PRIMARY SCHOOL UPDATES

Primary School Spring Concert — TODAY, 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 been doing 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-Teacher Conference Day — Thursday, May 14

On Monday, April 27, at 7:00 p.m., you will be able to sign up for the conferences taking place on Thursday, May 14. 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.

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

Brookside will be having a dress-down day in celebration of Earth Day. This is part of a new initiative: Wacky Wednesday Community Dress Down Days! Students are invited to 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!

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

Please note that all Wacky Wednesday Dress-Down Day clothes must still be ready to learn and play appropriately.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Sunday, April 26, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm — Cougar Pride Day
• Wednesday, May 6, 8:15 am - 9:15 am - Parent to Parent Panel: 3rd Grade to 4th Grade Transition Panel
• Friday, May 8, 8:15 am - 9:15 am - Parent to Parent Panel: 8th Grade to 9th Transition Panel

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

Cougar Pride Day — Rescheduled to Sunday, April 26

Due to the inclement forecast, Cougar Pride Day has been moved to Sunday, April 26, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 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!

The Cougar Auction — Tuesday, April 21 - Sunday, April 26 

The Cougar Auction is now live and has been extended to Sunday, April 26.  Visit the Cougar Pride Day webpage to make your bids. Don’t miss your chance to win beloved “Cougar Spirit Items” like VIP car line parking, reserved commencement seating, and Head of School for a Day. Timed to close on Cougar Pride Day at 5:00 p.m., proceeds from the auction will support Faculty Trust Grants and Faculty Wish Lists.

Please reach out to Moushumi Sanghavi, PAMKA President, with any questions.

Parent to Parent Panels — Wednesday, May 6 and Friday, May 8

PAMKA is bringing back its popular Parent-to-Parent Panels this May. These in-person panels are designed to offer open dialogue, helpful insights, and a chance to hear directly from current parents about the transition experience.

Third Grade Parents & Guardians (PS to MS Transition)
Wednesday, May 6, at 8:15 am, Middle School Dining Hall
RSVP Here

Eighth Grade Parents & Guardians (MS to US Transition)
Friday, May 8, at 8:15 am, Middle School Dining Hall
RSVP here

We hope you can join us for these informative and welcoming conversations. Please reach out to Moushumi Sanghavi, PAMKA President, with any questions.

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

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!