Honoring Our Acorns

Maclay Hosts Their Annual Charter Lunch for Charter Students

Photo courtesy Kate Bascom / Maclay Andalusian

From kindergarteners to seniors and acorns to oaks. Every year, Maclay honors the students who have been here the longest. Class of 2026 had a total of 28 students invited to attend the yearly lunch downtown at the Governors Club. Leaving after the second period, all students gathered onto the Maclay bus and traveled downtown, spending the whole drive talking and hanging out with the same students that they have spent the past 13-15 years with. Charter students are students who came to Maclay between pre-K 3 to first grade. 

After arriving students sat at tables together and hung out before being released to get their lunch. They were served buffet style, having an option of chicken, beef, salad, mashed potatoes and vegetables, along with various dessert options. Once everyone was done eating, teachers lined up and each charter member was called up to shake each teacher’s hand then get a charter medal from Head of School James Milford. Soon after, Mr. Milford gave a small tribute to Mr. Obrecht, highlighting that this lunch was one of his favorite school events and how he would be able to give a story about each member sitting in the room. Then, each teacher gave a piece of advice that they think the students should take with them into college. 

Once the lunch was over, students were given the opportunity to go outside and take pictures with their friends, having one last hoorah with their day one friends. These 28 Charter students make Maclay what it always will be: a family. No matter how far these students go, their memories will always dance through the halls, from pre-K to high school. Once a Marauder, always a Marauder.