October 30, 2026

Know Truth, Create Beauty, Practice Goodness

Proposed D11 Bond's Impact on MacLaren

District 11 is asking residents to approve bond measure 4A this November to fund crucial facility upgrades across all schools. As one of the district’s largest schools, MacLaren has been allocated $24 million of the proposed bond to potentially construct a new high school building with modern science classrooms and flexible spaces. These upgrades would significantly relieve current campus overcrowding and enhance learning environments for all K-12 students. Read our full email to view the project details, find the district's FAQ fact sheet, or contact our community bond liaisons with your questions.

MacLaren Society: The Five States of Colorado

Join us tonight, 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 anniversaries with a screening of the Emmy Award-winning documentary The Five States of Colorado. This event is free, open to the public for adults and eleventh- and twelfth-grade students only. Read more in our October 8 email.

Order Yearbooks Now – Early Bird Discount Expires Tomorrow, Saturday, October 31

Capture the memories of the 2026–2027 school year by ordering your yearbook today! Simply create an account and place your order through Treering, using the buttons below. Please disregard the Photo and Signature options on the website. If you order by tomorrow, Saturday, October 31, you will receive a 10% early-bird discount.

Ordering for both Lower and Upper School?

If you have children in both schools, Treering requires you to add your second child as a "different school" to link them:

1. Go to your Profile > Kids > Add Kid and enter your child's information.
2. Select "Different School" and enter the code below (note: the screen may take a brief moment to load).
3. Return to Yearbooks, select your student, and check out.

• Lower School Passcode: 1017731493373586
• Upper School Passcode: 101773149466723

All books ordered by April 18 will ship to the school for free and will be distributed to students in May. Orders placed after April 18 will incur shipping fees and are mailed directly to your home. If you have any questions, please email the Communications Office.

Bookmark Design Challenge – due November 2

All students are invited to design an original bookmark centered around the theme of reading, with winning designs from grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 to be printed and distributed community-wide. To qualify, hand-created artwork must completely fill the template space and connect directly to reading and/or the MacLaren curriculum. Students can consider illustrating a poignant scene or character from a favorite book, or create a piece that captures the feeling, act, or impact of reading itself. Please note that computer graphics, pop culture references, and cartoons will not be accepted. Be sure to include the student's name and grade on the submission form, and turn in the completed design by Monday, November 2 to the location listed on the template.

Traffic and Parking Impact: Soccer Playoffs – November 4

Our Varsity Boys' Soccer team has made the playoffs and will host a home game on Wednesday, November 4, at 3:00 p.m. Come out and cheer on our fourth-ranked Highlanders!

Please note that this event will cause extra traffic and a full school parking lot, so plan for extra time and utilize nearby street parking.

Read the full email here for details on admission, seating, and entry gates.

Go Highlanders!

Spirit Day – Wednesday, November 4

To celebrate both our cross-country team reaching the state championship and our boys' soccer team making the 2A playoffs, Wednesday, November 4 will be a Spirit Day!

All students may wear MacLaren spirit wear in lieu of their polo shirts. Spirit wear options are available on the MacLaren School Store at Cole Brands. Items may be shipped to your home or picked up at Cole Brands.

Middle and High School Information Night – November 5

Join us on Thursday, November 5, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to learn more about the transition into our middle school and high school. These sessions offer a look at the rich curriculum, vibrant community life, robust athletics, and supportive culture that await your student in the next chapter of their MacLaren education.

• For Fifth-Grade Families (in the Commons): Current fifth-grade students and their parents and guardians are invited to attend together. Students should wear their school uniform. Homework is waived for fifth-grade students on this evening, and students can enter a raffle for MacLaren spirit wear! See the Middle School Information Night Email for more details.

• For Eighth-Grade Parents and Guardians (in the Upper Commons): This session is designed for parents and guardians though interested eighth-grade students are welcome to attend. See the High School Information Night Email for more details.

You're Invited! Coffee Cart – Friday, November 6

MacLaren's Parent Service Association (PSA) invites parents and guardians to join its monthly coffee gathering at morning drop-off. Join others on the Plaza for coffee and conversation. Please bring your own mug/cup. You are also welcome to join the 8:00 a.m. Lower School Morning Assembly on Coffee Cart Fridays. Please allow time for check-in with your ID on the Plaza if you intend to stay for Assembly. Check-in is not required for the Coffee Cart gathering.

Community Singalong – November 6

Join us for the Lower School Community Singalong on Friday, November 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m., in the Commons. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m.

In this fun family event, MacLaren music teachers will lead us in traditional folk songs, from timeless American standards to melodies from around the world. More details can be found in our email from October 20.

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.

Pack the Meet! – Saturday, October 31

Support both our boys' and girls' cross-country teams at the CHSAA State Championship meet this Saturday, October 31, at the Norris Penrose Event Center. Qualifying for the state meet is a great achievement for our athletes! Admission is free and Upper School students earn clan points for attending. Parking in the Event Center lot is $20, free parking is available on surrounding streets, and a large crowd is expected. The boys' team competes at 12:20 p.m., followed by the girls' team at 1:40 p.m. Come out and support our runners!

Go Highlanders!

Music and Muffins – Orchestra IV Performance

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 IV performs on Thursday, November 5.

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.

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, November 2

• MS Boys' Basketball vs. Ellicott @ Ellicott, C Team 4:30 p.m., B Team 5:30 p.m., A Team 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 4

• HS Boys' Soccer CHSAA 2A Playoffs @ HOME, Second Round, 3:00 p.m.
• Annual passes cannot be honored during this CHSAA event. Adult admission is $10, seniors $7, free for MacLaren students.
• MS Boys' Basketball vs. Atlas Prep @ Atlas Prep, C Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:00 p.m., A Team 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 7

• HS Boys' Soccer CHSAA 2A Playoffs, Quarterfinals, TBD
• HS Girls' Volleyball, Regionals, TBD

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.

Register for HS Basketball – by November 13

Registration for the competitive high school basketball season is open through 12:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13. The official season begins on November 16 with tryouts on November 16 and 17.



Free open gyms for high school girls’ and boys' are underway, with athletic schedules posted on our website. All participants must submit a completed activity waiver before joining, which is separate from formal season registration. Middle school girls' registration opens in November, and open gym information is forthcoming. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Baca.

Fundraising – Set It and Forget It!

Do you shop at Safeway or King Soopers?

These stores donate a portion of your everyday purchases directly to MacLaren at no extra cost to you. It’s a wonderful way to support our community every time you shop! 

Head to the Lifestyle Fundraising page on our website for details.

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