October 3, 2025

Vision and Hearing Screening – October 7-9

Our annual hearing and vision screening is coming up October 7-9, 2025. Every year we screen all students in Kindergarten through third, fifth, seventh, and ninth grades. We also screen all students on IEPs, 504s, and any who are new to our school. Annual screenings in the school allow for earlier detection of problems and are more efficient than each family having to make appointments at various local providers for a basic screen. If for some reason you do not wish to have your child screened, please complete this opt-out form and return it to Mrs. Fisk.

Community Stargazing Night – October 11

The Community Stargazing Night is Saturday, 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.

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.

Did You Miss the Preorder Deadline for Photo Orders?

Picture Day may be over, but you can still order photos from Studio5Portraits via their Re-Order Photos webpage. We do not have the individual access codes for each student, so please click the “Forgot your Access Code?” link below the red button and complete the form. If you do not know your child’s student ID number, please email Mrs. Finch.

Fall Break Week Schedule – October 13-17



• Monday, October 13 – Lower School In-service (No LS classes)
• Tuesday, October 14 – Lower School Conferences (No LS classes), Upper School early "Friday" release
• Wednesday, October 15 – Lower School Conferences (No LS classes), Upper School In-service (No US classes)
• Thursday and Friday, October 16-17 – Fall Break (School closed)

Lower School Conferences – Deadline October 8

Have you signed up for your child's parent-teacher conference? Sign-up links per teacher may be found in this September 22 email. 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.

The sign-up forms will be open until October 8. Any remaining slots will be assigned after Wednesday.

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.

Senior Drama Performances – October 8 and 9

Join us as MacLaren seniors bring Our Town by Thornton Wilder to the stage! All performances will be held 6:30 p.m., in the Auditorium. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are not required. Come support the seniors and enjoy a bit of theater!

Music and Muffins – Upper School Orchestra Performances

Upper School orchestra performances during Morning Assembly begin next week. During first semester, parents and guardians are invited to enjoy coffee and breakfast snacks with Mr. LaBadie and other parents the morning of your child's performance. Orchestra IIa performs Thursday, October 9, and Orchestra IIb performs Friday, October 10.

Guests may begin the check-in process at the Main Entrance as early as 7:15 a.m. Music and Muffins will be from 7:15 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. in the Upper Commons. Doors will open at 7:40 a.m. for guests attending the performance only, and the orchestra performance begins at 7:45 a.m. Please allow 10-15 minutes for the check-in process.

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 3

• HS Cross-Country, Courser Invite @ Monument Valley Park, 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 4

• HS Girls' C Team Volleyball Tournament @ Harrison, 9:00 a.m.
• HS Boys' Soccer @ HOME vs. Salida, Varsity 10:00 a.m., JV 11:45 a.m.

Tuesday, October 7

• HS Boys' Varsity Soccer vs. CSCS @ Mountain Lion Stadium, 4:00 p.m.

Friday, October 10

• HS Cross-Country, Black Forest League Championship @ Monument Valley Park, Girls' 2:00 p.m., Boys' 2:30 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.

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.