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April 2023
Curriculum Days
Celebrating Lessons in Geography, History, and Literature
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MacLaren invites its students of all ages to explore a rich curriculum with a sense of wonder and inquiry. Throughout the year, Curriculum Days provide an opportunity for students to temporarily shift from the normal rhythm of classroom life to enjoy in greater detail a particular aspect of their studies. No matter the topic, Curriculum Days fill MacLaren's halls with laughter and joyful exploration. Some classes dive deep into a period of history and different region of the world while others explore a work of literature or body of works by a beloved author. Curriculum Days bring food, games, costumes, and cultural activities to celebrate a love of learning. | |
Celebrating Latin American Countries and Culture | | |
After exploring the geography, culture, and natural resources of Latin American countries, eighth grade students enjoyed MacLaren's annual Latin American Feast. A lively celebration of music, laughter, and traditional dance filled the Commons. Students furthered their cultural understanding by preparing authentic Latin American dishes to share with their classmates. Students feasted on traditional foods representing Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. | |
Modeling Hobbit Hospitality | | |
MacLaren's curriculum exposes students to rich and well-loved literature. Eighth grade students read J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and celebrate the conclusion of their studies with a Hobbit Feast. Taking inspiration from the novel, students savor food, drink, riddles, and dancing which help transform a MacLaren classroom into a picture of Bilbo's hobbit hole. | |
Exploring History in Lower School | | |
Lower School Curriculum Days bring a sense of whimsy to classrooms as students use their creativity to imagine life in a different culture and historical time. Students enjoy experiencing in further depth the stories, art, customs, and activities they have been learning in history classes. This year, Lower School students explored Czarist Russia, the Middle Ages, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Egypt. | |
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Czarist Russia
Fifth grade students continued their history studies with a Curriculum Day focused on Russia at the time of the czars. Students embraced elements of Russian culture, including colorful costume pieces, art projects, and traditional dance.
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Medieval Europe
A special Curriculum Day invited fourth grade students to explore the historical events, stories, and language of the Middle Ages. Dressed in costumes that ranged from royalty to peasant to bubonic plague doctor, students enjoyed writing in calligraphy and building structures representative of the era.
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Ancient Greece
The second grade Greek Festival welcomed second grade students to enjoy the art, food, games, and myths of Ancient Greece. Togas, torches, and Olympic-inspired games rounded out a fun and engaging Curriculum Day.
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Ancient Egypt
First grade students discovered the scenes, customs, and dress of Ancient Egypt. This Curriculum Day fueled the imagination as students painted dress collars, constructed marshmallow pyramids, and discussed the characteristics of well-known Pharaohs.
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A Survey of Beloved Children's Authors | | |
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Author Studies
MacLaren's four kindergarten classes each focused a full day on the works of a beloved children's author. Studying either Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Tomie dePaola, or Leo Leoni, each class enjoyed engaging with their chosen author's books throughout the day. Students were invited to wear costumes and enjoy food, crafts, and games representing the characters found in their author's stories.
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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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