August 29, 2025

No School on Labor Day – September 1

There will be no classes Monday, September 1, (Labor Day). We hope you enjoy a wonderful four-day weekend!

Switchbacks Discounted Tickets - Deadline September 1

This is the final weekend to secure your discounted tickets for The MacLaren Community Night at the Switchbacks on Saturday, September 27. Tickets are available on MySchoolBucks through this coming Monday. If you already purchased tickets for the original date, your tickets for September 27 will be emailed directly from the Switchbacks to the email address provided during your order.  

Contact Mrs. Oram if you have questions.

You're Invited! Coffee Cart – Friday, September 5

MacLaren's Parent Service Association (PSA) invites parents to join its monthly coffee gathering on the first Friday of each month during morning drop-off. Join other parents near the Mosaic this month for coffee and conversation. Please bring your own mug/cup. Check-in is not required for the Coffee Cart gathering.

Fall Field Day – Friday, September 5

Fall Field Day returns Friday, September 5, and is a half day for all students. As lunch will not be served, please send your children to school with water, a hearty snack, and sunscreen applied (or to be applied independently).

Morning student drop-off remains the same. As a half day, please pick up your children with your placard in view and according to this schedule:

Lower School only: 11:40 - 11:55 a.m.

Lower School and Upper School combined: 12:05 - 12:20 p.m.

Upper School only: 12:10 - 12:25 p.m.

Please view the links below for information on Outdoor Field Day student dress code.

Lower School Field Day Dress Code

Upper School Field Day Dress Code

MacLaren String Quartet Yin and Yang – September 5

You are invited to an evening with the MacLaren String Quartet as they return to The Warehouse downtown on Friday, September 5. We will be exploring the concept of yin and yang through music with repertoire from Joseph Haydn and Dmitri Shostakovich.

There will be a cash bar and menu service in the Gallery just for us. Space is limited. Find details at the link below, and reserve your tickets now!

Chipotle Fundraiser – September 11

The Chipotle at 895 N Academy Boulevard is hosting a MacLaren fundraiser Thursday, September 11, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. To make sure all orders that day count toward the fundraiser, please show the Chipotle fundraiser flyer either in digital or paper form at the cash register when you order. If you prefer to order online, please use code Q2VED2D on the app or the Chipotle website and remember to select the correct Chipotle location.

Some order types that won't count toward the fundraiser include: gift card purchases, purchases placed for pick up outside the fundraising date and time window, delivery orders, and orders made at other locations.

Anyone can participate and the school will receive 25% of all purchases placed this way. Help spread the word and download the app!

The Tiny Lives Fun Run – Friday, September 12

MacLaren's 16th-annual all-community Fun Run returns after school on September 12. All proceeds benefit The Tiny Lives Foundation, an organization that supports the health of vulnerable infants in Lesotho.

The cost is $15 per participant. All racers should complete the waiver and make payment at MySchoolBucks before 7:00 a.m. on September 12. Advance registration is appreciated to help limit lines at the event.

Lower School students will run their own course on campus and enjoy a celebration on the Lower Field following their run (or they can head over to cheer on their Upper School siblings or friends on the Rock Island Trail). Every Lower School student must be supervised by a designated adult. 

Upper School participants will race on the Rock Island Trail. Families and friends are welcome to participate in this race as well. Parking lot arrival windows will be eased for this event, allowing volunteers and race participants to arrive as needed.

Race Options:

2:45: Lower School Fun Run on campus

3:20: Upper School 5K Fun Run

3:25: Upper School 1-Mile Walk

Interested in volunteering? We need volunteers to be race monitors, timers, snack providers and more!

Smile! Lower School Picture Day - September 11

It's time for picture day! Student photos will be taken by Studio5Portraits. To order online (no paper form needed), please visit Studio5Portrait's website. The prepay access code for placing orders is K74QD3. Orders placed after September 17 will incur additional fees.

For more details, please read the Picture Day email.

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: Thomas MacLaren 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.

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 29. Each club needs two adult leaders. Visit the Clubs page of the MacLaren website for more information.

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.

Smile! Upper School Picture Day - September 12

It's time for picture day! Student photos will be taken by Studio5Portraits. To order online (no paper form needed), please visit Studio5Portrait's website. The prepay access code for placing orders is K74QD3. Orders placed after September 17 will incur additional fees.

For more details, please read the Picture Day email.

Uniform Guidance

Please take a moment to review the Upper School uniform slideshows for both boys and girls. These slideshows provide visual examples of items and hairstyles that are in dress code and those that are not in dress code. We hope this will be helpful as we settle into the new school year.

• Uniform for Boys
• Uniform for Girls

Tuesday, September 2

• MS Girls' Volleyball @ HOME vs. Ellicott, C Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:00 p.m., A Team 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 3

• MS Boys' Soccer @ Atlas Prep, 4:00 p.m

• MS Girls' Volleyball @ James Irwin, C Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:00 p.m., A Team 6:00 p.m.

• HS Boys' Soccer @ HOME vs. Palmer, 4:00 p.m.

• HS Girls' Volleyball @ HOME vs. Liberty Tree, JV 5:30 p.m., Varsity 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 4

• MS Cross-country vs. RMCA @ Monument Valley Park - North, 4:30 p.m.

• HS Girls' Volleyball @ Simla, JV 5:00 p.m., Varsity 6:00 p.m.

Friday, September 5

• HS Cross-country, Harrison Invite @ El Pomar Youth Sports Park, 3:00 p.m.

• HS Boys' Soccer @ HOME vs. Heritage Christian Academy, 4:00 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.

Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day – September 3

MacLaren is participating in the Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day starting on September 3 at 6:00 p.m.. The first $1 million donated statewide will be matched by the Daniels Fund! Donations must be given through Colorado Gives. Please read the Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day email for details about how to give and watch for ways to share this amazing opportunity to support our athletic program with your friends and family on social media.