APRIL 17, 2026
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 Anthony Ray Hinton’s recent visit to MKA as a part of the East Coast HackBAC Conference, as well as the role of empathy in building a more connected community.
5th Grade Little Lending Library- Now through Friday, April 24
Next week the 5th grade is building a little lending library for the MKA community and we need your help to get some books! A little lending library is an open library where you take a book to read and donate a book. We would love it if you all would donate some spare books for the mini library. It could help someone who needs stories to read. We will have donation bins in the front lobby and in Ms. Goss’s classroom (room 104) for the book donations. The collection will end Friday, April 24.
Spring Band Concert — Wednesday, April 22
The Spring Band Concert will take place on Wednesday, April 22, at 7:00 p.m. (6:30 p.m. student arrival). Please contact Paul Murphy, Middle School Band Director, with any questions.
Global Experience Costa Rica Meeting Reminder — Tuesday, April 28
As a reminder, the mandatory second meeting for the June Costa Rica trip for parents/guardians will take place on Tuesday, April 28, from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Please note that the meeting has been changed from an in-person meeting to a virtual one. Detailed information and the Google Meet link will be sent prior to the meeting time. Student travelers are welcome to join.
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. Please see the following letter from Dr. Monica Elmore with more information.
Studio Arts Class Trip to Princeton — Friday, May 8
Students in Studio Arts 7 and 8 will be visiting Princeton on Friday, May 8, to view and learn about the Princeton University Art Museum's collection. Students will depart school after 8:00 am and return by the end of the regular school day. Please email Joelle Francht by May 1 if your child does not want a pizza lunch or if you have any questions.
Conference Day - Thursday, May 14
Please mark your calendars! Conference Day for all three campuses is Thursday, May 14.
All three campuses will use the Parent/Teacher Conference module, accessible on the Veracross Parent Portal, to sign up for conferences online. More information will be in next week’s WeAREMKA.
Information Regarding End-of-Year Activities for Eighth Grade Students
Eighth Grade Closing Exercises — Friday, June 5
The Eighth Grade Closing Exercises will take place on Friday, June 5, at 11:30 a.m. in the Logan Auditorium at the Middle School. Please see this letter from Dr. Carlaina Bell, Head of Middle School, with more details.
Eighth Grade Name Preferences for Closing Exercises
As we prepare for the Eighth Grade Closing Exercises, we recognize that some families may prefer a more formal or informal version of their child’s name. Please use this link to indicate how you would like your child’s name to appear in print and be announced during the ceremony.
Eighth Grade Dinner Dance — Friday, June 5
The eighth grade is invited to attend a dinner and dance on Friday, June 5, from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., at the Middle School. More details will follow shortly.
Don’t Forget to Snap a Photo of Your Lawn Sign!
Help us celebrate the Eighth Grade Class of 2026 by snapping a photo of your lawn sign and sharing it with MKA! Tag MKA in your photo on Instagram, Facebook, or email it to socialmedia@mka.org.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Friday, April 17, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. — PAMKA Spring Social
- Wednesday, April 22, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm — Common Ground Speaks: AI, Education, and the Human Skills That Still Matter
- Saturday, April 25, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm — Cougar Pride Day
For a complete calendar listing of events, view the PAMKA Calendar in Veracross.
Cougar Pride Day — Volunteers Needed
Get ready for Cougar Pride Day on Saturday, April 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Rain date, Sunday, April 26) at Van Brunt Field!
Join us for an unforgettable day filled with thrilling inflatables, creative arts and crafts, and expanded field activities. Get ready to enjoy bites from our newly added food trucks, charity bake sale, and more.
Sign up to Volunteer!
We could use a few more volunteers at Cougar Pride Day.Be part of the excitement on this special day by signing up for a volunteer slot—your support is key to making this event a success!
The Cougar Auction — Tuesday, April 21 - Saturday, April 25
Get ready to bid big on some unforgettable perks! This year, PAMKA is hosting a virtual auction of exclusive “Cougar Spirit Items”—think Head of School for the day, VIP car line spots, and guaranteed event seating.Timed to close on Cougar Pride Day, this limited virtual auction ensures families can still access their favorite items while supporting Faculty Trust Grants and Faculty Wish Lists.
Details on how to register and bid will be shared by Monday, April 20, with bidding open Tuesday, April 21, through Saturday, April 25. Don’t miss your chance—quantities are limited!
Common Ground Speaks Panel Discussion — Wednesday, April 22
Please register to attend “AI, Education, and the Human Skills That Still Matter,” a Common Ground Speaks panel discussion on Wednesday, April 22, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Far Hills Country Day School. The moderated panel will bring together national research, classroom insight, institutional leadership, and the parent perspective to examine how AI is transforming education and why human skills matter now more than ever.
Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook
Join the MKA Parent Watercooler and stay connected to the community!
Upcoming Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings
- Monday, April 20, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — South Asian Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
- Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Muslim Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
- Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Single-Parents Affinity Group Meeting
- Tuesday, April 28, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Junt@s Hispanic/Latinx 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.
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.