MKA Gathers to Celebrate the Start of the School Year
‘Celebrating Teaching’ was the theme of this year’s All School Gathering, and one- thousand students, plus faculty, staff, administrators, Trustees, parents and friends of MKA, led by Headmaster Tom Nammack, celebrated with energy, enthusiasm and high spirits at this annual event that marks the formal start to a new school year.
Highlights of this year’s Gathering included special recognition for three faculty members who are celebrating significant anniversaries – Primary School Assistant Head of Campus Donna Carrara for twenty years of service, Upper School French teacher Barbara Mamchur for thirty years of service, and Upper School science teacher Georg Hrab for forty years of service. Two beloved members of the Maintenance Department – Julius Della Rovere and Elvoid Christmas were honored on the occasion of their retirement, and Primary School Music teacher Jane Smith was recognized as this year’s Founders’ Cup recipient for teaching excellence.
Student talent was in evidence with performances from Upper School dance students, the Mastersingers, the MKA Cheerleaders and the Step Team, a combined Middle School-Upper School Jazz Ensemble, the Middle School Singers and the Brookside third grade Bellringers. Two special performances added to the festivities – a rousing rendition of the Charlie Daniels classic “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” performed by seniors Mark Bylancik and Robert Gelberg, juniors Rafi Bildner and Evan Russenberger-Rosica and sophomore Ed Rosini, and “America” sung by senior Max Jefferson accompanied by MKA Stings Director Dimitri Hadjpetkov.
Teachers were celebrated in a speech by Middle School Student Government Vice- President Maggie Dancy; Upper School Senior Class Vice-President Sheridan Watson read Kindergartners responses to the question “Would you like to be a teacher and why” (which included answers such as “because I could wear what I like” and “because I wouldn’t have to sit at circle time”); and Student Government President Mark Bylancik, acknowledged the many teachers who have made his “life-time” at MKA so special.
Traditions continued as the senior Class welcomed the Kindergarten Class to the MKA community by handing them beanie cougars, and one of the youngest members of the Class of 2022, Evelyn Maxwell, rang the school bell to mark the official start of the year. The festivities continued with an all-school barbecue on Van Brunt Field, followed by field and spirit days at the various campuses.
Click here to see photos of the day