MKA assembles for the All-School Gathering

Question: What do you get when you mix together 1035 students, the full MKA faculty, tradition, spirit and recognition?  Answer: The annual MKA All-School Gathering!

Once again, the Gathering had all those essential ingredients that combine together to make a lively and celebratory start to the new school year.

Tradition was in evidence from the portraits of the Montclair Academy and The Kimberley School’s founders, to the McVicar cane held by MKA’s longest-serving faculty member George Hrab (embarking on a remarkable 40th year of teaching here!), to the Brookside Bellringer’s rendition of the School song “Oh MKA.”
In addition to the Bellringers, music and entertainment was provide by the Upper and combined Upper and Middle School Jazz bands, the Upper School dancers, the Middle School Chorus and the Upper School Mastersingers.  Spirit was in evidence as the MKA Cheerleaders and Step Team performed their routines, and recognition came in the form of the presentation of the Founders’ Cup for Teaching Excellence from Alumni Association President Dan Carson ’83 to Upper School English teacher Patty Forbes, and from the awarding of the MKA sweater to those students who have excelled in academics, athletics and the arts.

In the audience was Montclair’s Mayor Jerry Fried, who encouraged eligible seniors to vote in their first election, and a more light-hearted moment came when Senior Class President Tom Mazzeo read out what Kindergarten would do if they were in charge of the world (“No Spinach,” “There would be no motorcycles because they make polar bears extinct” and “I would let everyone in school only do gym” were among the most popular).  The senior’s reflections on leadership were read by third graders Dominic Flocco and Miles Farmer, and included the name of this year’s Student Council President Chanya Winograd who gave the closing remarks, using the medium of Disney films to connect to her young audience as she described the life and character lessons they contain. 
As always, a highlight of the event was the presentation of toy Cougars from members of the senior class to the Kindergarten class, but perhaps the biggest cheer of all was reserved for Noelle Osborne, who as the youngest member of the class of 2021, got to ring in the new school year with the Academy Bell and the assistance of Headmaster Tom Nammack.

For photos of the event, click here
To read the Star Ledger’s account of the event, click here