September 19, 2025

Order Deadline Extended – September 23

Picture Day may be over, but you can still order photos from Studio5Portraits! The access code is D49QF6. Order online before September 23 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, 7:00-8:30 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.

Parent Event: Saturday Series – October 4

One of the unique features of a MacLaren education is the Humane Letters class that all high school students attend every day. Humane Letters is a two-hour Socratic seminar that invites discussion of original texts and sharing of ideas on topics including literature, history, political theory, and philosophy. It is a challenging and effective way to learn! 

We are excited to invite you to the table to discuss a variety of great works with some of our faculty members on Saturday, October 4, 8:30 - 10:45 a.m. All parents are invited to participate and experience this part of your child’s education at MacLaren. We are offering three different seminars. Attendees will be sent the reading and information about logistics after signing up. A detailed list of available seminars is available in the September 15 email. Please RSVP by September 29.

Vision and Hearing Screening – October 7-9

Our annual hearing and vision screening is coming up October 7-9, 2025. Every year we screen all students in Kindergarten through third, fifth, seventh, and ninth grades. We also screen all students on IEPs, 504s, and any who are new to our school. Annual screenings in the school allow for earlier detection of problems and are more efficient than each family having to make appointments at various local providers for a basic screen. If for some reason you do not wish to have your child screened, please complete this opt-out form and return it to Mrs. Fisk.

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!

Notes from the Nurse

As we head into fall and the weather begins to change, this is the season that can produce many illnesses, especially respiratory ones. Ragweed and mold pollens are high through mid-October and we all are still getting used to being around one another 30-40 hours a week again.

The best ways to keep you and your family healthy are:

• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Good handwashing habits.
• Adequate rest. Students need anywhere from 8-10 hours of sleep a night, with students under 10 years of age needing at least 10 hours or more.
• Good nutrition. A good balance of fruits, veggies, meats, and grains help our body perform at its best.
• Good hydration. Eight to ten cups of water a day also keep our bodies in good working order.
• Activity. Just 30 minutes of activity/movement a day can be beneficial (i.e. taking a family walk after dinner).
• Stay home when sick. Students recover more quickly when given an extra day or two to rest at home without having to fight to stay alert and engaged at school. It also helps prevent the spread of illness to others

.

As always, the Health Office is here for all student and staff needs and to help keep our community healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Uniform Reminder – Don't Forget a Belt!

Students in grades 1-5 should wear a brown, black, or navy belt with their uniform pants and shorts. Thank you for helping your child by reminding him or her to wear a belt. Kindergarten students do not need to wear belts.

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.

Student Tutoring Opportunity

Are you in need of extra academic support for your Upper School child? There are many tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders who are eager to tutor younger students in their MacLaren coursework. Contact Ms. Rader for more information or to be connected with those who are confident in various subject areas. This tutoring is not sponsored by the school, and as such, all tutoring appointments must be held off-site. Rate of pay, schedule availability, and location are determined by the student tutor.

Student Parking Permits

Do you have a student driver? Student drivers are required to have a 2025-2026 Student Parking Permit for the vehicle they drive to school. Please apply and pay for the permit on MySchoolBucks before October 15. The cost of the permit is $25. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Hyde. 

Friday, September 19

• MS Cross-Country, CCAL Banning Lewis Meet @ Vista 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.

Monday, September 22

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

• MS Boys' Soccer @ Vanguard, A Team 4:30 p.m., B Team 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 23

• HS Girls' Volleyball @ Palmer, C Team 4:00 p.m., JV 5:00 p.m., Varsity 6:00 p.m.

• HS Boys' Soccer @ Cañon City, Varsity 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 24

• MS Boys' Soccer @ James Irwin, A Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:15 p.m.

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

Thursday, September 25

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

Friday, September 26

• HS Cross-Country, Rampart Twilight @ Cottonwood Creek Park, 1:00 p.m.

• MS Boys' Soccer @ HOME vs. Banning Lewis Prep, A Team 3:30 p.m., B Team 4:45 p.m.

• MS Cross-Country, CCAL Championship @ Fox Run Regional Park, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 27

• HS Boys' Soccer @ HOME vs. Loveland, Varsity 10:00 a.m.

• HS Girls' Volleyball @ HOME vs. Cripple Creek-Victor, JV 10:00 a.m., Varsity 11:00 a.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.

Encourage Teachers and Staff

The PSA Staff Appreciation Committee invites you to help "Stuff the Lounge" with different themes throughout the year. We are starting the school year out by stocking the lounge with all kinds of goodies from our favorite bulk stores. Feel free to bring anything you think they will enjoy. Some suggestions include chips/pretzels, granola bars, hummus, fruit, salsa, veggie platters, nuts/trail mix, beef jerky, candies and chocolates, cheese and crackers, breads and pastries, and drinks to go with it! Please bring your donation to the Main Entrance at any time! If you are interested in joining the Staff Appreciation Committee, please email Erica Buesing.