MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES

Student Government Association Sponsored Events

• Week of May 18: Bake Sale Fundraiser for Mental Health Awareness
• Week of May 18: Sports Equipment Drive

Important Carline Reminders

No students should be dropped off before 7:15 a.m. There is no supervision prior to 7:15, and this is a major safety concern.

Additionally, please do not travel east on Brunswick Road (from Valley Road) and make a right turn into either driveway into the parking area. Cars that attempt to make a right turn will be prevented from entering the parking lot. Please be considerate of others and follow the important safety carline guidelines.

Virtual Parent Meeting — Tuesday, May 12

Please join the Middle School Administrative Team for a virtual parent meeting on Tuesday, May 12, from 7:00 - 7:45 p.m. We will share information regarding grade-level transitions for students and revisions to the Middle School schedule. Please use this link to RSVP.

To join the meeting, please use this livestream link.

Eighth Grade Trip to NYC Chinatown — Wednesday, May 13 

On Wednesday, May 13, the eighth-grade Chinese students will have the opportunity to take a field trip to Chinatown in New York City to experience Chinese culture firsthand and to apply the knowledge and language skills they have learned in the classroom to real-life settings.

During the trip, students will explore Chinatown in small groups while completing a scavenger hunt activity. We will also have lunch at a Chinese Hot Pot restaurant.

Students are required to follow the regular school dress code and are permitted to bring their phones. We also recommend that students bring a water bottle and an umbrella in case of rain. For questions, please contact Fangzhou Zhang Simon.

Last Call to Sign Up for Parent-Teacher Conference Day

Please be sure to sign up for the parent-teacher conferences taking place on Thursday, May 14.

Note: Sign-ups via Veracross will close at noon on Tuesday, May 12.

To access the Parent-Teacher Conference module, log in to the Veracross Parent Portal using your Veracross credentials and click the orange button that says ‘Click here to sign up for Parent/Teacher Conferences.’ From here, you will see instructions for the sign-up process. Click the drop-down to select a time; it will be saved automatically. Please select a timeslot for each of your children. Selections will save automatically, and you can access your schedule via the blue printer button next to ‘My Schedule.’

Additionally, conference schedules will be available in your Household Calendar in Veracross and, if you have subscribed to it, in your personal calendar app. If these dates are not convenient for you, please reach out to your child's advisor(s). More detailed directions for signing up for conferences can be found here.

• Jr-K to Grade 3: Families will have an opportunity to schedule conference(s) with their child's Advisor.
• Grades 4-5: Students do not attend conferences
• Grades 6-8: Students will attend and will help lead the conference(s)
• Grades 9-11: Students will attend conference(s), and the conference(s) will primarily focus on course selection for the upcoming school year.

Eight Grade Science Presentations — May 15 - May 22

Eighth-grade students will be presenting their science projects starting on Friday, May 15. Please see the following letter with more information.

Greek Fest 2026 — Thursday, May 21

The fifth grade will participate in Greek Fest on Thursday, May 21. Please see the following letter for more information, including links for parent donations and volunteer opportunities.

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.

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

• Thursday, May 14 — PAMKA Special Events: P/T Teacher Conferences
• Wednesday, May 20, 8:15 - 10:15 a.m. — PAMKA Annual Meeting
• Wednesday, May 27, 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. — PAMKA Board Meeting

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

Sign Up to Volunteer for Conference Day — Thursday, May 14 

PAMKA Special Events needs your help! Thursday, May 14, is Conference Day for all three campuses. Please sign up to bring in some food, snacks, or drinks to keep our teachers nourished throughout the day.

• Primary School Volunteer Sign Up: Contact Besa Owen
• Middle School Volunteer Sign Up: Contact Michelle Willford
• Upper School Volunteer Sign Up : Contact Maggie Marotta

PAMKA Annual Meeting — Wednesday, May 20

Save the date for PAMKA’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 20, at the Middle School to celebrate PAMKA’s achievements, to learn about the new slate of volunteers, and to hear about this year’s PAMKA Faculty Trust Grants. Head of School Nigel Furlonge will also speak. Continental breakfast will start at 7:45 a.m. with the meeting to follow at 8:15 a.m. Hope to see you there!

Volunteers Needed for Fall 2026 Parent Grade Socials

We're looking for enthusiastic families to host next year's fall parent socials. Hosting is easy and can be done solo or with other parents in your grade. You can choose to open your home for a cozy get-together or reserve a space at a local bar or restaurant—whatever fits your style!

Why Host?

• It’s a fantastic way to meet other parents in your child’s grade.
• You get to create a fun, welcoming atmosphere for our MKA community.
• No need to go overboard—these socials are about connection, not perfection!

If you’re interested or have questions, simply reach out to Meredith Levine. Not ready to host solo? Grab a few fellow parents and co-host together!

These socials are the heart of what makes MKA special—parents connecting, sharing laughs, and strengthening our incredible community. We’d love for you to be a part of it!

Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook

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