Through hands-on, real-world experiences, MKA students cultivate empathy, develop a deeper understanding of social responsibility, and recognize their power to effect positive change. Whether they are volunteering locally, leading school-wide initiatives, or partnering with organizations beyond MKA’s walls, students are encouraged to listen, act, and reflect. Through authentic learning experiences, students develop lifelong social-emotional habits and learn to partner with others to make a difference within a community as Ethical Leaders.
Students Learn To:
Use Dialogue
to establish relationships with community partners that provide insight into the partners' perspective and needs.
Act
on the understanding of their responsibility as citizens to positively impact a community.
Reflect
to foster personal growth and refine their strategy for impact.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BY CAMPUS
Primary School
The Primary School introduces children to the joys of giving and the responsibility we share in helping members of our immediate, as well as our global community. Community engagement at this level ranges from reading appropriate empathic literature to participation in classroom activities designed to empower students to take caring actions and make change.
Through a longstanding partnership with Toni’s Kitchen, students walk to the local soup kitchen to help those in need. Third graders explore advocacy in their culminating Changemakers unit. Schoolwide efforts like the Thanksgiving Share, annual Food Drive, and Giving Tree reinforce that even the youngest Caring Cougars can make a big impact.
Middle School
Community engagement is a significant part of the lives and education of all Middle School students. Through the advisory program, students develop their awareness of the world and the role they can play in fostering positive change through service. Each grade level also participates in a project, which involves sharing gifts and talents with the community and selecting causes to support.
In addition to their service by grade level, Middle School students participate in school-wide community engagement projects, such as the Thanksgiving food drive and student-faculty basketball game, along with optional service clubs, which reinforce students’ growing understanding of their ability to lead and serve.
Upper School
At the Upper School, MKA in the Community offers students a variety of meaningful ways to get more involved in service, from weekly trips to the local food pantry to Service Saturdays at an animal shelter to pop-up service projects held in-house on Friday afternoons. In addition, three campus-wide community days serve to introduce students to additional non-profit partners in the area.
As students identify the organizations and issues that are important to them, they also work to fulfill their community engagement requirement, which includes a self-directed exploration of several non-profits for 10th graders and a self-directed commitment to an organization for 11th graders. Annually, students collectively serve over 13,000 hours in their community, and their work offers them meaningful ways to put Ethical Leadership into action.
Opportunities for Community Engagement
Curricular Connections
Curricular Connections
Whether it’s fourth graders managing campus recycling, science units exploring energy and sustainability, or history lessons examining waste through the lens of immigration and Indigenous cultures, students are able to connect academic inquiry with real-world responsibility.
Student-Driven Initiatives
Student-Driven Initiatives
Weekly Outreach Trips, Service Saturdays, and capstone experiences such as the senior May Term are all ways in which students are empowered to take the lead in shaping meaningful service experiences that reflect their interests and values.
Community Events & Drives
Community Events & Drives
Schoolwide events like the Fleming 5K, Thanksgiving Food Drive, PAMKA Blood Drive, and The Giving Tree bring the MKA community together in support of others. These shared experiences build school spirit, foster empathy, and highlight the power of collective action, instilling in students a sense of responsibility.
Global Experience Service Trips
Global Experience Service Trips
Upper School students have the amazing opportunity to travel across the world to help others via our Global Experience program. These service-based trips promote cross-cultural understanding, ethical leadership, and a deeper awareness of global issues through hands-on engagement and meaningful partnerships.
