MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

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

Women’s History Month Movie Night — Thursday, March 12

Eighth-graders Kiva Pur-Rashid and Emma Wang, and seventh-grader Jayla Pitts are hosting a Women’s History Movie Night on Thursday, March 12, from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. in the Middle School Dining Hall. They will be showing the film Hidden Figures, which tells the inspiring true story of three African American mathematicians whose work at NASA helped launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit and shape the early years of the U.S. space program.

The entry fee will be either $5 or a donation of beauty products, which supports Project Beautiful, an initiative created by Jayla Pitts. Snacks will also be provided. View the flyer for more details.

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.

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, March 11, 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. — PAMKA FinLit Workshop
• Wednesday, March 11, 7:00 - 8:15 p.m. — PAMKA FinLit Workshop

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

Last Chance to RSVP for Nurturing Financial Fluency Workshop — Wednesday, March 11

Please join us for a PAMKA Parenting Workshop on Wednesday, March 11. These workshops are open to all Jr-K through 12th-grade parents. Please join us for whichever session works for you.

Nurturing Financial Fluency is a practical, judgment-free workshop that helps parents raise financially confident kids. Parents will learn simple ways to talk about money, spot everyday teachable moments, and model the financial habits they value—no financial expertise required. You'll leave with easy conversation starters and tools you can use right away to guide your child's financial journey.

This workshop will be facilitated by Nancy Wheeler, P’23, ’26, Founder of Financy LLC. Please RSVP by today.

• 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. Middle School Higgins Room — RSVP here.
• 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Middle School Library — RSVP here.
  
  

Cougar Pride Day — Get Your 2026 T-shirt by Friday, March 13

Get ready to show off your Cougar Pride! It's time to order 2026 Cougar Pride T-Shirts, 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.

Don’t miss out! The last day to order the Cougar Pride Day T-shirt is Friday, March 13. Questions? Contact Kandace Simpson.

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.

Help PAMKA continue to support MKA faculty with the 2026 50/50 Raffle

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.

Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook

Join the MKA Parent Watercooler and stay connected to the community!

Upcoming Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings

• Tuesday, March 10, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. — Tri-Campus Family Iftar Celebration
• Thursday, March 12, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Parents & Caregivers of Gender Expansive Students 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.

2026-2027 B6T Application for Private School Transportation — DUE TODAY

Aid-in-Lieu of Transportation (AIL) is available to families if the town they reside in would have provided bus transportation for their student(s) if they attended the local public school. The reimbursement is approximately $1,100.00 and will be remitted twice for the academic year: in January and June.

Families can download the B6T form here. The deadline to submit is today. Please complete the form and email it OR send a hard copy to school with your child as soon as possible.

Completed forms and any questions should be directed to:

• Primary School: Fay Lonsinger
• Middle School: Pia Kutten
• Upper School: Remlyn Gongob
  
  
  

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.

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.

*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.