OCTOBER 17, 2025
REMINDERS
SCHOOL CLOSED MONDAY, OCTOBER 20 (DIWALI)
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Please note that Veracross will be undergoing scheduled maintenance on Saturday, October 18, from 2:00–8:00 p.m. and will be temporarily unavailable. Please plan ahead, as this may affect your ability to sign up for conferences or access the resource hub during that time.
Connection Conversations Recording and Slides
It was wonderful to see those of you who were able to attend the first Connection Conversations event in our new Family/School Partnership and Education series! Our presentation focused on resilience and grit and how we foster these skills at school. If you were unable to attend, you can find the recording here and the slide deck (with resources on the last page). We look forward to welcoming you to Brookside for the next opportunity in the series!
Parent/Teacher Conference Day Opportunities
Parent/Teacher conferences will take place on Thursday, November 13. Details will be coming shortly about how to sign up for a slot with your child's advisor. We are excited to announce that several other events will take place on campus that day, including opportunities to learn about our Specials programming and explore our outdoor classroom. Look for more information from Katie Banks soon.
Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten World Language Open House — Thursday, October 23
Brookside World Language Department invites you to experience your child’s French or Spanish language acquisition class on Thursday, October 23. While understanding what Acquisition Driven Instruction (ADI) is can be interesting, experiencing it first-hand is even more enjoyable. Come as you are—no experience necessary. We look forward to welcoming you into our French and Spanish classrooms from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Kindly complete this form if you plan to attend.
Save the Date for Kindergarten Showcases
Each student in kindergarten will share a story they created through collaboration with Dance/Theatre Arts teacher Kristen Weaver. The students brainstormed ideas, improvised scenes, discussed many possibilities, and made choices along the way. As the script took shape, the students discussed what the message to the audience should be. We hope you will join us for a showcase, and know you will enjoy seeing the work these thoughtful students have created!
Showcase Dates and Times:
- Friday, October 24, 8:10 - 8:45 a.m. — Green Kindergarten
Save the Date: A Morning at the Middle School for Third-Grade Parents
Third-grade parents are invited to visit the Middle School on Wednesday, October 29, from 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. During the visit, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Dr. Carlaina Bell, Head of Middle School, Ms. Catherine Gaynor, Assistant Head of Middle School, and Dr. Roshni Shah, Grade 4 Dean, to learn more about the campus and enjoy a tour.
Please RSVP using this Google Form. We look forward to seeing you! If you have any questions, please e-mail Alyson Waldman, Director of Enrollment Management, Admissions & Financial Aid.
Halloween at the Primary School — Friday, October 31
Please take a moment to read this letter for details about Halloween at the Primary School. Halloween fun will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 31.
Primary School Lunch
Our Primary School lunch program is off and running! From favorites in the cafeteria like breakfast for lunch, to meals celebrating cultures and heritages like pulled pork tostadas, students are loving the options. Want to know what's on offer that day? We encourage you to check out the monthly menu (you can also find it on your Veracross parent portal)! It can also be helpful to preview the options with your child in advance, as this allows them to engage in conversations with you about what a balanced, healthy plate is ahead of time.
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 efforts are 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. Carline will close at 7:55 a.m. and cones will be placed in the driveway. Please reference this map for directions for 7:55 a.m. drop off.
We ask that you kindly keep your family carline sign on your dashboard as you drive through the carline until you exit the parking lot during morning arrival AND afternoon dismissal.
IMPORTANT: Please avoid dropping your student off in the parking lot. Directions will be provided to park at the end of the portico, and will provide a safe place for your student to leave your vehicle.
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 wait under the portico at the end of the building.
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.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Friday, October 17 — Parent Social Grade 6
- Wednesday, October 22, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. — PAMKA Book Fair Meeting
- Tuesday, October 28, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. — Parenting Workshop Committee Meeting
For a complete calendar listing of events, view the PAMKA Calendar in Veracross.
Middle School Conference Day Volunteers Needed — Thursday, October 23
Middle School Conference Day is Thursday, October 23, and we like to keep our teachers nourished and energized as they get through their meetings. Please visit the MS Conference Day SignUp Genius to donate a food or beverage item or to help with set up/clean up. For any questions, please reach out to Michelle Willford.
Volunteer Opportunities for the Scholastic Book Fair — November 5-12
It’s time to be the author of your own story! Join us as we celebrate books, uncover new stories, meet visiting authors, and participate in exciting events. Visit the Book Fair website for more details, including the multiple ways to volunteer and the list of our visiting authors.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for these Book Fair events:
Primary School Pajama Night — Friday, November 7
Join us for an evening of fun for our Brookside students at PJ Night on Friday, November 7, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Please RSVP for PJ Night here!
Book Fair (Evening Edition) — Monday, November 10
Held at the Middle School, our evening edition of the Scholastic Book Fair is for everyone in our MKA community. No RSVP needed to attend! Join us on Monday, November 10, from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Pre-sales of the visiting author’s books will go live next Friday, October 24. Questions? Contact PAMKA’s Book Fair Co-Chairs Katie Cocco and Angie Tekriwal.
Share Your Fall Parent Social Photos
Our last Fall Parent Socials are this weekend. Many thanks to Holly and Ruben Fleischer for hosting the third-grade social this past weekend and to Jessica Meade and Dean Cerio for hosting the Jr-K Social last night. Please don’t forget to share photos with the MKA Communications team for sharing on social media. You can email photos to socialmedia@mka.org or use #WeAreMKA on Instagram and Facebook.
Upcoming Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings
Join us for the following Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group meetings:
- Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Parents & Caregivers of Gender Expansive Children Meeting
Questions? Contact Edie Brennan, Office of Community Belonging/Caregiver Affinity Group Liaison, and/or Paris McLean, Assistant Head of School for Community Belonging. The Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group meeting dates for the 2025-2026 academic year can be found on the Community Belonging Calendar in the Veracross Parent Portal under the "Resources'' tab.
There’s Still Time to Register for MKA’s Golf & Tennis Classic — Monday, October 27
Don’t forget to register for the Golf & Tennis Classic, which returns to Somerset Hills Country Club on Monday, October 27! Hosted by Board of Trustees President Naveen Ballem ’90, M.D., F.A.C.S., the day will feature friendly competition, school pride, and meaningful connections.
Secure your spot by registering today! Questions? Contact Gretchen Berra for more information.
Custom MKA Boathouse Parkas Are Back — Order by November 1
New arrival at the MKA School Store! Personalize a boathouse parka with a name, graduation year, and sports team! With its durable Pro-Tech® Shell, cozy fleece lining, and two-way zipper, this parka is built for warmth, comfort, and school spirit all season long.
Place your order by Saturday, November 1, by visiting www.mka.org/schoolstore today! Please note there is a 6-8 week delivery time.
Hemmeter-McNeal Lecture Series Welcomes Amanda Ripley — Tuesday, November 4
Please join us on Tuesday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m. in Weiss Auditorium to welcome Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author, Washington Post columnist, and co-founder of Good Conflict, as part of the Hemmeter-McNeal Lecture Series. Ripley will present her acclaimed lecture, “Breaking the Spell of High Conflict,” exploring why ordinary disagreements so often escalate into destructive divisions—and how we can find our way out. Her insights promise to challenge, inspire, and offer tools for navigating conflict in today’s world.
Space is limited. Please RSVP to reserve your seat today!
If you have a question you’d like Amanda Ripley to address at the event, please email Gretchen Berra. While we may not be able to answer every question, we’ll do our best.
Did You Know? Your Gift to MKA Could Be Matched!
Many employers will match charitable contributions made by their employees, which means your support of the MKA Fund could go even further.
When you make your gift, don’t forget to check if your company has a matching program. Your donation and your company’s match will both count towards our goal of reaching 800 donors for MKA Day on November 20. It’s an easy way to double your impact for MKA students and teachers! Click below to see if your employer participates.
Stay tuned for more details related to MKA Day! Questions? Please contact Kelly Flippin, Director of Annual Giving.
The archive of weekly tri-campus newsletters can be located on the homepage of your Veracross Portal.
