PRIMARY SCHOOL UPDATES

Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day — Thank You

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful morning to enjoy our activities out on the backfield with our grandparents and special friends! We hope you enjoy the photos we captured from this wonderful event.

View the photo album here.

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.)

Primary School Art Show — Wednesday, May 13

This annual event is a celebration of all of our students and will feature artwork from every student at every grade level at the Primary School. The opening of the Primary School Art Show is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. The show will remain up until the morning of Friday, May 15. Please take advantage of Conference Day on Thursday, May 14, to view the students' work. We hope that you will come and support our artists and celebrate the arts.

All student artwork will be available to take home after class picnics. Artwork will be set on tables in the Gallery and organized by grade level.

Sign Up for Parent-Teacher Conference Day — Thursday, May 14

Parents are now able to sign up for the parent-teacher 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

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.

Here is a preview of what is to come:

• 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

• 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
• Thursday, May 14 — PAMKA Special Events: P/T Teacher Conferences
• Wednesday, May 20, 8:15 - 10:15 a.m. — PAMKA Annual Meeting

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

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 a.m., Middle School Dining Hall

RSVP Here

Eighth Grade Parents & Guardians (MS to US Transition)

Friday, May 8, at 8:15 a.m., 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

PAMKA Annual Meeting — Wednesday, May 20

Save the date for PAMKA’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 20, at the Middle School to celebrate PAMKA’s achievements, to learn about the new slate of volunteers, and to hear about this year’s PAMKA Faculty Trust Grants. Head of School Nigel Furlonge will also speak. Continental breakfast will start at 7:45 a.m. with the meeting to follow at 8:15 a.m. Hope to see you there!

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!