MAY 29, 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, sharing gratitude for the Middle School community and reflections on the growth that unfolds over the course of a school year.
The Summer Strings Session
The summer months are the perfect time for young string players to elevate their playing to a higher level. Scheduling is flexible, and piano lessons are also available. If you are interested in our summer sessions, please contact Dimitri Hadjipetkov.
Shakespeare Project at MKA — Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30
It’s the 30th anniversary of the Shakespeare Project at MKA! Please join our seventh-grade team of actors, stage managers, and crew as we journey into the world of Macbeth. Ambition, greed, and a dose of the supernatural take the lead in this compelling story.
Performances are Friday, May 29, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 30, at 5:00 p.m.
STEM+ Explorers Summer Camp Preview & Open House — May 30
Curious about STEM+ Explorers Summer Camp? Join us on Saturday, May 30, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Upper School campus for a special Preview Day and Open House where students can meet instructors, explore our new space, and get a hands-on sampling of the creativity and fun of camp.
Parents are invited to tour the facilities, enjoy coffee and light refreshments, and see the program in action while students build, create, and explore. We’ll also have STEM swag and prize giveaways throughout the morning. Feel free to bring a friend along.
RSVPs were due on May 27. If you missed the deadline, please contact Monica Masterson, Director of Summer School Operations.
Please note: STEM+ Explorers Summer Camp is for rising sixth to ninth-grade students. For more details, please visit our website at www.mka.org/stemexplorers.
End-of-Year Grade Level Picnics
- Fifth Grade - Today, Friday, May 29 - Please see the following letter with more information.
- Seventh Grade - Monday, June 1- Please see the following letter with more information.
- Sixth Grade - Wednesday, June 3 - Please see the following letter with more information.
Auditions for Eighth Grade Performance Ensemble — Tuesday, June 2
We will hold auditions for the Eighth Grade Performance Ensemble on Tuesday, June 2, during class (8:00 - 8:55 a.m.) and FLEX (10:10 - 10:55 a.m.) in the theatre arts room (102). All interested seventh-grade students must audition to participate.
Please note: Students must bring a signed contract to the audition.
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.
PE Clothes for the 2026-2027 School Year — Pre-Order by June 15
All MKA Middle School students are required to have a uniform t-shirt and shorts for PE classes. To make sure students are prepared for the start of the 2026-2027 school year, required items are now being offered on the MKA School Store website. Please also refer to the Middle School PE Code of Attire for additional information.
Orders placed online by June 15, 2026, are guaranteed to be delivered to your home by August 15, 2026. Orders placed after this deadline will be processed as received, but due to Under Armour inventory limitations may not be fulfilled by the start of school.
Items are available for purchase year-round in case you need to replace or size up items during the year. Sample items for all sizes are available in the Business Office to facilitate ordering. For assistance with your order, please contact Shelly or Jamie at schoolstore@mka.org.
Summer Enrichment at MKA — August 3-14
Still looking for something meaningful, fun, and engaging this August?
Summer Enrichment at MKA offers two weeks of hands-on learning, creative exploration, and connection for rising fourth- through eighth-grade students—all in a summer camp-style environment that keeps minds active and students inspired before the school year begins.
Students can explore new interests, strengthen academic and critical thinking skills, make new friends, and rediscover the joy of learning through a wide range of interdisciplinary courses.
☀️ Whether one week or two—build the schedule that works for you! For more details, to explore offerings, and register, please visit our Summer Enrichment webpage.
Middle School Supply Sale — Order by Tuesday, June 30
Get a jump on school shopping and help support PAMKA, too! Order your Middle School student supplies for next year from now until Tuesday, June 30. They will be delivered directly to your home. Prices are competitive, and PAMKA earns a portion of the sales.
Our school ID is MON348. Place your order online or view this flyer for more information. School supplies will be shipped directly to your home address by August 21.
Please Note: For all grades, organizational binders and folder systems (such as case-its, trapper keepers, and accordion files) are not included in these supply packs and will need to be purchased separately. Calculators are only included in supply packs for fifth graders. For grades six through eight, calculators will be provided by the school for classroom use. Parents are welcome to purchase calculators for home use separately. For questions, please contact PAMKA Finance VP, Rupa Coutinho.
Fall Parent Grade Socials: Hosts Needed
PAMKA is seeking hosts for this coming school year’s fall grade socials in the following rising grades: Jr-K, K, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11. These events are a wonderful way for parents with children in the same grade to connect and spend time together. Parent Grade Socials come in many forms: some have been hosted in a home, others at a local venue. Also, some parents have teamed up to co-host!
If you have any interest in hosting for your child’s 2026-2027 school year or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to PAMKA’s Volunteer Coordinator, VP Meredith Levine.
Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook
Join the MKA Parent Watercooler and stay connected to the community!
Health Information for the 2026-2027 School Year
MKA will continue using Magnus Health to collect student medical information, emergency consent, and athletic forms for the 2026-2027 school year.
All forms for next year are available now in the Veracross Parent Portal, and are due by July 10, 2026. Once you have logged in to the portal, you can access the Magnus Health system by clicking on the button titled "Magnus" under School Links.
Please refer to this email that was sent last week for detailed instructions on how to access your online paperwork. For issues accessing the parent portal, please contact Bill Stites, Director of Technology, at wstites@mka.org. For issues or questions regarding Magnus Health, please email dvaneerde@mka.org.
You will receive automated email reminders from Magnus to complete the paperwork if you have not done so already.
Check Out Recent Photo Galleries 📸
From performances to celebrations, it’s been a full and joyful spring season at MKA so far. Explore photos from recent events by visiting our Photo Gallery Portal.
The archive of weekly tri-campus newsletters can be located on the homepage of your Veracross Portal.