PRIMARY SCHOOL UPDATES

The Science of Boredom - Recording and Slides

Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for last week's Connection Conversation, The Science of Boredom! If you were not able to attend, you can find the recording and slide deck below:

The Science of Boredom Recording (slide deck can be found here)

Third Grade Dance Concert — TODAY, Friday, April 17 

Third graders are working hard as they prepare for their dance concert today, Friday, April 17! The students have learned a variety of dance skills, including spiral sits, lunges, pivots, front falls, and quarter turns. They also added elements of isolation, canon, and dancing in unison based on the choreographers that were studied in the fall. As they work together to create their sequences, they are learning to exchange ideas respectfully and share their creativity. The students are very excited to share their work with the Brookside community.

Primary School Spring Concert — Friday, April 24

The Primary School looks forward to welcoming families to the annual Spring Concert on Friday, April 24. The concert will begin promptly in the auditorium at 8:15 a.m. Seating for the concert will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The following dress code is required for all students:

• White MKA polo shirt (Please visit the MKA School Store if you need to purchase a white polo.)
• Khaki slacks, skirts, skorts, or shorts
• Solid-colored tights with skirts or skorts
• Sneakers

**Jr-K classes DO participate in the Spring Concert on Friday, April 24. 

As in the past, the Spring Concert will begin with a brief performance from the after-school Strings program. Participating students should bring their instruments and any necessary music or materials.

Second Grade Maypole Dance — Tuesday, May 5

The Second Grade Maypole Dance will take place on Tuesday, May 5, at 8:15 a.m., on the Brookside back field. The event will be held indoors in case of inclement weather. MKA students have done a maypole dance for over 100 years! All second graders will participate in our long-standing tradition. Second grade parents are invited to join us on the back field.

Please note that the attire for the maypole dance is as follows:

• Khaki pants (acceptable option for all students)
• White or pastel-colored school shirts
• Spring-colored skirts/dresses
• Sensible shoes (We dance outside. Please no heels or shoes that can fall off.)

Parent Conference Day — Thursday, May 14 

Please mark your calendars! Conference Day for all three campuses is Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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.

Save the Date: Third Grade Closing Exercises — Friday, June 5

The Third Grade Closing Exercises will take place on Friday, June 5, at 9:00 a.m. in the Primary School Cafetorium. More details will be provided in the weeks to come.

NEW Wacky Wednesday Community Dress Down Days

As a part of a new initiative at Brookside: Wacky Wednesday Community Dress Down Days, students are invited to dress down following the below themes. Please note that all Wacky Wednesday Dress Down Day clothes must still be ready to learn and play appropriately.

Here is a preview of what is to come:

• April 29: Earth Day - Dress in a way that celebrates our earth and how we care for it (Ideas can include: save the earth shirt, earth colors, outdoor gear, or come up with your own creative ideas)
• May 20: Own Your Letter - Students can choose any letter of the alphabet to represent in any way they find creative and fun!
• June 3: Dress the Rainbow

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.

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