Montclair Kimberley Academy

Montclair Kimberley Academy
Location
201 Valley Road Montclair, NJ 07042
Information
Type	Private Coeducational
Motto	Knowledge, Vision, Integrity
Established	1974
Headmaster	Thomas W. Nammack
Faculty	155.8 (on FTE basis)[1]
Grades	Pre-K-12
Enrollment	959 (as of 2009-10 in K-12, plus 33 in Pre-K)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	6.2[1]
Nickname	Cougars
Accreditation(s)	New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
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	www.mka.org

MKA's elementary school

Brookside campus

Montclair Kimberley Academy, abbreviated "MKA", is a private coeducational day school located in Montclair, New Jersey, serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. Thomas W. Nammack became the school's fourth Headmaster in July 2005. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1987.^[2]

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.^[3][4]

As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 959 students (in grades K-12, plus 33 in Pre-K) and 155.8 faculty members (on an FTE basis) with a student–teacher ratio of 6.2.^[1] 124:160 faculty hold advanced degrees and 11 hold doctorates.

Curriculum

The school is known for its academically rigorous liberal arts curriculum, and Signature Programs in Writing, Ethics and Character Education and Core Works. It also enjoys a national reputation for faculty development and training and for the integration of technology in the curriculum, and students in grades 4-12 enjoy a 1:1 laptop learning environment.

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 and Asia. French and Spanish are offered from Pre-K onwards; Latin is introduced in sixth grade, and Chinese in 7th 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 $3 million arts wing at the Upper School. An interscholastic athletic program encourages participation and sportsmanship, and fields competitive teams in over 25 sports that have won over 100 championships in the past 10 years. 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 extracurricular 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.^[5]

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.^[6]

In 2003, Montclair Kimberley Academy was recognized as a National School of Character by the Character Education Partnership, one of ten schools selected nationwide.^[7]

In 2009, Montclair Kimberley Academy was voted Best NJ Private School by parents in Bloomberg Businessweek.^[8] In 2010, the school was designated a Johns Hopkins School of Excellence.^{[citation needed]}

Athletics

Montclair Kimberley Academy competes in the SEC which comprises 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 Tennis, Boys Soccer, Softball, Ice Hockey, Golf, Varsity and Junior Varsity Baseball, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Volleyball and Field Hockey.

Softball won eight Non Public B State Championships over the span of a decade, winning in 1999-2000, 2002, 2004-07, and 2009. They also won ten straight Colonial Hills Conference Championships 1999-2008. The team won the North B state title in 2007 and 2009. This streak tied the state's longest streak for consecutive state championships and overall state championships. This streak was broken during the 2008 season when the Cougar softball team fell in the 2008 Non-Public B State Championship game.

The MKA Girls' Soccer Team were 2010 NJ Prep B State Champions, Girls' Basketball were 2010 SEC Independence Division Co-Champions and Girls' Track and Field were SEC Colonial Division Champions.

Girls' Tennis won their 4th straight Parochial B State championship in 2006 and most recently won the 2007 Colonial Hills Conference championship.^[9]

In 2009, the Girls' Field Hockey Team were NJSIAA Prep B State Champions with a 2-1 win over Stuart Country Day School.^[10]

In the 2005-06 season the MKA Wrestling team won their first Prep B State championship in the history of the school.^{[citation needed]}

The MKA Ice Hockey team finished the 2006-07 season ranked in the top 20 in New Jersey but lost 2-1 to Paramus Catholic High School in the first round of the state playoffs. The season was highlighted with a win over Montclair High School in the Montclair Cup game. MKA would then win the Montclair Cup again in 2008. The two teams met again in 2009, Montclair High shutout MKA 4-0 to regain the Cup. The Cougars would finish the 2009 campaign at 5-19, leading to Head Coach Gary Kramer's resignation. In the spring of 2009, MKA named former MHS alumni and coach, Brack Healy, their new bench boss. In Healy's first game against his former team, MKA beat Montclair High 2-1. MKA's 9-2-3 start was rewarded with a Star Ledger Top 20 ranking. MKA qualified for the state playoffs and recorded their first postseason win since 1995 with a 3-2 win vs. Bishop Eustace. Citing professional advancement, Healy resigned from MKA after only one season behind the bench and took over as the head man at Fair Lawn High School. In 2010-11 season the Cougars picked up John LaGorce as head coach. On January 3rd they beat cross-town rival, MHS in the annual Montclair Cup 3-0. The team capped off the season with a 4-2 victory over West Essex High School in the McInnis Cup championship. The Cougars were later declared the Essex County team of the year.

The Boy's Soccer team were Prep B State Champions and NJSIAA sectional finalists, and won North Parochial B and overall Non-Public B championship in 2006, the school's first ever wins in the tournament.^[11][12] The 2007 and 2009 teams also won the Prep B State Championship. The 2011 team finished the season with an 21-2-2 record, winning the Prep B state championship and earning the NJSIAA Non-Public B state championship with a 1-0 overtime win against Gill St. Bernard's School.^[13]

Baseball has also done well in years past winning four Prep B State Title since 1991, most recently in 2009, and six Colonial Hills Conference Championships, the most recent was in 2009 when the Cougars were named the Colonial Hills Conference Co-Champions. The MKA baseball has also won three Non Public B North crowns, in 1997, 2002 and 2009. In 2002 the Cougars were led by Frank Herrmann who currently pitches for the Cleveland Indians (MLB). The Cougars' head baseball coach since 1991, Ralph Pacifico, won his 300th game in 2007. In 2009 MKA Baseball captured both the conference title and the Prep B championship. Pacifico was named Coach of the Year in the Colonial Hills Conference. On June 2, 2009, MKA defeated St. Mary's (Rutherford) by a score of 7-3 to win the North Non-Public B crown and clinch a spot in the overall state title game.^[14]

The Cougars' Boys Lacrosse team won the 2007 Prep B state title, ending Morristown-Beard School's five-year win streak.

The Girls' Volleyball team has also been very successful, most recently winning the 2006 and 2007 Colonial Hills Conference Championship. The Cougar volleyball coach Mike Tully was also recently named the 2008 New Jersey State Coach of the year.

The Boys Tennis team were 2009 NJISAA Prep B State Co-Champions. The team also made it to the finals of the 2007 North Non-Public B state championship where they lost to Newark Academy 3-2. The 2008 team would repeat their 2007 success by making it back to the finals of the North Non-Public B State Championship in which they lost 3-2. The 2008 team also won the Colonial Hills Conference and Essex County Championships. The county tournament win was the first in the school's history.^[15]

The MKA Golf team finished the 2010 season as Parochial Non Public B State Champions and NJISAA Prep B State Champions. In 2007, the team had a 19-1 record, winning the 2007 Colonial Hills Conference Championship, came in 2nd in the 2007 Essex County Tournament and won the 2007 Prep B State Championship.

In 2008, Coach Tony Jones led the Boy's Basketball team to the school's first Prep B championship for the sport, defeating Collegiate School 82-59.^[16] Kyrie Irving, who was a Sophomore at the time, became the school's second 1,000 point scorer two days earlier in the semi-final game against top seeded and defending champion Solomon Schechter. In 2010, they were named SEC Independence Division Champions.

Notable faculty

• Thomas Fleming (born 1951), winner of the New York City, Tokyo, Cleveland International and Los Angeles marathons.^[17]
• Timothy W. Lynch, one of the earliest Internet television critics.
• Charles Olsen, trumpeter

Notable alumni

• Kerry Bishé (born 1984), actress^[18] (her father taught at MKA^[19])
• Bob Cottingham, Olympic fencer (MKA '84).^[20]
• Jim Courter (born 1941), represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991.^[21]
• Wayne Dumont (1914-92), served in the New Jersey Senate from 1951-1990 (with a two-year gap).^[22]
• Theodore Miller Edison (1898-1992), only child of his inventor father who graduated college; went on to become an inventor with over 80 patents.^[23]
• Frank Herrmann (born 1984), Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.^[24]
• Tim Howard (born 1979), current United States men's soccer team and Everton goalkeeper^[25]
• Kyrie Irving (born 1992), basketball player for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team.^[26]
• Sean Jones (born 1962), NFL defensive end and Super Bowl XXXI Champion (MKA '80).^[27]

Alumni Association Awards

Every year, the Alumni Association awards a notable MA, TKS or MKA alum the Distinguished Alumni Award.^[28]

Distinguished alumni

• 2010 - Nancy Booth Kelly '52 - Volunteer, Philanthropist and Businesswoman
• 2009 - Jeffrey Kindler '73 - Businessman and Lawyer
• 2008 - Dr. Alphonsus "Rick" Doerr, Jr. '78 - Surgeon and Olympic Sailor
• 2007 - Melissa Cohn '78 - Businesswoman and philanthropist
• 2006 - Peter N. Perretti, Jr. '49 - Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, Academy Trustee
• 2005 - Ross I.S. Zbar '84 - Surgeon and humanitarian
• 2004 - Virginia Hamilton Adair '29 - Poet and educator
• 2003 - Barry W. Ridings '70 - Investment banker; Lazard Freres' Restructuring Group
• 2002 - Laura Scher '76 - Pioneering entrepreneur; Working Assets Funding Service
• 2001 - Parker B. Armstrong '37 - Vice Admiral USN, ret.
• 2000 - James E. Johnson ' 79 - Undersecretary of the Treasury for Enforcement
• 1999 - William H. Cook '30 - Aeronautical engineer, Boeing Aircraft
• 1998 - Robert L. Clifford '42 - New Jersey Supreme Court Justice
• 1997 - Peter V. K. Funk '39 - Author, lexical semanticist
• 1996 - Doris Keller Hamlin '36 - Pioneering environmentalist
• 1995 - Herbert H. Tate Jr. '71 - President, N.J. Board of Public Utilities
• 1994 - Rudolph H. Deetjen '50 - Educator
• 1993 - Ellen Malcolm '65 - Founder, EMILY's List
• 1992 - Michael S. Yamashita '67 - International photographer
• 1991 - Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner '70 - Founder, Lyme Disease Foundation
• 1990 - Thomas Stockham '51 - Electrical engineer; inventor digital recording
• 1989 - Philip L. Fradkin '53 - Author, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
• 1988 - Aubin Zabriskie Ames '54 - Quintessential volunteer
• 1987 - James A. Courter '59 - U.S. Congressman, military expert
• 1986 - Joseph E. Wiedenmayer '24 - Career diplomat, advocate for the Deaf
• 1985 - Elizabeth Jones '53 - Chief Sculptor-Engraver, U.S. Mint

Outstanding Alumnus Award

• 1974 - Roger B. Etherington '41 - President, American National Bank & Trust Co.
• 1973 - S. Barksdale Penick Jr. '21 - President, S.B. Penick Co., New York
• 1972 - Arthur A. Goldman '25 - Hotelier, owner All Seasons Hotel & Golf Club
• 1971 - Dallas Townsend '36 - CBS News journalist
• 1970 - Spruille Braden '10 - U.S. Ambassador to Colombia (1939-42), Cuba (1942-45), Argentina (1945)
• 1969 - Howard Van Vleck '22 - Landscape architect, Academy Trustee
• 1968 - Richard B. Scudder '31- Publisher, The Newark Evening News
• 1967 - Gustave E. Wiedenmayer '25 - President, National Newark and Essex Banking Co.
• 1966 - James S. Vandermade '35 - President, Sowerbutt Quarries, Inc.; MA Trustee
• 1965 - Fairleigh Dickinson, Jr. '37 - President of Becton, Dickinson & Co.
• 1963 - Lewis Williams Douglas '12 - U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain (1947-50)
• 1962 - Edwin D. Etherington '42 - President, American Stock Exchange; President, Wesleyan University

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Montclair Kimberley Academy, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 14, 2011.
2. ^ Montclair Kimberley Academy, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed November 15, 2011.
3. ^ History, Montclair Kimberley Academy. Accessed June 14, 2011.
4. ^ Day, Richard W. Merger: The First Two Years, Education Resources Information Center. Accessed June 14, 2011.
5. ^ School Search, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed July 29, 2008.
6. ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.
7. ^ 2003 National Schools of Character Winners, Character Education Partnership. Accessed September 25, 2006.
8. ^ Gopal, Prashant."America's Best High Schools: New Jersey, Bloomberg Businessweek, January 15, 2009. Accessed June 14, 2011.
9. ^ 2006 Girls Team Tennis - North B, NJSIAA, accessed March 23, 2007
10. ^ Staff. "Montclair Kimberley 2, Stuart Day 1 (High school Field Hockey scores and results) - Field Hockey", The Star-Ledger, November 7, 2010. Accessed June 14, 2011. "Angela Gallagher scored in the first half for Stuart Country Day, but Montclair Kimberley Academy responded with two goals in the second half and went on to a 2-1 victory yesterday in the championship of the NJISAA Prep B tournament at Watchung Field in Montclair."
11. ^ Lulgjuraj, Susan. "BOYS HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER / 'HEARTBREAKING TO LOSE LIKE THAT' / WILDWOOD CATHOLIC FALLS IN STATE NON-PUBLIC B FINAL TO MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY", The Press of Atlantic City, November 15, 2006. Accessed November 15, 2011.
12. ^ HISTORY OF NJSIAA BOYS SOCCER, NJSIAA. Accessed November 15, 2011.
13. ^ Karn, Jeff. "Gill St. Bernard's (0) at Montclair Kimberley (1), NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Non-Public B - Boys Soccer", The Star-Ledger, November 14, 2011. Accessed November 15, 2011. "Dixon barely got a foot on a shot by Miles Hackett and redirected it into the net with 1:32 remaining in the first overtime to send Montclair Kimberley Academy, No. 15 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Gill St. Bernard’s in the NJSIAA/Sports Authority Non-Public B final yesterday at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. Montclair Kimberley (21-2-2) won its first state title since 2006."
14. ^ 2009 Baseball Tournament - North, Group B, NJSIAA. Accessed June 14, 2011.
15. ^ 2007 Boys Tennis - Non-Public, North B, NJSIAA. Accessed June 8, 2007.
16. ^ Staff. "Montclair Kimberley 82, Collegiate 59 — Prep B Tournament", The Star-Ledger, February 19, 2008. Accessed June 14, 2011. "Kyrie Irving scored 11 of his 32 points over the final 3:22 of the third quarter when Montclair Kimberley broke a tie and pulled away to earn its first state Prep B title with an 82-59 victory over Collegiate in the championship game yesterday in Passaic."
17. ^ Tober, Steve. "Cougars benefit from depth in distance events", The Montclair Times, April 14, 2011. Accessed June 14, 2011. "The fact that Montclair Kimberley Academy's boys and girls track and field teams are particularly strong in the distance running events (800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters) should not be a surprise, since veteran head coach Tom Fleming – a pretty good distance runner himself in his day – has always produced an arsenal of hard-working mileage grinders willing to put in the necessary work in all three seasons (cross country, indoor and outdoor track) in order to keep improving. The Cougars' current squad certainly boasts numbers (32 boys and 17 girls on the respective rosters), meaning the interest in the sport is at a high point under the enthusiastic 12th-year head coach, who twice won the New York City Marathon during the early 1970s."
18. ^ Charpentier, Lauren, "Kerry Bishe, MKA Alumna and TV Star", The Cougar Call, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Friday, February 19, 2010
19. ^ "Founder's Cup", The Montclair Kimberley Academy website
20. ^ Bob Cottingham, Ivy@50. Accessed May 23, 2008. "Cottingham began fencing at Monclair Kimberley Academy under Columbia grad Carmen Marnell and was named all-state."
21. ^ James Andrew Courter, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 6, 2007.
22. ^ "WAYNE DUMONT, LAWYER, DIES AT 58; Succumbs to Heart Disease at Home in Little Falls, N. J., After Long Illness. ON SEVERAL BANKS' BOARDS Was President of the High Point Park Commission and a Member of Many Clubs.", The New York Times, April 8, 1929. Accessed July 11, 2008.
23. ^ Edison Family Album: Theodore Miller Edison, national Park Service. Accessed November 21, 2007.
24. ^ King, Peter. "Ten Things I Think I Think", Sports Illustrated, June 6, 2010. Accessed January 26, 2011.
25. ^ Tober, Steve. "MKA’s Riddick has unique view as she watches surging Mounties", The Montclair Times, May 20, 2005. Accessed August 27, 2007. "Former MKA goalkeeper Tim Howard recently had his starting keeper’s job taken away for Manchester United as the British power decided to insert the more experienced international player Roy Carroll in his place, at least for the moment, as the team approached solidifying its FA Cup final lineup."
26. ^ Boyer, Mary Schmitt. "Kyrie Irving wants to remain normal, but Cleveland Cavaliers' potential No. 1 pick is anything but, say coaches, teammates", The Plain Dealer, May 31, 2011. Accessed June 14, 2011. "High school: Montclair (N.J.) Kimberley Academy (freshman and sophomore years), St. Patrick in Elizabeth, N.J. (junior and senior years) "
27. ^ Whiteside, Kelly. "Money Player: Defensive end Sean Jones is paying large dividends for the Packers—and his financial clients", Sports Illustrated, December 5, 1994. Accessed January 26, 2011. "In high school, business was Scan's primary interest. He played football, basketball and lacrosse for Montclair Kimberley Academy prep school, but those activities simply passed the time."
28. ^ Alumni Awards, Montclair Kimberley Academy. Accessed March 6, 2011.

External links

• Montclair Kimberly Academy Website
• Data for the Montclair Kimberley Academy, National Center for Education Statistics

Coordinates: 40°49′17″N 74°13′36″W / 40.821477°N 74.226614°W / 40.821477; -74.226614