PRIMARY SCHOOL UPDATES

Primary School Family STEM+ Night — Tuesday, April 7

Get ready to explore, create, and launch into learning at our Family STEM+ Night on Tuesday, April 7, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Cafetorium! You are invited to join us for an evening filled with hands-on activities that bring science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts to life. Families will engage in coding challenges, inventive design projects, and interactive experiences that showcase creativity and problem‑solving skills.

From curious questions to powerful discoveries, there’s something for everyone. Come ready to imagine, build, and have fun together! If you plan to attend, please complete this RSVP registration form.

Family Partnership and Education Series — RESCHEDULED to Thursday, April 9

Join us for the next workshop in our Family Partnership and Education series: When Children Say They’re Bored: Turning Stillness into Strength. We’ll rethink what boredom really means for children—both at school and at home. We’ll explore how quiet moments activate the brain’s Default Mode Network, fueling creativity, problem‑solving, and self‑motivation. Together, we’ll unpack the difference between being bored and being challenged, learn how to help kids engage deeply even during repetitive tasks, and discover simple ways to raise your child’s “boredom threshold” in our fast, on‑demand world.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, April 9, from 8:15 - 9:00 a.m. in the Primary School Library. Families will leave with practical tools, fresh language for partnering with teachers, and strategies for encouraging independent play without feeling like the family cruise director.

Please RSVP using this link to let us know if you are able to attend on this new date.

Third Grade Dance Concert — Friday, April 17

Third graders are working hard as they prepare for their dance concert on 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.

Save the Date: 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.

Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day — Tuesday, April 28

The Primary School is excited to celebrate Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day on the morning of Tuesday, April 28! The event will take place at the Primary School campus, where guests will enjoy outdoor activities and a performance in the auditorium.

If you submitted names for Grandparents’ Day, please confirm that your guests have completed the RSVP form sent directly to their email, which is separate from the initial submission form. For more information and a complete schedule of the day, please visit www.mka.org/gsfd.

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 themes below. 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

Reminder: STAR Camp Registration Is Open

This year, STAR Camp is celebrating 20 years at MKA, and we’re ready for another unforgettable summer of learning and fun! Registration for Jr. STAR Camp (Jr-K - 3) and STAR Camp (Grades 4-8) is open now.

To learn more about the program and register for camp, visit www.mka.org/starcamp.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Wednesday, April 8, 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. — PAMKA Board Meeting
• Tuesday, April 14, 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. — Parenting Workshop Meeting
• Friday, April 17, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. — PAMKA Spring Social
• Wednesday, April 22, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. — Common Ground Speaks: AI, Education, and the Human Skills That Still Matter
• Saturday, April 25, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. — Cougar Pride Day

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

Cougar Consignment is Back — Now Through April 13

Do you have Spirit Wear and Code of Attire clothing that has been outgrown? The Cougar Consignment is back—an initiative that gives you the chance to rehome those lightly used MKA clothes and to shop at Cougar Pride Day. There will be a formal donation collection on each campus from March 30 to April 13.

Please only donate items that are in good or new condition. Questions? Please contact Janice Jacobson and Nicole Harris.

The PAMKA Social & 50/50 Raffle

Tickets are going fast for PAMKA’s newest signature event. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it! The PAMKA Social is just around the corner, offering parents a perfect opportunity to enjoy a fun and lively night out together.

Join us at 4Sixty6 on Friday, April 17, from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. for a vibrant night—no auction, no

speeches—just great company and a chance to connect. Be sure to grab your tickets before it’s too late! Purchase your tickets here.

Help PAMKA continue to support MKA faculty with the 2026 50/50 Raffle!

PAMKA's 50/50 raffle is now more than $18,000! Purchase your tickets here. The winner will be announced at The PAMKA Social on Friday, April 17. All proceeds go directly towards Faculty Trust Grants and Faculty Wish Lists. Tickets are $50 each. One lucky winner will take home 50% of the total pot!  Questions? Please contact Sara Elwell. 

Cougar Pride Day — T-shirts & Volunteer Opportunities

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

Be part of the excitement on this special day by signing up for a volunteer slot—your support is key to making it a success!

Cougar Pride Day T-shirt Sales

The Cougar Pride Day t-shirt sale has been extended to this Friday, April 3. Quantities are limited, so be sure to place your order today. Availability at the event is not guaranteed.

These super-soft shirts, designed by fifth-grade students Ellie Mark and Eve Mersten, will be delivered to homerooms/advisory groups by mid-April. Proceeds will support our Upper School clubs. Questions? Contact Kandace Simpson.

Common Ground Speaks: AI, Education, and the Human Skills That Still Matter

Please register to attend AI, Education, and the Human Skills That Still Matter, a Common Ground Speaks panel discussion on Wednesday, April 22, 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.

Volunteers Needed for Junior Mock Interviews

Have you formerly or do you currently interview for your alma mater? Stephanie Salzman, PAMKA’s College Counseling Office (CCO) Liaison, is seeking interviewers for the CCO’s Junior Mock Interviews that will take place in May. This is an incredible program that helps students in 11th grade prep for college interviews next fall. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Salzman.

Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook

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

Upcoming Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings

• Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — AAPI Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
• Thursday, April 9, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Jewish Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
• Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — MOSAIC: Black Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting

Stay up to date on Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group meeting dates for the 2025-2026 academic year using the Community Belonging Calendar.

Questions? Contact Edie Brennan, Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Liaison, and/or Paris McLean, Assistant Head of School for Community Belonging.

Recognize Extraordinary Impact: 2025–2026 Founders’ Cup Award Nominations Are Open

At the heart of MKA’s vibrant community are the extraordinary educators who shape minds, inspire curiosity, and guide students far beyond the classroom. The Founders’ Cup Award honors MKA’s proud tradition of teaching excellence and celebrates an outstanding faculty member who embodies the very best of what it means to teach at MKA, in the classroom, on the field, in the studio, and through coaching and mentorship.

Nominate a faculty member whose impact is lasting, whose dedication is unwavering, and whose presence strengthens the fabric of our school community.

Tri-Campus Art Mural Initiative: Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month

This spring, MKA's counseling team is partnering with One River Art School in Montclair to bring a meaningful, school-wide art initiative to all three campuses in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

Students across every age group will create artwork that reflects what mental health, emotional well-being, and feelings mean to them—with projects thoughtfully designed and scaffolded to meet each developmental stage. One River's instructors will collaborate with the counseling team and faculty to guide and execute the project on each campus during the first week of April.

By May, a community mural will be on display at each campus, weaving together every student's contribution into a collective expression of wellness, resilience, and connection. We can't wait for you to see it!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Daniella Kessler, Director of Counseling.