Montclair Kimberley Academy
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| Montclair Kimberley Academy |
|
| Motto | Knowledge, Vision, Integrity |
| Established | 1974 |
| Type | Private Coeducational |
| Headmaster | Thomas W. Nammack |
| Faculty | 145 |
| Students | 1,040 |
| Grades | Pre-K-12 |
| Location | 6 Lloyd Rd. Montclair, New Jersey USA |
| Accreditation | New Jersey Association of Independent Schools |
| Colors | Green, Blue, White |
| Mascot | Cougar |
| Newspaper | The Academy News |
| Signature Programs | Character Education, Core Works, Writing Challenge, May Term |
| Financial Aid | Over $2.6 Million for 2006-07 |
| Awards | Blue Ribbon Award, 1994-95, 1999-2000 National School of Character Award, 2003 |
| Website | http://www.montclairkimberley.org |
Montclair Kimberley Academy, abbreviated "MKA", is a private coeducational day school located in Montclair, New Jersey. The school serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The school has an enrollment of over 1,000 students. Thomas W. Nammack became the school's fourth Headmaster in July 2005.
Today's Montclair Kimberley Academy, established in 1974, is the result of the merger of three separate schools: Montclair Academy, a boys' school founded in 1887; The Kimberley School, a girls' school founded in 1906; and Brookside, a coed school founded in 1925.[1][2]
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[edit] Curriculum
The school is known for its academically rigorous liberal arts curriculum, and it is also unique in its Signature Programs which are the Writing Challenge, Character Education, Core Works and May Term.
MKA offers a rigorous college prep curriculum featuring Signature Programs in Ethics, Writing, and the study of Core Works – works of western and non-western literary, artistic, musical, historical or mathematical significance. Each graduating senior is required to complete May Term. Choices for May Term include internships and travel opportunities in Europe. French and Spanish are offered from Pre-K onwards; Latin is introduced in sixth grade. The school has advanced technology, modern science labs supporting research-based learning, four gymnasiums, a swimming pool, auditoriums, a black box theatre and a new $3 million arts wing at the Upper School. An interscholastic athletic program encourages participation and sportsmanship, and fields competitive teams in over 25 sports. Students enjoy extensive fine and performing arts opportunities ranging from a tri-campus Strings Program, to mounting a full Shakespeare production in 7th grade, to making award-winning movies in the Upper School. Numerous community service opportunities exist at each campus, as well as extensive extra-curricular offerings. 100% of students go on to college, with an 87% acceptance rate to one of their first three colleges of choice.
The school is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.
[edit] Awards and recognition
For the 1999-2000 school year, Montclair Kimberley Academy was recognized with the Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. The Upper School was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School for the 1994-95 school year.[3]
In 2003, Montclair Kimberley Academy was recognized as a National School of Character Winner by the Character Education Partnership, one of ten schools selected nationwide.[4]
[edit] Extracurricular activities
Interscholastic sports are offered in grades 6-12. Facilities include a 6-lane indoor pool, seven tennis courts, three gyms, a state-of-the-art artificial surface athletic field, two other fields, a ¼-mile track, and a wrestling gym. Sports offered include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, fencing, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, step team, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. The school's mascot is a cougar and the school's colors are green and blue, and, to a lesser extent, white. In past years, the most successful teams were the girl's tennis and softball teams which won New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state championships and the 2006 Boys soccer team who won the North Non-Public B (defeating Dwight-Englewood School 3-0)[5], Non-Public B and Prep B State Championships all under first year coach Huey Ferguson and returning assistant coach Dan Sheff.
MKA also offers numerous opportunities for students in the performing arts. Each year, the Upper School students and faculty produce and perform both a winter musical and spring movie.
[edit] Athletics
Montclair Kimberley Academy competes in the Colonial Hills Conference which is comprised of eighteen public and parochial high schools covering Essex County, Morris County and Somerset County in west central New Jersey, under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).
MKA's longtime rival is Newark Academy; there is also a rivalry with Montclair High School, Montclair's public high school. Some of the school's more successful Athletic Teams include Girls Tennis, Boys Soccer, Softball, Ice Hockey, and Wrestling. Softball has won 4 Parochial B State championships in the past 6 years, 2001-02, 2004-05, and is working on their 5th Parochial B State championship. Girls Tennis won their 4th straight Parochial B State championship in 2006.[6] In 2005-06 season the MKA wrestling team won their first Prep B State championship in the history of the school. In 2006-07 season, the MKA Wrestling Team had the second highest win total, 13 wins, in the past 11 years. The MKA Ice Hockey team finished ranked in the top 20 in New Jersey and made it to the 2006 Prep B State Semi-Finals. The season was highlighted with a win over Montclair High School in the Montclair Cup. This win was MKA's first win in 3 years and broke a streak of uneventful ties to Montclair High. The Boy's Soccer team won Parochial B and Prep B State championships in 2006 and their 2nd straight Colonial Hills Conference title.
[edit] Notable faculty
- Timothy W. Lynch, one of the earliest Internet television critics.
- Captain Robert Iverson, co-founder of Kiwi International Air Lines
- Thomas Fleming, winner of the New York City, Tokyo, Cleveland International and Los Angeles marathons
- Johnette Bennett, 1994 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year and 1997 Biology Teacher of the Year
- Charles Olsen, former New York Philharmonic trumpeter
- Marianne Burke, poet featured in Poetry Magazine
- Boyd Herforth, Organ Recitalist
- Randall Svane, Composer, almost nominated for 2006 Grammy
[edit] Notable alumni
- Wayne Dumont, served in the New Jersey Senate from 1951-1990 (with a two-year gap).
[edit] References
- ^ School History, accessed March 23, 2007
- ^ Merger: The First Two Years, accessed March 23, 2007
- ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), accessed May 11, 2006
- ^ 2003 National Schools of Character Winners, accessed September 25, 2006
- ^ 2006 Boys Soccer Tournament - North B, NJSIAA, accessed March 23, 2007
- ^ 2006 Girls Team Tennis - North B, NJSIAA, accessed March 23, 2007
