PRIMARY SCHOOL UPDATES

Family Partnership Series Recording and Slides

Thank you to those of you who came to our first Family Partnership Series workshop, “Brains, Behaviors, and Balance: Supporting Your Child's Growth.” If you were not able to attend, you can find the recording and slide deck here. Watch for information about our next workshops in the series.

Picture Day — Tuesday, September 29

📸 Smile! Primary School Picture Day is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29. A retake date will be announced at a later time for students who are absent on picture day or need a retake. Stay tuned.

Back to School Night — Thursday, October 1

The Primary School Back to School Night will take place on Thursday, October 1, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. This is an in-person event. We are excited to welcome parents to campus to meet advisors, specialists, and support staff, and learn about the Primary School experience. Stay tuned for more information from our campus head, Katie Banks.

Important Carline/Student Schedule Updates

Thank you, everyone, for your cooperation and patience on the carline. We are off to a great start, thanks to you. As we go forward, our goal is to have all students in their classrooms by 8:00 a.m. when instruction begins. A helpful tip is to arrive between 7:30 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. You will most likely breeze through the morning carline. The carline will close at 7:50 a.m., and cones will be placed in the driveway.

Please see this communication from Head of Campus, Katie Banks, that was sent on Thursday, September 17, for more important safety details.

IMPORTANT: Families may not park on Orange Road and walk into the school to drop off or pick up their children, per signage posted by the Montclair Police Department. This is unsafe and unfair to others, as well as against school policy.

Please also note that spots 1- 44 in the parking lot are reserved for faculty and staff. Please do not park in those spaces.

Families who live within one mile of the Primary School are eligible to be walkers. If you would like to be a walker, kindly submit your request to psnotifications@mka.org. During dismissal, parents of walkers should come up to the front doors. Someone will locate your student and bring them to you. Do not enter the gym.

Please be sure to send student absences, late arrivals, early pickups, carpools, or play date information to psnotifications@mka.org and copy your student's advisor.

Extended Play and Enrichment Program (EPE) Reminders

If you are registered for EPE, you can always refer to your CampBrain account to see which days/courses you signed up for. Also, be on the lookout for our email blasts with important updates!

Please contact Amy Pacifico or Amy Gonzalez by 1:00 p.m. if:

• Your child will not attend on their scheduled day.
• Your child will be going home with someone other than an MKA-authorized pick-up person.
• Your child will be leaving before their scheduled pick-up time.

Primary School Snack Time

Our food service company provides one daily snack option for each student. If your student has specific preferences, you are invited to send a snack from home in their backpack.

Spirit Day Fridays

Students are invited to participate in Spirit Day Fridays each week! You may reference the Code of Attire guidelines for more details. Go Cougars!

MKA’s No Pets on Campus Policy

Please note that pets are prohibited on all MKA properties, including outdoor and/or athletic events, even if they occur after school hours. MKA does recognize the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animal while on campus. Thank you for your understanding of and adherence to this policy.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Monday, September 28, 8:15 - 10:00 a.m. — Book Fair Meeting
• Monday, October 5, 8:15 - 10:00 a.m. — Book Fair Meeting
• Wednesday, October 7, 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. — PAMKA Board Meeting
• Monday, October 12, 8:15 - 10:00 a.m. — Book Fair Meeting

Save the Date

• Thursday, November 5 - Wednesday, November 11 — Scholastic Book Fair

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

Fall Parent Socials

Kick off the school year by connecting with fellow parents at our Fall Parent Socials. These fun gatherings are a great opportunity to meet new parents and reconnect with old friends. We’re excited to bring our parent community together for a few relaxed evenings this fall. Thank you to all the families that are hosting these events.

Friday, September 25 — Grade 1 & Grade 6

Saturday, September 26 — Grade 8 & Grade 9

Friday, October 2 — Grades K, 7, & 11

Saturday, October 3 — Jr-K

Friday, October 9 — Grade 4

Thursday, October 15 — Grade 10

Friday, October 16 — Grade 2

Saturday, October 17 — Grade 5

Please note: The Grade 12 parent social will be held in Spring 2027. Grade 12 parents will receive an update after spring break.

Please be on the lookout for an Evite from your grade representatives with details regarding the host, location, timing, as well as how to RSVP. Invitations will be sent approximately four weeks prior to your social. For any questions, please contact your PAMKA Grade Representatives.

Sixth Grade Fairview Lake Trip — Breakfast Sign-Ups

Our sixth-grade students are heading to Fairview Lake on Thursday, October 1. Please see the links below to sign up and bring a breakfast item for your child’s homeroom. Thank you for helping make their morning extra special!

• Weller/Tierney Homeroom
• Zhang/Murray Homeroom
• Shade/Coyle Homeroom
• Gardner/Wong Homeroom
• Coronis/Martinez Homeroom
• Allen/Arcis Homeroom

Seventh Grade Overnight Trip — Breakfast Donations

Seventh-grade students will have breakfast prior to heading out on their overnight trip on Thursday, October 1, 2026. We are requesting donations of drinks and light breakfast items,  as well as paper plates. Any extra items will be brought on the trip as extra snacks (and for the bus ride home). The items can be dropped off the morning of October 1 around 7:20 - 7:30 a.m. at the front desk.

Please use this link to find your child's homeroom and sign up for an available slot.

Connect with PAMKA on LinkedIn

We’re excited to introduce the new PAMKA LinkedIn page, created as a resource to help our parent community connect beyond the school campus. Rooted in MKA’s commitment to being known and connected, the group will help foster an even stronger sense of community among MKA families.

We hope this page will provide opportunities for parents to network, share professional connections and expertise, support one another, and build meaningful relationships within our community. Members will also receive important updates about upcoming events, opportunities to get involved, and other news relevant to the parent community.

We invite all parents to follow the page, connect with fellow MKA families, and help us grow this new resource together.

Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook

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

Upcoming Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings

• Monday, September 28, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. — DIPC & Office of Community Belonging Parent & Caregiver Affinity Groups Fall Gathering
• Wednesday, September 30, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Single Parents Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
• Wednesday, October 14, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — AAPI Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
• Wednesday, October 14, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Muslim Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group

Stay up to date on Parent and Caregivers Affinity Group meeting dates for the 2026-2027 academic year using the Community Belonging calendar. For questions, please contact Edie Brennan, Community Belonging Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Liaison; Callie Bond, Associate Director of Community Belonging and Admissions Liaison; and/or Shawna Morton, Director of Community Belonging.

Upcoming Athletics Home Games

Show your Cougar pride this week and cheer on our student-athletes as they defend home turf! For full schedule details, check out the athletics calendar, and don’t forget to follow @mkaathletics on social media.

Friday, September 25

2:00 p.m. — Boys’ Varsity Football vs. Horace Mann School (Van Brunt Field)

4:00 p.m. — Girls’ Varsity Tennis vs. Mount St. Dominic Academy (MS Courts)

4:15 p.m. — Girls’ Middle School Soccer vs. Bayonne Middle School (MS Fields)

Saturday, September 26

10:00 a.m. — Boys’ Junior Varsity Soccer vs. Randolph High School (MS Fields)

11:00 a.m. — Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey vs. Montclair High School (Muenster Field)

Parent and Caregiver Affinity Group Fall Gathering — Monday, September 28

The Diversity and Inclusion Parents Committee (DIPC) and the Office of Community Belonging would like to invite you to the MKA Parent and Caregiver Affinity Group Fall Gathering. The Parent and Caregiver Affinity Groups are a key way we foster and celebrate community at MKA, and this event is open to anyone who has previously participated in these spaces or is interested in learning more.

The gathering will be held on Monday, September 28, from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Head of School's home. Please note that this event is designed for our parents and caregivers only. Light hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be provided.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Edie Brennan and/or Shawna Morton. We hope to see you there!

Save the Date: Homecoming — Saturday, October 10

Come join us on Lloyd Road for Homecoming on Saturday, October 10, from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.! This event is a fun-filled day for our entire community, with plenty of sports games, food, carnival games, and kid-friendly crafts to enjoy. You can also shop for MKA gear at the school store table.

All student tables (food and activities) require tickets for payment, and tickets are CASH ONLY. Credit cards will only be accepted for the school store. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please note: For those attending sports games on this day, the JV and Varsity soccer games will take place at 10:00 a.m. View the Homecoming flyer to learn more.

Register for the Annual Golf & Racquet Classic — Monday, October 26

Registration is now open for the annual Golf & Racquet Classic taking place on Monday, October 26 at 10:00 a.m. at the Somerset Hills Country Club. Join fellow MKA parents, alumni, and supporters for an unforgettable day of friendly competition and camaraderie. Your support at this year’s outing does more than create a great day on the green—it strengthens the MKA experience for our students.

New this year: We've added Mahjong Open Play and a Mahjong 101 Clinic to the lineup!

Event proceeds will combine to create the MKA Athletics Challenge for MKA Day on November 19, our largest day of giving. This means your day out will inspire our entire school community to give back. Spots are limited, so make sure to secure your spot today!

Looking to make a broader impact? Sponsorships at all levels offer high-visibility brand exposure, strategic networking opportunities, and tax-deductible benefits. It's a win-win, supporting students while showcasing your brand to our engaged and dynamic community. You can view our sponsorships on our registration page.

REGISTER TODAY

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