothly.


Best,

Mr. Pannu

Hello McSwain Community,

I am excited to share some wonderful news about our district! According to the Merced Sun-Star’s comparison of schools throughout Merced County, McSwain has been recognized among the top schools at both the elementary and middle school levels.

I want to personally thank our incredible staff, students, and families whose hard work, dedication, and support made this recognition possible. This is an achievement our entire McSwain community can be proud of.

While we celebrate this accomplishment, we know there is still much work ahead. We look forward to building upon our strong foundation and continuing to provide the best possible educational experience for every student.

A key part of our programming at McSwain is the connection we build with families through the use of volunteers on campus.

As a school community, we truly value the presence of our families and parents in supporting both inside and outside of the classroom.

Over the past several years, we have successfully implemented the Raptor check-in system to monitor all individuals entering and leaving campus. This system ensures that every visitor is accounted for, and we will continue to use it to maintain a safe and secure environment for students and staff.

Volunteering on Campus

As a community school, we welcome families who wish to volunteer in their child’s classroom.

Please contact your child’s teacher in advance to confirm the date and time of your visit.


The teacher must verify your visit with the office before you arrive.


All volunteers must check in at the office with a valid ID.


Anyone who has not been cleared in advance will not be allowed to remain on campus.


Please reach out to your child’s teacher several days ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.


Please also be on the lookout for additional volunteer opportunities. For example, I will soon be asking for a few volunteers to help with morning crosswalk duty and traffic flow. More information on this will be shared next week.


Tier 2 Volunteers

To further increase student and staff safety, we continue to use Tier 2 Volunteers. These volunteers have an additional layer of clearance that allows them to be unsupervised with children. Tier 2 Volunteers follow the same security requirements as our coaches and staff members.

We have created a step by step guide for parents interested in becoming Tier 2 Volunteers.

Please review the information sheet and follow the outlined steps if you would like to participate.

We are grateful for the continued support of our families and community. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.


Best,

Mr. Pannu

Superintendent

Dear McSwain Families,

As we prepare for the start of the school year, we would like to share an important reminder regarding our athletics program. McSwain offers a variety of sports, and we encourage all interested students to try out and get involved.

To support the safety and well being of our student athletes, students must have a completed sports physical on file before participating in any tryouts. This requirement helps ensure that each student is medically cleared to participate in athletics without restrictions.

Families may have the physical completed by their child’s healthcare provider. The completed documentation should be submitted to the East Campus school office at the start of the school year or before the beginning of the applicable sports season.

Thank you for supporting McSwain Athletics and helping us keep our students safe and ready to compete!

Go Mustangs!

Mr. Pannu
Superintendent
McSwain Union Elementary School District

Meet Your Teacher Event Information

Hello, Mustang families!

Our Meet Your Teacher event will be held on Monday, August 10. The evening is designed to give students and families a casual and comfortable opportunity to visit the school, meet their teachers, and become familiar with their classrooms before the first day of school.

TK and Kindergarten Orientation

4:00 to 4:30 p.m. | Orientation and Important Information

TK and kindergarten families will report directly to their child’s assigned classroom for orientation and important information with their teacher to begin at 4:00 p.m.

4:30 to 5:30 p.m. | Drop-In Visits

After orientation, TK and kindergarten classrooms will remain open for families who would like additional time to visit with their teacher and become familiar with the classroom.

Meet Your Teacher Event
4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

This is a casual, drop-in event. Families may arrive at any time between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. and leave whenever they are ready. The event will end promptly at 6:00 p.m., so please plan accordingly.

Classrooms for grades 1–8 will be open from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Students in grades 1–6 may visit their assigned classroom and meet their teacher.

7th and 8th grade students may use their class schedule to visit each of their teachers in any order.

McSwain Community Organizations

Please stop by and visit our community organizations while you are on campus!

The McSwain Parent Teacher Club will be in the East Campus cafeteria.

The McSwain Education Foundation will have a table on the West Campus.

Student Schedules

Digital Data Confirmation will be sent next week and must be completed in Aeries before families can access student schedules. Please note that schedules will not be available immediately after completing Digital Data Confirmation. Student schedules will be released as we get closer to the Meet Your Teacher event on August 10. Additional instructions and the schedule release date will be shared soon.

Parking

Please use designated parking spaces, follow all posted signs and traffic laws, and use extra caution when entering and leaving the campus. Parking spaces nearest the gym will be reserved for McSwain staff.

Unable to Attend?

Our hope is that every family will attend, but if your family is unable to join us, staff will be available to help students find their classrooms and teachers on the first day of school.

Hello McSwain Community,

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer! We are excited to welcome our students and families back for the 2026–2027 school year. Our staff members are preparing to open our schools and are eagerly looking forward to another great year. As I shared earlier this summer, several much-needed construction projects are underway, including the replacement of more than 50 air-conditioning units. These improvements will help ensure that our Mustangs remain cool and that our facilities are ready to support their growth and learning.

We are also completing much needed renovations to student restrooms and installing solar panels. These projects will modernize our facilities, generate long term cost savings, and make our campuses even better places for our students, staff, and families.

On behalf of the McSwain School Board and District Office, we look forward to seeing everyone soon. Please watch for additional back to school information and important updates from our school administrators and staff.

We will see you soon, Mustangs!

Best,
Mr. Pannu
Superintendent

Hello McSwain Community,
I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful summer!

I am excited to share some great news with our McSwain community. Please join me in officially welcoming Mrs. Samantha White to the McSwain family! Mrs. White will be joining our administrative team as our new Vice Principal.

Mrs. White comes to us from the Atwater school district and brings a passion for supporting students, staff, and families. She is excited to begin her journey at McSwain and is looking forward to meeting our students, families, and community as we kick off the 2026–2027 school year this fall.

Please join us in giving Mrs. White a warm Mustang welcome. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our school community.

Have a fantastic remainder of your summer, and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Best,

Mr. Pannu
Superintendent
McSwain Union Elementary School District