MKA Gathers to Celebrate the Start of the New School Year
In front of 1100 students, faculty, trustees, friends and special guests – including Montclair Mayor Robert Jackson, a member of the Montclair Academy Class of 1973, MKA Headmaster Tom Nammack opened the 21st All-School Gathering and welcomed the audience to MKA’s 126th new school year.
In amongst outstanding student performances from perennial favorites such as the Cheerleaders, Step Team, Middle School Chamber Singers and Primary School Bellringers, to the newly formed Upper School ‘Unaccompanied Minors’ a capella group and junior singer songwriter Melissa Baney, students from each campus spoke to the community, diversity and connectedness that makes MKA such a special place.
Third grader Ella Martin shared her belief in the importance of welcoming new members to a class, Middle School Student Government President Betsy MacDonnell ’18 explored the meaning of diversity, concluding that it is the community’s collective differences that make it stronger, while Student Government President senior Sam Zinn urged his audience to make the most of every moment at MKA; reiterating that it is a community that not only recognizes the ways in which every individual is different and unique but one that also actively celebrates those differences – making the school a “second family” for so many of its students.
Other highlights of the morning included recognizing MKA student scholars, athletes and artists with special MKA sweaters; celebrating the 2013 Founders’ Cup winner, Upper School history teacher David Hessler and 30-year teaching veterans Deborah Jennings (Upper School Academic Dean and French teacher) and Ken Smith (Middle School PE Department Chair); and enjoying the symbolic “crossing of the bridge” by Kindergarten students to receive a small gift of welcome from the senior class.
As the festivities ended with the community’s youngest member of the class of 2026 ringing the Academy Bell with Headmaster Nammack, the 2013-14 school year officially began!
Click here to see more photos from the event.