August 15, 2025

Note from the School Nurse

Welcome to the new school year! Though the calendar says it's back-to-school time, the weather feels a lot like summer. We see many students in the health office with headaches, stomachaches, dizziness, fatigue, and nosebleeds due to minor dehydration. Good water intake helps keep students healthy, happy, and in class learning.

Please send your child to school with a reusable water bottle to use throughout the day. There are several filling stations around campus where students are encouraged to refill their bottles after recess or during passing periods. If your child has lost a water bottle, encourage him or her to check the lost and found. Thank you for helping your child stay hydrated!

Reminder – Parking Lot Procedures

New placards were distributed during the Back-to-School Kickoff on Thursday, August 7. If you did not pick up your placards, they will be sent home with your child. If your family needs more placards or a change to a placard, please email Mrs. Finch. Thank you for your efforts to help make student pick-up a timely and peaceful experience.

The Traffic and Parking Reminders email sent on August 4 provides more information if you have additional questions.

Join us for Parent Nights! – August 26 & 28

Meet your child's teachers, walk his or her daily schedule, and learn how to best support your child in each of his or her courses. More details are provided in the Parent Nights email.

MacLaren asks at least one parent/guardian per family attend the upcoming Parent Nights.

Lower School Parent Night: Tuesday, August 26, 6:30-8:00 p.m.



Upper School Parent Night: Thursday, August 28, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Purchase Your Yearbook Early

Place your order for 2025-2026 Yearbooks now on MySchoolBucks!

Yearbooks will be distributed in May.

Questions? Email Mrs. Hyde.

Upper School Yearbook: $55

Lower School Yearbook: $40

GrandPartner Gazette!

GrandPartner [grand-part-ner] ~ noun

The grandparents and similarly special friends in a student's life. (See also: wise, loving, supportive.)

Did you know that GrandPartners receive a special quarterly newsletter with opportunities to connect with MacLaren? Register the GrandPartners in your child's life today! Please email Mrs. Oram with any questions. GrandPartners previously registered do not need to sign up again.

Lower School Club Applications Invited

After-school clubs provide an opportunity to build friendship and pursue extracurricular activities together. Lower School students interested in forming an after-school club are welcome to do so with parent support. If interested, please contact Mrs. Finch and submit a club application by Monday, September 30. Each club needs two adult leaders. Visit the Clubs page of the MacLaren website for more information.

Wear Athletic/Tennis Shoes Daily

Daily P.E. class is a special component of MacLaren's Lower School experience. Please send Lower School students to school wearing athletic/tennis shoes every day. Thank you for helping protect our gym floor! More examples of shoes that meet dress code are available in the Uniform Guide.

Landsharks – Begins Tuesday, September 9

Landsharks is an after-school running program for K-5 students. The club meets for two practices each week of the season and competes at three races.

First Practice: September 9

Practice Days: Tuesday and Wednesday through October 7

Time: 3:15-4:10 p.m.

Cost: $75 to register, $16 for a team shirt (may be used for both fall and spring season)

Races: Doherty High School on September 21, September 28, and October 5.

Registration closes September 11, and the price increases September 1. Runners must be registered prior to their first practice.

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.

Party on the Plaza – Tomorrow Night

MacLaren invites current high school students to enjoy food and games Saturday, August 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12, and available for purchase at MySchoolBucks. Student attire should follow Outdoor Field Day guidelines found on page 53 of the Upper School Parent-Student Handbook. This event is for MacLaren students only.

Parent volunteers are needed to ensure a fun and safe evening. Approved volunteers may sign up using the button below. If not already an approved volunteer, please complete the Volunteer Application, so that you'll be all set to volunteer at the next event! Contact Mr. Pingel with any questions.

Releasing High School Students for Early Pick Up

For occasions when you need an early release for a high school student, please submit an Attendance Monitor report through PowerSchool at least 24 hours in advance. Our attendance team will issue a pass for your child to be released early and walk to your car. With these steps, parents are not required to sign high school students out at the Main Entrance. (When picking up a K-8 student, please park and walk to the Main Entrance to sign out.)

Upper School Club Applications Invited

Are you ready to start a club this year? Please submit a club application by Friday, August 30. Each club needs two adult leaders. Visit the Clubs page of the MacLaren website for more information.

Please email Mrs. Finch or ask your child to visit her in the Upper School Textbook room with any questions.

Please Cover Textbooks by Monday, August 18

Please assist your child in covering all textbooks (hard cover, soft cover, and spiral bound) with sturdy, brown paper such as a paper grocery bag or mailing paper. Use only sturdy paper, no stretchy cloth. It is not necessary to cover novels. Tape around all edges with packing or duct tape, but do not adhere tape to the book itself. Find video instructions on YouTube. Your child’s full name should be on the front of the paper cover.

Student books range in cost from $20 to $240. Covering them reduces wear and tear, increases their life, and could save you money. Families are financially responsible for any damage done to a textbook checked out to their child. Please contact Mrs. Pokorny with any questions or for assistance.

Saturday, August 16

• HS Boys' Varsity Soccer Scrimmage @ Canon City Middle School, 9:00 a.m. - noon.

Monday, August 18

• MS Boys' Soccer Tryouts, Lower Field, 3:45 - 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 19

• MS Boys' Soccer Tryouts, Lower Field, 3:45 - 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 21

• MS Cross-country, Peyton Invite @ Peyton, 4:00 p.m.

Friday, August 22

• HS Cross-country Cheyenne Mountain Stampede @ Norris Penrose Event Center, Boys 2:00 p.m., Girls 2:40 p.m.
• HS Boys' Varsity Soccer Tournament vs. Loveland Classical @ Denver Christian High School, 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 23

• HS Boys' Varsity Soccer Tournament @ Denver Christian High School, TBD

Fall Parent/Athlete Meeting – August 19

All athletes new to MacLaren Athletics should attend Fall Parent/Athlete Meeting with a parent. Held Tuesday, August 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m, in the Commons, this meeting is required for sixth- and ninth- grade athletes, transfers, and anyone participating in athletics at Thomas MacLaren School for the first time. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet coaches and hear an overview of plans for their respective sport. Please direct any questions to Mrs. Steigerwald.

Annual Passes for MacLaren Home Events

Highlander fans may purchase an annual pass for admission to MacLaren-hosted home sporting events for the 2025-2026 school year. These passes may be purchased at the gate of any home sporting event or in the MySchoolBucks School Store.

Pass options include:

Family Pass - $175

Adult Pass - $75

Student Pass - $50

GrandPartner Pass - $25

Passes may be used for admission at any MacLaren-hosted middle school or high school sporting event, except high school playoff games. 

This year the admission fee for high school students is $5 instead of $6 and the only MS sports with admission fees are the ones held in the gym. Admission fees help offset the cost to hire officials.

Stay Up to Date on Highlander Athletics

Athletic practices for Fall sports officially began on Monday, August 11! Tryouts have led to team selections and competitions begin in earnest next week. The schedule for each team is listed on our Athletics Schedules page. Daily athletics practices and competitions can be found on our Athletics Calendar. Periodic changes are made to these resources as the season progresses.

Parents are also notified by email and text of day-of changes due to weather, coach, or venue cancellations. Contact Mrs. Steigerwald with any athletics-related 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.

Hoping to Volunteer? Application Available

MacLaren invites parents, guardians, and grandparents to invest in the success of the school as volunteers.

Volunteers who wish to serve in the classroom, or at school events, must become an approved volunteer. With many volunteer opportunities on the horizon, we invite you to complete the Volunteer Application. Email Mrs. Vines with any questions.