OCTOBER 17, 2025
REMINDERS
SCHOOL CLOSED MONDAY, OCTOBER 20 (DIWALI)
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Please note that Veracross will be undergoing scheduled maintenance on Saturday, October 18, from 2:00–8:00 p.m. and will be temporarily unavailable. Please plan ahead, as this may affect your ability to sign up for conferences or access the resource hub during that time.
Important Note Regarding Special Schedule for Today
Please see this letter from Head of Upper School, Dr. Flocco, regarding a special schedule today. Requirements may differ for each grade level. Please read this notice carefully.
PSAT/NMSQT (Digital) for Sophomores and Juniors — Friday, October 17
MKA has registered all sophomores and juniors for the PSAT/NMSQT for today at 8:00 a.m. No additional steps are necessary on your part. View this document for more details. For sophomores, the PSAT is a practice for the SAT. For juniors, the PSAT/NMSQT is a practice and also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (for students to become Commendees, Semifinalists, etc.). For further information, consult the online PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide.
Please note the school day will end when students are finished with the test (standard time–approximately 11:00 a.m.; extended time–12:30 p.m.). Lunch will be available for those who need to remain on campus for after-school activities.
At-Home Practice Digital ACT — Testing Window Begins Tomorrow
The testing window for the practice at-home ACT is from tomorrow, October 18, to Monday, November 10. The College Counseling Office (CCO), along with Compass Education Group, will offer sophomores and juniors the opportunity to take a full-length, at-home, computer-proctored digital practice ACT test. Should your child wish to take this practice ACT, you MUST register online in advance using this link.
Ninth Grade Trip Rescheduled for November 1
We are happy to have rescheduled the ninth-grade trip for Saturday, November 1, to Humdingers in Paramus. The bus will depart from the Upper School at 6:00 p.m. and return to the campus by 9:30 p.m. for pickup. The cost is $37 (please reach out to Allison Brown if this trip poses a financial burden for your family).
All ninth graders are signed up for this trip unless you have communicated that you cannot attend. Please RSVP to Allison Brown (REGRETS ONLY) by Wednesday, October 22. Students who do not send a regret RSVP by then and do not attend the trip will still be charged, as we need to send the final headcount ahead of time.
2025-2026 Upper School Yearbook Now On Sale
The Upper School Yearbook is currently on sale with an early bird discount of $65 (usually $78). The early bird discount window for ordering closes on October 31. Starting on November 1, the yearbook will cost $78 per copy. Parents of students in grades 9 through 11 should reserve a copy for their child/children in advance to guarantee a copy will be available for them in the spring.
Parents of 12th-grade students do not need to order a copy of the book because the school will automatically order one for every senior (although you may order extra copies, should you wish). Visit our publisher's website to reserve a copy. If you have questions, please email Derek Morf.
Senior Recognition Ads For Upper School Yearbook On Sale
Parents of 12th-grade students are welcome to purchase Senior Recognition Ads in the back of the yearbook. These ads usually contain family photos and a note of congratulations to celebrate your soon-to-be high school graduate! These ads can be purchased by extended family members as well. One hundred percent of funds go directly towards the 2025-2026 MKA Upper School Yearbook publication.
The ads are currently on sale during the early bird period until October 31. A half-page ad will cost $175, while a full-page ad will cost $400 during this window. After October 31, the cost of a half-page ad will be $225, and a full-page ad will cost $450. The final deadline for purchasing a Senior Recognition Ad is January 18, 2026. To purchase an ad, visit our publisher's website.
Host an Exchange Student
This year, we celebrate the 14th anniversary of the IAC-MKA Student Exchange Program with Instituto Abdón Cifuentes (IAC) in San Felipe, Chile. We have six wonderful students joining our community for four weeks in February/March, and they need hosts. Hosts can be anyone from our community as long as they have the space and are excited about sharing their world with these students. If you are interested and/or would like more information, please reach out to Cort Bosc, Director of Global Experience.
2025-2026 Upper School Global Experience Travel Information
Registration for all eight of our Upper School Global Experience travel opportunities is now open! To learn more about the various trip offerings, please take a look at our Global Experience Travel Info Sheet. If you have any questions, please reach out to either the faculty trip leader or Cort Bosc. If your student is interested in participating, please sign up to receive more info via the Trip Interest Sign-Up Form. Registration ends on Friday, November 14.
We will host a Global Experience Info Night on Wednesday, November 5, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Upper School Dining Hall, where each trip will have breakout sessions to talk through specifics and answer questions from families. If you are interested in receiving information about financial aid in the form of a trip assistance grant, please reach out to Alyson Waldman, Director of Enrollment Management, Admissions, & Financial Aid, or Cort Bosc, Director of Global Experience.
Standardized Testing Information Night for Students and Parents — Wednesday, November 5
Please mark your calendars for an upcoming presentation on “Navigating College Admission Tests,” led by Adam Ingersoll of Compass Education Group. This event will be available in person at the Upper School or via live stream on Wednesday, November 5, at 6:00 p.m. Please register using this link.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Friday, October 17 — Parent Social Grade 6
- Wednesday, October 22, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. — PAMKA Book Fair Meeting
- Tuesday, October 28, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. — Parenting Workshop Committee Meeting
For a complete calendar listing of events, view the PAMKA Calendar in Veracross.
Middle School Conference Day Volunteers Needed — Thursday, October 23
Middle School Conference Day is Thursday, October 23, and we like to keep our teachers nourished and energized as they get through their meetings. Please visit the MS Conference Day SignUp Genius to donate a food or beverage item or to help with set up/clean up. For any questions, please reach out to Michelle Willford.
Volunteer Opportunities for the Scholastic Book Fair — November 5-12
It’s time to be the author of your own story! Join us as we celebrate books, uncover new stories, meet visiting authors, and participate in exciting events. Visit the Book Fair website for more details, including the multiple ways to volunteer and the list of our visiting authors.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for these Book Fair events:
Primary School Pajama Night — Friday, November 7
Join us for an evening of fun for our Brookside students at PJ Night on Friday, November 7, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Please RSVP for PJ Night here!
Book Fair (Evening Edition) — Monday, November 10
Held at the Middle School, our evening edition of the Scholastic Book Fair is for everyone in our MKA community. No RSVP needed to attend! Join us on Monday, November 10, from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Pre-sales of the visiting author’s books will go live next Friday, October 24. Questions? Contact PAMKA’s Book Fair Co-Chairs Katie Cocco and Angie Tekriwal.
Share Your Fall Parent Social Photos
Our last Fall Parent Socials are this weekend. Many thanks to Holly and Ruben Fleischer for hosting the third-grade social this past weekend and to Jessica Meade and Dean Cerio for hosting the Jr-K Social last night. Please don’t forget to share photos with the MKA Communications team for sharing on social media. You can email photos to socialmedia@mka.org or use #WeAreMKA on Instagram and Facebook.
Upcoming Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings
Join us for the following Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group meetings:
- Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Parents & Caregivers of Gender Expansive Children Meeting
Questions? Contact Edie Brennan, Office of Community Belonging/Caregiver Affinity Group Liaison, and/or Paris McLean, Assistant Head of School for Community Belonging. The Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group meeting dates for the 2025-2026 academic year can be found on the Community Belonging Calendar in the Veracross Parent Portal under the "Resources'' tab.
There’s Still Time to Register for MKA’s Golf & Tennis Classic — Monday, October 27
Don’t forget to register for the Golf & Tennis Classic, which returns to Somerset Hills Country Club on Monday, October 27! Hosted by Board of Trustees President Naveen Ballem ’90, M.D., F.A.C.S., the day will feature friendly competition, school pride, and meaningful connections.
Secure your spot by registering today! Questions? Contact Gretchen Berra for more information.
Custom MKA Boathouse Parkas Are Back — Order by November 1
New arrival at the MKA School Store! Personalize a boathouse parka with a name, graduation year, and sports team! With its durable Pro-Tech® Shell, cozy fleece lining, and two-way zipper, this parka is built for warmth, comfort, and school spirit all season long.
Place your order by Saturday, November 1, by visiting www.mka.org/schoolstore today! Please note there is a 6-8 week delivery time.
Hemmeter-McNeal Lecture Series Welcomes Amanda Ripley — Tuesday, November 4
Please join us on Tuesday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m. in Weiss Auditorium to welcome Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author, Washington Post columnist, and co-founder of Good Conflict, as part of the Hemmeter-McNeal Lecture Series. Ripley will present her acclaimed lecture, “Breaking the Spell of High Conflict,” exploring why ordinary disagreements so often escalate into destructive divisions—and how we can find our way out. Her insights promise to challenge, inspire, and offer tools for navigating conflict in today’s world.
Space is limited. Please RSVP to reserve your seat today!
If you have a question you’d like Amanda Ripley to address at the event, please email Gretchen Berra. While we may not be able to answer every question, we’ll do our best.
Did You Know? Your Gift to MKA Could Be Matched!
Many employers will match charitable contributions made by their employees, which means your support of the MKA Fund could go even further.
When you make your gift, don’t forget to check if your company has a matching program. Your donation and your company’s match will both count towards our goal of reaching 800 donors for MKA Day on November 20. It’s an easy way to double your impact for MKA students and teachers! Click below to see if your employer participates.
Stay tuned for more details related to MKA Day! Questions? Please contact Kelly Flippin, Director of Annual Giving.
The archive of weekly tri-campus newsletters can be located on the homepage of your Veracross Portal.
