The Beauty of Wonder

Who can resist the eyes of a child when she discovers something new or is awed by a science experiment? We remember that joy and sense of wonder for ourselves and delight when we see it in children.

MacLaren's Lower School children are given the opportunity to experience wonder every day! The faculty work to elicit wonder throughout each school day as students engage with our rigorous Core Knowledge curriculum and master important skills like decoding texts and learning math facts. We also plan special days each year to allow children the opportunity to enjoy learning for its own sake all day long. During Project Days, the first two days back from Winter Break, the typical curricular schedule is set aside, and students solve puzzles, work together to create robots out of a variety of craft items, create beautiful handcrafts, perform scientific experiments, and more. Starting the semester with wonder sets the tone for the work of the semester and prepares students to develop as lifelong learners.

Agents of Their Own Education

MacLaren’s highly sequenced curriculum and passionate educators work to equip students at every age to be active participants in their own learning. 

“We start by developing skills and build to a place where students are prepared to have serious discussions about sophisticated topics, like philosophy and political theory and physics,” MacLaren’s Associate Executive Director, Bridget Rector, explains. “We want to equip students with basic ordered knowledge that serves as a foundation for ongoing learning.” 

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Lower School Highlights

Lower school students take music and P.E. everyday.

Students learn to read in a phonics-based program that develops a love of reading. 

MacLaren students learn to think mathematically and scientifically. 

We have a warm, engaging culture characterized by kindness, friendliness,

and peace.

Our school is a community of learners led by a dynamic faculty.