APRIL 17, 2026
Upper School Spring Choral Concert — Friday, April 24
Join us for an evening of music as MKA’s Upper School ensembles—Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Jazz Choir, and REMIX—bring the Weiss Auditorium to life on Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. Celebrate the artistry and dedication of our student performers in this annual spring showcase.
Sophomore Class Retreat — Thursday, April 30
Attention parents of the Class of 2028, please read this letter from Kerry Verrone, Dean of Student Life, about a Sophomore Class Retreat on Thursday, April 30. This letter also contains an action item due on Thursday, April 16.
Community Engagement Requirements — Due Friday, May 1
This is a reminder that community engagement requirements for 10th and 11th grade students should be completed by Friday, May 1. Please review this document for the requirement details. Please reach out to Kerry Verrone with any questions.
Parent Conference Day — Thursday, May 14
Please mark your calendars! Conference Day for all three campuses is Thursday, May 14, 2026.
All three campuses will use the Parent/Teacher Conference module, accessible on the Veracross Parent Portal, to sign up for conferences online. More information will be in next week’s WeAREMKA.
Class of 2026 End-of-Year Activities and Reminders
Commencement
Senior families, please be sure to read this letter sent by Dr. Flocco in March for important information related to all end-of-year activities. Please note, the deadline to purchase an MKA tie from the school store has been extended to May 15. Please use this updated link to place your order. Remember that graduates wear green or blue ties.
Please RSVP for Commencement tickets by May 8 (all guests require a ticket).
Don’t Forget to Snap a Photo of Your Lawn Sign
Help us celebrate the Class of 2026 by snapping a photo of your lawn sign and sharing it with MKA! Tag MKA in your photo on Instagram, Facebook, or email it to socialmedia@mka.org.
Junior Parent College Info Evening — Thursday, May 21
Please join us on Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. for our last junior parent event of this school year. We'll share some thoughts on this year's admissions cycle and advice about how to approach your child's search/application process as you put together a balanced college list. Our plan is to provide some data, but then reserve the majority of our time together for questions and conversation.
For seating and planning purposes, registration is required. Please RVSP using this form by Friday, May 15 whether or not you will be attending.
Information Regarding Fall 2026 Athletics Pre-Season Schedules
All Upper School athletes who are trying out for a fall sport must be present at the beginning of pre-season. Please see this announcement for more information.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Friday, April 17, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. — PAMKA Spring Social
- Wednesday, April 22, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm — Common Ground Speaks: AI, Education, and the Human Skills That Still Matter
- Saturday, April 25, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm — Cougar Pride Day
For a complete calendar listing of events, view the PAMKA Calendar in Veracross.
Cougar Pride Day — Volunteers Needed
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!
We could use a few more volunteers at Cougar Pride Day.Be part of the excitement on this special day by signing up for a volunteer slot—your support is key to making this event a success!
The Cougar Auction — Tuesday, April 21 - Saturday, April 25
Get ready to bid big on some unforgettable perks! This year, PAMKA is hosting a virtual auction of exclusive “Cougar Spirit Items”—think Head of School for the day, VIP car line spots, and guaranteed event seating. Timed to close on Cougar Pride Day, this limited virtual auction ensures families can still access their favorite items while supporting Faculty Trust Grants and Faculty Wish Lists.
Details on how to register and bid will be shared by Monday, April 20, with bidding open Tuesday, April 21, through Saturday, April 25. Don’t miss your chance—quantities are limited!
Common Ground Speaks Panel Discussion — Wednesday, April 22
Please register to attend “AI, Education, and the Human Skills That Still Matter,” a Common Ground Speaks panel discussion on Wednesday, April 22, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 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.
Stay Connected with PAMKA on Facebook
Join the MKA Parent Watercooler and stay connected to the community!
Upcoming Parents and Caregivers Affinity Group Meetings
- Monday, April 20, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — South Asian Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
- Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Muslim Parent & Caregiver Affinity Group Meeting
- Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Single-Parents Affinity Group Meeting
- Tuesday, April 28, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Junt@s Hispanic/Latinx 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.
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.
The archive of weekly tri-campus newsletters can be located on the homepage of your Veracross Portal.