September 12, 2025

Spirit Day – Monday, September 15

In honor of The Tiny Lives Fun Run, Monday, September 15, will be a Spirit Day! We were unable to have one today because it was also Picture 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 or picked up at Cole Brands.

Picture Orders Still Available

Picture Day may be over, but you can still order photos from Studio5Portraits! Order online before September 16 for Lower School and September 17 for Upper School to avoid additional fees. If your child missed his or her designated picture day, we have scheduled a make-up session on October 24.

Parent-to-Parent Happy Hour – September 26

All K-12 parents are invited to attend a Parent-to-Parent gathering on Friday, September 26, 6:30-8:00 p.m., in the Upper Commons. Beverages will be provided by the Parent Service Association (PSA).

No registration is necessary at this adult-only event. We hope to see you there! Please contact Mrs. Oram with any questions.

Lost and Found Reminders

Please remember to label your child's lunch box, water bottle, outerwear such as sweatshirts and fleece jackets, and even socks with his or her name. Our Lost and Found shelves fill up quickly and we are not able to return items that are not labeled. Unclaimed items are thrown away or donated every other week.

Please ask your child to check the Lost and Found at school if you think items are missing. Thank you!

Volunteers Needed for Screening

MacLaren will screen the vision and hearing of over 600 students October 7-9. Approved volunteers are greatly needed to accomplish these screenings. Please complete a Volunteer Application if you have not completed the approval process.

We are offering two shifts per day: morning and afternoon. Please consider signing up for as many shifts as possible and bring your own lunch if staying for the entire day. Please contact Mrs. Fisk with any questions. Thank you in advance for your help!

Lower School Clubs Now Available

Lower School students are invited to join one of the newly formed after-school clubs. Please pay close attention to the grades allowed in each club because there is a wide variety of options this year. Clubs begin next week.

Clubs for the 2025-2026 School Year include: 

• Arts and Crafts Club, grades K-8, Thursdays
• Games Club, grades K-12, Tuesdays  
• Chess Club, grades 1-5, Thursdays

Clubs meet weekly, 3:40-4:40 p.m. Lower School students will wait in the staffed Commons until clubs begin. Clubs will meet through April 10, 2025, with the exception of Thanksgiving Break through Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, October 14, and Information Nights (November 13, January 22, March 12).

There is still time to submit a club application! The deadline is September 29.

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.

Upper School Clubs Now Available

Upper School students are invited to join one of the newly formed after-school clubs. Please pay close attention to the grades allowed in each club because there is a wide variety of options this year. Clubs begin next week.

Clubs for the 2025-2026 School Year include: 

• Arts and Crafts Club, grades K-8, Thursdays
• Game Club, grades K-12, Tuesdays  
• MS Bible Study Club, grades 6-8, Tuesdays
• Service Club, grades 6-12, Thursdays 
• Hiking Club, grades 6-12, Thursdays (Saturday hikes)
• Creative Writing Club, grades 8-12, Thursdays
• HS Trivia Club, grades 9-12, Tuesdays
• HS Bible Study Club, grades 9-12, Tuesdays

Clubs meet weekly, 3:40-4:40 p.m. through April 10, 2025, with the exception of Thanksgiving Break through Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, October 14, and Information Nights (November 13, January 22, March 12).

We are looking for a volunteer to be a second adult leader for a culinary arts club. The club will meet on Thursdays and will be open to students in grades 6-9. Please e-mail Mrs. Finch if you are interested.

Upper School Student Survey

Each fall and spring we give Upper School students a short survey about learning, academics, stress, and school culture. this fall that survey will be conducted the week of September 15. This survey is anonymous. If you have any questions about the content of the survey, please email Mr. Pingel.

Saturday, September 13

• HS Cross-Country, Liberty Bell Invite @ Heritage High School, 7:45 a.m.

• JV Girls' Volleyball Tournament @ Evangelical Christian Academy, 9:00 a.m.

Monday, September 15

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

Tuesday, September 16

• MS Boys' Soccer @ HOME vs. New Summit, A Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:15 p.m.

• HS Girls' Volleyball @ Elbert, JV 4:30 p.m., Varsity 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 17

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

Thursday, September 18

• MS Boys' Soccer @ HOME vs. CSCA, A Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:15 p.m.

• HS Boys' Soccer @ Fountain Valley, 4:15 p.m., JV 7v7 6:00 p.m.

• HS Girls' Volleyball @ HOME vs. Peyton, C Team 4:30 p.m., JV 5:30 p.m., Varsity 6:30 p.m.

Friday, September 19

• MS Cross-Country, CCAL Banning Lewis Meet @ Vista Ridge Park, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 20

• HS Cross-Country, Cougar Classic @ Monument Valley Park, 9:00 a.m.

• MS Cross-Country, Cougar Classic @ Monument Valley Park, 12:20 p.m.

Middle School Boys' Basketball – Open Gym and Registration

In anticipation of the upcoming season, weekly open gym sessions for middle school boys will begin Saturday, September 13. Please refer to the schedule posted on the website.

Registration is now open through October 2 on MySchoolBucks. All athletes must have a current sports physical on file to participate. The season will run October 6 - December 5. A sports physical form must be turned in to Mr. Baca before the registration deadline.

Please contact Mrs. Steigerwald or Mr. Baca with any questions. If not ready to register for basketball but your child would like to participate in Open Gym, please complete and return the activity waiver form to Mr. Baca.

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.

Thank You for Giving! Let's keep pushing!

Thank you for your generous support of MacLaren Athletics! The MacLaren community has already rallied together to raise $18,460 (matching not included). Daniels Fund just added another $500,000 in incentive funds!

If you missed the campaign day, it's not too late! Any donations made by September 17 will help us reach our $45,000 goal.

AMAZING Turnout for Chipotle Fundraiser!

Chipotle experienced a MacLaren invasion last evening! Thank you for showing up and participating in the Chipotle Fundraiser. The line was out the door most of the evening. Your participation raised $1,681! These funds will be used for student life activities and materials, including new recess equipment.