November 3, 2023

K-12 Food Drive

MacLaren is collecting non-perishable food to benefit local families through Care and Share. Everyone can join the fun! Upper School students will earn clan points for donated items, and the Lower School class that donates the most food will win a pizza party.

Drop off food donations mornings before school, through November 16, by the plaza doors. Label donated items with tape or a sticky note to indicate student clan or class. Please do not write directly on food packaging.

Food items accepted include canned fruit and vegetables, canned meat and tuna, cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, pre-packaged snacks, soup, and boxed dinners (such as pasta or rice meal kits).

The Weather is Changing, Opt-in for Texts!

Adults and high school students (with parent approval) can opt-in to MacLaren texts. Text messages are primarily used for emergency alerts, reminders of upcoming events and deadlines, and weather-related alerts. If you would like to receive reminders and alerts, text "Y" or "Yes" to 67587. (Those already receiving text messages from MacLaren do not need to sign up again.)

Nurse's Note!

As we move into the winter months, we are starting to see an uptick in flu, covid, and RSV cases. Please continue to monitor your children and review our illness guidelines for information about when to keep children home from school. We encourage students to practice good handwashing, cover coughs and sneezes, and regularly clean surfaces here at school.

If your child tests positive for flu, strep, covid, RSV, or any other communicable disease, please contact Mrs. Fisk so we can track any spread that may be happening at school. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our community as healthy as possible.

Help Spread the Word About MacLaren!

K-12 Information Night is Thursday, November 9, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tell your friends and neighbors! Prospective students and parents are welcome to attend. Guests will hear from our Heads of School about MacLaren's distinctive approach to developing lifelong learners.

After School Study Hall will not be available November 9 as staff prepare for Information Night.

Spirit Day November 17 to Celebrate Founders' Day!

On November 18, 2008, Thomas MacLaren School had its charter accepted and approved by the Charter School Institute. Every year we remember this important anniversary by inviting the founders to speak at Morning Assembly. We will additionally celebrate with a Spirit Day, Friday, November 17! All students may wear MacLaren spirit wear in lieu of their polo shirts.

Enrolling a Sibling in MacLaren Next Year? Submit Letter of Intent Today!

If you intend to enroll a sibling for the first time next fall, you MUST complete a Letter of Intent by January 26, or your child may not receive a spot. Please direct any enrollment questions to the Enrollment Team.

Community Folk Dance – Tonight!

Join us for the Lower School Community Folk Dance, tonight, 6:30-7:30 p.m., in the Commons. In this fun, family event, MacLaren music teachers will lead us in laughter, games, and folk dances from around the world. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. This is a free event, but registration is required as space is limited. Please sign up here.

Jump Rope Assembly – Friday, November 10

Lower School students have been learning jump rope exercises in P.E. Join us for Morning Assembly, Friday, November 10, 8:00 a.m., in the MacLaren gym, as fourth and fifth grade students demonstrate these skills.

Parents may use the Lower School gates to enter the gym where you will be checked in and given a guest badge sticker. Please have an ID ready to be checked in.

Adult Leader Needed to Launch Chess Club

Do you love chess? We are looking for a second adult leader to start a Lower School chess club, Wednesdays after school. This club will be open to second through fifth grade students who will learn the rules of the game, how to solve chess puzzles, and play games together. We already have one club leader committed. Please contact Mrs. Finch to learn more about this volunteer opportunity.

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., beginning November 17. Sign up here.

Pre-Season Conditioning Begins Tomorrow

All high school athletes, those considering participation in a MacLaren sport, and MacLaren staff are invited to Saturday conditioning sessions 10:00-11:30 a.m., in the small gym. To attend, complete the waiver found at MySchoolBucks.

P.E. Credit Form – Submit by December 4

All students in grades 6-10 are required to have one physical education credit per school year. This credit is earned outside of the school day by participating in 24 hours of physical activity over the course of the year. While students have all school year to complete this requirement, forms turned in by Monday, December 4, will be included in the Semester I grade reports.

The P.E. Credit Form may be returned to the Front Desk or emailed to our Student Records team.

If your child participated in a MacLaren sport this school year, or you submitted a P.E. Credit Form with your student update, this credit will be automatically logged, and you do not need to submit a form.

Saturday, November 4:

HS Girls' Basketball, Open Gym, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Pre-Season Athletic Conditioning, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., waiver required through MySchoolBucks

HS Boys' Basketball, Open Gym, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Monday, November 6:

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

Tuesday, November 7:

HS Girls' Basketball, Open Gym, 5:15 - 6:45 p.m.

Fall Athletics Awards Night, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 8:

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

Thursday, November 9:

HS Boys' Basketball Open Gym, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Friday, November 10:

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

Fall Athletics Awards Night – November 7

MacLaren invites middle school and high school athletes, and their families to Fall Athletics Awards Night, Tuesday, November 7, 6:30-8:00 p.m., in the Auditorium. We hope you'll join us in celebrating the fall athletics programs and our athletes!

Student attire should adhere to "Honors Assemblies" guidelines found here on page 2. A reception in the Commons will follow. Please sign up here to bring a finger-food dessert item to share.

Love Sports? Assistant Coaches Needed

MacLaren is recruiting assistant coaches for MS Girls' Basketball (begins December 1), HS Girls' Soccer (Spring), and MS Track (Spring). Assistant coaches bring enthusiasm for sport, care for athletes, and a sense of humor. If you’re interested in helping, contact Mrs. Steigerwald.

Register for HS Boys' and Girls' Basketball

Registration for HS Boys' and Girls' Basketball is open until November 13.

• Register through MySchoolBucks.
• Basketball season schedules can be found here.
• Athletes must have a current sports physical on file to try out.

Contact Mrs. Steigerwald with any questions.

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.

Increase your Impact through Employer Matched Donations

Did you know that many employers (Northrup Grumman and many others!) will match your donation to a qualified non-profit like MacLaren? Many companies set a firm date for matching requests (often December 31st). This is a great way to increase your impact by engaging your employer. Here’s how:

• Step One: Make a donation to MacLaren!
• Step Two: Submit the matching gift request to your employer.
• Step Three: MacLaren verifies details of your donation.
• Step Four: Your employer sends a matching gift to MacLaren.

Please contact the Business Office with any questions.

Volunteers Needed for Athletics

Want to catch a great game and support your Highlanders? MacLaren needs a variety of volunteers at home athletic events. You do not need to have a student athlete to join the fun! Volunteers receive free admission to the game they are working. Any approved volunteer (parents, guardians, and grandpartners) may sign up to support a variety of positions at:

MS Boys' Basketball Games

HS Boys' and Girls' Basketball Games

Not yet an approved volunteer? Apply here. Go Highlanders!