MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

School Photo Retakes — Monday, October 27

Photo retakes will be on Monday, October 27, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Please note that, though it is spirit week, all students must be in dress code for the photos. Please ensure that students have a change of clothes if they choose to wear spirit wear.

Individual Student and Class Photos Now Available for Purchase

Student and class photos are now available for purchase. Parents/guardians should have received an email from the photographer; however, if you need help ordering pictures, please see the following instructions.

Mandatory Parent Meeting for Sixth-Grade Play — Monday, October 27 

There will be a mandatory parent meeting for the sixth-grade play on Monday, October 27, at 7:15 a.m. in the Logan Auditorium or 7:30 p.m. virtually. Here is the link to the virtual meeting.

Haunted House — October 27 through October 31

Students will have the opportunity to visit a haunted house during lunch/recess during the week of Halloween.

Haunted house time slots during lunch/recess:

• Sixth Grade: Monday, October 27
• Seventh Grade: Tuesday, October 28
• Fourth Grade: Wednesday, October 29
• Fifth Grade: Thursday, October 30
• Eighth Grade: Friday, October 31

2025-2026 Yearbooks Now On Sale

2025-2026 yearbooks are now on sale. Please visit the Jostens website for more information.

Dress Down Days and Spirit Week 

Thanks to the Student Government, there will be a school-wide dress-down day on November 3. Additionally, there will be Spirit Week from October 27 through October 31. Students are encouraged to wear the following attire, but they may also opt for dress code or regular spirit wear on these days.

• Monday: College Day
• Tuesday: Sports Day
• Wednesday: Switch Day (students dress like teachers, teachers dress like students)
• Thursday: Comfy Chic – Please see the following suggestions
• Friday: Halloween - Please see the following guidelines

Student Government Association Elections — Tuesday, October 28

Student Government Association elections are underway! Students in grades four through seven are campaigning to be the grade representatives for this school year. Elected officials will be announced by October 28. The first Student Government Association meeting will be held on October 30.

MS Global Experience Programs Virtual Informational Meeting — Tuesday, October 28

Learn about this year's trips to France, Spain, and Costa Rica on Tuesday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m. If your student is interested in participating in one of these GE programs, families must attend this important virtual meeting*. The trips are available to:

• France: Seventh and eighth-grade students of French
• Spain: Eighth-graders of Spanish
• Costa Rica: All eighth-graders who will be returning to MKA for the 2026-2027 school year

*The Google link will be shared as we approach the event.

Student Peer Tutoring Now Available

We are excited to share that we have Upper School tutors available for Middle School student peer tutoring. Please complete this Google form to request a tutor, and Michelle Barbetta will match requests with tutors as soon as possible.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday, October 28, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. — Parenting Workshop Committee Meeting

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

Scholastic Book Fair:  November 7 through November 12

It’s time to be the author of your own story! The Tri-Campus Scholastic Book Fair is just weeks away. Join us as we celebrate books, uncover new stories, meet visiting authors, and participate in exciting events.

There are multiple ways to be involved in the Book Fair, and we’d love for you to join us! Sign up to volunteer via the links below or visit mka.org/pamkabookfair for more details.

Volunteer at the Primary School  |  Donate to the PS Faculty & Staff Tea

Volunteer at the Middle School  |  Donate to the MS Faculty & Staff Tea

Pre-sales of visiting author books are now live! Don’t miss the opportunity to secure signed copies of exclusive titles from our visiting authors. Pre-ordering is the ONLY way to guarantee an author-signed book. Use this form to place your order now. We’re excited to share this year’s selection of visiting author books!

Mark your calendars for our special events:

• Primary School Pajama Night, Friday, November 7, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.: An evening of fun for our Brookside students. RSVP by November 6!
• Book Fair: Evening Edition, Monday, November 10, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Held at the Middle School, this event is for everyone in our MKA community. No RSVP required.

Don’t forget to purchase gift certificates for faculty and staff and set spending limits for Primary School students.

Visit the Book Fair website for more details, including the list of our visiting authors. Questions? Contact PAMKA’s Book Fair Co-ChairsKatie Cocco and Angie Tekriwal.

Share Your Fall Parent Social Photos

Our last Fall Parent Social was this past weekend. Thank you to Adenah and Michael Monxhwedey for generously hosting the sixth-grade social. Please don’t forget to share photos with the MKA Communications team for sharing on social media. You can email photos to socialmedia@mka.org or use #WeAreMKA on Instagram and Facebook.

Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook

Join the MKA Parent Watercooler on Facebook.

Hemmeter-McNeal Lecture Series Welcomes Amanda Ripley — Tuesday, November 4

Please join us on Tuesday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m. in Weiss Auditorium to welcome Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author, Washington Post columnist, and co-founder of Good Conflict, as part of the Hemmeter-McNeal Lecture Series. Ripley will present her acclaimed lecture, “Breaking the Spell of High Conflict,” exploring why ordinary disagreements so often escalate into destructive divisions—and how we can find our way out. Her insights promise to challenge, inspire, and offer tools for navigating conflict in today’s world.

Space is limited. Please RSVP to reserve your seat today!

If you have a question you’d like Amanda Ripley to address at the event, please email Gretchen Berra. While we may not be able to answer every question, we’ll do our best.

Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings

Stay up to date on Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group meeting dates for the 2025-2026 academic year using the Community Belonging Calendar in the Veracross Parent Portal under the "Resources'' tab.

Questions? Contact Edie Brennan, Office of Community Belonging/Caregiver Affinity Group Liaison, and/or Paris McLean, Assistant Head of School for Community Belonging.

MKA Day Is Coming Up on November 20

Here are three things to know as we get ready to celebrate our community's biggest day of giving:

It’s all about participation! High MKA Day turnout unlocks challenge funds that directly benefit our students.

All gifts between today and November 20 count toward our ambitious goal of 800 donors.

Your gift goes straight to your child’s experience: supporting teachers, facilities, and all the things that make MKA special. Give to The MKA Fund today.

Stay tuned for more details related to MKA Day! Questions? Please contact Kelly Flippin, Director of Annual Giving.

The archive of weekly tri-campus newsletters can be located on the homepage of your Veracross Portal.