October 10, 2025

Schedule for Next Week

• Monday, October 13 – Lower School In-service (No LS classes)
• Tuesday, October 14 – Upper School Early Release
• Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14-15 – Lower School Parent-Teacher Conferences (No LS classes both days. See Lower School Announcements below for more details.)
• Wednesday, October 15 – Upper School In-service (No US classes)
• Thursday and Friday, October 17-18 – Fall Break (School closed)

Community Stargazing Night – TOMORROW

The Community Stargazing Night is tomorrow, October 11, 6:00-9:00 p.m., on the school grounds. Join Thomas MacLaren School and our science partners from The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society, Cool Science, and the National Space Science and Technology Institute for a night of celestial learning and gazing at the stars.

This event is free, open for all ages, and registration is not required. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors! This event is designed for families to enjoy together. Parents, please accompany your Lower School children.

Bring lawn chairs and blankets to relax with your family on the Upper Field under the stars. Astronomers will also be on the Upper Field to share their equipment and expertise. Feel free to bring your own telescope if you have one. The Mobile Earth and Space Observatory and Cool Science booth will be on site for hands-on viewing and activities. Enjoy Big Papa’s Grill and Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck or bring a picnic! A flashlight is advised for departure.

Students are expected to follow Field Day dress code guidelines for this event. Below are links to the Parent-Student Handbooks if you need a reminder.

• 2025-26 Lower School Parent-Student Handbook (See page 47)
• 2025-26 Upper School Parent-Student Handbook (See pages 55-56)    

Interested in volunteering? Approved volunteers may click the button below to sign up! If you've not yet been approved, please complete the Volunteer Application.

Please contact Mrs. Oram with any questions.

K-12 Student Picture Makeup, Retake, and LS Class Photo Day – October 24

MacLaren students present on picture day have received school Student Identification Cards. The cards were distributed to the students this week. If your child was absent on picture day, there will be a makeup picture day on October 24. 

Lower School Class Photo: If your child is in Lower School and you would like to order his or her class photo, please use the Class Group Order Link.

Makeup photo: Students who missed the September picture day will have their pictures taken on October 24. To pre-order makeup photos use this Order Link.

Retake with packet: If you purchased a packet but would like to have your child's picture retaken, please return the photo packet you purchased to the school and complete this Retake Form so that Mrs. Finch can schedule your child's retake photo. You do not need to place a new order. You will receive a new packet like the one you ordered originally with the second photo.

Retake for yearbook only: If you did not purchase a packet, but would like your child's picture retaken for the yearbook and school records, please complete the Retake Form. No further action is necessary.

Please email Mrs. Finch if you have any questions.

Lower School Conferences – October 14-15

Parent-Teacher Conferences are next week. Fall conferences are held in person. The faculty prepare carefully for an in-person conversation, with plenty of hard-copy student work and assessments to share with families. We dedicate this time to these meetings so that we can sit down together and have a meaningful face-to-face conversation together. We look forward to meeting with you!

Lower School Community Folk Dance – October 24

Join us for the Lower School Community Folk Dance, Friday, October 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m., in the Commons. In this fun, family event, MacLaren music teachers will lead us in laughter, games, and folk dances. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. This is a free event, but registration is required as space is limited.

Head of Lower School Office Hours

Do you have ideas, questions, or anything you'd like to discuss with MacLaren's Head of Lower School? Mr. Alvarado will host weekly office hours, Fridays, 10:00-10:55 a.m.

Head of Upper School Office Hours

Do you have ideas, questions, or anything you'd like to discuss with MacLaren's Head of Upper School? Mr. LaBadie will host weekly office hours after Fall Break, Fridays, 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Friday, October 10

• HS Cross-Country, Black Forest League Championship @ Monument Valley Park, 2:00 p.m.
• HS Boys' Varsity Soccer @ HOME vs. Lotus School, 4:00 p.m.
• HS Girls' Volleyball @ HOME vs. Pikes Peak Christian, JV 4:30 p.m., Varsity 5:30 p.m.

Monday, October 13

• HS Girls' Volleyball @ Atlas Prep (middle school gym), C Team 4:30 p.m., JV 5:30 p.m., Varsity 6:30 p.m.

Senior Recognition Nights – Save the Date

Senior Girls' Volleyball athletes will be recognized before the start of the HS Girls' Volleyball Varsity match on October 23. Families of senior athletes should arrive by 6:00 p.m.

High School Boys' Basketball – Open Gym Begins TOMORROW

In anticipation of the upcoming season, weekly open gym sessions for high school boys will begin Saturday, October 11, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and will run through November 15. The season begins November 17. Please refer to the schedule posted on the website.

There is no cost for open gym, but an activity waiver is required. Please complete the activity waiver form and bring it to open gym if participating.

Open gyms for high school girls are being scheduled. The girls' season also begins on November 17.

Registration for high school basketball will open after Fall Break. Please contact Mrs. Steigerwald or Mr. Baca with any questions.

Come support our Highlanders at our HOME events! HS event admission is $5 for K-12 and senior citizens, $7 for adults. MS event admission is $2 for K-12, senior citizens are free, $3 for adults.

Click for the Athletics calendar or Athletic schedules. Add the Athletics calendar to your personal calendar through Apple iCal.

Volunteers Welcome – New Opportunities Posted!

MacLaren invites parents, guardians, and grandparents to invest in the success of the school as volunteers. See all of our classroom volunteer opportunities on the Volunteer on Campus page of MacLaren's website.

Volunteers who wish to serve in the classroom, or at school events, must complete the Volunteer Application to become an approved volunteer. Email Mrs. Vines with any questions.