MKA Officially Kicks off the 2016-2017 School Year at the Annual All-School Gathering
Montclair Kimberley Academy's Annual All-School Gathering epitomized everything that makes MKA special, a community that is as diverse as it is united.
Headmaster Thomas W. Nammack welcomed over 1000 students (155 of them being new to the school this year), 200 faculty and staff members and special parent, Trustee and alumni guests to the school's 23rd All-School Gathering saying that, "MKA is one school when it comes to our mission and values. Today is a day to treasure the bonds that connect us. This is a day to be grateful for all we have and all we share."
Student talent was exhibited by exemplary performances from the Primary School Bellringers who also sang a special tribute of "We Are the World" to Head of Primary School Ginger Kriegel, who is starting her 40th year at the school, the Middle and Upper School Jazz Ensembles, Middle and Upper School Strings Ensemble, MKA's Choreography Workshop and the Unaccompanied Minors who performed an unbelievable rendition of "Let's Get it Started."
MKA's flourishing athletics program was celebrated with the announcement of deserved athletic awards to student athletes, as well as by rousing performances from the MKA Cheerleader and Step Teams.
Academic endeavors were honored with the presentation of MKA sweaters to meriting students (also given for Fine & Performing Arts and Athletic achievements).
The school's renowned faculty was recognized by Alumni Council President Jaclyn Spedaliere '00 who presented the Founders' Cup for Teaching Excellence to Tri-Campus Strings Director, Dimitri Hadjipetkov. Dorothy Cucci '17 played a beautiful and moving solo performance of Pachelbell Canon in D to honor her teacher.
Middle School 8th Grade President Isabel Lucas '21 made remarks to the audience and ended with a poem saying, "Today I've advocated for you to become opinionated. No need to be mindless minions, have opinions. In a world often filled with hatred, this place is somehow sacred. Take advantage of our incredible community in order to create unity." Finally, Upper School Student Government President Kojo Simmons '17 spoke to the crowd saying, "My time here at MKA has been challenging. I've struggled to finish papers, I've stayed up all night to get work done, then taken a test the next morning, and I have even wished that I were somewhere else, but as I travel all over the country looking for where my next community will be for college, I find myself looking more and more for a community just like this one: the type of community where everyone knows that they will be supported during their bad times and praised during the good. This great community is the foundation for everything that happens here, and on every campus. It's the reason that students visit here, and go home to tell their parents they want to go to MKA. This community is a part of what makes MKA, MKA. A place where I can truly be myself and enjoy doing so."
From the sea of MKA spirit clothing, to the cheers for Kindergartners receiving MKA Cougars from members of the senior class, school spirit was high and the morning concluded with the youngest member of the Class of 2029, Arda Susar, helping Headmaster Nammack officially ring in the start of the 129th school year.
Click HERE to see pictures from the day.
* Photos courtesy of Derek Morf and Steve Clayton