NOVEMBER 7, 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, where she shares student reflections on what brings them joy at school. As the busy season begins, she reminds families to pause and find moments of joy and connection both at school and at home.
BookFair Evening Edition — Monday, November 10
On Monday, November 10, there will be a special evening BookFair edition in the Upper Gym at the Middle School for all students. Please see the following flyer for more information.
Coffee with Carlaina — Thursday, November 13
Dr. Bell is excited to sit down with small groups of parents on Thursday, November 13, at 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. for a conversation about the Middle School experience. This coffee is open to any parent in grades four through eight. Dr. Bell is interested in discussing key fall events like Back To School Night and Conference Day. Please use this Google Form to register. Participation is limited.
Lemonade Lunch — Friday, November 14
On Friday, November 14, students involved in the eighth-grade play, The Amazing Lemonade Girl, will host a lemonade stand at each lunch period. 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.
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.
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.
Important Update Regarding Sixth Grade Play
We are thrilled to announce that the sixth-grade will be performing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! If you missed the mandatory parent meeting on Monday, October 17, and you know your child is interested in participating, please contact Ms. Masterson as soon as possible to discuss next steps. Students are unable to participate unless they attend the parent meeting or speak with Ms. Masterson.
PickUp Patrol and Carline Reminders
Now that most sports seasons are complete and we anticipate changes to children's dismissal plans, please take a moment to update your child's default plans in PickUp Patrol. As a reminder, same-day changes must be made by 2:35 p.m. to ensure your child appears on the correct list.
Additionally, with more cars in the car line, it is essential that families arrive at their designated cohort time (2:55 or 3:10 p.m.).
Families whose last names begin with letters A-L are currently in the first cohort; M-Z is the second cohort. Cohorts will switch after MLK weekend. We appreciate your partnership in maintaining an efficient and safe dismissal process.
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!
Parent Book Club Coffee — Wednesday, February 25
Join us on Wednesday, February 25, 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 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 (Location TBD). If you have any questions, please reach out to Daniella Kessler.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Monday, November 10 - Wednesday, November 12 — PAMKA Book Fair
- Friday, November 14, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. — PAMKA Cougar Pride Day Committee Meeting
- 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.
Book Fair Evening Edition — Monday, November 10
Join your student(s) to shop the Book Fair at the Middle School Upper Gym after school on Monday, November 10, from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Enjoy books and more for all ages: delicious refreshments, gift wrapping, and other fun surprises! There will be pizza and baked goods for sale, so you can take care of holiday shopping, dinner, and dessert!
View the flyer for more information.
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.
Primary & Upper School Conference Day Volunteers Needed – Thursday, November 13
Primary & Upper School Conference Day is Thursday, November 13, and we like to keep our teachers nourished and energized as they get through their meetings. Please use the links below to donate a food or beverage item or to help with set up/clean up:
Any questions, please reach out to Besa Owen for Primary School and Maggie Marotta for Upper School.
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.
Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook
Join the MKA Parent Watercooler on Facebook.
MKA Day is Two Weeks 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.
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.
The archive of weekly tri-campus newsletters can be located on the homepage of your Veracross Portal.