October 16, 2026

Know Truth, Create Beauty, Practice Goodness

DEADLINE TODAY – K-12 Student Picture Makeup, Retakes, and LS Class Photo Day

Today, Friday, October 16, is the final day to submit your picture day requests. To help us prepare for our upcoming picture day on Friday, October 23, please review the options below to order Lower School class photos, schedule a retake, or arrange a makeup photo for a student who missed the September picture day.

Lower School Class Photos: If your child is in Lower School and you would like to purchase their class photo, please use the class group order link by today, October 16.

Absentee Makeup Photos: Students who missed the September picture day will automatically have their pictures taken on October 23. To pre-order makeup photos, please use this order link by today, October 16.

Photo Retakes: If you need a replacement photo, please complete these steps:

• Retake with Packet: Please complete this retake form by today, October 16, so Mrs. Finch can schedule a slot, and return your original physical photo packet to the school. A replacement packet will be issued with the new photo.
• Retake for Yearbook Only: If you did not purchase a packet but would like a new photo for the yearbook and/or school records, please complete this retake form by today, October 16.

Please email Mrs. Finch if you have any questions.

MacLaren Society: The Five States of Colorado

Join us Friday, October 30, from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. for this fall's MacLaren Society event. We will celebrate Colorado's 150th and America's 250th anniversary with a screening of the Emmy Award-winning documentary The Five States of Colorado. Produced by Colorado Humanities and HaveyPro Cinema, the film explores how geography, history, and culture shaped the state's five distinct regions. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of our state and inspire conversations about Colorado’s past, present, and future. Read more in our email from October 8.

Thank you for Donating to the Fall Food Drive!

Thank you for your generosity during our Fall Food Drive. Organized by the Upper School Service Club, the drive was a major success, collecting 3,796 pounds of food and hygiene items for the Fresh Start Center. This contribution provides 3,163 meals, enough to feed roughly 70 families of four for a week. In total, the Lower School donated 2,531 items and the Upper School donated 873 items. Thank you for making a difference.

Join our Tin Can Phone Community

We unlocked our first $20 discount with over 25 orders within the MacLaren community and are on our way to the next goal: just one more order for another $5 off!

These Wi-Fi-enabled devices are a potential tool for parents looking to foster safe connection for their children without the distractions or risks of smartphones. You can read the full details in our email sent on August 13. Be sure to place your order before the November 30 deadline to secure your extra savings! Anyone in your family’s extended community is welcome to use the link if they would like to take advantage of the discount and be able to keep in touch with your children!

Already have a TinCan Phone? Click below to complete our quick Google Form and share your child's number with other MacLaren families who have TinCan phones. Safety is our priority: you retain full control and must still approve all numbers in your parent app.

Lower School Student Survey

We will be administering a student survey in the Lower School next week. This is a very short survey and includes questions about students’ experience of learning and community at MacLaren. The survey is anonymous. Parents are free to opt their children out of this survey. If you have any questions about the content of the survey, or would like to opt your child out, please email Mr. Alvarado by Tuesday, October 20. 

Badminton Club Added – Register Now

Badminton Club is a fast, fun way for students in grades 1-5 (and Kindergarteners, if spots remain) to build hand-eye coordination, footwork, and confidence. Each weekly session includes active movement warm-ups, skill practice like gripping and serving, and plenty of friendly game time. No prior experience is necessary, and all equipment is provided. Participants just need to wear sneakers and comfortable clothes, and bring a water bottle.

Sign up through MySchoolBucks is required. Clubs meet weekly through April 9. There are no meetings on October 14, from Thanksgiving through Martin Luther King Jr. Day, or on Information Nights (November 12, January 21, March 11). After dismissal, Lower School students will wait in the staffed Commons until clubs begin.

Clubs for the 2026–2027 school year include:

• Game Club: Grades K-12, Tuesdays, 3:40–4:40 p.m.
• New! Badminton Club: Grades 1-5, Wednesdays, 3:40–4:40 p.m.
• Chess Club: Grades 1-5, Thursdays, 3:40–4:40 p.m.

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 hosts weekly office hours on Fridays, 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Music and Muffins – Orchestra II Performances

Upper School orchestra performances during Morning Assembly continue next week. Families are invited to enjoy coffee and breakfast snacks with Mr. LaBadie and other parents and guardians on the morning of your child's performance.

• Orchestra II Alpha performs Tuesday, October 20
• Orchestra II Beta performs Thursday, October 22

Guests may begin the check-in process at the Main Entrance as early as 7:15 a.m. Music and Muffins takes place from 7:20 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. in the Upper Commons. Doors open at 7:40 a.m. for guests attending the performance only, and the orchestra performance begins promptly at 7:45 a.m. Bring your ID or use the Raptor Safe app (for Apple or Android) for the security check-in at the Main Entrance. Please allow 10-15 minutes for the check-in process.

Upper School Student Checklist Evaluations

Links to mid-semester checklist evaluations were emailed this week to all Upper School parents and guardians using our Secure Document Deliery system. The email link will take you to a secure site where you can view your child's evaluation. Your child's password is their birth date typed exactly in the mm/dd/yyyy format, where zeros and slashes are required (for example, 05/02/2012). If you did not receive the email or if you experience any difficulties accessing the document, please email the Data Systems Team.

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 hosts weekly office hours on Fridays, 12:00–1:00 p.m. 

Monday, October 19

• MS Boys' Basketball @ HOME vs. Manitou, C Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:00 p.m., Varsity 6:00 p.m.
• HS Boys' Soccer vs. Vanguard @ Vanguard, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 20

• HS Girls' Volleyball @ HOME vs. Monument, Varsity only 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 21

• MS Boys' Basketball vs. Vanguard @ Vanguard, no C Team, B Team 5:00 p.m., Varsity 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 22

• HS Girls' Volleyball @ HOME vs. Manitou, C Team 4:30 p.m., JV 5:30 p.m., Varsity 6:30 p.m.
• HS Boys' Soccer Tri-Peaks League (TPL) Crossover Game, location and time TBA

Friday, October 23

• HS Cross-country Regionals, Springfield Golf Course, 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, October 24

• HS Girls' Volleyball vs. Douglas City @ DOCO, C Team 9:30 a.m., JV 10:30 a.m., Varsity 11:30 a.m.

Come support our Highlanders at our HOME events! HS event admission is $6 for K-12 & senior citizens, $8 for adults. MS event admission is $2 for K-12, senior citizens are free, $3 for adults. Annual Passes are available. Athletics Schedules are on our website.

Registration for HS Basketball Now Open

Registration for the competitive season for all high school basketball teams is now open.

Open gyms for the high school girls’ and boys' teams are underway. Please see the athletic schedules posted on our website for details. While open gym sessions are free, participating athletes must submit a completed activity waiver form, which is separate from formal season registration. Middle school girls' registration will take place in November. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Baca.

Encourage Teachers and Staff: Stuff the Lounge!

The PSA Teacher Appreciation Committee invites you to help "Stuff the Lounge". Please send snacks and drinks to keep our faculty and staff energized throughout the school day. Suggestions include granola bars, chips, pretzels, fruit, veggies, hummus, trail mix, jerky, candy, chocolate, pastries, cheese and crackers, bread and butter, and refreshing drinks! Please bring your donation to the Main Entrance. If you are interested in joining the Staff Appreciation Committee, please email Mrs. Buesing. 

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