Principal's Message

Welcome Message

My name is Mr. MacNevin (A.K.A. Mr. Mac). I have worked in education for over 30 years. I have taught 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades. I served as a classroom teacher, Educational Technology Coordinator, and an administrator in the Capistrano Unified and Saddleback Unified School Districts after spending 3 years as an instructor at the Dana Point Ocean Institute. I feel very privileged to be leading the Portola Hills Elementary staff and community as we work together to meet the needs of our Explorers.

I came to SVUSD in 2001. My first position in SVUSD was serving as the assistant principal at Foothill Ranch where I later became principal. I love technology and look for any opportunity to share my love of teaching and learning. My wife is an educator. She is a 5th grade teacher at Lake Forest Elementary. Anmarie MacNevin and I have lived in Lake Forest area for over 25 years. We have 2 children. My son, Jake, is attending his final year at El Toro High School and my daughter, Taylor, is a junior at San Diego State University.

Portola Hills is an extraordinary school! Our dedicated and caring staff of professionals work diligently to provide students with the best educational environment possible. Please be sure to stop by our “Why Portola Hills” page to hear what makes our school such a top-notch place to learn and grow together.

Mr. Mac

Principal

PBIS

Here at PHE we are focusing on catching our students doing the right thing or caught being good. We accomplish this goal in the classroom through our behavior expectations and by handing out Compass Coupons. Students can also earn Compass Coupons by going out of their way to help another student at recess or by helping out with our ongoing campus beautification projects. Furthermore, at PHE we also firmly believe in restorative justice if a student makes a poor choice. The student is given an opportunity to address the issue and make it right.

2020-21 Welcome Message

Welcome to another school year. Here at PHE we have many exciting things happening. First, we have wrapped up construction on our 10 lower playground classrooms. Each room is outfitted with two floor to ceiling whiteboards, two new 75 in. TV monitors, brand new energy efficient lights, new audio/visual equipment, new carpet, new A/C, and brand new 21st century furniture! Next, two of the new classrooms have been set aside, one as a music room and as our PHE STEAM Lab. Right outside the STEAM Lab is our Outdoor Learning Center where all of our Explorers will be connecting the new NGSS Science standards to the outdoors.

Go Explorers!