August 7, 2026

Know Truth, Create Beauty, Practice Goodness

This is Your Friday Folder!

Each Friday, parents and guardians receive an email communication known as the Friday Folder.

The Friday Folder is the place to find important school announcements and notices of upcoming events. Please ensure at least one parent/guardian in your household takes time to read the Friday Folder each week. Thank you!

Congratulations to Drawing Winners!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Back-to-School Kickoff and participated in the MacMerch drawing! We enjoyed the opportunity to see everyone and welcome you all to campus! We look forward to another wonderful year!

And the winners are:

Gregg Family!

Myrick Family!

Weems Family!

Save the Date – Parent Nights

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

Lower School Parent Night: Tuesday, August 25, 6:30-8:00 p.m.



Upper School Parent Night: Thursday, August 27, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

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 will be sent via email soon.

Parking Lot Procedures

Here are some reminders regarding our daily after-school pick-up system. Please arrive according to your family's carpool window (shown below) and display your color-coded placard in your vehicle's dashboard. 

The colors have changed for this year. New placards were distributed during the Back-to-School Kickoff on Thursday, August 6. If you did not pick up your placards, they will be sent home with your child on August 11. Placards from last year may be returned to the school for recycling. 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. 

Traffic FAQ

What if I need to pick up my child for an appointment, or run an errand at the school after the security chain goes up at 2:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. on Fridays)?

Please share this information with the gate attendant when you arrive. To keep the dismissal lane clear, the attendant will ask you to park in the lot and walk to the Main Entrance to sign out your child. Please bring your driver's license for verification. Don't forget to submit an early release request through the attendance Parent Portal ahead of time.

What if I arrive early but plan to pick up my child at the normal dismissal time?

Please wait on Sawyer Road (west of the school) or circle the block until the pick-up window opens. If you have extenuating circumstances that require you to enter the parking lot early, please explain your situation to the gate attendant.

Do I need a different placard if I am only picking up one child in a multi-child family? 

Yes; if your carpool or family setup means you will occasionally pick up only one child, or children from just Lower or Upper School, you need a separate placard for that specific pick-up window. Please email Mrs. Finch to request one.

What placard do I need for a carpool that blends US and LS? 

Carpools with both US and LS children must use a combined US/LS placard. You can request this by emailing Mrs. Finch.

How do I get an Athletics placard? 

Coaches will distribute Athletics placards after tryouts and team selections are finalized. 

Do I need a special placard for early pickup for extracurricular activities?

If you are picking up a student while the gate is locked, the attendant will ask you to park in the lot and walk to the Main Entrance to sign out your child. Please bring your driver's license for verification. If your Upper School child regularly needs an early pick-up within the Lower School or Combined window, email Mrs. Finch to request the appropriate placard. Standing Passes for repeated early releases require approval from the Head of School. 

How do I get additional placards? 

If you need more placards, please email Mrs. Finch. These placards will be sent home with your child. 

Opt-in to Receive Text Messages

Our school utilizes the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages directly to your mobile phone with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts, and more. To ensure that you receive text messages from the school, please follow these instructions to opt in to text messaging.

Donate Paper Bags or Rolls of Brown Packing Paper!

Help protect our Upper School textbooks by donating your spare paper grocery bags or leftover rolls of kraft paper. Please send any extra supplies with your child on the first day of classes or drop off at the Main Entrance.

Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year

We are delighted to welcome Lower School students to the MacLaren campus! It was a joy to see the hallways filled with excited students at the Back-to-School Kickoff. Many thanks to you for your efforts to prepare your child for a wonderful school year.

Monday, August 10: New Student Orientation - Kindergarten and transfer students (8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.); no lunch served

Tuesday, August 11: First Day of Classes - All students (8:00 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.)

Landsharks – September 15 through October 13

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

Registration closes September 14 (or when capacity has been reached), and the price increases September 1. Runners must be registered prior to their first practice.

Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year

Thank you for your efforts in preparing your child for school and providing homework support at home. We look forward to a great year of pursuing beauty, truth, and goodness together.

Monday, August 10: New Student Orientation - Sixth-grade and transfer students (7:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.); no lunch served

Tuesday, August 11: First Day of Classes - All students (7:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)

Senior Sunrise

MacLaren seniors will gather at Garden of the Gods Tuesday, August 11, to watch the sunrise together.

Best wishes to the Class of 2027 as they begin their senior year at MacLaren!

Party on the Plaza – Saturday, August 15

MacLaren invites current high school students to enjoy food and games Saturday, August 15, 6:30-9:00 p.m. Tickets are $12, and available for purchase at MySchoolBucks. Student attire should follow Outdoor Field Day guidelines found on page 55 of the Upper School Parent-Student Handbook. This event is for MacLaren high school 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.

Please Cover Textbooks by Monday, August 17

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. Use packing or duct tape on the spine, corners, and edges of the paper cover. 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. It is not necessary to cover novels. Upper School students will be given some time to during school hours to cover their textbooks, but will likely need to complete the task at home.

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

Stay Up to Date on Highlander Athletics

Athletic tryouts and practices for Boys' Soccer, Girls' Volleyball, and Cross Country have been scheduled! 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 Mr. Greenlee with any athletics-related questions.

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. Approval carries over each year, subject to annual background checks. Email Mrs. Vines with any questions.

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