September 26, 2025

Parent-to-Parent Happy Hour – TONIGHT

All K-12 parents are invited to attend a Parent-to-Parent gathering this evening, 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.

Count Day! Spirit Day Wednesday, October 1!

Wednesday, October 1, is Count Day. This is the day the state designates to count all public-school students. MacLaren's funding for the year is directly tied to this count. It is very important that all of our students are at school on October 1. Please only keep your children home if they are sick. Thank you for your help in securing the funds we use to pay employees and run the school.

To celebrate Count Day, Wednesday is a Spirit Day! All students may wear MacLaren spirit wear in lieu of their polo shirts.

You're Invited! Coffee Cart – Friday, October 3

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 for coffee and conversation. Please bring your own mug/cup.

Check-in is not required for the Coffee Cart gathering. Please check in at the Main Entrance if you plan to attend Lower School Morning Assembly.

Parent Event: Saturday Series – October 4

Last year, we started a Parent Saturday Series to introduce parents and guardians to elements of the MacLaren curriculum and invite them into the community of learners. This fall, we are continuing to build on the success of last year’s offerings with a continued focus on essentials of the curriculum and our approach to learning. We invite all parents to join us for one of these classes exploring foundations of the MacLaren curriculum.

A detailed list of available classes 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!

Community Stargazing Night – October 11

The Community Stargazing Night is Saturday, October 11, 6:00-9:00 p.m., on the school grounds. Join Thomas MacLaren School and our science partners from The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society, Cool Science, and the National Space Science and Technology Institute for a night of celestial learning and gazing at the stars.

This event is free, open for all ages, and registration is not required. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors! This event is designed for families to enjoy together. Parents, please accompany your Lower School children.

Bring lawn chairs and blankets to relax with your family on the Upper Field under the stars. Astronomers will also be on the Upper Field to share their equipment and expertise. Feel free to bring your own telescope if you have one. The Mobile Earth and Space Observatory and Cool Science booth will be on site for hands-on viewing and activities. Enjoy Big Papa’s Grill and Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck or bring a picnic! A flashlight is advised for departure.

Interested in volunteering? Approved volunteers may click the button below to sign up! If you've not yet been approved, please complete the Volunteer Application.

Please contact Mrs. Oram with any questions.

Thank You for Your Support

The MacLaren community rallied in support of The Tiny Lives Fun Run! A total of 256 runners and walkers joined together to raise $4,215 for The Tiny Lives Foundation. Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who helped make this annual MacLaren community event a success!

Lower School Conferences Coming Soon

Have you signed up for your child's parent-teacher conference? Signup links per teacher may be found in this September 22 email.

As a reminder, Lower School students will not have classes October 13-17.

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.

Sixth-Grade Public Performances – October 1 and 2

The sixth-grade boys will perform Sherlock Holmes plays on October 1 and 2 at 2:45 p.m. in the Auditorium. Parents are welcome to attend the performances. Please check in at the Main Entrance and allow 10-15 minutes for the check-in process.

6Ba: Wednesday, October 1– Sherlock Holmes: The Red Headed League

6Bb: Thursday, October 2 – Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles

Pack the Field and Senior Recognition! – October 2

Support the Boys' Soccer team at Pack the Field on Thursday, October 2, on MacLaren's Lower Field! Varsity plays at 4:00 p.m., JV plays at 5:45 p.m. Admission is free for all MacLaren students, and Upper School students earn clan points for attending.

We will also recognize our cross-country seniors before the varsity game and the seniors on the soccer team at half time of the varsity game.

Go Highlanders!

Senior Drama Performances – October 8 and 9

Join us as MacLaren seniors bring Our Town to the stage! All performances will be held 6:30 p.m., in the Auditorium. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are not required. Come support the seniors and enjoy a bit of theater!

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 26

• HS Cross-Country, Rampart Koziuk Classic Invite @ 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.

Monday, September 29

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

• MS Boys' Soccer Playoffs @ Don Breese Stadium vs. Monument Academy, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 30

• HS Girls' Varsity Volleyball @ Monument Academy, 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 1

• MS Boys' Soccer Championships @ TBA

• MS Cross-Country, Kodiak Classic @ Colorado Springs School, 4:15 p.m.

Thursday, October 2

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

Senior recognition for cross-country will be before the varsity game. Senior recognition for soccer will be at half time.

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

• HS Boys' JV Soccer @ HOME vs. Pikes Peak Christian, 5:45 p.m. 7v7

Friday, October 3

• HS Cross-Country, Courser Invite @ Monument Valley Park, 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 4

• HS Boys' Soccer @ HOME vs. Salida, Varsity 10:00 a.m., JV 11:45 a.m.

• HS Girls' C Team Volleyball Tournament @ Harrison, 9:00 a.m.

Middle School Boys' Basketball – Last Week to Register!

Registration is now open on MySchoolBucks. The deadline to register is Thursday, October 2. The season will run October 6 - December 5. All athletes must have a current sports physical on file to participate. Turn the sports physical form in to Mr. Baca no later than October 6. Please contact Mrs. Steigerwald or Mr. Baca with any 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.

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.