MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

Congratulations to the Middle School Speech and Debate Team

This past weekend, the MKA Middle School Speech and Debate team competed in the Ridge Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament in Basking Ridge, NJ, and made MKA proud in its first tournament ever! Thirteen schools from three states—New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York—participated, with a total of 109 student entries across nine events, including three debate events and six speech events.

Congratulations to Keshav Sampath, Abigail Bashur, Nica Tagger, Alistair Townsend, Anvith Paladugu, and Keanu Lee.

Introducing MKA’s STEM+ Explorers Summer Program — Priority Registration Open Now

Step Into Summer at MKA! We’re thrilled to be launching our STEM+ Explorers Summer Program, an immersive program for rising sixth through ninth-grade students that extends innovation beyond the classroom. Guided by dedicated faculty and supported by Upper School mentors, students will explore robotics, coding, bioethics, and architecture. We welcome you to browse weekly offerings on the STEM+ Explorers webpage, where you’ll find information regarding morning classes and exciting weekly themes. 

When: July 6-31, 2026

Where: Inquiry and Innovation (I&I) Center, Upper School Campus

Priority registration for Middle School families is available now with both full-day and half-day options. Registration will be open to the general public beginning Sunday, February 1. Questions? Visit the FAQ page or contact mkasummer@mka.org.

Faculty/Student Basketball Game — Friday, February 6

The Student Government Association is excited to host its annual Student/Faculty Basketball Game on Friday, February 6, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the MS Main Gym.

This fun, community-filled event is always a highlight for our middle school babies. All proceeds from the evening—including the bake sale and admissions—will go to three charities selected by the MS SGA as their organizations of choice.

We hope you’ll join us to cheer them on and to see some new surprises this year, including the debut of a brand-new BIG trophy!

Do you want to play or volunteer? Please complete this Faculty/Student Basketball Game Sign Up Form. More details coming soon. We look forward to seeing you there

Mandatory Seventh Grade Parent Meeting for Macbeth — Thursday, February 19

It’s the 30th anniversary of the Shakespeare Project at MKA! On Thursday, February 19, we will hold a MANDATORY parent meeting for this spring's seventh-grade production of Macbeth. Parents of students interested in being involved in the show, including acting, stage management, or crew, MUST attend one session. The morning meeting will be in person at 7:15 a.m. in the Logan Auditorium. The evening session will be at 7:00 p.m. via Google Meet (Here’s the link for the virtual evening session).

Please RSVP and indicate which meeting you will attend to the director, Lisa Gunn-Becker. We look forward to seeing you!

Parent Book Club Coffee — Thursday, February 26

Join us for a meaningful discussion about Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace. This insightful book explores how our culture's obsession with achievement is impacting our children's mental health and offers practical strategies for raising healthier, more resilient kids.

This coffee will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 8:15 a.m. (location TBD) and is open to parents of students in grades 6-12 and will be facilitated by Daniella Kessler, Director of Counseling, along with members of MKA’s Counseling Team.

Come connect with other parents, share experiences, and gain valuable perspectives on supporting our teens through the pressures of achievement culture. Please use this link to RSVP. Any questions, please reach out to Daniella Kessler.

Updated! Sixth Grade Trip to Buehler Challenger & Science Center and Newark Art Museum — February 26-27

On Thursday, February 26, and Friday, February 27, half of the sixth grade will travel to the Buehler Challenger & Science Center in Paramus, NJ, as part of the science curriculum, while the other half of the class will travel to the Newark Art Museum for social studies. Please see the following letter for more information.

Celebrate Your Eighth Grader — Order Your Graduation Lawn Signs

PAMKA is selling “Congratulations” lawn signs to honor graduating eighth graders! These signs are 24” x 18” corrugated lawn signs (stakes included) and cost $50.00 per sign. The sale runs from now through Monday, April 13. To ensure the signs arrive on time, no orders will be accepted after the deadline.

All signs will be delivered to the Middle School in May.

To place your order, complete this online form. If you are ordering more than one sign, please fill out a separate form for each student. If the cost presents a financial hardship, please contact Alyson Waldman, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Have questions about ordering? Contact Valerie Puryear, Middle School Campus VP.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday, February 3, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. — Parenting Workshop Meeting
• Tuesday, February 10, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. — PAMKA Spring Social Meeting

For a complete calendar listing of events, view the PAMKA Calendar in Veracross.

2026-2027 Slate Nominations Due Today

Today is the last day to submit your self-nominations and recommendations for the 2026-2027 PAMKA Slate. The Nominating Committee will be slating nearly 60 positions in February for Officers, Committee Chairs, Grade Representatives, and more. Your input is critical in helping us fill these roles.

The online nominating form lists every position on the PAMKA Slate and allows you to nominate yourself or another parent for any open positions.

As you review the various roles and responsibilities, please note:

• Self-nominations are strongly encouraged, as they support the Nominating Committee’s work in knowing what position(s) interest you.
• If you have any questions about any positions, please feel free to reach out to the Nominating Chairs.
• Please be assured that both the forms and the process are confidential. All nominations go through the committee's process.
• Being a parent volunteer is a great way to stay involved in your child's MKA experience, meet fellow parents, and give back to the community.

We look forward to hearing from you! Questions? Contact Nominating Chairs Meredith Gardner and Lauren Tabak Fass.

Winter Coat and Sweater Drive — Now Through February 6

PAMKA is hosting a Coat and Sweater Drive to benefit MESH Montclair, a local non-profit organization dedicated to helping Montclair’s vulnerable homeless adults and families, from January 26 to February 6. We are collecting used/new ADULT coats, ADULT sweaters, and other essential items. Drop-off bins for coats and sweaters will be located at the Primary, Middle, and Upper Schools.

Online donations of other essentials can be made via the MESH Amazon Wish List. Select the address "MESH Executive Director, Joe Granger, Montclair, NJ" so that your items will be sent directly to the organization. Questions? Contact Upper School Community Engagement Chair Erica Ajayi.

Volunteers Needed for Middle School Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game — Friday, February 6

The Middle School Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game is on Friday, February 6, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Middle School Gym! We need parent volunteers to donate baked goods and sell items at the concession stand during the game.

If you are interested in helping out with the basketball game, please fill out this SignUpGenius form.

Upcoming Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings

• Thursday, February 5, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — MOSAIC: Black Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group meeting
• Tuesday, February 10, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Muslim Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group meeting
• Thursday, February 26, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. — Black History Month Dinner

Stay up to date on Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group meeting dates for the 2025-2026 academic year using the Community Belonging Calendar. Questions? Contact Edie Brennan, Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Liaison, and/or Paris McLean, Assistant Head of School for Community Belonging.

Re-enrollment for 2026-2027 School Year

Re-enrollment contracts for the 2026-2027 school year were released via e-mail on January 28.  Families should complete their enrollment via Veracross. The deadline to return your contract and deposit to reserve your place for next year is Wednesday, February 11. Families applying for financial aid will receive their contracts in late February.

If you have any questions, please contact Alyson Waldman, Director of Enrollment Management, Admissions and Financial Aid, or call (973) 509-7930. We look forward to welcoming you back to MKA next year!

Reminder: 2026-2027 Preliminary Calendar Available to View

Families can now view and download the 2026-2027 Preliminary School Calendar. Please note that dates are subject to change, and additions may be made in the coming months. The calendar can also be found in the Veracross Parent Portal under the Resources tab. We recognize the importance of sharing this early version with families to anticipate childcare needs and/or plan family vacations.