PRIMARY SCHOOL UPDATES

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.

Special Theme Day — Wednesday, May 13

Our Head of School for the Day auction winner, Chloe Martinez, is inviting all students to participate in our next theme day: Beach/Summer Fun! On Wednesday, May 13, students are invited to wear any outfit that represents the beach or summer. Please no bathing suits or open-toed shoes.

Last Call to Sign Up for Parent-Teacher Conference Day

Please be sure to sign up for the parent-teacher conferences taking place on Thursday, May 14.

Note: Sign-ups via Veracross will close at noon on Tuesday, May 12.

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. 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:

• 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

• Thursday, May 14 — PAMKA Special Events: P/T Teacher Conferences
• Wednesday, May 20, 8:15 - 10:15 a.m. — PAMKA Annual Meeting
• Wednesday, May 27, 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. — PAMKA Board Meeting

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

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!

Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook

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