February 2, 2024

Upper School Talent Show – Tonight

Everyone is invited to MacLaren's Talent Show, tonight at 6:30 p.m., in the Auditorium. Come watch MacLaren Upper School students shine on the stage! Light refreshments will be available after the show.

Student Pick-up

Thank you for your support of our traffic protocols. As a reminder, student dismissal times do not align exactly with when we open the parking lot gate for each pick-up window. It takes time for students to gather their belongings and make their way to their designated place for pick-up.

• Please stagger your arrival within the pick-up windows below. This helps ease the flow of traffic and allows us to get you through the line more quickly. 
• If you arrive before your designated pick-up window, please plan to park on the street and walk to pick up your child.
• Please do not use the Holy Cross parking lot unless you have paid to use the Holy Cross Preschool program. Holy Cross staff have asked us to share that MacLaren cars in their lot are causing safety concerns for their preschool families.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Indoor Field Day, In-Service Day, Presidents' Day

Indoor Field Day is Thursday, February 15, and is a half day for all students. Students will enjoy games, hands-on academic challenges, and friendly competition with their classmates. 

As lunch will not be served, please send your children to school with water and a hearty snack. Please pick up your children with your placard in view, and according to this schedule:

Lower School only: 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Lower School and Upper School combined: 12:00-12:10 p.m.

Upper School only: 12:10-12:20 p.m.

Upper School Clubs and After School Study Hall do not meet on half days. There is no school Friday, February 16, or Monday, February 19, due to a Teacher In-service and then observance of Presidents' Day.

We Love Grandparents!

Have your child's grandparents joined MacLaren's GrandPartners Club? GrandPartners receive updates on school happenings and invitations to special events. It's a great way for grandparents near and far, and adults filling grandparent roles, to feel more connected to their grandchild's school life.

Mosaic Mural Coming to MacLaren

The retaining wall by the basketball courts will soon feature a mosaic mural with an arrangement of ceramic storytiles which highlight aspects of MacLaren's curriculum and culture. Would you consider sponsoring a storytile to help get this project off the ground? More details are available here.

New Athletic Spirit Wear



Show your Highlander spirit at sporting events and on school Spirit Days with new athletic spirit wear. Athletic styles include a t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, and hoodie in adult sizes. Purchased items are available for pick-up at Cole Brands or shipped to your home for a small fee. Go Highlanders!

Pack Slippers or Fuzzy Socks Friday, February 9

February Festival returns to Lower School, bringing winter-themed whimsy to Lower School classrooms. Please send your child to school in normal uniform shoes but with a pair of slippers or fuzzy socks in his or her backpack to change into. *For K-2 students, if your child has Velcro or slip-on tennis shoes, please send those on this day. This will make changing in and out of slippers much more manageable!

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, 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Cheer On Middle School Girls Basketball!

Our MS Girls’ Basketball A Team faces league rivals, Monument Academy, Monday, February 5, at 6:00 p.m. With a 7-1 record, the Highlanders are contending for the top seed for playoffs. Monday's game will determine playoff rankings!

Admission for MacLaren students is free Monday, February 5, for all middle school girls’ basketball games (C Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:00 p.m., A Team 6:00 p.m.). Come cheer for your Highlanders!

Pack the Stands and Senior Recognition Night – Friday, February 9

Cheer on your Highlanders in an action-packed night of back-to-back basketball games. Admission is free for all MacLaren students, and Upper School students earn clan points for attending.

Come to one game or stay for all four! Go Highlanders!

4:00 p.m. - JV Girls

5:00 p.m. - JV Boys

6:30 p.m. - Varsity Girls

8:00 p.m. - Varsity Boys

Upper School Clubs Have Resumed

Upper School Clubs have resumed for the semester and meet weekly, from 3:40-4:40 p.m., through April. Clubs allow students to build friendship and pursue extracurricular interests. It's not too late to join a club! The list and schedule of clubs can be found here. Sign up at MySchoolBucks. Please direct any club questions to Mrs. Finch.

Friday, February 2:

MS Girls' Basketball @ Atlas, C Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:00 p.m., A Team 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 3:

HS Boys' Basketball @ CSCS, JV 10:00 a.m., Varsity 11:30 a.m.

Monday, February 5:

MS Girls' Basketball, Monument @ HOME, C Team 4:00 p.m., B Team 5:00 p.m., A Team 6:00 p.m.

HS Girls' Basketball @ ECA, JV 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 7:

MS Girls' Basketball Playoffs, TBD

Friday, February 9:

MS Girls' Basketball Championship, TBD

HS Girls' Basketball, CSCS @ HOME, JV 4:00 p.m.

HS Boys' Basketball, Golden View @ HOME, 5:00 p.m.

HS Girls' Basketball, Golden View @ HOME, 6:30 p.m.

*Senior recognition before game.*

HS Boys' Basketball, Golden View @ HOME, 8:00 p.m.

*Senior recognition before game.*

Registration Open for High School Spring Sports!

Pre-season activities for high school track have begun and will start soon for high school girls' soccer and high school boys' volleyball. Please sign the MySchoolBucks waiver for participation in pre-season activities.

Please register for high school spring sports by February 15. All athletes must have a current sports physical on file before the first practice to participate. Contact Mrs. Steigerwald with any questions.

HS Track

Currently in Pre-season

Season: 2/26-5/18

HS Girls' Soccer

Pre-season begins 2/5

Season: 2/26-5/22

HS Boys' Volleyball

Pre-season begins 2/3

Season: 2/20-5/11

Assistant Coach Needed for Middle School Boys' Volleyball

MacLaren is recruiting an assistant coach for MS Boys' Volleyball. This stipend position is posted here. Assistant coaches bring enthusiasm for sport, care for athletes, and a sense of humor. The position Contact Mrs. Steigerwald for more information.

High School Boys' Volleyball Open Gym

Join the fun! MacLaren high school boys are invited to join volleyball open gym sessions 1:00-3:00 p.m., Saturday, February 3, and Saturday, February 10.

This is our second year offering boys' volleyball. Come join a fast-paced and growing program!

Come support our Highlanders at our HOME events! HS event admission is $6 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! Masters Fund Update

Last semester we shared the impact of the Masters Fund and the way it provides a semester-end bonus for faculty and staff. Thank you for your generosity! The MacLaren community responded, contributing $94,204 to the Masters Fund. Thank you for appreciating our staff members in such a tangible way.