The student store is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays immediately after school to raise money for student activities. The Parent Faculty Organization, which runs the student store, sells food, snacks, and drinks for about $1 to $4.  The store is staffed by both parent and student volunteers.  The store is located in the back of room 4, across from the science labs.

Each year, the items sold change because of district policies and to reflect the sales themselves. For example, one popular item that was sold last year was Maruchan Instant Ramen. According to P.F.O. President Mrs. Renata Guzman, the Maruchans are no longer available under the Santa Ana Unified School District policy.  

Guzman said, “I wish they could bring the Maruchans back!”

The items for sale at the student store include food and snacks. For example, the student store sells a slice of pizza for $2, esquite for $3, and Arizona for $2. Items are on a first-come, first-served basis, though, and both pizza and popular flavors of iced tea tend to sell out first.

“The prices are too high,” said seventh-grader Holly C.  Holly visits the student store at almost every opportunity she gets before she attends the Engage 360 After School program.  Many of the students in the after school program visit the student store before their rotations and formal snack time.

“The Maruchans need to come back,” insisted seventh-grader Gisselle C., Holly’s sister.

The student store has been open for over 20 years and has gone through several different versions.  In the past, the store did sell school supplies in addition to the snacks now available.

The MacArthur P.F.O. runs the student store as a fundraiser for student activities. For example, the eighth-grade dance is a large event that is funded from the proceeds of the Student Store.  Another example would be, the 6th-grade field trip last year to the California Science Center, which the P.F.O. paid for.

Aside from the student store, the P.F.O. also runs the snack bar at the dances to raise funds.  That is why many of the same items are sold at both places.