WELCOME TO THE Primary School

Welcome to our community! 

The Primary School at the Brookside campus is a nurturing, caring and rich environment that enables young children in Pre-K – 3rd Grade to flourish academically and socially.  As you read through this website, I hope you will get a sense of the excitement and love of learning that our program offers, as well as some of the distinguishing features of our campus and our school:

Signature programs­­ - MKA's three Signature Programs: The Ethics Program, The Writing Challenge, and the Core Works Program are woven throughout our curriculum (Pre-K-12) reflecting our belief in nurturing our students not only in intellect but also in character, honor and integrity from the earliest years.

Columbia Writing Program/Everyday Math - The Primary School's reading and writing program is modeled on the Columbia University Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and our math curriculum includes the University of Chicago Everyday Math Program. Teachers College of Columbia University Reading and Writing Project/Everyday Math - the Primary School incorporates a problem-solving program, Exemplars, into the math curriculum.

Encores for all grades - the Primary School offers foreign language beginning in Pre-K.In addition, all Brookside students participate in science, music, dance, art, physical education, library, and technology, enriched by dedicated spaces and resources such as a science lab, dance studio, art room, gymnasium, all-weather field, library and mobile laptop labs with MacBook Pros and iPads to ensure a 1:1 environment.

Small class size with full time teachers - the Primary School's small class size, coupled with caring teachers, the vast majority of whom have earned at least a masters degree in early childhood education, allows us to offer personal attention and an individualized experience for each child. Two full-time teachers staff each of our Pre-Kindergarten and kindergarten sections. We have no classroom aides at the Primary School.

Full time math and language arts coordinators - the Primary School has its own Coordinator of Curriculum, as well as full time Math and Language Arts Coordinators who help support the teachers in meeting the needs of those students who may need extra challenge or additional support. MKA also has an overall Director of Curriculum who oversees the entire Pre-K through 12th grade program.

We hope to see you soon!

Ginger Kriegel

Head of the Primary School at Brookside

224 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ 07042