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May 2023
Honoring One Another
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Students in Mrs. Scott's second grade class honor one another as they write "caught you being kind" notes. A simple classroom habit bears fruit as students practice appreciating those around them. When Mrs. Scott reads these notes aloud, it serves to recognize the one "caught," but also to encourage the whole class in pursuing kindness.
This practice of honoring others is woven throughout the daily rhythms at MacLaren. Teachers notice and applaud student accomplishments, but also appreciate them for who they are. In this community of learners, each member brings strengths and a presence worthy of acknowledgement.
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In the final days of school, Lower School teachers take the opportunity to honor each of their students in front of the class. It is a time to acknowledge the unique contributions each student brings. Zoe, a student in fourth grade recalls, "My teacher said I was a really good friend who always tries to do what's right. It made me feel appreciated." Of his in-class honoring, Titus says he "felt special and noticed." Titus' teacher recognized several admirable qualities, including his personality and thoughtful contributions to in-class discussions. | |
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Honoring each individual is common too in the Upper School. Sixth-grade girls wrote kindness letters to appreciate the teachers, custodians, and support staff who positively impact their lives.
As multi-grade relationships are cultivated in each clan, Upper School students come to appreciate the friendships of their fellow clan members and the leadership roles upperclassmen play. At a recent clan gathering, Upper School clans took time to honor their clan seniors, many sharing encouraging notes and parting gifts.
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In a well-loved MacLaren tradition, the Head of Lower School devotes a series of morning assemblies to honor each grade. Students laugh and beam with pride as they hear memorable moments gathered from teachers and staff. Mr. Alvarado shares, "Teachers spend a lot of time thinking about you. Your teachers love you. They are proud of you. They delight in you." Though the specifics of each grade-level honoring varied, the accolades share common themes. Teachers recognize students as writers, readers, mathematicians, artists, musicians, and thinkers. Of the first-grade class, teachers recalled them as a helpful, kind group that dove deep into story and art, and took joy in learning physical games. They made the jump together to first grade, growing in confidence with new academic skills and friendships. Each honoring concludes with the invitation to stand as a class to be recognized together. | |
Upper School students similarly enjoy a series of morning assemblies where each grade is honored. The sixth-grade's honoring noted their jump to Upper School, learning to navigate hallways, lockers, instruments, and new schedules. This group began the year playing Twinkle, Twinkle and ended it playing Dragon Hunter. Ms. Morris honored the sixth-grade girls as industrious learners, cheerful, energetic, and known for deep questions and spirited debates. Mr. Pingel recognized the sixth-grade boys for their love of learning, for embracing epic stories, and their kindness to each other. Just a few days later, Ms. Koch applauded the ninth-grade girls for the ways they care deeply for each other, for literature, for their artwork and their science dissections. With affection she commented, "I love you all and wish you all the best." Mr. Cooper observed that the ninth-grade boys are becoming thoughtful citizens who work hard and play harder. He recognized their sense of humor and their camaraderie and congratulated them on "doing the hard work of bridling their passions to their reason." | |
Students in MacLaren's second grade embody a spirit of honoring each other and their environment. Hearing regularly in their classrooms that everyone is responsible to help make the school a safe and caring place for all, a group of students initiated their own service project. Bringing gloves and trash bags from home, these students tidied the Upper Field and playground during recess. Upper School students also demonstrate service and character as they rally together to periodically care for their school campus during tutorial. | |
At the conclusion of each athletic season, MacLaren hosts an athletic awards night to honor athletes and their season together. This format presents an opportunity for coaches to highlight special memories of each team and the obstacles they have overcome. Athletes are acknowledged for their athletic skill, sportsmanship, perseverance, and camaraderie. Coaches of each team additionally present three awards - Most Valuable Player, Most Improved, and the MacLaren Award. | |
Reaching the end of each school year is a milestone of its own, representing students' personal and academic growth. At MacLaren, fifth and twelfth-grade students are recognized for their respective accomplishments and the leap they are about to take in the next season. | |
At MacLaren's Fifth Grade Advancement Ceremony, family, friends, and staff gathered to cheer for the fifth-grade class. This ceremony honors the journey the class has taken together through elementary school and builds excitement for their promotion into the Upper School. The class heard from seniors who offered congratulations and encouraged them to continue pursuing learning, hard work, and friendship throughout their time at MacLaren. | |
MacLaren's Graduation honors its seniors, their families, and the entire school community that has rallied together to prepare the graduating class for life after MacLaren. There is much to celebrate. The senior class has persevered together – completing their high school liberal arts studies. For those who spent grades six through twelve at MacLaren, they completed together seven years of orchestra, seven Project Weeks, and three dramatic plays. They have discussed literature, history, and philosophy seminar-style, and expressed artistic skill in their self-portraits and master copy paintings, while rising to the challenge of college-level mathematics and science courses. Congratulations to MacLaren's Class of 2023! | |
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Our Vision
We believe all students should be immersed in the best our tradition has to offer. We believe all students can be active and useful participants in the ongoing and enduring conversation that is a vibrant civilization. We believe all students can be formed in a habitual vision of greatness that makes lifelong learners of the doctor and the mechanic, the homemaker and the professor. Thomas MacLaren School strives to build a lasting community of learners in which each student is the agent of his or her education.
Our Mission
From the seminar to the science lab, from the music room to the playing field, we begin with the conviction that all human beings can know truth, create beauty and practice goodness. To that end, we expect students to develop basic tools of learning, ordered basic knowledge, moral seriousness, breadth and depth of imagination, artistic ability and sensitivity, and a sense of wonder.
We believe all students can be active and useful participants in the ongoing and enduring conversation that is a vibrant civilization. Jacques Maritain, the French philosopher, described education as a human awakening. The goal of Thomas MacLaren School is to develop young men and women who are fully human and fully awake to the world.
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