NOVEMBER 14, 2025
A Letter from Shanie Israel, Dean of Community Life
Please see this week’s letter from Shanie Israel, Middle School Dean of Community Life. Inspired by a New Yorker cartoon about parenting, Shanie explores the balance between letting go and staying connected as children grow more independent.
Lemonade Lunch — TODAY
On Friday, November 14, students involved in the eighth-grade play, The Amazing Lemonade Girl, will host a lemonade stand at each lunch period, and Student Government Association representatives will help support Alex's Lemonade Stand. For a $1 contribution, students will receive a cup of lemonade and a wristband supporting Alex’s Lemonade Foundation. Alexander Flynn Scott is the main character in the play. In this story, we learn about her journey with cancer and about how the foundation that started with her idea of a lemonade stand has grown into a great support for pediatric cancer.
Patty Strain Thanksgiving Food Drive — Now Through November 19
Join us in supporting the annual Patty Strain Thanksgiving Food Drive, taking place now through November 19, to benefit the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair.
To donate online, please visit the Thanksgiving Food Drive SignUp Genius. You can donate food virtually or make a monetary donation. The amount donated will be charged to your student’s account, and the food will be delivered directly to the Human Needs Food Pantry by the seventh and eighth-grade Student Government Association representatives.
The food pantry is also in need of clean, lightly used clothing. If you wish to donate items directly, there will be food and clothing collection boxes located inside the Primary and Middle School campus lobbies. All food items must be non-perishable and cannot be stored in glass containers.
Many thanks to the Cuellar family of ShopRite of Passaic/Clifton for their generous support of our food drive! Questions? Please contact Community Engagement Middle School Chair Natalie Trento.
Winter Athletic Season — Monday, December 1
The Middle School winter athletics season will soon be upon us. All practices will begin on Monday, December 1. Please see this letter from Todd Smith, Director of Athletics, for more information.
CTP-5 Testing for Students in Fourth, Sixth, and Eighth Grade — December 2 to December 4
Students in fourth, sixth, and eighth grade will soon be taking a full battery of the Educational Records Bureau’s Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP 5), the standardized testing program that we have used to monitor our curriculum at MKA for over twenty years. Your child's advisor(s) will be administering the tests in the mornings from December 2 to December 4. There will be no scheduled make-up test days for absent students.
There is no special preparation required for these tests. Experience has shown that a good night’s sleep and a well-balanced breakfast are key to a student’s testing success. Please send your child to school with a reusable water bottle on testing days.
MKA will receive the results sometime in January or February, and we will share them with you via the Veracross Parent Portal. Along with the results, we will share information on how to interpret them. If you have any questions, feel free to visit the test publisher’s website or contact Catherine Gaynor, Middle School Assistant Head, via email or phone at (973) 842-2775.
Annual AMC 8 Examination — Tuesday, January 27
The Middle School Math Department will be hosting the annual American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 8 on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 9:50 a.m. in the Logan Auditorium. This competition is open to students in grades six, seven, and eight. Students who participate in the competition will be missing their FLEX that morning. The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple-choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem-solving skills. This challenging test assesses mathematical problem-solving with algebra, arithmetic, counting, geometry, logic, number theory, and probability. Past contests are available on the Art of Problem Solving website.
Please complete this form before January 20, 2026, if your student wishes to participate. Reach out to Elizabeth Coyle with any questions.
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.
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.
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.
2025-2026 Yearbooks and Personal Ads for Students
The yearbook is a timeless way to capture your child's precious memories from this school year. Make it even more special by creating a personal ad to celebrate their achievements and to share a heartfelt message that your child can look back on for years to come.
The deadline to submit your order is Monday, December 15
How to Create Your Ad: For pricing, design options, and to submit your order, please use this link. Don't miss this chance to create a lasting memento for your child!
Important Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, November 18, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. — PAMKA Spring Social Meeting
For a complete calendar listing of events, view the PAMKA Calendar in Veracross.
Patty Strain Thanksgiving Food Drive — Now Through November 19
Join us in supporting the annual Patty Strain Thanksgiving Food Drive, taking place now through November 19, to benefit the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair. To donate online, please visit the Thanksgiving Food Drive SignUp Genius. You can donate food virtually or make a monetary donation. The amount donated will be charged to your student’s account, and the food will be delivered directly to the Human Needs Food Pantry.
The food pantry is also in need of clean, lightly used clothing. If you wish to donate items directly, there will be food and clothing collection boxes located inside the Primary and Middle School campus lobbies. All food items must be non-perishable and cannot be stored in glass containers.
Many thanks to the Cuellar family of ShopRite of Passaic/Clifton for their generous support of our food drive. Questions? Please contact Community Engagement Middle School Chair Natalie Trento.
ESS Registration Opens Today
It’s time to register for the winter session of ESS! This trimester, registration will take place through Camp Brain. Use the link below to create an account to register. If you have already used Camp Brain for EPE or for STAR Camp, you can use the same account information.
The winter session of ESS will run from Monday, December 1, through Friday, March 13.
The deadline to register for ESS Winter Session is Monday, December 1. If your child is not registered for the winter session, you will be charged the $25 drop-in fee on the days your child attends.
MKA Day is Less Than One Week Away
MKA Day is almost here! Every gift made between now and November 20 counts toward our goal of 800 donors. Your support helps create incredible experiences for our students—thank you for being part of it!
Questions? Please contact Kelly Flippin, Director of Annual Giving.
Reminder: Complete Parent Challenge Success Survey
MKA has partnered with Challenge Success, a nonprofit affiliated with the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, to better understand and enhance the student experience. Through this partnership, MKA will administer a survey to gather feedback from students (Grades 4–12) and parents and caregivers (Jr-K–12) to inform school culture, well-being, and academic engagement.
- Grades 9–12 will take the student survey on November 12.*
- Grades 4–8 will take the student survey on November 19.*
- All parents and caregivers are asked to complete their survey linked below between November 7–25.
*Please note: All surveys are anonymous and developmentally appropriate.
To review the questions on the student surveys in advance, Challenge Success asks that you do so in person. Please reach out to Cris Junquera, who can assist in arranging a time for you.
NEW Single-Parents Affinity Group
The Single-Parents Affinity Group brings together parents who are raising children on their own, whether by choice, circumstance, or loss, to build connection, share resources, and support one another. Our goal is to foster community and belonging while centering the student experience and helping every family thrive at MKA.
If you are interested in joining this new Single-Parents Affinity Group, please contact Edie Brennan, the Community Belonging Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Liaison. The first meeting will be in January 2026.
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, and/or Paris McLean, Assistant Head of School for Community Belonging.
Tri-Campus Hanukkah Party — Friday, December 5
Join us for the annual MKA Tri-Campus Hanukkah Party on Friday, December 5, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Upper School Dining Hall! Come for dinner, crafts, games, and a ceremonial candle lighting. Hosted by Upper School Jewish Cultural Society, the Jewish Parent and Caregiver Affinity Group, and the Office of Community Belonging, this evening is open to all members of the MKA community. Please complete this form to RSVP by Tuesday, December 2.
The archive of weekly tri-campus newsletters can be located on the homepage of your Veracross Portal.