MARCH 13, 2026
REMINDER: NO SCHOOL MARCH 16-27 (SPRING BREAK)
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 reflects on a recent cross-campus moment as eighth-grade students gave a tour of the Middle School to first-grade students. The special visit from our youngest learners highlighted a common root, “connection, and love of learning that is part of being in the MKA community."
Information Regarding Trimester 2 (T2) Grades and Comments
Trimester 2 (T2) ends today, Friday, March 13. Please see this letter from Catherine Gaynor, Assistant Head of Middle School, for more information and instructions on how to access grades and comments.
Support Project Beautiful in Honor of Women’s History Month
In honor of Women's History Month, the Middle School is pleased to support Project Beautiful. This outreach initiative, created by seventh-grade student, Jayla Pitts, is committed to uplifting women and girls who have fallen on hard times and letting them know "they are beautiful and they are worth it!"
During the month of March, we will be collecting the following items (all of which should be new and unopened). There will be a collection bin placed in the Middle School lobby. Project Beautiful will create care packages with all donated items and deliver them to local organizations housing and supporting women.
- Hair Shampoo and Conditioner
- Body Sprays
- Sunscreen
- Deodorant
- Body Lotions
- Bar Soap & Body Wash
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Dental Floss
- Feminine Products
- Perfumes
- Lip Products (e.g. Chapstick or Vaseline)
- Cosmetics
Spring Sports Practices — Begins Monday, March 30
The Middle School spring athletics season will begin on Monday, March 30 and practices will be held Monday through Friday, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please see the following letter from Todd Smith, Director of Athletics, regarding the sports that will be offered in the spring.
Celebrate Your Eighth Grader — Order Graduation Lawn Signs By April 13
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.
Middle School Spring Dance Concert — RESCHEDULED to Thursday, April 30
Attention Middle School parents and guardians! The spring dance concert has been rescheduled to allow the performance groups additional time to prepare. The dance concert will now take place on Thursday, April 30, from 9:50 - 10:55 a.m. in the Logan Auditorium at the Middle School.
PickUp Patrol and Dismissal Changes
With the conclusion of winter sports, please remember to make updates to PickUp Patrol so that advisors are aware of students’ dismissal plans. Thank you for helping to prioritize safety and ensure the efficiency of our dismissal process for all students.
Reminder: STAR Camp Registration Is Open
This year, STAR Camp is celebrating 20 years at MKA, and we’re ready for another unforgettable summer of learning and fun! Registration for STAR Camp (Grades 4-8) and Jr. STAR Camp (Jr–K - 3) is open now.
To learn more about the program and register for camp, visit www.mka.org/starcamp.
MKA’s STEM+ Explorers Summer Program — 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
Registration for Middle School families is available now with both full-day and half-day options. Registration for the general public opened on Sunday, February 1. Questions? Visit the FAQ page or contact mkasummer@mka.org.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Wednesday, April 8, 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. — PAMKA Board Meeting
- Friday, April 17, 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. — PAMKA Spring Social
For a complete calendar listing of events, view the PAMKA Calendar in Veracross.
Cougar Consignment is Back — March 30 - April 13
Do you have Spirit Wear and Code of Attire clothing that has been outgrown? The Cougar Consignment is back—an initiative that gives you the chance to rehome those lightly used MKA clothes and to shop at Cougar Pride Day. There will be a formal donation collection on each campus from March 30 to April 13.
Get Your Tickets for The PAMKA Social — Friday, April 17
This year, PAMKA is launching a new signature event: The PAMKA Social, created with a focus on building community. We are delighted to invite MKA parents, Trustees, faculty, and staff to join us on Friday, April 17, at 4Sixty6, from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. for an evening centered on connection and celebration. There will be no auction and no speeches—just a fun, vibrant evening that we hope many will choose to attend. Purchase your tickets here.
50/50 Raffle Tickets on Sale — Help PAMKA Support MKA Faculty
Tickets are now on sale for PAMKA's 50/50 raffle! Purchase raffle tickets here. The winner will be announced at the PAMKA Social on Friday, April 17! All proceeds go directly towards Faculty Trust Grants and Faculty Wish Lists. Tickets are $50 each. One lucky winner will take home 50% of the total pot!
Questions? Please contact Sara Elwell.
Cougar Pride Day — Saturday, April 25
The biggest school-wide event of the year is almost here! Cougar Pride Day will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Van Brunt Field (rain date Sunday, April 26). Join us for an action-packed day filled with exciting activities for everyone. Bounce into fun with brand-new inflatables, compete in expanded field games, cheer on or participate in a flag football game, grab delicious bites from the newest addition of food trucks, and so much more.
It’s bigger, better, and more fun than ever. We can’t wait to see you there! Visit the website to learn more. Questions? Please contact Amira Artis or Aparna Shah.
Don't miss the chance to show off your Cougar Pride! The last day to order the Cougar Pride Day T-shirt is TODAY, Friday, March 13.
Designed by fifth graders Ellie Mark and Eve Mersten, these very soft t-shirts will be delivered to your homeroom/advisors by mid-April, before Cougar Pride Day. All proceeds from the sale will benefit our Upper School clubs. Questions? Contact Kandace Simpson.
Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook
Join the MKA Parent Watercooler and stay connected to the community!
Upcoming Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings
- Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — AAPI Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
- Thursday, April 9, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Jewish Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
- Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — MOSAIC: Black Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
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.
Recognize Extraordinary Impact: 2025–2026 Founders’ Cup Award Nominations Are Open
At the heart of MKA’s vibrant community are the extraordinary educators who shape minds, inspire curiosity, and guide students far beyond the classroom. The Founders’ Cup Award honors MKA’s proud tradition of teaching excellence and celebrates an outstanding faculty member who embodies the very best of what it means to teach at MKA, in the classroom, on the field, in the studio, and through coaching and mentorship.
Nominate a faculty member whose impact is lasting, whose dedication is unwavering, and whose presence strengthens the fabric of our school community.
Tri-Campus STEM+ Week — March 9-13
We are excited to announce that our Tri-Campus STEM+ Week is underway! What began last year as a Middle School initiative, is now expanding into a full-school experience. The vision for the week was developed in partnership with the Upper School’s STEM+ Student Leadership Group, who have challenged the entire MKA community to collaborate on a massive Tri-Campus Rube Goldberg machine.
The goal of this device is to move our beloved mascot, Cougie, through a journey across all three campuses. Each school will tackle a specific engineering challenge: Primary School will get Cougie across the Brook, Middle School will navigate Cougie through the Valley, and the Upper School will get Cougie up the Hill. This project emphasizes creative collaboration and interdisciplinary problem-solving at every grade level.
We look forward to sharing highlights of the design and build process with you throughout the week as our students help Cougie journey from Junior-Kindergarten to Senior Year!
The Sun Does Shine: A Morning with Mr. Hinton — Saturday, April 11
This year, MKA is proud to host the East Coast HackBAC Conference, an inspiring gathering of students and educators committed to using innovation as a force for good. Centered on the theme Civic Catalysts: Cultivating Justice & Designing an Equitable Future for All, the conference challenges participants to think boldly about their role in shaping a more just and inclusive society.
We are especially honored to welcome Anthony Ray Hinton as this year’s keynote speaker, and we are pleased to invite our community members to join us for this incredible opportunity to engage with a voice that has helped shape the national conversation on justice and human dignity. Learn more about Mr. Hinton here.
The event will take place on Saturday, April 11, at 9:00 a.m. in Weiss Auditorium at the Upper School Campus. Click the link below to register.*
Immediately following Mr. Hinton's keynote, MKA's Diversity Inclusion Parent Committee (DIPC) will host an interactive discussion. We look forward to seeing you on April 11.
*Please note: Seating is limited, and we encourage you to register as soon as possible.
Tri-Campus Art Mural Initiative: Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month
This spring, MKA's counseling team is partnering with One River Art School in Montclair to bring a meaningful, school-wide art initiative to all three campuses in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May.
Students across every age group will create artwork that reflects what mental health, emotional well-being, and feelings mean to them—with projects thoughtfully designed and scaffolded to meet each developmental stage. One River's instructors will collaborate with the counseling team and faculty to guide and execute the project on each campus during the first week of April.
By May, a community mural will be on display at each campus, weaving together every student's contribution into a collective expression of wellness, resilience, and connection. We can't wait for you to see it!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Daniella Kessler, Director of Counseling.
The archive of weekly tri-campus newsletters can be located on the homepage of your Veracross Portal.