2014/15 School Year by The Peck School

PECK NEWS

247 South Street • Morristown, NJ • 07960-7381

www.peckschool.org • www.facebook.com/peckschool

2014

PECK NEWS 2014

#PeckThrowback

Remember When They Came In Colors? For those of us old enough to remember, the desktop iMac offered quite the fashion statement (and decorator’s dream) when outfitting a workspace with one of these G3s! Debuted in the late nineties, it was Steve Jobs’ first consumer innovation as interim CEO. They were made of “Bondi Blue”colored plastic and the egg shaped design with a matching colored hockey-puck mouse captured the consumer’s imagination and pocket book. With thirteen colors to choose from—even one called

Welcoming

Our New

Head of School

“Flower Power”— it’s no surprise that these Peck students are delighted to be working at one of Peck’s blue G3s. Do you recognize these students? (A hint: they are most likely freshman in college right now!) Please email Kay Malone, Associate Director of Alumni, at kmalone@peckschool.org with your guess!

IN THIS ISSUE

Tech@Peck

Save The D ates! Thank you to the hundreds of generous donors to the 2013-2014 Annual Fund! Please join us as we celebrate many participation records including 100% Trustee, Faculty, Staff, Administration, and New Parent giving as well as 96% Current Parent giving! Last year’s Annual Fund raised more than $813,000! We know there are many causes that ask for your financial support and participation. We are always grateful that you choose to support The Peck School.

December 18 : Holiday Con cert and Gran Luncheon dparents’ Return to cam

pu enjoy a scrum s for one of our most treas ptious Peck lu ured traditions nch followed holiday season by a special m ! Grandparents are invited . Invitation to to usical perform follow! ance in hono r of the

December 19 : Christmas S Our holiday tra ing di

following the

tion continue s with this sign Sing. ature Peck

January 5: Cla sses

event! Winte r break

begins

Resume—We lcome to 201 5!

May 7: Mahlo n-Pitney Socie Current and Pa ty Trustee Din st Trustees ar ner e invited ba trustees! Invitations will

ck to campu rly in the sprin s for a special dinner cele brating our g.

be mailed ea

May 8: Grand p and Downy-R arents’ and Friends’ Day, S edhead Field pring Sing, Grandparents Day are invited to cele vitations will be brate the spring season with another sent early in th all-time favorit e spring. e

Peck event! In

June 5: Com mencement Spring 2016: Family

+ Reunion!

After years of ce is exploring th lebrating our alumni by ho sting the “Dec e possibility of ades Reunion ho alumni from th s,” the Alumni e early days th sting a Saturday afternoo Office n “Family Day rough 2006. and your fam ” on campus W ily for a picnic for lunch, and ce ouldn’t it be fun to gather with your clas lebrate the ol If you would lik d Downy-Red smates e to voluntee head rivalry? r to help plan Kay Malone, this special ga Associate Dire thering, please ctor of Alumni Relations, at contact kmalone@pe ckschool.org .

The Peck School

247 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960-7381 • (973) 539-8660 www.peckschool.org ADMINISTRATION Head of School

Andrew C. Delinsky Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

Erin Ceder

Director of Finance and Operations

Dyana Conroy

Director of Athletics

Donald J. Diebold Director of Technology

Kevin Grieshaber

Director of Advancement

Joan Smith Myers

Head of the Lower School

Nina Sharma

Interim Head of the Upper School

Daisy Douglas Savage

Interim Director of Curriculum and Faculty Development

Julie Skinner

EDITORIAL STAFF Director of Advancement

Joan Smith Myers

PECK NEWS Everywhere at Peck, one can find students and faculty employing technology to improve their learning and teaching. Students are using Google Docs to collaborate on class projects, Skype to make connections globally, iMovie to both show and tell a story, and countless other tools. Our Haiku Learning Management system transcends traditional classroom walls, fostering a sense of connectedness, collaboration, and responsibility that continues long after the school bells chime. At Peck, we constantly ask ourselves how we should utilize the ever-expanding digital sphere around us to enrich our students’ learning experiences—while mindful of the challenge to deploy technology creatively, effectively, and productively in our mission to educate students for today’s, and tomorrow’s, world.

FEATURES

Director of Communications

Jennifer Cleary

Congratulations to the Class of 2014

Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Kay Malone

Advancement Office Administrative Assistant

Joanie Syp

Printing and Design

Ace-Twill

Art Director

Greta G. Chinnadurai

PECK NEWS CONTRIBUTORS: Erin Ceder Josie Cummings ‘14 Kiwi Comizio ‘10 Jen Garvey Kevin Grieshaber Robert Griffin Nick Hahn ‘14 Zan Struebing Roberta Russell Maribel Mohr

Campus News

Tech@Peck

PHOTOS: Funkhouser Photography Elena Mitchell Photography Sherry Sutton Photography Marc Russell Studio Photography, and the Peck archives The Peck School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or family composition in the administrative policies or operation of the School.

Alumni Peck Graduates in Technology

Class Notes

FSC LOGO

Meeting

Andrew C. Delinsky

PECK NEWS 2014

We are proud to welcome our eleventh Head of School during our one hundred and twentysecond year of educating bright minds! Andrew C. Delinsky (Andy, as he likes to be called) comes to Peck with a background in educational leadership, curriculum innovation, and dynamic scholastic achievement. A strong theme of his own educational journey, as both a student and teacher, is rooted in the motto of his high school alma mater, Excellence with Humanity (from The Rivers School in MA), which pairs seamlessly with Peck’s belief that “in life knowledge must be guided by values.” We interviewed Andy for this issue of the Peck News, and share here the myriad ways in which he views his personal journey as a valued preparation for his leadership role at Peck.

Let’s start by acknowledging how happy we are as a community to welcome you to Peck! Your road to the world of independent school education began at The Rivers School in Weston, MA, having previously been a student in the Boston public school system. Was this a transformative experience? Absolutely. Though I had a few wonderful public school teachers, I never had a teacher who really took an interest in me. No one really knew me. No one took me aside and said, “You can do better. I know you can do better.” It wasn’t until I got to Rivers (a small independent school much like Peck in feel) when I felt like I was known. It was a great community. I liked the sense that you couldn’t hide. Everyone knew you. People believed in you. My most memorable teacher was from senior year AP English—Dr. Ganong— was a great teacher. He made it fun. He mastered the content. But he also understood the importance of making connections with students. I’m a firm believer that one of the first things a teacher should be thinking about in classrooms is ‘how do you create an ex-

tremely safe environment to learn?’ If it’s not a safe environment to learn, it’s not going to be as dynamic a classroom as you would like. And he made it safe. You could take risks. You could speak your mind, and it was never judged. The best teachers do this seamlessly; they establish control, clearly mark boundaries, and embrace student contributions. Dr. Ganong also took an interest in me outside of the classroom; he’d be the first to ask how I was doing if I didn’t look or seem okay. It made a huge difference, and left a great impression on me. My experience at Rivers, in part, inspired me to work in the Summer Bridge Program at Concord Academy during my undergrad years at Franklin & Marshall. That was the first time I fully realized I wanted to teach—working with inner city public school students from the Cambridge and Boston areas in this boarding, independent-school-like program designed to build character, confidence, and prepare kids for the next year at their schools. These were bright kids who wanted to be in classes over the summer. One summer I taught math, and the next, English; I worked with terrific mentor teachers and seeing the kids grow through the program was inspiring. MEETING ANDREW C. DELINSKY

in middle school classrooms, you can have great, great conversations about the issues that impact your students’ lives, and then draw a link to the literature relating to their issues. So, it’s really character formation; helping kids sort through who they are, so that they can make better decisions.

I feel that if character education is as important as we say, then we have to take the

As an English Teacher at heart, what are your thoughts on reading and writing? I’m a big reader, and I absolutely adore teaching writing. This is one of the most enjoyable parts about teaching English—you are able to push thought. It’s one thing for a student to have an idea in his or her head, but then it’s another thing to know how to put it down on paper in a way that makes sense, where it flows together and makes a cohesive argument. Literature gives you an avenue to talk about important issues. Especially

PECK NEWS 2014

time to address it properly—even if that means giving up traditional teaching time. When you have a great book like To Kill a Mockingbird, the conversations can be so wonderful about right versus wrong and important moral issues. Looking at everything happening today, it’s sad that those conversations are as pertinent today as they were in the

1960s, yet just as important for kids to talk through these issues.

You’re clearly passionate about teaching. Did you intend to take on administrative roles as well? I did aspire to be an administrator for a few reasons. While I had opportunities at Fay to move into administration, at the time, I wanted to continue teaching. (And there’s a great argument to make that perhaps I could have stayed in the classroom for a few years longer!) Yet when I had the opportunity at Bullis, I couldn’t pass it up. I have always been intrigued with leadership as a concept. I enjoy leadership positions. I’ve always been fascinated with change. What I think about is, ‘how can this run better? How can you make [a school] a place that kids love attending, where teachers love working, where parents feel great? How can you make all the programs you have better?’ I believe strongly that it starts with teachers. The best teachers—and Peck has a great deal of them—work their magic far beyond the classroom. And great teachers make for happy and enriched students. Happy and enriched students make for happy parents who want to see their children learning, growing, and fulfilled.

I love being in a position to help facilitate that. Ultimately, it’s all about kids, right? If you have adults in the right places, feeling good about what they are doing—then kids will get a great experience both in, and then out of, the classroom.

Tell us about Beyond the Books, the program you created at Bullis. After becoming the upper school principal at Bullis, I saw a few areas in which I thought we could improve—one of those being the character education program. We had an advisory program, but I felt we could do more to stop and examine the issues that impact kids as they grow. So, we started Beyond The Books. It was a surprise day, somewhere in the middle of the winter, when we would bring in a keynote speaker in the morning to deliver an inspirational, informative, and important message to set the day’s tone. The keynote speaker would then hold breakout sessions during the day. We would also bring in some secondary speakers. One year, we brought in mindfulness trainers. Other years, we brought in yoga instructors. We would screen different movies. We would build a full day from 8:00 to 2:45 for introspection, character building activities, events, and listening to different messages. I feel that if character education is as important as we say, then we have to take the time to address it properly—even if that means giving up traditional teaching time. Additionally, what happens in a classroom can only be enhanced when you take time to dive into other topics. This was a way to practice what we preached. And the results were always great—after each Beyond the Books day the kids felt refreshed. They felt nourished. They were given what they needed, and it made class time better (the teachers felt it too!) This was a way to step back and remind ourselves that if we’re not paying attention to who these kids are and what impacts them on a daily basis, we’re missing a huge part of what their experience is and can be.

WELCOME, ANDREW C. DELINSKY! The Peck School Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Andrew C. Delinsky has been appointed as Peck’s eleventh Head of School. Andy began his term July 1, 2014; succeeding Interim Head of School Elizabeth P. Riegelman and Peck’s tenth Head of School John Kowalik. The Board’s unanimous decision to appoint Mr. Delinsky was based on the enthusiastic endorsements of the Search Committee, the Advisory Committee, and members of the Peck community. Andy brings seventeen years of independent school experience as a teacher and administrator to Peck, having most recently served as Assistant Head of School and Upper School Principal at The Bullis School, an independent day school for grades two through twelve in Potomac, Maryland. While at Bullis, Andy helped implement a new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program; “Beyond the Books,” an initiative to promote student character education and personal development; and an entrepreneurship program that brings real-world small business development to students. His passion for excellence in teaching and experience in planning and implementing 21st century curriculums is evident throughout his long history as an educator and scholar. Andy earned his Master of Arts in English at the prestigious Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College in 2003, following his Bachelor of Arts in English from Franklin & Marshall College in 1997. In 2013, he completed a Master of Science in Leadership at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where he was the valedictorian of his class. He began his career in independent schools as the Assistant Director of Admissions at Concord Academy, and then taught English at The Fay School and St. Albans School. Andy’s career at Bullis began in 2003 as an Upper School English teacher and, in 2005, he was named Upper School Dean of Students. In 2007, he became the Upper School Principal, and in 2013 he was appointed as the Assistant Head of School while continuing to oversee the successful operation of the Upper School. In addition, he taught Public Speaking. The Peck School is honored and thrilled to welcome Andy, his wife Julie [Nelson] Delinsky, and their children Eve and Finn to the community. They now reside at Peck’s Head of School’s house in Morristown, NJ.

MEETING ANDREW C. DELINSKY

We have to continue thinking about where we want our kids to be when they graduate: How do you help them become better people? How do you make sure that they’re equipped to succeed in a world that is becoming more and more complex, where new and different skills are constantly required? We need to ensure they are prepared for this kind of world, and, at the same time, we must also ensure that we are giving our students a truly engaging,

The best teachers and leaders are the embodiment of the growth mindset— they’re always learning, always looking to improve. thought-provoking, dynamic, academic experience. They deserve that. The classroom should be alive, and kids should be excited about it and eager to share what they’re doing. It’s an exciting balance—discovering how best to deliver course content in a way that also builds core skills, peaks interest, and makes students excited to learn and take ownership of that knowledge.

Your concept of leadership seems to be centered on your interest in community building, and in having children take ownership of their own knowledge and studies. Is this a theme you’re hoping to continue at Peck? Yes, absolutely, and I have found this theme resonates just as strongly at Peck. That’s what’s been so fun about my first few months here! I’ve loved learning about the Peck community and its cultures. I strongly believe that you can’t 6

PECK NEWS 2014

begin considering what changes you want to make until you really understand a [school’s] culture; understand its programs, its people, and what has come before you. Peck has such a rich history of traditions and my charge is to ensure that what is core about Peck carries forward for current and future Peck students and families. One thing I’ve discovered that I love about Peck is the balance of high academic standards with a caring, thoughtful, nurturing approach. It’s a winning formula, and my goals are to continue building upon the success of what’s already here.

Do you have a mentor that led you to this philosophy on teaching and leadership? I’ve had a few different mentors, but Dr. Gerald Boarman, the last Head of School at Bullis, was a wonderful mentor to me. He had such a simple philosophy: Look at everything in a school through the student perspective. (Of course, when you say it out loud, it’s such a no brainer!) Such as, if we’re considering a decision for the school, how does it impact students? If we’re thinking about a new program, how does it impact students? If we’re talking about what teachers are

doing, how does it impact students? Discussions at this level can be hugely impacted when you consider the student as a focal point, because you end up making decisions that only enhance their experiences. Dr. Boarman taught me the importance of listening to students. Young people have good ideas. They know what learning works and what learning doesn’t work. They know what excites them in the classroom, what doesn’t excite them in the classroom. Not all of their ideas might work, of course. But it’s always important to demonstrate to kids that you are listening. (And I will say that Peck students have already given me spot-on advice: be visible, get to know them, try the chicken soup in the dining room!) The best teachers and leaders are the embodiment of the growth mindset— they’re always learning, always looking to improve. Dr. Boarman is one of them, and he taught me the importance of always looking critically at what we’re doing and not being afraid of change. What we may have could be great—but if there is something else that could make it even better, we need to look at it.

One last question we have to ask: Where do you see Peck in five or ten years? Here’s all I would add. Every school leader should hope to leave a school organization better than how he or she found it. I’m finding that Peck is at such a great place, which is a true tribute to the people who have come before me. It’s important to me that I respect their legacies, and Peck’s overall rich history. With that being said, I hope to leave the school an even better place for the next person to come after me. I hope that the people here see me as a person of integrity; that I value them and the important work they do, that I make them feel good about their jobs and commitment to Peck.

Whatever changes we make as a collective group, I want those changes to last beyond my tenure, rather than being short-lived and linked only to me. I am part of the collective efforts of the wonderful teachers, administrators, staff, and parents who, through teamwork, improve our school—and I hope that these improvements become engrained in Peck’s exceedingly bright future.

Thank you, Andy, and we appreciate your time and look forward to a great many years with you as our Head of School!

What a great approach to take at Peck! We should always be looking critically at what we do in the educational field, and with a sense of urgency since the stakes are so high. I also know, though, that change is hard. Change is scary. Change is scary for me. Change is scary for other people. It induces fear because it makes people unsure of where they stand and what their role is. But to me, if done right, through a process, with collaboration and buy-in, it works. Overnight changes don’t work. They’re short-lived, and I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in taking the time to discuss and examine our teaching, our learning, and what more we can offer our students. MEETING ANDREW C. DELINSKY

Class of 2014

PECK NEWS 2014

JUNE 6, 2014 Front Row: (l-r) Lauren Elizabeth Cloughen, L. Lindsey Yu, Erikka Rose Schlott, Charlotte Greeley Hagerty, Giana Nicole Earrusso, Frances Given Hough, Mariel Christine Czerniecki, Caroline Anne Wolfe, Ariana Elizabeth Russo, Elizabeth Hunt Owen, Alison Miller Verdesca, Josephine Fremont Cummings, Jennifer Grace Coyne, Alison Griffin McCarthy Middle Row: (l-r) George Andrew Enman, Matthew Gaffney Campbell, Filip Parlapiano, Samuel Spotswood Kirby, Quentin Paul Abramo, Andrew Lee, Anton Christoph Wolkenstein, Nicholas Patrick Ramsey, J. Nicholas Hahn III, Alexander Trygve Alin-Hvidsten, Mark Francis Forbes, Hunter Edwin Macy, Jordan McGinley, Chet Thomas Comizio, Madison Lauren Gibbons Back Row: (l-r) Wesley Joseph Jakimowicz, Thomas Haskell MacCowatt Jr., Andrew Scott Nestle, Gregory James Gilbert, Calvary Lacell Dominique, Oliver Erno Hollo, John Alexander Schuessler, Humza Bari, JoĂŁo Pedro Honorio, Jonathan Riley Misihowsky, Benjamin Patten Ramos

CLASS OF 2014

CLASS SPEAKER:

J. Nicholas Hahn III ’14 Each member of the eighth grade is asked to write an essay reflecting on his or her Peck School experience, and written according to the international “This I Believe” project describing the values that guide one’s daily life. Nick Hahn was asked to read his essay on behalf of the Class of 2014 at Commencement. He is now attending Delbarton School.

I believe in the power of dreaming. I was eight years old. Sitting in the airport, I stared out the terminal window at the huge planes passing by. How could a hunk of metal weighing hundreds of thousands of pounds lift off high into the sky and keep hundreds of passengers safe inside? I marveled at humanity’s ability to create such brilliant machines as this. Soon, we were called to board the plane. I stepped on and started down the aisle towards my seat, but the captain stopped me. He smiled and beckoned for me to come forward to the cockpit. I had never been inside one before. “Take a seat,” he said, motioning to the pilot’s chair. I reluctantly sat down, scared of what I might break. But once I was in the seat, I could almost feel the sheer power of the machine. He let me do some basic controls, showing me something else: with the flip of a switch or the push of a button, even an eightyear-old can move mountains; even an eight-year-old can move a massive 10

PECK NEWS 2014

machine like a plane. This experience gave me the power to dream. With that plane, I could fly. I could reach high above the clouds, and soar to new heights. The only limit to my achievement was my own imagination. With that sort of potential at my fingertips, I believed that anything was possible, just like the Wright Brothers did over a hundred years ago. Even though they had no money, no credibility, and no support for their campaign, they had the audacity to believe that they could complete the first manned flight. With enough hard work and perseverance, just like Wilbur and Orville, I knew that I could achieve anything in life, because I know anything is possible. When I first entered The Peck School in fifth grade, I was nervous, just like that time in the cockpit. I was scared to enter this new environment, filled with new classmates, new teachers, and much more homework. I was afraid of what I might mess up, just like that time in the cockpit. But after just a

few weeks of being a Peck student, I felt much more comfortable. Just as the cockpit controls helped my eight-yearold self to take full advantage of that plane’s power, my classmates, friends, and teachers helped me acclimate, perform at my best, and dream big in this new and uncomfortable environment. The fifth grade workload was in full swing within a matter of weeks. The amount of time I spent on homework increased by at least sixfold. But again, I believed that I could do anything, especially with the support of the Peck community. My main goal for my first term at Peck was to earn High Honor Roll, and, just like that time in the plane, I knew I could achieve it if only I believed it was possible. I worked hard in class, I studied hard at home, and most of all, I kept dreaming, dreaming far bigger than simply earning a High Honor Roll certificate. I wanted to make it big outside of the Peck walls. I wanted to do great things with my life, to become a major player in the business world. Without my dreams, I wouldn’t have ambition. Without my dreams, I wouldn’t work hard. And they continue to this day: my dreams fuel me to reach new heights, high above the clouds. But more importantly, I wouldn’t have been able to dream and think independently like this without the support and encouragement of Peck. Our small class sizes not only allow us to bond as a

community, but they also prevent anybody from hiding. It doesn’t matter who you are; you must participate in class discussion. Your voice matters and makes an impact, not only in the classroom, but also in the larger community. Once, in Ms. Chan’s English class, she created an exercise in which one student—who knew what would happen in advance—was sent to Mr. Sigrist’s office for absolutely nothing, even though Ms. Chan claimed she was talking out of turn. This time, the lesson was not about English; it was about character. In our class, it was Jordan. Most students, including me, stayed silent, on the premise that it “wasn’t our problem.” But looking back, it certainly was our problem. Our very own classmate was “disrespected” and, on appearance, sent to get in trouble for no reason at all. Sending Jordan to Mr. Sigrist’s office without a reason would be the equivalent to my being sent to Mr. Sigrist’s office for no reason—and we learned the importance of speaking up. From advisory, to my sixth grade English, seventh grade History, and all of my other classes, Peck has developed our ability to think independently and to dream. Since then, our class has both physically and mentally matured. We feel obligated to participate in class discussions, and we know that our voice matters. And since we know that our voice matters and impacts others, we

must use it to participate in larger global discussions on major issues; to dream for a better world full of new solutions. And I encourage you all to dream big as well. The question of whether or not you can change the world is already answered. I know that each and every stu-

And since we know that our voice matters and impacts others, we must use it to participate in larger global discussions on major issues; to dream for a better world full of new solutions. dent from this diverse Class of 2014 can. But do you have the audacity to challenge others, to fully take advantage of your capabilities, to follow your heart, to really make an impact? Dream the biggest dreams, even if others disagree with you or your ideas. Who knows what you could create? All the great successful

people in history have charged against the general flow of ideas; they dared to think differently. Einstein failed many of his classes in school, but he kept dreaming, and he ended up beginning an entirely new era of modern physics. Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, Coco Chanel, and countless others, frustrated with the constraints of the world surrounding them, started successful businesses in college or even in high school. With the tools you have at your fingertips, you can accomplish things as great as any of these people. Peck has given you many vital tools for the modern world, such as time management, collaboration, public speaking, and other important modern-day skills. All around you, you have a strong support system of friends, classmates, advisors, and teachers that have helped you perform at your best and develop all of your skills. Believe you have the power to change the world, because no matter what others say, you do. Thank you. Nick Hahn Class of 2014

CLASS OF 2014

√ KIWI COMIZIO Ms. Comizio ’10 graduated from Peck with high honors and the F. C. Reynolds Sportsmanship Award. She attended Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child for secondary school, where she was the recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award. She is now attending Yale University.

ALUMNI SPEAKER:

Kiwi Comizio ‘10

Inviting one of our alumni (who is also a graduating high school senior) to be a guest speaker at Commencement has been a Peck tradition for many years. Kiwi Comizio graduated from Oak Knoll in June 2014, and is now attending Yale University. The following is her speech to the Class of 2014.

Good afternoon faculty, administration, parents, friends, and, most importantly, the reason we are all here, the Class of 2014. I would like to extend congratulations to each of you. Judging from my own experience and from the experiences of my hard-working brother, Chet, and cousin, Matt, I know each of you has worked diligently to reach your spot on this stage today. You should be very proud of everything you have accomplished. Let me assure you that you are well prepared for high school. In the next four years, you will experience some of the best and most mem12

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orable years of your life. However, I would be lying if I told you that the road would be paved with only successes and high points. There will be many bumps along that road; you will take a few wrong turns, and may even need some roadside assistance. High school would not be high school without some disappointing and awkward moments. The message I want to leave you with today as you graduate, though, is to embrace the disappointments along with the triumphs because they contribute equally to your overall experience and the person you will become. It’s easy to see this through the lens

of high school sports, especially for me. Athletics were a primary focus for me, and, four years later, I believe my experiences are the main reasons I am who I am today. I learned to expect the unexpected early on when, in eighth grade, Mrs. Sweeney made me the captain of the basketball team. While thrilled to be a team captain, I was a little surprised it was for basketball because I considered myself far more successful on the field hockey and lacrosse teams. In fact, the highlight of my seventh grade basketball career had been two layups that not only missed, but also landed in the other team’s basket! However, I did not let my lack of skills deter me from giving whatever I could to the team. I may not have uncovered an undying passion for basketball that eighth grade winter, but I loved spending time with my friends on the team and getting to work with Mrs. Sweeney. So, early on I learned then that, even if a club or activity is not your favorite, you can grow and learn by immersing yourself in it. Whether it’s making new friends or discovering a new interest, there is always something to be gained from getting involved and participating. Our eighth grade basketball team may not have had the best record, but we never gave up. Most importantly, we enjoyed the shared experience and the friendships built.

For four years at Oak Knoll, I had the good fortune to be part of an amazing field hockey program with Ryan McCarthy, one of my closest friends since Kindergarten and fellow Peck alumna. Ryan and I have played on teams together over the past decade, in and out of school. This past fall we were co-captains of the Oak Knoll team, and about to play in the Tournament of Champions final against Eastern (the powerhouse)—a game we had talked about playing since we were freshmen. If we beat them, we would emerge as the #1 team in the state. We had never felt more ready. As soon as we started playing, we both knew we could win because we had worked hard for four years, preparing for this moment. Then the unexpected occurred. Three minutes into the game, Ryan tore her ACL. She was taken off the field, obviously out for the rest of the game. Although the rest of the team played hard to win it for Ryan, there was no fairytale ending. Sometimes, no matter how much you really want something, it just doesn’t work out. I was exposed to this disappointment at Peck in seventh grade when I ran for Student Council, but lost to Will Moss; a worthy opponent with a much more humorous and persuasive speech. This is an important lesson to learn early on, because there is always more than

one path for each of us. This past weekend, I had an opportunity to re-learn this lesson. My Oak Knoll lacrosse team was playing in the state final against Mountain Lakes. We were confident and favored to win. We were ahead for most of the game, but

Peck builds a strong character within each student, teaching them the determination to be the first one to the ball, or to be diligent about finishing a wellwritten research paper. then Mountain Lakes gained the upper hand. In the last few minutes, they won. We were the better team, but, on that day, the other team wanted it more and fought harder for the win. Everyone on my team played well and did what they

could, but, once again, I learned that it might not always be enough. Even working hard and holding all the cards, on any given day, even the best can fall short. This kind of experience is one that makes you stronger and prepares you for life. Peck builds a strong character within each student, teaching them the determination to be the first one to the ball, or to be diligent about finishing a well-written research paper. My teams may not have been as successful during my senior season as I had hoped, but that is the way it goes. Everybody wants to be successful just as much as you do and are just as willing to work hard for it. Sometimes you have to accept that one game or moment isn’t going to be yours, but you still give your best effort before and during the game so you leave with no regrets. Falling short of one victory makes the next one even sweeter because of the extra work you put into it. Failure makes us truly value the effort required for success as well as forcing us to redefine the meaning of success itself. This article is continued online www.peckschool.org/media/ publications

CLASS OF 2014

2014

Prizes & Awards HIGH SCHOLARSHIP:

Chet Comizio Jennifer Coyne Josephine Cummings Mariel Czerniecki Charlotte Hagerty J. Nicholas Hahn III Frances Hough

SCIENCE AWARD:

Wesley Jakimowicz Andrew Nestle Elizabeth Owen Nicholas Ramsey Erikka Schlott Alison Verdesca L. Lindsey Yu

High Scholarship recognizes eighth grade students

who have earned a 90 or better, including exams, for the academic year.

HIGHEST GRADE AVERAGE:

Jennifer Coyne The Harriet Stratemeyer Adams Award is presented to the eighth grade student with the highest grade average. Mrs. Adams, better known as Carolyn Keene, was the author of many children’s books. She was the mother of Camilla Witman, former Peck parent and registrar, and grandmother of seven former Peck students. ENGLISH PRIZE:

L. Lindsey Yu In the interest of stimulating excellence in creative writing, the John L. Hopkins Memorial Award is presented for outstanding performance in composition. MATH AWARD:

Elizabeth Owen The Caspersen Family Mathematics Award recognizes excellence in the performance and application of mathematical skills. The award also recognizes the student’s effort, intuition, and creative talents in exploring mathematical concepts and in understanding analytical procedures. TECHNOLOGY AWARD:

Benjamin Ramos and L. Lindsey Yu The Peck School Technology Award recognizes that student who demonstrates talent, innovation, and creativity in the use of technology in his or her work; who promotes and enhances the respectful use of technology; and who is supportive of his or her peers in the school community in the use of technology. HISTORY PRIZE:

Josephine Cummings The History Book Prize recognizes scholarly achievements matched by a genuine enthusiasm for the study of the past.

PECK NEWS 2014

Jennifer Coyne The Malcolm E. McAlpin Science Award is given in his memory by his family. Mr. McAlpin graduated from Peck with the Class of 1923 and his children and grandchildren also attended. The science award is presented to that student who displays a high level of curiosity, scientific reasoning, and a commitment to excellence in science. FOREIGN LANGUAGE:

French: Jennifer Coyne and Josephine Cummings Latin: Charlotte Hagerty Spanish: Jordan McGinley The Foreign Language Prize is awarded in honor and memory of Yvonne Tyson and is an award for effort, interest, enthusiasm, and academic performance. ART PRIZE:

Elizabeth Owen The Art Prize, given in honor of Marion Turrell Francis, is awarded to that student who possesses outstanding artistic talent and a genuine love of art. MUSIC AWARD:

Alison Verdesca The Alys H. Olney Music Award is given to the student who best exemplifies the following qualifications: musicianship, musicality, interest, and participation in the musical endeavors of the School. DRAMA AWARD:

Matthew Campbell The Norman R. Lemcke Jr. Memorial Drama Award is presented to the student whose talent, commitment, and sense of creativity have resulted in outstanding accomplishments in the area of the dramatic arts. THE F. C. REYNOLDS SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD:

Chet Comizio and Alison McCarthy The F. C. Reynolds Sportsmanship Award is given in memory of F. C. Reynolds for an outstanding sense of fair play, leadership, and good sportsmanship.

RUDOLPH H. DEETJEN JR. AWARD

Humza Bari and Calvary Dominique The Peck School InDeCoRe Award, established in 2009, was renamed in memory and honor of former headmaster Rudolph H. Deetjen Jr. (19771994), who, during his seventeen-year tenure, highlighted the School’s commitment to character education and “consideration of others.” This award is presented to an eighth grade student who, as nominated by his or her peers, best portrays Peck’s six core values: Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, Loyalty, Perseverance, and Empathy. The recipient embodies these characteristics both in and out of School. PECK LOYALTY PRIZE:

Josephine Cummings The Loyalty Prize is the most valued and distinguished award offered by the School and is presented by the Trustees in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Lorraine T. Peck. It is given to the student in the graduating class, who in the estimation of the faculty, best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, personality, loyalty to the School, conscientiousness, and all those other intangible attributes that make for successful human relationships. SPECIAL KINDERGARTEN SERVICE RECOGNITION:

For the members of the graduating class who have contributed outstanding interest and help to the Kindergarten program.

Quentin Abramo Jennifer Coyne Josephine Cummings Mariel Czerniecki Madison Gibbons Gregory Gilbert Charlotte Hagerty Oliver Hollo

Wesley Jakimowicz Samuel Kirby Thomas MacCowatt Jr. Jordan McGinley Elizabeth Owen Ariana Russo L. Lindsey Yu

WALKER D. KIRBY FACULTY AWARD

Daisy Douglas Savage The Walker D. Kirby Faculty Award is presented in honor of Mrs. Walker D. Kirby to that faculty member who, as selected by the graduating class, exhibits such dedication to the School, its students, and its mission, that he or she stands as an exemplary inspiration to the graduates and the entire Peck community.

2013-2014 STUDENT COUNCIL REPORT:

Josie Cummings ‘14 three faculty advisors (Mr. Clark, Mr. Wilkinson, and Mr. Cross) were a key reason that Student Council was so successful. They helped us brainstorm, kept us focused, and helped us to truly make things happen. We never could have done it without you! Finally, I would like to thank Jenny, Hunter, and Calvary for working alongside me throughout the year. Together, we were able to achieve so much and it truly was an honor working with the three of them. Next year, Student Council will be run by President Ethan Magistro and Officers Kendall Hanlon, Nikki Patel, and Ricky Lyon who I’m sure will continue to work to make Peck an excellent place to learn and grow. I wish each of them the best of luck! Go Pride! Having the opportunity to serve as Student Council president this past year has been an absolute honor. Upon being elected last year, my fellow officers (Jenny Coyne, Calvary Dominique, and Hunter Macy) and I met before school began to map out what we wished to accomplish as a council. During that very first meeting, we decided to make it our main priority to strengthen the loop and create a stronger sense of community between the Student Council and the student body. Also during that meeting, we decided it would be a good idea to continue to meet as a small group, in addition to our Friday afternoon activity block. We began having monthly Executive Council meetings in which the three officers and I met with our faculty advisors, Mr. Sigrist, and sometimes Ms. Riegelman, to brainstorm ideas and plan out the agenda of council. When school began, we did our best to make our presence known to the students, kicking the year off with “Welcome Back Donuts.” We then hosted the Pennies for Puppies drive to benefit The Seeing Eye foundation in Morristown, selling bracelets in order to raise money for the caring, breeding, and training of Seeing Eye dogs. I am pleased to announce that Peck raised over $700! Soon after this drive concluded, we began planning for the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to support the Interfaith Food Pantry, making it our goal to raise more than we had the previous year. Upon dropping off all of the canned goods and turkeys, we were told that Peck had collected 2,330 pounds of food, which was about 1,000 pounds more than we raised the year before. We also sent surveys and met with our classmates to hear their perspectives on various topics. Starting with the “Snack Survey” and the “Lunch Survey,” we asked the students’ opinions on snacks, lunches, what they liked and what they didn’t like, and then brought our results to Chef Hunter so that we could truly make changes on behalf of

the students. In addition, we scheduled meetings between Student Council representatives and their grades to ask students how they felt about food, dress code, homework, and general suggestions. After these meetings, the representatives brought their data back to council. In addition, this year’s Student Council continued many annual traditions, while at the same time looking for ways to improve them. For example, instead of only having one Spirit Week in February, we held a few “Accessory Days” throughout the year, giving students the chance to dress up more frequently. We collected funds at Peck dances to sponsor a student in Nepal to go to Maggie Doyne’s Kopila Valley School. Finally, towards the end of the year we began to look at different ways of hosting our weekly TGIM (Thank Goodness It’s Monday) trivia contests. Although this is an extremely fun tradition, we saw that as the year progressed there were fewer participants. So, rather than a weekly trivia question, we played a song at lunch and asked the students to guess the song. We then provided each table with slips of paper and went around with the submission box during lunch. (Sure enough, participation increased dramatically!) I believe that this year the Student Council did a tremendous job of getting things done, planning fun events, and working to better improve the Peck experience. We held the annual Dodge Ball Tournament, worked with the Kindergarten to plan the Toucan Two-Can drive for the Soup Kitchen, proposed the idea of a Kairos weekend instead of just Kairos night, and made sure to speak on behalf of Student Council at as many assemblies as we could. I could not be any happier with all that Student Council has accomplished this year, and I would like to personally thank each and every one of the members who joined to represent his or her grade. No matter what we asked them to do, they would do it without complaint. In addition, our

Josie Cummings Class of 2014 Student Council President

2013-2014 STUDENT COUNCIL

Josie Cummings – President Jenny Coyne – Officer Calvary Dominique – Officer Hunter Macy – Officer 8TH GRADE REPRESENTATIVES

Alexy Alin-Hvidsten Mark Forbes Chet Comizio Nisha Gharti George Enman Maddy Gibbons 7TH GRADE REPRESENTATIVES

Mia Furtado Ethan Huang Maddy Manahan

Nikki Patel Mairead Studdiford Jesper Trapness

6TH GRADE REPRESENTATIVES

Trip Brown Christian Finlay Caitlyn Foley Eve Gilbert

Shaye Herman Ruqaiyyah Lucas-Caldwell Sahil Reddy

5TH GRADE REPRESENTATIVES

Charlie Flanagan Owen Patrick

Annabel Plante Ben Polaski CLASS OF 2014

Around Peck

PECK NEWS 2014

AROUND PECK

Campus News A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR: vA new and exciting chapter in Peck’s

history unfolded as the Board of Trustees appointed Andrew C. Delinsky as Peck’s eleventh Head of School!

vOur

InDeCoRe program continued to expand globally, as Lower School Head Nina Sharma and School Psychologist Dr. Susanne Struebing assisted in creating and implementing a character education program at the Kopila Valley School in Nepal. (Read about it on pg. 28)

vWe received our reaccreditation cer-

tificate from the New Jersey Association

of Independent Schools and Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools, following a rigorous self-study and outside review in which all sixty-three of the NJAIS standards were met without reservations.

vWe

received an honorable mention from the New Jersey State Schools of Character Awards, on behalf of the Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development and the Character Education Partnership in March 2014. The awards are given to schools in recognition of commitment to implementing quality character educa-

Maribel Mohr and Christa Nees accepted a certificate of recognition for our character education program.

tion initiatives and helping form good character in New Jersey’s youth. Teachers Maribel Mohr and Christa Nees accepted the award on behalf of the School, while they were at a conference in which they were also asked to present Peck’s Consideration of Others rubric to other educators.

vAs usual, we stayed busy over the Admissions Office Before…

summer as we continued to maintain and upgrade Peck facilities. In addition to replacing siding on the Lower School, resurfacing the Athletic Center gym floors, widening and paving the Athletic Center driveway and gravel parking area, (and a few other usual deep-cleaning measures), we renovated the Admissions Office—creating an elegant and comfortable meeting space for prospective Peck families.

vEver mindful of our goal to provide Admissions Office After…

secure, robust online access to enhance the digital experience found in our academic program, we upgraded our wireless backbone to the newest industry standards, and continued to refine our use of the Haiku Learning Management System and suite of Google Apps for Education. As we move into the 2014-2015 school year, we remain united in our mission to deliver “knowledge, guided by values,” as we deliver the very best education for our bright-minded students!

PECK NEWS 2014

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR 2014-2015 Back (L-R): John Dubel, David Welsh, John Hagerty, Buff Blanchard, Patrick Ramsey, Todd Hohman (Treasurer), Anne MacCowatt, Michael Gilfillan, Jai Parekh, Janet Pearce (Secretary), Carter Abbott. Front Row (L-R): Marc Manahan, Janet Hanlon, Ellis Siedem, Holly Brown, Jamie Foley (President), Andy Delinsky (Head of School), Keeneh Comizio (Vice President), Henry Klehm, Souren Ouzounian, Debra Bosacki (PA President), Jenny Moss (Vice President). Not Pictured: Peggy Plympton, Kevin Kenny

New Board of Trustee Members FOR 2014-2015 vCarter

Marsh Abbott graduated

from Peck in 1989. After attending Andover, she earned her AB in History and her NJ State Teaching Certification from Princeton University in 1997 where she played both soccer and lacrosse. Carter also has an EdM in School Leadership from Harvard University. Over a 17 year career in independent schools, she has taught history, served as a dorm parent, advisor and coach, and led committees and task forces. She is currently the Athletic Director at Pingry. Additionally, Carter serves on the Board and Executive Committees at US Lacrosse in her capacity as Chair of the Women’s Game Committee. Carter and her husband Red live in Peapack with their two daughters, Campbell ’21 and Quinn ’23.

vDebra

Bampton Bosacki

earned her BA and MPA from Seton Hall University and her JD from New York Law School. She practiced law in the hospital/ healthcare sector for twenty years and is currently Vice President for Legal and Corporate Affairs for Lautus Pharmaceuticals. Prior to serving as President of the Parents’ Association, she served as a Co-Chair of the Viva Peck Spring Auction, Third Grade Class Parent, and PA Vice President. Debra has volunteered her time to benefit various non-profit groups such as Literacy Volunteers of America, Church of Christ the King, and as a Girl Scout Troop Leader for four years. Debra and her husband Steven reside in Convent Station and have one daughter Emma ’17.

vHolly P.

Brown grew up in Lexington,

KY where she attended The Lexington School. Holly received her BA from Vanderbilt University and her MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She began her career at J.P. Morgan working in the Investment Management and Mergers and Acquisitions groups. Holly spent six years at Yahoo! in various senior roles. After Yahoo!, she was President of the Internet Division at Martha Stewart Living. Most recently, she was co-founder of tada! shop, a curated digital marketplace for moms. She has also served on advisory boards of several technology start-ups. Holly has volunteered in various capacities at Peck along with several local organizations. Holly and her husband Norman reside in Summit with their four boys, Trip ’16, Alec ’18, Ben ’21, and Crawford.

vSouren G.

Ouzounian grew up in Lexington, MA and attended Boston College High School. He obtained his BA in Economics from Columbia College and his MBA from the Sloan School at MIT. Souren is a Managing Director and Head of Americas Corporate Finance at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Boston College High School and is a member of the Columbia College Intellectual Experience Committee. He and his wife Carol live in Short Hills with their three children, Alexandra ’19 and twins Annabelle ’23 and Souren ’23.

AROUND PECK

Welcome to Our Newly Appointed Faculty & Staff

New Faculty/Staff at Peck: (Back, L-R) Andrew Lyman, Sasha Schreiner, Yvette Lopez-Grieshaber, Erin Kurdyla, Adriana Sykora, Nora Beitz, and Mary Faugno. (Front, L-R) Andrew Delinsky, Kimberly Apgar, Helen Biffen, Genny Elias-Warren, Tim Loveday, and Suzy Becker.

KIMBERLY APGAR Lower School Office Assistant

After twelve years in the advertising field, Kimberly realized that her love of children suited her perfectly for a career in independent schools. Prior to Peck, she was the assistant to the Executive Director of Montessori Children’s Academy where she was responsible for managing the day-to-day administrative functions of the school and overseeing the school’s website. Additionally, she has coached her son’s basketball team and lacrosse teams, participates in triathlons, enjoys sports, and loves to cook. Kimberly holds a BA from The University of Rhode Island. 20

PECK NEWS 2014

Helen has been teaching for ten years in public and private schools, having previously been a corporate trainer. She holds a BA in Psychology and Economics from Hunter College, a Certificate in Education from The College of St. Elizabeth, and also provides financial services as a second occupation. She lives in Bridgewater with her husband and three children. Helen loves to cook while listening to great music, and is passionate about great family dinners.

at St. Thomas More School in Chapel Hill. With a BA in English and Political Science from Colgate, and a Master’s in Education from New York University, she has an abundance of experience teaching in independent schools in NY and NC, and a strong knowledge of writer’s workshop as it pertains to history. Nora is delighted to return to the tri-state area, and is enjoying living in NJ with her husband and baby. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and (most of all) spending time with family.

NORA BEITZ

SUZY BECKER

Nora recently moved to New Jersey with her family from North Carolina, where she taught fifth and sixth graders

Peck welcomes back Suzy as an eighth grade history teacher, advisor, and yearbook advisor. In 2005, Suzy

HELEN BIFFEN

AfterSchool Assistant

Sixth Grade History Teacher

Eighth Grade History Teacher

first joined Peck as a New Jersey City University graduate and the Lower School Technology Coordinator and Instructor. As a Peck teacher for seven years, Suzy was the coordinator of innovative projects with students and faculty and was instrumental in the Kopila Valley connection that Peck has developed with the students of Nepal. Suzy returns to the United States after two years at the American International School in Zagreb, Croatia where she was an Educational Technology Coordinator and Instructor for grades K-8.

GENNY ELIAS-WARREN

Upper School Math and Science Teacher

Genny, who comes to us from Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York, is in the process of completing a dual Master’s in K-6 elementary education and special education from Montclair State University. She is an experienced middle school teacher with a passion for hands-on, STEM-centered learning experiences. As a coach for Lego Robotics, her teams have taken first place for innovation and teamwork.

MARY FAUGNO

Finance Office Accountant

A Certified Public Accountant, Mary also holds a BS from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She was most recently at the Rainbow Montessori school as an admissions and administrative assistant.

ERIN KURDYLA

Kindergarten Associate Teacher

Erin holds a BS in Exercise Science from Rutgers University and a Certificate from Kean University’s post-baccalaureate program for health and physical education. She has played Division I softball, is a former SELF magazine fitness blogger and contributing writer, and is the owner and instructor of M&E Fitness LLC. The mother of four boys, she is also a member of the Clinton United Women’s Soccer team.

YVETTE LOPEZ-GRIESHABER Drama teacher

Yvette comes to Peck with twenty

years experience in the arts as both an educator and a performer. As a graduate of St. Peter’s College, she holds a Master of Arts in Teaching with additional honors from the Stella Adler Conservatory Apprenticeship program and the Larkin Award for excellence in the area of classical studies. Yvette is an inspirational addition to our drama program as she strives to promote interest, respect, and passion for theater amongst our seventh and eighth grade students.

TIM LOVEDAY

Upper School Math and Science Teacher

Tim received his MAT with concentrations in chemistry and physics from Drew University in 2014, and his BA in pre-med and psychology from the College of Holy Cross in 2005. He is inspired to make a difference in young peoples’ lives, and in addition to teaching he has worked as a counselor for adolescents with severe mental illness and with the Young Scholars Program of New Jersey SEEDS teaching math and helping to develop the science curriculum. Having grown up in New Hampshire, he is an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan (six years surrounded by Yankees and Giants fans has not swayed him!), and enjoys reading, woodworking, golfing, and spending time with family. Tim lives in Morristown with his wife and infant son.

ANDREW LYMAN

Upper School Music Teacher

Andrew has spent the past nine years teaching fifth through eighth grade music in the Woodcliff Lake School District where he taught general music while directing the chorus, the band, the fall play, and the winter musical. Andrew is a Rutgers graduate and has both a Master of Arts in Music and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University.

SASHA SHREINER

Fourth Grade Associate Teacher

Sasha brings over fifteen years experience teaching at the elementary level in private schools and as an administrator in summer camps, having been,

among many things, a Kindergarten Teacher, Lower School Librarian, and Day Camp Director. She received her BA at CUNY Queens College, and teaching certificate from Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. She lives in Ho-Ho-Kus with her three children, and loves writing, yoga, running, and reading.

ADRIANA SYKORA

Upper School Spanish Teacher

Adriana brings to Peck eight years of teaching Spanish at the PreK to high school levels, a passion for her Hispanic culture, and a very diverse background—having been born in Venezuela of a Lithuanian mom and a Czech father, and having lived in both South America and Europe. She holds a Masters in Public Policies and a BA in Business Administration, and has coached executives on the Spanish language and cultural matters relevant to doing business in Latin America. Adriana loves spending time with her husband Daniel and three children, visiting her extended family around the world, and camping, running (she has run two half marathons and looks forward to her third in 2015), skiing, hiking, and biking. UPDATES AND CHANGES:

Daisy Douglas Savage has been appointed interim Upper School Head and continues to serve as Director of Secondary School Counseling. Supporting the Secondary School office as well is Sarah Chan. Sarah has been named Assistant Secondary School Counselor and continues her responsibilities as English Department Chair and sixth grade homeroom teacher. The leadership team also welcomes Jim Cross (5/6) and Stewart Wilkinson (7/8) as Deans of Students while Sue Sweeney has been appointed Assistant Athletic Director. Julie Skinner, who has held various roles during her 23 years at Peck, is serving as the interim Director of Curriculum and Faculty Development. Carolyn Vallario works full time as the Lower School Reading Specialist to support Julie’s move to the administrative team. AROUND PECK

SUMMER FACULTY GRANT

Roberta Russell

The Summer Faculty Grant is a “mini-sabbatical” that encourages teachers to explore other parts of the world or an interest outside of the classroom. Lower School teacher Roberta Russell, a member of the faculty since 1991, received the 2014 grant. Roberta travelled to the Outer Banks, NC, with husband Marc over this past spring break to revisit her interest in the Wright Brothers and the power of flight.

The Wright Brothers have always fascinated me. When my son, Jonathan, was in high school he won second place at the state level with his video presentation entry for National History Day about the Wright Brothers. He went on to compete at the national level and placed nicely. (At the same time, my daughter Ashley was working on her Apollo 13 project for the same competition at her level. What a great connection!) All those years ago, my husband Marc and I visited the Outer Banks to help Jon prepare his project—and this past spring, I was drawn back again to explore the area. It is incredible to

PECK NEWS 2014

imagine Wilbur and Orville trying out thousands of wing warping variations to achieve altitude. Their detailed record

I feel a renewed excitement to present the concepts of first flight to my students.

keeping of the variety of wing designs, engine placement, and flight control is inspiring and I was poignantly reminded of their admirable perseverance. Going back now, not as a parent eager to see her child succeed, but as an adult and seasoned educator, I anticipated having a very different personal perspective. Their story is worth retelling. We all know there’s a first time for everything. In a mere twelve seconds, the world’s first powered flight in a heavier-than-air craft actually defied gravity. Within the space of a few heartbeats, two brothers solved the mystery of flight. Using birds as their examples, the Wright brothers had a vision and mindset that set them on their path to greatness. From 1900-1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright, bicycle makers from Dayton, OH made annual trips to the Outer Banks and set up camp outside Kitty Hawk conducting a series of experiments that would solve the problem of controlled, powered flight. They began using kites, then gliders, before

adding an engine in 1903 that would ultimately launch the Wrights into fame. On the Outer Banks, the brothers found promising steady winds and wide areas of sandy beach. On December 17, 1903 Orville and Wilbur completed four flights during their fourth seasonal trip to the Outer Banks. At what is now Wright Brothers National Memorial in the incorporated town of Kill Devil Hills, Orville Wright (after a coin toss) flew for the first time a distance of 120 feet, lasting a mere 12 seconds. The final flight by Wilbur that day was 852 feet and lasted 59 seconds. And the rest, as they say, is history! Standing at the memorial looking towards the path of those amazing flights, one feels tremendous awe and inspiration for those young men that had such a passion. Having had this opportunity to travel to North Carolina, not only as a teacher but also as a life long learner, I feel a renewed excitement to present the concepts of first flight to my students. I appreciate the faculty grant committee for recommending me as this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recipient. The experience has been both personally and professionally fulfilling. Thank you from both Marc and myself for a wonderful spring break.

For the past few years, Dr. and Mrs. Jay Geller have anonymously funded the Summer Faculty Grant. With their permission, The Peck School thanks them deeply for their generosity!

AROUND PECK

Faculty Recognitions

V Coakley Awarded Second NEH Grant Lower School Music Director Bronagh Coakely was awarded her second National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to study the musical contributions of Johann Sebastian Bach. Selected from hundreds of applicants nationwide, Mrs. Coakely joined a cadre of humanities scholars for this month-long summer institute in Germany.

Carr Receives Second Master’s Degree English Teacher Chelsey Carr received her Master’s in English from the prestigious Bread Loaf School of English of Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT. This is her second Master’s Degree, having previously received her M.Ed. from the University of La Verne, CA.

Sweeney Receives Disciplina Ad Vivendum Award

Sue Sweeney, Assistant Athletic Director and Head of Girls Athletics, was honored with Peck’s Disciplina ad Vivendum Award for Teaching Excellence at the Welcome Back Dinner on September 5, 2014. This top honor is presented by the School to a faculty leader who demonstrates in principle and in practice a personal commitment to Peck’s ultimate goal—the education of the whole child. Read more at peckschool.org/news.

PECK NEWS 2014

Dixon Honored With Because They Cared: 20 Year Service Award ◊ Rick Dixon of our Facilities Staff received the Peck Crystal Apple in honor of his twenty years of dedicated service to the School at Peck’s Welcome Back Dinner on September 5, 2014. Read more at peckschool.org/news.

Spaven, Owen, and Thompson Retire

Spaven, Owen, and Sigrist Honored With Linden Dedication ◊

Peck’s Class of 2014 dedicated their final yearbook, The Linden, to three much-loved departing members of the Peck faculty and staff: Harriot Spaven, Doug Owen, and Matt Sigrist. The Linden editors warmly thanked them for their dedication to Peck, and wished them the best on their future endeavors.

With a combined total of 77 years of service, Harriot Spaven, Doug Owen, and Sharon Thompson retired from Peck in June 2014. Their dedication and professionalism are a true testament to what has made Peck the special school it is today—from the 36 years that Harriot had warmly greeted all who entered Peck’s doors, to the 31 years that Doug had skillfully taught and encouraged students in the classroom and on the field, to the 11 years that Sharon had kindly supported teachers and parents alike from the Lower School office. These three individuals personify the essence of Peck, and will be truly missed!

Cleary Family Addition

◊

Director of Communications Jen Cleary and husband Matt Corica are the proud parents of their first baby, Sofia Elisabeth Corica; born 6 lbs., 2 oz. on June 10, 2014. Congratulations, Cleary-Corica family!

√ Donnelly Family Addition Recently, the three Donnelly children welcomed yet another sibling into their lives! Georgia Cushing Donnelly was born at 7 lbs., 2 oz., to Spanish Teacher Molly Donnelly and husband Kevin on July 22, 2014. Congratulations Donnelly family!

AROUND PECK

NINTH ANNUAL

Robin Ross Assembly The Robin Ross Assembly celebrates our most deeplyheld value, the Consideration of Others, as well as the fourth grade’s “graduation” to the Upper School. The Peck School Award for Community Service is also presented at this assembly to a member of the greater Morristown community.

PECK NEWS 2014

The assembly is supported by the Robin Ross Fund at the Community Foundation of New Jersey, which was established in honor of Robin Ross, who was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edmund B. Ross of Basking Ridge and a former student at Peck. The Robin Ross Fund is the principal sponsor of the InDeCoRe Program (Individual Development and Community Responsibility) at The Peck School, which combines core values and character education throughout the curriculum. It recognizes the priority placed on personal values, good character, and service to others in our overall school program. Each fourth grader received a commemorative book that reflects InDeCoRe values they have studied. This year, Ross family members Mr. Benson Ross and Mrs. Allyson Ross-Pachios ‘91 congratulated the students with Rosa by Nikki Giovanni. Rosa is a story about civil rights figure Rosa Parks. Additionally, four students were honored with awards given annually for scholarship, sportsmanship, and representing Peck values. The Sheila S. Slutsker Creative Arts Award was presented to Bruce Dubel. The award is given to a fourth grade student who demonstrates exceptional talent in music, fine arts, drama, or creative writing, and who serves as an inspiration to fellow students. The Peck School’s former Head of the Lower School, Mrs. Sheila Slutsker, presented the award. The Andy Gaffney Sportsmanship Award was presented to James Ingrassia. The award is given to a fourth grade student who displays outstanding qualities of leadership, consideration, teamwork, and fair play. Ms. Janet Gaffney and Mr. Philip Gaffney, Andy Gaffney’s parents, presented the award.

The John J. Kowalik InDeCoRe Award was presented to two students, Helen Pertsemlidis and William Calder. The Sheila S. Slutsker Creative Arts Award was presented to Bruce Dubel.

The Andy Gaffney Sportsmanship Award was presented to James Ingrassia.

The John J. Kowalik InDeCoRe Award was presented to two students, Helen Pertsemlidis and William Calder. The award, renamed in honor of Peck’s tenth headmaster, Mr. John J. Kowalik, is given to a fourth grade student who, as nominated by his or her peers, best portrays the six core character values, both in and out of school: Respect, Respon-

sibility, Honesty, Loyalty, Perseverance, and Empathy. While Interim Head of School Elizabeth P. Riegelman and Lower School Head Nina Sharma presented the awards, former Head of School John J. Kowalik returned to campus for the Class of 2014’s commencement—and posed for a quick photo with the winners of his namesake award!

THE PECK SCHOOL AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE The Peck School’s Annual Award For Community Service, established by the Board of Trustees, is an integral part of the Robin Ross Assembly. It is given to a member of the Morristown community who merits distinction as a result of his or her personal dedication, community commitment, and service to others.

Ms. Emily Kubin, founder of Emily’s Hats for Hope Initiative, is the recipient of the 2014 award. At seventeen, Ms. Kubin began knitting winter hats for the homeless and working poor in Morris County. “I knew it was in my power to impact the world, in some small way, by making a difference to as many people as I could,” said Ms. Kubin. She soon founded her nonprofit organization which now-two and half years later--has forty global spin-offs in the US, Canada, Denmark, and Australia. Ms. Kubin has donated over 13,000 winter hats to those in need. She spoke earnestly, asking the students: “If you knew you could help change the world, would you? All it takes is one person to start a chain reaction. A small gesture of kindness has the power to snowball into something bigger than you could ever imagine.”

AROUND PECK

The PeckKopila Valley Connection: AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP THAT SHOWS REAL GROWTH When The Peck School recognized Maggie Doyne in 2008 as the recipient of its Community Service Award, no one could have anticipated the longevity and depth of the relationship that would ensue. At that time Ms. Doyne had recently opened the Kopila Valley Children’s Home in Nepal. She dreamed of opening her own school one day, and a large grant from the Do Something Foundation helped to make her dream a reality.

When Kopila Valley School opened its doors in 2011, Ms. Doyne relied on her friends at Peck to help her create a positive learning environment with rigorous academics. Soon after, 28

PECK NEWS 2014

Peck’s Lower School Head, Mrs. Nina Sharma, and teacher, Mrs. Suzy Becker, travelled to Nepal to deliver materials and offer teacher training that reflected best practices in classroom manage-

ment, organizational skills, and disciplinary techniques. In the intervening years Peck has hosted two teachers from the Kopila Valley School as well as two students, the most recent being Nisha Gharti. Nisha was embraced as a full member of Peck’s eighth grade class and the McGinley family from November 2013 until March 2014. Just as Spring Break was getting underway, Nisha was escorted back to Nepal by Mrs. Nina Sharma and School Psychologist Dr. Zan Struebing. In addition to delivering Nisha back to Kopila Valley safely, Mrs. Sharma and Dr. Struebing were charged with the implementation of a character education program at the Kopila Valley School. With the school firmly established and producing excellent academic results, Ms. Doyne determined that it was time to pursue the structuring of a framework similar to Peck’s InDeCoRe program. Ms. Doyne has repeatedly commented on the impressively respectful behavior she observes among Peck students and has wished the same for her children. Meetings, virtual and in person, with Ms. Doyne and Ms. Kelly Skillingstead, the Principal at Kopila Valley, provided Mrs. Sharma and Dr. Struebing with an understanding of specific needs at Kopila Valley. Peck faculty and students offered input on values-based lessons and activities that help InDeCoRe come to life at Peck. With the full support of the Peck community, Mrs. Sharma and Dr. Struebing arrived at Kopila Valley School to find faculty members as well as students primed to learn and embrace character education. Classroom observations quickly revealed the inherent appreciation students in Nepal have for education in general and their teachers in particular. Evidence was also observed of Peck’s previous trip and donations: Peck computers in the technology lab, charts on the walls, student work on display, supplies in organizers. The love for learning and the pride in their school was palpable at KVS. While Peck students are motivated learners, they have never had the experience of seeing education as a luxury. This diverging expectation

about access to quality schooling has been highlighted at Peck as an occasion for empathy and a reminder to reconnect with gratitude for the many gifts that are inherent in daily life.

With the full support of the Peck community, Mrs. Sharma and Dr. Struebing arrived at Kopila Valley School to find faculty members as well as students primed to learn and embrace character education. Mrs. Sharma and Dr. Struebing were able to combine the planning and materials created in anticipation of the trip to Nepal with feedback from KVS student leaders and faculty to collaboratively craft an individualized program, known as REAL GROWTH (Respect Effort And Love GRatitude OWnership Teamwork Honesty). The word Kopila actually means “little bud,” so the notion of helping delicate buds (students) to grow and thrive was one already employed at the school. Therefore, faculty members were resonant with “Notions that Nurture” and “Words that Wilt” when Mrs. Sharma and Dr. Struebing presented them. It should also be noted that the student leaders at KVS, much like students in leadership roles at Peck, were bright, articulate, and very impressive. They expressed desire for change within the context of love and loyalty for their school. While Mrs. Sharma and Dr. Struebing were working with KVS students and faculty, they were also residing at the Kopila Valley Children’s Home where forty-four of the KVS students

live along with impressive young adults who are a part of the Fellows program. Current Fellows are from the United States and Europe, and assist Ms. Doyne as well as the Nepali “Aunties and Uncles” with the care, education, and organization of the children in the home. Fellows take turns leading the nightly Satsung, a time of gathering all members of the household for song, meditation, and expressions of gratitude as well as requests for help. Some Fellows embrace specific roles to ensure the continued viability of current programs, such as the Women’s Center, and the growth of the new, such as the new High School currently under construction. Environmental awareness and sustainability are at the forefront of decisions made at Kopila Valley, with available items such as rain water, rocks, mud, and food waste being converted into usable resources. As Mrs. Sharma and Dr. Struebing’s time in Kopila Valley drew to a close, they were able to organize a materials fair for the KVS teachers as a culmination to the teacher training and sample lessons taught. The teachers were delighted and overwhelmed by the ample supply of materials they would now have to implement the REAL GROWTH program. They could not believe it was all for them. One incredulous educator exclaimed, “We get to keep all of this?” With such expressions of gratitude, Mrs. Sharma and Dr. Struebing were reminded that, while the KVS teachers and students benefitted from Peck assistance with developing a structure for their character education program, those who are a part of Kopila Valley quite naturally embody the values that are of vital importance. The REAL GROWTH comes in the reciprocal learning that the ongoing relationship between Kopila Valley and Peck provides. With the embracing of one another’s culture and experiences, all grow and develop with a global perspective that makes for solid citizens. Zan Struebing School Psychologist

Photos by Sherry Sutton Photography. http://www.sherrysuttonphotography.com

AROUND PECK

Ross Scholars: 2014 Peck alumnus Burke Ross ‘65 and his family generously established the E. Burke Ross Jr. Family Fund for the Ross Scholars to provide scholarships and other financial support to students from families of limited means entering the sixth, seventh, or eighth grades at The Peck School. Candidates must demonstrate strong academic and extracurricular potential, and possess strong interpersonal skills and leadership capabilities. The primary source of Ross Scholar candidates is the New Jersey SEEDS Young Scholars Program.

GRADUATE: In June of 2014, students and parents alike shared in the Honorio family’s excitement as Joao Honorio graduated from Peck. When Joao came to Peck from the New Jersey SEEDS Program two years ago, he aspired to attend Delbarton one day—and, as a result of maintaining strong academics at Peck and further developing his skills on the athletic field, Joao excitedly received his acceptance to Delbarton and is now a member of the Green Wave community! We wish Joao the very best as he moves “across town” and hope that he visits us at 247 South Street often. SCHOLAR: We are thrilled to welcome

Patrick Uket, our newest Ross Scholar, to the seventh grade. Patrick comes to Peck from Philip’s Academy Charter School in Newark and is a graduate of

PECK NEWS 2014

the New Jersey SEEDS’ Young Scholars Program. Patrick resides in Irvington with his sister and mother, to all of whom education is of the utmost importance. At Philip’s Academy, Patrick was recognized for academic excellence by being placed on both the Headmaster’s and Dean’s Lists for maintaining all As and Bs. In addition to a strong academic record, Patrick also participated in basketball and track and field, as well as pursuing archery, swimming, and guitar in his leisure time. One of Patrick’s former teachers notes, “It is clear that Patrick has a strong moral compass, knows what’s right and wrong, and almost always makes the right choices at a time in his life when this can be very difficult to do. He understands the value of education and has set a path for himself to get the best education possible. Patrick gets along well with all of his peers and behaves respectfully towards everyone. He has one of the strongest work ethics of any student ever to attend Philip’s Academy!” While at Peck, Patrick plans to satisfy his love of sports by taking advantage of the robust athletics program, focusing specifically on basketball, soccer, and ice hockey. There’s no doubt that he will be an asset to the Upper School, both academically and athletically. We are thrilled that Patrick has joined us and look forward to a wonderful year with him! UPDATE: Victoria Lima ’15, enters her

third and final year at Peck! A supremely talented writer, Victoria possesses all of the attributes of a scholar and is now poised to realize her potential in her last year at the School. Outside of class, Victoria shines in arts (specifically, in Pro

Musica, Peck’s a cappella group, as well as in chorus) and service opportunities. This summer, she attended a Girls’ Leadership Program at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut, as well as a performing arts program for teens at NJPAC. Ruqaiyyah Lucas-Caldwell ’16 enters her second year at Peck, now as a seventh grader! Ruqaiyyah impressed all during her first year at the School with her mature approach to her studies and her relentless drive. While she is wise beyond her years, her engagement in the classroom and leadership among her peers are truly outstanding. Ruqaiyyah earned High Honor Roll last year, in addition to being recognized for consideration of others. This summer, she attended Rutgers School of Medicine’s SMART Program (Science, Medicine, and Related Topics) where she pursued her interest in the field of medicine.

Last year’s Girl Pride! fifth grade group enjoyed a beautiful spring day at the South Street Creamery.

Girl Pride! Now in its fourth year, the Girl Pride! Program at Peck has expanded to include fourth, fifth, and sixth grade girls, with seventh and eighth grade girls invited to act as session leaders. Our program, inspired by the nationally recognized Girls on the Run® non-profit organization, provides a safe and nurturing environment to acknowledge and address the many powerful messages and images that bombard young women in today’s society.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GIRL PRIDE? During ESSENCE magazine’s 2013 Black Women in Hollywood award luncheon, actress Lupita Nyong’o was honored with the Best Breakthrough Performance award for her emotional roll in the movie 12 Years a Slave. Captivating audiences around the world, Miss Nyong’o’s acceptance speech was viewed nearly 3 million times on YouTube. Miss Nyong’o’s speech is a call for young girls to recognize their inner

beauty. She denounces external beauty as unsustainable and suggests that compassion for ourselves and for others is what can and does sustain and nourish us. After viewing this thought-provoking acceptance speech last spring, the current fifth grade girls exchanged ideas about their feelings related to female beauty. While accepting their own differences and embracing others, the girls were sympathetic to Miss Nyong’o’s adolescent

self-hate and young inner sadness. We hope to inspire more honest discussions and small acts of female activism for the 2014-2015 year as we alternate session dates to reach all the girls of fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Seventh and eighth grade girls are also invited to join as leaders for these Friday sessions. Maribel M. Mohr Girl Pride! Advisor AROUND PECK

Past Parent Reception MAY 16, 2014

Although the weather outside was cold, rainy, and miserable, the inside of Lindenwold was warm, inviting, and cheerful on the evening of Peck’s biennial Past Parent Reception. Whether friends greeting friends that they had not seen in a number of years, or friends greeting friends that they had just seen at the grocery store the day before, all were glad to be back in the place where they and their children spent so many important, formative years together in pursuit of an excellent K-8 education. Past parents were delighted with new changes to Lindenwold; an impressive new reception desk in the lobby, and the renovated paneled room with new lighting, furnishings, refinished floors, and, above the fireplace, the hand carved eagle (by former Headmaster Tom Green). A special toast honored three much admired members of Peck who retired at the close of the 2013-2014 school year: Harriot Spaven, Doug Owen and Sharon Thompson.

Adrienne Kirby PP ’05, ’09, Lorraine Callaghan PP ’98, ’99, ’02

Harriot Spaven PP ’82, Bill and Mary Blanchard PP ’75, ’77, ’79

Anita Spivey Dent PP ’94, ’01, Claire Fawzi PP ’94, ’99

Doug Owen PP ’11, ’14, Dulcy Green PP ’69, ’74, ’78, Sharon Thompson PP ’02, ’05, Pat Hays PP ’77

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Julie Skinner PP ’91, ’95, Carl ’74 and Treacy Badenhausen PP ’07, ’11

Collette Cross PP ’05,’07, Deb and Kevin Bollinger PP ’13

Dillard Kirby PP ’05, ’09, Barbara Caspersen PP ’84, ’87, ’91, Walker Kirby PP ’64, ’67,’73, ’76

Eric McFerran PP ’90, Diane and Hamish Ross PP ’08

Monique and John Thornton PP’85

The Honorees: Harriot, Doug and Sharon

AROUND PECK

Cheers Peck! On February 22, 2014, the Peck Community collectively raised their glasses to give a festive, British-inspired salute to our 121 years of educating bright minds! We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to PA Spring Fundraiser Co-Chairs Janet Pearce and Shannon Riley for organizing a beautiful evening complete with amazing food, creative auction items, lively music, and a wonderful turnout from the Peck community. Special thanks goes to the dedicated and hard-working committee members and volunteers without whom this evening would not have been possible. Cheers, Peck Community!

Andy Delinsky, Red Abbott, Julie Delinsky

Janet Pearce, Shannon Riley

PECK NEWS 2014

Karen Dubel, Mary Blanchard, Mark and Irene Mortensen, Meg Lyon

Kristen and Joe DiPasquale, Kathleen and Bret Budenbender

Dan Honeker, Tom MacCowatt, Jamie Foley

Melissa Bartoli, Susan Santomassimo, Julia Kanowitz, Wayne Lee, Tina Cassanelli, Amber Brown

Ben Rogers, Trey and Molly Whipple

Rob Diemar, Tom Pryma, Sean Riley, JD Pearce

Christine and Robert Coyne

Holly and Jim Hughes

Alan and JeanAnn Morgan Liftin

Photos courtesy of Funkhouser Photography and Elena Mitchell Photography

Dan and Kim Honeker

Gary Tickle

Amber Leach

Stewart and Michele Wilkinson

AROUND PECK

Tech@Peck

PECK NEWS 2014

TECH@PECK

At Peck, the heart of our founding mission is to prepare bright young students to lead successful and principled lives within their communities. This is predicated on the three pillars of a Peck education: a rigorous academic program, the development of a strong character within each of our students, and the development of life skills and traits necessary for success in life.

In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world, any amount of success is founded on a keen awareness and understanding of technology. With the proliferation of the internet and ubiquitous access to an abundance of information, we recognize the traditional classroom has been transformed. Web technology has revolutionized education with the ability to connect young and old across time, culture, language, and geography. Learning is 38

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unconstrained by classes and schedules and is pursued as a life-long endeavor. Likewise, todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technologies offer to our students unparalleled platforms through which they can create rich multimedia content and creative self-expression. In order to prepare students for a lifetime of learning and discovery, the mission of the Technology Department is to teach a range of skills and provide

the tools necessary for students to navigate productively, ethically, and safely through this ever changing digital environment. To equip our students with the technology skills they need to thrive in the 21st century, technology is seamlessly integrated throughout the Peck curriculum. In 2012, the Peck Technology Department formulated a five year strategic technology plan to help guide our initiatives. While it is very difficult to look forward with technology given the constant rate of innovation, this plan is based on emerging trends in educational technology and the projected needs of the School. On an annual basis, a team comprised of both tech and teaching department members prioritizes and carries out set objectives based on available resources and the competing needs of the School. Likewise, as new technologies emerge, our

TECH@PECK

program is reevaluated to make sure we are meeting the needs of our students. While the temptation is strong to hop on the latest technology fad, great care is taken to make sure that whatever technology is introduced to our students meets the overarching objectives of our mission and will serve the long term needs of our students. To support the ever-increasing demands of technology on our infra-

structure, Peck has a robust wired and wireless infrastructure. In the summer of 2014, Peck upgraded its wireless backbone to the newest industry standards and looks to reap the benefits of this upgrade for many years to come. Additionally, web filtering, firewall, and antivirus software help to keep our students safe from the pitfalls of the internet and focused on their studies. Peckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website serves as a central portal by which parents, students, faculty, and alumni can stay informed of events

happening within the community while also serving as a vehicle for communication and active student engagement. Key to the success of our technology program is the passion and ownership that students take with technology. Students sign an acceptable use policy (AUP) which governs their use of all forms of technology and concentrates their use towards academics. Access to myriad technologies gives our students a heightened sense of responsibility, respect, and consideration of others that

CREATIVE IDEA

BRAINSTORMING

RESEARCH

KEY INGREDIENTS

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echoes the values we look to instill from our InDeCoRe program. While technology can sometimes provide a cloak behind which students can hide, we always emphasize that student behavior should mimic the behavior they exhibit at the lunch table, on the sports field, and in face to face conversations. Inter-

Great care is taken to make sure that whatever technology is introduced to our students meets the overarching objectives of our mission and will serve the long term needs of our students. net safety topics are woven throughout the curriculum in age appropriate ways. Likewise, industry experts, on the topic of keeping kids safe online, are invited to campus to speak to students, faculty, and parents alike.

CREATION

CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY For the Kindergarten and Lower School, Peck has several carts of shared iPads that students use to interact with apps that reinforce subject specific skills, to conduct research, and to create multimedia rich projects to demonstrate understanding of content and self-expression. iPads and iPad minis are also available in the library for shared use by Upper School students. In the Upper School, Peck was one of the early adopters of a one-to-one laptop program that started in the late 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Apple laptops provide a powerful platform on which students can work collaboratively, conduct research on the internet, put together documents and presentations, develop programming skills, and create iMovies and other multimedia rich projects. Passion for technology, its mastery and organization, and the inherent responsibility for technology are clear outcomes of this long-standing program. Google Docs was introduced in 2010 whereby students created collaborative Google documents for group projects. Since its inception, the full Google suite of apps (Google Apps for Education) has been rolled out to allow students to use Gmail, Calendars, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Drive, and a whole host of innovative technologies. In 2012, Peck introduced the Haiku Learning Management System (LMS) as a blended learning solution that extends teaching and student en-

PRESENTATION

Central to the success of any team is finding the right composition of its members. The tech department is fortunate to have talented and dedicated individuals who are passionate about how technology can serve the needs of our students and help our organization run efficiently. On the education front, Jen Garvey is our Lower School Technology Coordinator and leads Faculty Professional Development. On the systems end, Dave Forman is our Network Manager and Brian Durnin is our Technology Support Specialist. Kevin Grieshaber, as the Director of Technology, provides the critical bridge between the strategic implementation of educational technologies and Peckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall systems management. Likewise, Peck has a number of faculty and administrators who serve as tech mentors and advocates within the community. Further support for our technology program comes from a dedicated Board of Trustees and Administration that have a clear vision of how technology can enhance teaching and learning. Allocation of funds and further guidance are provided to make sure the goals of the department are aligned with the Master Strategic Plan and other administrative initiatives.

TECH@PECK

While technology can sometimes provide a cloak behind which students can hide, we always emphasize that student behavior should mimic the behavior they exhibit at the lunch table, on the sports field, and in face to face conversations.

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gagement beyond the physical and time constraints of the traditional classroom setting. Since its introduction, teachers have been able to create captivating, interactive virtual classrooms with the use of blogs, photo and video galleries, interactive polls, and carefully curated embedded content from around the web. Given Haiku’s flexible and powerful structure, we’ve also been able to leverage its power for student created clubs and activities as well as portals for faculty and departments. Peck’s robust technology lab is equipped with twenty iMacs with the latest software to further complement the digital creations with the iPads and laptops. Traditional age-appropriate computer and keyboarding skills are first introduced to our younger students. At higher grade-levels, the digital literacy of our students expands as they enthusiastically incorporate new skills and applications, such as iMov-

ie, GarageBand, digital story-telling, animation, and screen-casting, while using these machines. The technology lab is further equipped with a projector, interactive whiteboard, sound system, and green screen used for student-produced videos. Throughout the campus, classrooms are equipped with projectors, interactive white boards, speakers, and document cameras to further enhance the classroom experience. Peck’s Upper School music room is equipped with music keyboard workstations (MIDI) that interact with music theory and music creation software. Additionally, the Barbara and Norman Tomlinson Jr MultiMedia Room is available for presentation of satellite feeds, Apple TV, DVD media, laptop and interactive white board presentations, and a host of telephone/web and video conferencing solutions.

#Connect #Photoworthy facebook.com/peckschool & instagram.com/thepeckschool Dramatic sky over Lindenwold this AM–must be getting ready for Halloween!

Follow us: @thepeckschool, @andydelinsky @thepeckschool: It’s Math, Baby: Peck second graders rap about adding doubles. Word. http://ow.ly/CzVlJ

@andydelinsky: With the right coaches who teach the right lessons, athletics is a great opportunity to grow and learn the right way. #godondiebold

For a new PersPECKtive: andydelinskypeck.blogspot.com

EXTRA-CURRICULAR Outside of the traditional classroom setting, technology is offered to Peck students in a number of after school activities during the Peck Enrichment Program (PEP), Friday afternoon activities, and during Peck’s Summer Program. In recent years, depending on the interest of students and the particular passion/expertise of our faculty, offerings have been made in iMovie, creating content on iPads, coding, web design, Google Sketchup, Scratch block programming, Lego Robotics, and GarageBand Music Production.

FUTURE While it is impossible to predict what technologies will be available in the future, it is exciting to think of new ways to continue to engage and chal-

lenge our students with technology and to prepare them with the collaborative, real world problem solving, information literacy, and critical thinking skills needed for success in the 21st century. Clearly, the trend is moving from the traditional student as merely a consumer of content to the fully engaged student who demonstrates understanding of concepts and knowledge through content creation. Accordingly, we look forward to continuing to find age-appropriate ways in which our students produce electronic creations that interact with the physical world through programming, augmented reality, app development, robotics, 3D printing, and wearable technologies. Kevin Greishaber Directory of Technolog y

“Let’s Not Forget About Reading” “…in our digital world with so many forms of media that take us away from the written word, I see nothing more important than enforcing a culture of reading in our schools and in our homes.”

#More Peck? There’s an app for that: Keep up with Peck via our app, with customizable news and calendars, a searchable directory, and our latest photos and tweets. Search for “Peck School” in the iOS app store (iPhone) or Google Play store (Android).

TECH@PECK

A (New) Digital Revolution IN THE LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM

At the core of the Lower School technology curriculum is the spirit of exploration and the development of life skills and traits. Students are constantly challenged to go beyond simply substituting a digital tool for a traditional tool; rather, students think critically about new and different ways to use technology to transform or redefine their learning.

Though Peck has for years incorporated technology throughout its K-8 curriculum, new tools in communications and multimedia content creation 44

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allow students to envision entirely new creative horizons. The foundation begins at basic computer usage in kindergarten.

Through thoughtfully designed activities, kindergartners begin to recognize the location of letters and symbols on a keyboard, how to manipulate a mouse, and navigate through programs. By their fourth grade year, students are creating multimedia projects and robust presentations as their digital literacy grows. Throughout the Lower School experience, students learn how to create content by combining various software programs with online resources. Peckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EH Tech Lab, equipped with twenty

iMacs, is a place where you’ll see research, creative publishing, reading, note-taking, information-organizing, critical thinking, and problem-solving happening regularly. Creativity is emphasized, especially when a problem arises, and students are encouraged to try multiple solutions before seeking help. Teams of first graders often help each other download and manipulate images into frames on a grammar collage. Fourth graders strive for a ‘professional’ polish to their reports, wrapping text and layering images for

New tools in communications and multimedia content creation allow students to envision entirely new creative horizons.

maximum readability and style. Students also quickly learn that frustration is integral to the learning process; the most rewarding part of which comes when they can successfully troubleshoot problems. Adjacent to the computer lab, the newly updated Barbara and Norman Tomlinson Jr. Multimedia Room (the MMR) has been host to many technology lessons as well, including the use of Skype as a teaching tool. During Mystery Skypes, third graders arrive in the MMR equipped with iPads and TECH@PECK

atlases ready to collaboratively deduce where their “mystery state” long-distance participants reside. First graders play a phonics game with a class from Maryland via Skype during Read Across America week. The MMR is also utilized for on-site

PECK NEWS 2014

teacher training in the use of different developmentally appropriate tools for lower school grade levels. Teachers attend peer-led workshops on the educational uses of QR codes, podcasting, and iPad app showcases. The MMR, equipped with Apple TV, satellite,

DVD, an interactive white board and video conferencing, is an ideal space to facilitate professional development in this area. Technology reaches far beyond the confines of the lab and the MMR. With the adoption of an iPad program in 2010, technology is being integrated more seamlessly than ever before in the Lower School curriculum. Now, students have a variety of applications for creating, annotating, and manipulating audio, video, digital art, photography, and animation right at their fingertips. Any content that can be saved to the camera roll on an iPad can be imported into various applications to combine media in ways not possible without this device. This artform, known as “appsmashing,” is being explored in various disciplines. For the fourth grade’s annual New Jersey Day in the spring, each student took full advantage of the iPad’s synergistic design to create an animated digital avatar to “tour” a New Jersey landmark in a video presentation. (After researching and storyboarding their reports, they created and recorded their

avatars using Tellagami, edited the clips together using iMovie, and added credits using PicCollage.) Peck’s Enrichment Program (PEP) and summer program offers students and campers opportunities to further explore their talents with appsmashing. PEP students filmed a satirical newscast in front of a green screen and created backdrops for their newscast using a variety of photographs and publication apps. Campers challenged themselves

to layer several talking avatars together into one movie using the Green Screen and Tellagami apps. (At Peck, the iPad will go anywhere our students’ imaginations take it!) Technology is omnipresent in our students’ lives, and contemporizing traditional classroom lessons with these new tools can provide students with different ways of expressing creativity as well as a pathway to deeper engagement in problem-based learning. At the same

time, the adoption of new technologies in the classroom isn’t without deliberate reflection, as Peck also intentionally teaches our ‘digital natives’ how to be responsible digital citizens—to communicate ideas effectively and responsibly, to behave appropriately in online arenas, and, perhaps crucially, to balance technological usage with “powering down,” getting outdoors, and nurturing relationships person-to-person. As the Lower School technology curriculum grows, Peck will strive to continually remain at the forefront of integrating, and balancing, new educationally- and age- appropriate technologies into our students’ everyday learning experiences; while never losing sight of the School’s overarching mission to provide “knowledge, guided by values” to our bright young minds. Jen Garvey Lower School Technolog y Coordinator

TECH@PECK

A BRIEF HISTORY

Tech@Peck

Technology has always complemented both teaching and learning at Peck, with tools for recording, communicating, problem-solving, and creative ways of interacting with knowledge and with each other.

In Peck’s “early days” (1893-1900s), our main means of sharing information were, of course, to use the timeless tools of paper and pen. (Not that teaching proper penmanship has disappeared from our curriculum; in fact, Miss Helen Frazier, who taught at Peck for 50 years since the 20s, was described by a former student as the “perennial penmanship teacher.”) Shortly thereafter, we found a more effective way to communicate with students, teachers, and parents—the typewriter. Typing was efficient and relatively quick, though it required a high level of precision and commitment. Unlike today’s teachers who have the benefit of autocorrect, one had to be a perfect typist or run the risk of starting all over!

PECK NEWS 2014

The advent of the mimeograph machine in the late 1950s certainly expanded communication as now a typist could only type once to make multiple documents (and also rely on correction fluid to brush-out mistakes!) Called “dittos,” the copies came with a certain panache—we bet that our alumni from the 60s and 70s can still smell that particular glue-like aroma, or see that distinct shade of purple ink! In the early 70s, little did we realize that just over the horizon would come a device that would drastically change the face of education. The earliest introduction to computers for Peck students occurred during the 1975-1976 school year. Peck’s ninth grade (Editor’s Note: Peck’s last ninth grade was also in 1976) took

a computer course at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Vice Chairman of NJIT’s Computer Department “placed the performance of the ninth graders above any college freshman class (that) she had ever taught because the Peck student coupled educational background with a willingness to try.” (From Peck News 1976) With a generous grant from the Mother’s Association, the seventh grade math curriculum included a computer course in the 1980-1981 school year. The original equipment, the latest and most innovative at the time, were three TRS-80 computer terminals located on the third floor of Lindenwold. A computer club taught by Mr. Geoff Campbell offered Friday afternoon mini-courses. The course was so popular that club members Silvert Glarum ’81 and Ben Morris ’81 stayed after school on Fridays during the winter term to help pupils who were interested in acquiring greater skill with the new technology. Within a few years, again with support from the Mother’s Association and from the Administration, students had seven new Apple IIe computers. Finding space on campus to hold computer classes was a challenge. The Lower School students walked to a neighboring building where classes were held un-

til The Bridge was completed in 1984. (The Eckert-Huff building is now on the site of The Bridge.) The Upper School students moved from the third floor of Lindenwold to the second floor in what is currently the Conference Room. Mrs. Elisabeth Fraser, Department Chair, oversaw the Upper School computer classes, and Mrs. Nancy White, Lower School teacher, oversaw the Lower School computer classes. Among their lessons was learning how to control the “turtle,” which today we call the “mouse.” Computers also had a tremendous impact on the School’s record-keeping ability. Peck’s business manager, Mr. Kes Boynton, initiated the computerization of accounting and financial records in 1985. Even the parents were not left out—they were invited to take a one hour course to learn more about Peck’s computer education program as well as how to operate the fundamental keyboard. Fast forward to the late 1990s and Peck’s commitment to the computer program was best stated in the Peck News 1997 where President of the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Elizabeth (Betty) Marsh wrote: “Looking forward to the future is equally as important to the preservation

of the past. To this end, Peck formulated an all-school Technology Plan, to be implemented in a series of stages.” One of these stages was the addition of laptops in the Upper School for students and faculty, making Peck one of the early adopters of a one-to-one laptop program. The Eckert-Huff building, completed in the 2006-2007 school year, is the home to the E-H Tech lab, which was (and still is) outfitted with a fleet of iMac computers. Additionally, the Barbara and Norman Tomlinson, Jr. MultiMedia Room supports interactive learning and conferencing around the world. While Peck students still use laptops and computers, the expansion of the internet, mobile devices, and content creation apps have added digital literacy and good digital citizenship to our curricular repertoire. In 2010, Google Docs was introduced to foster online collaboration, followed in the next few years by the full suite of Google Apps for Education. Also in 2010 an iPad Program was piloted in the fourth grade, utilizing a host of apps to reinforce classroom skills and for information reference. (The iPad program has since expanded to the entire Lower School.) Students can FaceTime for group

projects, record field trip experiences on Tumblr blogs, and create animated presentations to show, rather than simply tell, what they learn. In 2012 Peck introduced the Haiku Learning Management System as a blended learning solution that redefines what it means to be “in class,” extending learning and teaching beyond the physical and time constraints of a school day. These virtual classrooms complement our traditional classroom settings by enriching the learning experience with blogs, interactive polls, multimedia galleries, and access to knowledge and resources from experts around the world. And the traditional school bell? Ousted, and in its place, music: In the spring of 2014, the Peck Technology Department set up a streaming media server and Raspberry Pi microcomputers to broadcast iTunes and Pandora playlist music to mark classroom passing time. Whatever the future holds for new communication and educational technologies, The Peck School will remain as forward-thinking, as mission-conscious, and as student-centered as we have always been throughout our 122 years of educating bright minds.

TECH@PECK

Adventures in

Many people look at a computer and have to conclude that there is only one force capable of creating such power: magic. Even our most esteemed experts in the field such as the late Steve Jobs have commonly referred to new products as being ‘magical.’ However, this belies the supremely logical underpinnings of computers and computer programming. If these devices appear to be black boxes which mysteriously output finished products in a predetermined fashion, then we will remain consumers of the technology and beholden to its whims. Peck’s seventh and eighth graders have begun to take this magic into their own hands as they learn computer programming in our new coding club. Using codecademy.com to learn the basics and syntax, each student gets to see just 50

PECK NEWS 2014

how rewarding and challenging good programming can be. With some of the basics under their belts, last year’s coding club students began to explore independent or small group projects of interest to them. Many used Python, a supremely readable and intuitive language, while others used Javascript, one of the underpinnings of our Ajaxified Web 2.0. Projects ranged from games of tic-tactoe to lookup tools for the table of elements, and from choose-your-ownadventure games to helpful automatic emails about the dress code for the day. Each coder progressed at his/her own pace, but there was always a palpable feeling of excitement and new discovery. With every day, Peck coders became more confident with their ability to bend these magical boxes to their

own wills. Some, perhaps, may go into computer programming as a profession (one of the fastest growing industries in the world)—regardless, all will carry with them skills critical to succeed in our technology-driven lifestyles. Coding fundamentals can be applied to almost any line of work these students could enter, and the thinking modes and skills that one develops through programming make large problems easier to manage and break down. We’re looking forward to another great year of coding at Peck, and we’re especially excited to be able to offer an introduction to coding to our fifth and sixth graders for the 2014-2015 year! Robert Griffin Coding Club Advisor

Understanding the innerworkings of technology has forever been a passion for Robert Griffin; as evidenced by his childhood antics, when, at about three years old, he took apart his familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TV and VCR (much to the chagrin of his parents and brother), and then proceeded to put them back togetherâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with a minimum of extra partsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and returned them to full working order. He pursed this passion while in his undergraduate program at Harvard by developing websites and working in technology departments over the summers. Today, in addition to his roles at Peck as a seventh grade history teacher, Advisor, coach, and Coding Club advisor, he does web development, systems administration, deployment, and general tinkering through his company, PostLogical.

TECH@PECK

Alumni

PECK NEWS 2014

ALUMNI

It is no surprise that graduates of The Peck School can be found throughout the fields of technology, information services, and the very new “app economy.” We thought it would be interesting to interview a selection of our alumni to find out what they do

ALUMNI PROFILES:

and how technology plays a role in both their professional

Peck Graduates

and personal lives. Whether you are reading this as a digital native or digital immigrant, each of our interviewees gives a perspective on how his or her world is enhanced by the advent of technology.

in Technology Chelsea came to Peck in the second grade, and in her eighth grade year she was a member of The Linden staff. She also played on the field hockey, volleyball, and lacrosse teams. After graduation, she attended Pingry and New York University. Chelsea currently runs BlueGlass UK, a digital marketing agency in London, which helps businesses improve the way they communicate with their target markets online.

Chelsea Blacker ’00 Does being a woman in your field matter? Is there any advice you would give to our Girl Pride! Group?

Why did you go into the digital marketing field?

I got into digital marketing because I saw one small opportunity and ran with it—when I was 19, I interned for a film production company and thought, “I’m too smart to work for free, I deserve to get paid.” So I applied to be an assistant for a digital marketing consultant at $16 an hour. I showed off my personal blog, got the job, and started on my journey in digital marketing. 54

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Yes, being a woman is significant, especially in senior positions where we aren’t as well represented yet. Opportunities have been opened to me because I stood out as a woman and American in Europe with a unique skills set against many male applicants. Girl Pride! sounds like a great group to be a part of! I’d recommend these tips: • Take credit for your work. Boys can be very good at sharing when they have been successful at a task, and I believe girls need to practice saying things like this to promote their own abilities. Speak up. Again, boys can be better at shouting out answers, which means, when they get jobs in IT, they are given more credit even if they don’t do more work. I go to so many meetings where young women are silent or speak softly—which makes them seem insignificant, even if they are sharing brilliant ideas. Girls must speak up to be on par with boys to be recognized.

• Take risks. If you don’t succeed, nothing bad will happen. I ask myself “What’s the worst that can happen if I try this?” and the answer usually isn’t that scary. Plus, when you eventually succeed it feels so rewarding! • Find a mentor. I have a few more experienced friends in digital marketing that I turn to when I have questions. In exchange, I try my best to provide them with value and insight from what I’m learning so they see me as a helpful colleague. • Learn a skill or program that currently isn’t popular. This will help you stand out against competition, and it’s actually a tip my dad gave me. Do you remember your computer classes at Peck?

When I entered Peck in second grade, I was far behind in computer literacy. The computer teacher, Mrs.

Crutchlow, was very patient and encouraging, but I was still terrified of the class because it took me so much longer to complete the same projects as my classmates. I felt embarrassed, stupid, and very confused—sometimes I would even cry when my mom picked me up from school. I’d frequently try to be sick on Wednesdays so I wouldn’t have to go to computer class. However, with lots of support from Peck teachers, by the time I graduated in 2000 I was up to speed with my classmates and felt well ahead of the curve in high school.

working with a gym brand that connects users working out in the gym to their doctor’s health records and insurance companies, exercise goals, and other third party systems. The future of digital is in customized experiences for users. For instance, when a gardener walks past an advertising screen at a train station the ad that pops up is for a new lawn mower; this ad pertains directly to the gardener’s interests.

What technology advance or product do you believe is most significant in the last 10 years?

On holidays the TomTom ensures our rental car is a peaceful space, I wouldn’t travel without it! Also, I always carry extra batteries for my electronics in my purse so I don’t have to worry about my devices turning off. J.Crew actually sells batteries in cute designs— I strongly recommend having one!

Without a doubt touchscreen phones that can access the internet have been the most significant advance. Everyone has access to data in their pocket, which extends into the realm of personal measurement devices. I’m currently

Jeff Roos ’96 Tell us about your career as a producer.

I fell into production starting out as a production assistant in Washington DC while I took summer classes at Georgetown University. After I graduated from Dickinson College I moved to New York City and started producing television and radio commercials for Grey Worldwide. I worked at a few different agencies in New York, freelancing and getting more and more experience in the art of producing. I found I had a knack for creative development, and in 2010 I started a boutique production company called TBD New York (TBDny.tv). With the help of talented director/editors TBDNY created its own brand of TV spots and web content for clients such as Ford, Chevy, GE, and others. In 2011 we were nominated for an AICP award for our spec TV spot “Tree” for Amazon’s Kindle. It was a quirky idea that started with a song, and we produced it in less than 5 days

(which is not a lot of time when dealing with animation and puppetry)!

In your personal life, is there a gadget that you simply can’t live without? (Other than your iPhone!)

Jeff is a ‘lifer,’ having spent nine years at Peck. He played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse while at Peck, and after graduation, attended Pingry and Dickinson College. Jeff works as a video producer; in 2011, he filmed a commercial on campus for an advertising competition using a few of our Peck students as extras.

As an artist, do you get into the same ‘creative zone’ when you’re painting or drawing by hand vs. digitally editing your video projects?

I have always loved to paint since my early days at Peck, and I have shown my work at a couple of small shows in New York City and Hoboken. I work mostly with charcoal and pastel (www. ALUMNI

facebook.com/RoosFineArt) and love to work big. There is definitely a connection between my art and creative development in the production world. As a producer I am always looking for creative solutions to production problems, and have acted as an Art Director on a lot of the work we have done. What advice would you give to our Lower School students as they experiment with tools such as iMovie in their technology classes?

It is incredible to have access to such tools at such a young age—I sure wish that had existed when I was at Peck! I think the most important advice I could give to an aspiring filmmaker at Peck would be to focus on developing the story you are trying to tell first before you film anything. Story-boarding is the best way to plan a shoot, shot by shot, so that you make the most use of your time when shooting. The more effort you put into the “Pre-Production” phase, the less work you will have

in the “Production” (shooting) and “Post-Production” (editing and finishing) stages. How did you feel coming back to campus when you filmed your commercial for the advertising competition?

When we decided to film a commercial for Chevy for the competition, and the location called for a school, I couldn’t think of a better location than Peck! (Not to mention all the very talented ‘extras’ I knew we’d find!) It was great to get to see all the familiar spaces like the gymnasium and the lunchroom, which made me feel like no time had passed! It was equally exciting to walk the campus and to see all that had changed- it sure did bring back fond memories.

What technology advance or product do you believe is most significant in the last ten years?

footage have steadily advanced over the past ten years. When I was at Peck, professional film editing meant using actual pieces of film that would be hand cut and spliced into a specific order (a slow, painstaking and expensive process). Today’s non-linear editing world is digital, which means all the footage (even film) can be digitized and edited on a computer, so anyone with a story to tell and a laptop can create great film! In your personal life, is there a gadget that you simply can’t live without? (Other than your iPhone!)

As an artist and a producer, the digital camera is central to my life. Wherever I may be, my camera is always there - ready to capture a moment (or moments) in time so that others can see life through my lens.

In the world of production, the tools that are used to capture, edit, and finish

Dan Skinner ’91 Dan is also a Peck ‘lifer,’ having begun in Kindergarten. He was a member of Student Council and played on the soccer, basketball, and baseball teams. After graduation, Dan went to the Delbarton School and Northwestern University. He currently is on the social media team at ConAgra Foods.

ee, Slim Jim, Orville Redenbacher’s, Healthy Choice, and dozens more. Social media gives us a platform to talk to those fans every day. We share recipe ideas and meal-planning tips, give consumers sneak peeks of new commercials, conduct surveys on our new products, and answer all types of questions from our consumers. We try to create a positive relationship with consumers through social media so the next time they’re at the store, they’ll remember to buy our products!

Tell us about your role in social media at ConAgra Foods.

The social media team at ConAgra Foods manages Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for all our brands. We have many brands with passionate fans, including Chef Boyard-

PECK NEWS 2014

How has social media affected traditional marketing and advertising communication?

Social media gives us the opportunity to react much more quickly than traditional forms of advertising. So much of social media revolves around what’s happening now, so we look for opportunities to join those conversa-

tions. Here’s an example: last winter everyone was buzzing about the Polar Vortex. That was a great opportunity for us to talk about our remedy for a brutal winter: Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate. Creating a traditional ad would have taken weeks, but with social media we could be active the same day. What advice would you give to our students as they use social media throughout their high school and college years?

A good rule of thumb with social media is “Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your mother to see.” If you’re interviewing for jobs or schools, people are going to look at your profiles, so you don’t want them to get a bad

impression. But you can also use social media to find out more about the people who are interviewing you. When I applied for my job at ConAgra Foods, I saw that my future boss had posted several articles about social media on her Twitter page. Reading those articles and then bringing them up for discussion in my interview was an easy way to create a good impression. What technology advance or product do you believe is most significant in the last 10 years?

The advancements in mobile photography and video over the past ten years are truly amazing. Anyone who ever lugged around a video camera can appreciate how much easier it is to use

Doug Skinner ’95 What is your day like as an account manager at TEKsystems?

On a daily basis I meet with IT Managers at various companies who act as our clients to uncover their needs for staffing and IT Services. I then work with our team of recruiters to help fill the open positions. We use a proprietary database that contains 85% of the IT workforce in the US.

What advice would you give to our IT-inclined students ?

Stick with it! There is a great future in IT and software developers and engineers are always in demand. Unemployment in the IT industry is very low, around 3%, vs the national average of 9%, and there is money to be made as good developers make six figure salaries after only a few years of experience in the Tri-State area. What technology advance or product do you believe is most significant in the last 10 years?

The development of mobile technology has taken technology to the next level, as people are now able to access information everywhere they go through wireless technology, smart phones, and tablets. For the next 10

your cell phone. Now with a device that’s smaller than a deck of playing cards, I can capture HD video and immediately share it with all my family and friends. That’s a blessing and a curse, though. Sometimes we all need to remember to enjoy the moment and not be obsessed with capturing it on our cell phones. In your personal life, is there a gadget that you simply can’t live without? (Other than your iPhone!)

I can’t imagine life without a DVR. My wife and I have three little kids, so having the ability to catch up on our favorite shows when we have free time is much appreciated in our house.

Doug is yet another Peck ‘lifer!’ Doug, a great sports enthusiast, played basketball among other sports while at Peck. He was Student Council president during his eighth grade year, and after graduation attended Delbarton and Villanova University. He is an account manager for TEKsystems, a leading IT staffing company with over 100 locations worldwide.

years, Information Security is the largest area of growth in IT and the number one concern of CIO’s. We are always hearing about data security and personal information being breeched everywhere from retailers to banks to hospitals. In your personal life, is there a gadget that you simply can’t live without? (Other than your iPhone!)

I am constantly on my laptop (and my iPhone) for work or at home.

ALUMNI

Another ‘lifer,’ Terry began at Peck in Kindergarten. He was on the cross country, ice hockey, and lacrosse teams. In The Linden 2004 under the “What would you like to be remembered for?” question, he answered ‘sports’—something that he is involved with today! After Peck, Terry went on to the Delbarton School and Harvard. He founded Way of Life Athletic (Wola), offering fitness apparel for the modern athlete. www.wola-co.com

What was the inspiration behind Way of Life Athletic (Wola)?

In short, I founded Wola because it represents a lifestyle that I felt I needed to live and promote. First, and most literally, I saw a need for something that didn’t exist yet. The concept for our first product came about just over a year and a half ago, after I signed up to compete in a sprint triathlon as a way to stay busy, active, and raise money for a NYC charity called CityLax. The training for the race demanded many solo workouts, long runs, and lots of time on a stationary bike. Having been an athlete on teams my whole life, I used music as a way to make these lonely workouts more tolerable. For a while, I struggled to find a hassle-free method for carrying my phone or music device during exercise. It wasn’t until one fateful conversation in a New York City apartment with a couple close buddies, that the light bulb went on and the journey began. We decided to create an athletic compression 58

PECK NEWS 2014

Terry White ’04 that I personally need and can connect with. With that being said, there has been a strong response from women requesting a female version of our compression shorts. (We will be launching a crowd-funding campaign in the early fall where we’ll be introducing new products...women should stay tuned for that!) What advice would you give to our Peck graduates interested in integrating their interests/lifestyles with entrepreneurship?

short with at least one pocket designed specifically for a music-playing device to be carried during intense exercise. The idea, though very simple, excited me. First, it would solve a real problem that presumably many other people out there are dealing with; and second, I loved the opportunity to get involved in the broader health and fitness market. Also, I wanted to integrate my business with my daily life. While the company ultimately sells products, our

Always be open to new challenges because you never know when a good idea will converge with a true passion of yours. brand is rooted in the promotion of a specific lifestyle. Part of my job is living this lifestyle and coming up with creative ways to communicate our message to our followers and customers. I built Wola first and foremost as a men’s brand because that’s what I’m familiar with. For now, I want every product that we release to be a product

I don’t think I can say this without sounding cliché, but get to know yourself and find out what makes you “tick.” You’ll find out very quickly that a good idea can only get you so far. The idea complemented by a genuine belief and passion for the venture (whatever it may be) is what will push you to work harder and persevere in ways that you wouldn’t have thought you were capable of. If you’re not sure what “your thing” is yet, don’t worry – you’re young and there are probably lots of things that you are passionate about. My advice is simply to keep your eyes and ears open. Always be open to new challenges because you never know when a good idea will converge with a true passion of yours. How do you think using technology could benefit or encourage a healthy/athletic lifestyle? Do you use a fitness app, or tracker, or other technology, to enhance your own fitness routine?

Technology is proving to have significant impacts on health and fitness, and it feels that we’re constantly racing to see who will launch the next health and fitness gadget. “Wearable technology” is an example—there are countless efforts to build technology into apparel, armbands, wristbands, shoes, and even socks. (Some of these gadgets are a little “out there” but I do think the general movement has some significant value to it!) I think technology actually encourages people to get out and exercise in one capacity or another. For instance, track-

ing your performance or listening to music can make a workout more enjoyable. Most importantly, technology gives us constant access to all sorts of information, allowing people to educate themselves about health and fitness—which can make the difference between living a healthy lifestyle or unhealthy lifestyle. I personally use a running app that I have downloaded to my phone. This allows me to challenge myself and keep an accurate record of pace and distance when I run. In addition, I use Twitter and Instagram to follow healthy eating and exercise blogs/brands. What is your favorite memory during your athletic seasons at Peck?

It’s very difficult to pick a singular favorite memory! It might have been a dramatic hockey victory over Delbarton in eighth grade. This provided me with bragging rights for the next four years.

…is there a

gadget

that you simply can’t live without? (Other than your iPhone!)

My Navigational System

What technology advance or product do you believe is most significant in the last 10 years?

In my opinion, the evolution of the smartphone has been by far the most significant technological advance in the last ten years. Most people today are carrying personal computers (smartphones) with them at all hours of the day.

My Digital Camera

In your personal life, is there a gadget that you simply can’t live without? (Other than your iPhone!)

It’s nothing fancy, but my laptop. A lot of my friends have almost completely switched over to solely using iPads and smartphones for their personal needs (e-mail, web browsing, etc...). I am quite nomadic these days, so having everything at my fingertips is very valuable to me. My laptop is pretty much glued to my back wherever I go. In a way you could say I’m pretty old school for that.

My Laptop

My DVR

ALUMNI

Grandparents’ & Friends’ Day 2014 REDHEADS: 135, AND DOWNIES: 116! It was a great day for our parents and grandparents—who came from all over the globe—as they cheered on their favorite Peck team. One of the day’s traditions, acknowledging grandparents who travelled the furthest, resulted in a three-way tie between the Wolkenstein and Tickle grandparents (from Australia) and Lee grandparents (from Japan). Though the day turned misty and gray following a morning art show and Spring Sing, our Downy-Redhead outdoor field events were as thrilling as could be! Each Downy and Redhead on the field displayed tremendous enthusiasm and perseverance through races, games, and the traditional tug-of-wars—and it was the Redheads that edged out the Downies in the final point tally. GO PRIDE!

PECK NEWS 2014

ALUMNI

1930

Jack Bradhaw ’35 sent in the following note: At almost 94 I have finally given up as a crew member on the only flying B-29 bomber in the world!.

Bill Kirk ’36 has recently reconnected with Peck friends, Jack Bradshaw ’35, Adelaide McAlpin Nicholson ’36, and Margery Larson Gori-Montanelli ’36. Mr. Kirk reminiscenced about his days when he and his four brothers, Ely ’39, Alan ’41, and twins, Dick ’44 and Don ’44, attended Peck. “The family lived in a wonderful old home at 200 South Street, which was also the home where my mother lived as a child…. across the street was the Field Club, where we played tennis and skated in the winter…. walking to school on Elm Street was just around the corner – so simple – like everything in those days!” Jerry Eppler ’37 writes in: “All goes well in Colorado – Best wishes to my friends in Morristown and NJ – Keep up the good work.”

Mr. Bradshaw and his Peck friends back in the day. (L-R): Paul Moore ’33, Prentice K. Smith ’33, George Thompson ’33 and Jack Bradshaw ’35.

1940

Alan Kirk ’41, “Am well and active, much golf, much “book” involvement. Ex Head of Peck [John Kowalik] is now Head of Potomac School where all four of our kids went!

Daniel Heald ’42 sent in a note: “I was a buddy of Harry Hall ’42 at Peck (we both had a crush on Betty Mutch ’42 in our class – secretly leaving Valentines’ box of chocolates on her front steps!) and Exeter. After Yale I really enjoyed 40 years as a development engineer on Atlas – the first US ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) still flying military and planetary probe missions.” Caroline Price Hemmings ’44 writes: “I love living at Kendal in Lexington (VA). I highly recommend the Kendal System if anyone is considering a CCRC.”

1950 Edith Kunhardt Davis ’51 sent a note letting us know the sad news that Binney White Nast ’51 died in October 2013. According to Edith’s note, she and Binney not only attended Miss Porter’s School after their graduation from Peck but they also roomed together for four years at Bryn Mawr! Jean Marckwald Chapin ’52 writes: “Connected with Nancy Niles Faesy ’52 at the Groton reunion where both of our husbands went. Also, had the treat of seeing Amanda Pope (a member of the Class

PECK NEWS 2014

of 1952) in LA after our 60th Peck reunion in May 2013.” Ross Langhorne ’52 sent an email in December 2013: “Greetings from the Philippines where the run up to Christmas has been quite hectic for us and our foundation with its annual Christmas programs and relief shipments to Yolanda victims etc. Fortunately, the basics are now slowly getting to those most in need. But, it will take three to five years for those who lost everything to fully recover – hopefully sooner. We are here until the end of February then pos-

sibly England in March then back to Philippines and I will return to US as soon as I can in April followed by Noemi. Personally, a good season cycling but the competition and the races never seem to get easier…. sending along our warmest greetings to you all for a Happy Christmas, good health, happiness and prosperity in the new year. Hope Phillips Hazen ’56 writes: “Four fabulous grandchildren keep me hopping….just back from a wonderful trip to London and India seeing old friends.”

1960 Meredith Tilp ’64 sent in the following letter following the death of Nelson Mandela.

Each One Teach One My Life changed in 1978

In 1978, the murder of Stephen Biko was one of the international news stories that deeply disturbed me. I was a naïve 28-yearold white American female. At the time, the Transkei was one of the homelands ‘bantustans’ which was declared ‘independent’ by the apartheid government in order to advance their concept of separate racial development. As a student intern, I taught at Jalamba high school in a rural setting with no electricity, nor outhouses and few books. The dropout rate was 60%. 2008 visit to Robben Island

After freedom, thirty years later, my colleagues and I travelled a 45-minute journey to Robben Island. In the 17th century it was a leper colony and now it is the most infamous prison in the world. During apartheid, it held about 1700 political and common law prisoners—all black males lived--in the most horrific circumstances one can imagine. Nearby, Nelson Mandela and his fellow prisoners worked in a place called the Lime Quarry. It is a wall of limestone where the hot sun in January literally bakes the skin. A shady hole in the wall afforded a place for the prisoners to eat and relieve themselves. It was also a school for some of the men who had no education. The leaders--the doctors and lawyers (Mandela is a lawyer

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by training) established the rule of “each one, teach one.” They paired up the uneducated with the educated at the rock piles. Most of us had come to see Nelson Mandela’s cell which was about 15 by 15 feet, with a bucket for waste, and a hard mat which when rolled made a small pillow. The floor is cement. Nelson Mandela spent the majority of his 27year imprisonment in this cell. The cell has been made famous in the movie “Invictus.” White warders kept close guard and subjected black prisoners to many acts of dehumanization. Escape was unthinkable; the waters back to Cape Town were cold, shark-infested, and on the mainland was the same hostile environment. About 80 prisoners would sleep in a large area adjacent to a communal shower and toilet. The men worked all day and at the end of the day they would return to the barracks, strip naked, put their clothes neatly in their right arm and jump in the air to demonstrate they had no secret weapons. They would again be cavity-searched. Post script 2013

After a successful career in New York City hyphenated by the events of 911, I pivoted and became a teacher in Santa Fe, NM because of my experience in South Africa in 1979. In no way,

did I ever, ever think that evil could really be turned to good in South Africa. We thought it was headed for cataclysm. On a daily basis I witnessed cruelty, panic, hardship, poverty anger, violence and racism. At the same time I found the most incredible group of people of hope, including Desmond Tutu, who really believed that “Goodness can overcome evil.” I carry on with this inspiration to the younger generations. Mandela’s concept of “Each one Teach one.” is worth pursuing. And coincidentally, Nelson Mandela’s home in Qunu, South Africa is about 5 miles from where I taught in 1979. We were never allowed to mention his name and there were no photos anywhere. As a New Mexico history and US government teacher, I am trying to teach that what divides us is smaller than what unites us.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR NEWS & PHOTOS FOR PECK NEWS 2015.

Digital cameras and smartphones have made taking and sending photos a breeze, so why not share a photo with us the next time you send in a class note? (Please send jpgs at the highest resolution.) Looking forward to hearing from you! SEND TO: KAY MALONE, Associate Director of Alumni Relations kmalone@peckschool.org or scan this QR code to send her an email & attach your jpg!

ALUMNI

1960

Class of 1964 – Happy 50th Anniversary

To all the members of the Class of 1965: Fifty years ago you left the familiar halls of Peck to start your exploration of the world. Some of you might still be near 247 South Street and some of you might be across the globe. What about coming back to campus and gathering once again as a class? Peter Malin ’65 and Susan Nichols Ferriere ’65 have been busy reconnecting with and locating their former classmates. Peck is thrilled to announce that the Class of 1965’s 50th Reunion is scheduled for May 15, 2015 with a school tour and dinner. Final plans for the day before and the day after are still being formalized. Contact Peter for further information at peter@themalingroup.com or on Facebook at Peck School Class of 1965.

PECK NEWS 2014

1970

Amie Quivey ’86 “ran into both Mrs. Pierce and Mrs. Hays, my two wonderful Kindergarden teachers. All three of us were volunteering at Mansion in May. What a treat it was to see both of these lovely ladies again and get a pic (nearly 37 years after we first met)!”

Sorry, no news from the 1970s!

1980 Scott Laird, a member of the Peck faculty from 1981-1983, writes: “Best to all of my 4-L students. I am in my 18th year as Headmaster of St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School in Tampa, FL and guided every day by the mentorship of Rudy Deetjen, Sheila Slutsker, and Don Diebold.” Rob Larson ’83 is now working at Bloomberg. His daughter is a member of the Class of 2017 at Morristown-Beard. Erik Caspersen ’84 and his wife Anna welcomed son Magnus in December 2013. Ryan Foley ’87 married Emily Newman on December 7, 2013.

(L-R) Amie Quivey and Dr. Kristin Hudacek.

Amie Quivey ’86 spent two weeks on the west coast (WA, OR and CA) in October 2013 visiting friends and family. “Kristin Hudacek ’97 and I met up for a fun day of museums, restaurants and sight-seeing in San Francisco. Kristin is a board certified dermatologist living and working in San Francisco. Kristin is an amazing young woman and I feel blessed to have known her since she was born! On a personal note, I’m now working as a home health nurse.”

(L-R) Mrs. Hays, Amie, Mrs. Pierce

Jason Andris ’88 married Julie Checketts on August 24, 2013. Nicole Fargnoli Gerhardt ’88 and her 7 year old son live in Sedalia, CO – a town just outside of Denver. Carter Marsh Abbott ’89 is the Athletic Director at Pingry. Carter and her husband, Red, are the parents of two Peck students, Campbell ’21 and Quinn ’23. Mike Pignatello ’89 writes: “I just wanted to share the happy news that my partner of seven years, Gao Yang, and I were married on March 28, 2014 in Washington, D. C., and that we’ve moved to Taipei for my next assignment with the U. S. State Department. We’ll be there for four years, and would love to have visitors! We’d love to be in touch with any Peck alumni living or working in Asia, where I have spent much of the past ten years (in Manila and Beijing). I can be reached at mpignatello@yahoo.com.”

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Sam Caspersen ’87 and his wife Shannon are the proud parents of daughter G. G. (Greer Gulliver) who arrived on March 12, 2014.

Cherie Alcoff ’89 and her husband David shared the news that their son Gregory Clifton Mastrocola was born on February 22, 2014. Gregory is keeping his parents busy in Greenwich, CT.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR NEWS & PHOTOS FOR PECK NEWS 2015.

ALUMNI

1980’s continued Jerry Prickett, former Head of the Upper School from 1987 to 1992, was back on campus this summer where he had a chance to catch up with a few of his former colleagues. (L-R) Mark Mortensen, Jerry Prickett, Jim Cross, Karen Dispenziere.

Jerry Prickett with Doug Owen

A black tie dinner for the 238th birthday of the United States Marine Corps was held on the Intrepid in November 2013 and included the presentation of the Marine for Life Award to Kim Foley, past Peck Board President, the father of three Peck graduates and the grandfather of three current Peck students. Sharing in Kim’s celebration were past Peck fathers of graduates and former students. Back Row: (l-r) Lindley Scarlett PP ’89, ’91; Stuart Graham PP ’89, ’95; Jay Kemmerer PP ’90, ’93, ’96; Jamie Foley CP ’16, ’18, ’19; Kim Foley PP ’85, ’87; ’90; Harry McHugh PP ’90; ’91. Kneeling: (l-r) Kirk Materne PP ’89, ’91, ’95. Past Peck moms attending, but not in the photo, were Noel Foley, Stuart Materne, Toni McHugh, Jeanne O’Mara, and Christine Scarlett.

PECK NEWS 2014

1990 REUNION 2013 A majority of the alumni attending Reunion 2013 (for all classes of the 1990s) on October 18, 2013 gave a rousing cheer when Mr. Don Diebold announced that the Redheads outnumbered the Downies that night. Of course, it was only the Redheads who were cheering! The Peck tradition of “Downies versus Redheads” is still going strong among our alumni. For many of the alumni this was their first trip back to Peck since their respective graduations in the 1990s. Reconnecting with Peck friends and former teachers was a special evening for all. Helen McFerran, former Head of the Upper School and history teacher, summed up the evening as “the icing on the ‘teaching’ cake. Sharing time with accomplished thoughtful grads was a joy…”

Sam McFerran ’90 and his wife Lauren are the proud parents of son Ryan who was born on June 9, 2014 and joins big brother Brendan. Lindsay Kern Cambron ’91 and her husband Jeff welcomed new daughter Parker on August 16, 2013. Andrew Caspersen ’91 and Christina are thrilled to be the parents of son Jack born in May of 2013. Adam Giuliano ’91 and his wife Wendy are happy to announce that Theodore (Teddy) arrived on September 9, 2013. They live in New York City. Daniel Scott ’91, along with his wife Katy, are the proud parents of baby daughter, Annabelle, who was born November 5, 2013. Annabelle is keeping her parents busy in Peapack, NJ. Charlstie Laytin Veith ’91 and husband Todd welcomed daughter Lillian Mae on February 19, 2014. Lillian joins big brother Laytin. The Veith family lives in Bay Shore, NY.

We Want To

Hear from You & See You, Too!

Dan Skinner ’91 and his family, wife Sharon and three sons, Miles, Ian, and Simon, moved to a new home in Naperville, IL. On a trip back to New Jersey Dan found time to visit Peck. He and Mr. Jim Cross, fifth grade homeroom teacher, were very willing to pose for a photo – just as they had done when Dan was a student.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR NEWS & PHOTOS FOR PECK NEWS 2015.

ALUMNI

1990’s continued Mollie McAlpin Maughn ’92 and her husband Ryan had an early Christmas present. Their baby boy Beckett James arrived on December 20, 2013 weighing 9 lbs. 5oz and 21 in. The Maughn family lives in Portland, OR.

Former Peck third grade teaching partners (1992 -1995), Sheri-lyn Lockwood Carrow and Julie Skinner had lots to talk about when they got together at Disney World during Spring Break. Sheri-lyn is at Durham Academy in North Carolina where she lives with her husband, Hill, and their daughter, Casey.

Tom McKinney ’92 has three daughters! He and his wife Sabina had another daughter on July 10, 2014 named Camille. She joins big sisters Madeleine and Margot. Weighing in at 8 lbs. 8.5 oz. is Courtney Urfer Thompson’s ’93 new baby boy, Augie, born on April 28, 2014. Courtney and her husband, Ben, live in New York City.

Sheri–lyn and Julie during their Peck “partner” days in the 1990s.

Lauren Worthington Morse ’94, along with her husband Rob, are the proud parents of Harrison born on October 1, 2013. The family makes Madison, NJ their home. Devon Graham ’95 married Jason Hammonds on June 28, 2014 in Rhode Island. Oscar James II ’95 and his wife Cyre welcomed a new addition to their family – daughter London Sidney arrived on March 2, 2014. Henry, son of Vanessa Knopp Larsen ’95 and her husband Pete, arrived on September 10, 2013. Henry joins big brother Otto. Taylor Materne ’95 is co-writer of the upcoming film Times Square. The crime thriller is set in the early days of the old Times Square when it was transitioning from a crime ridden area to the family friendly place it is today. Payam Fallah ’96 married Ashley Ager on November 15, 2013 in New York City. David Krasnica ’96 married Lindsay Luppino on May 31, 2014 at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. Jerry Molitor ’96 and wife Darcy are kept busy with son Parker who was born August 26, 2013. Emily Broeman Farnum ’98 is a psychotherapist practicing in New Canaan, CT. Katie Brown Fenstermaker’98 and her husband Blake are the proud parents of daughter, Colby Catherine, born on December 16, 2013 – arriving 4 weeks ahead of schedule!

PECK NEWS 2014

(L-R) Casey, Sheri-Lyn, Julie Skinner

2000’s Classes 2000 through 2005 gathered on campus on October 17, 2014 for Reunion 2014. This was a special evening as it was one of the first gatherings for Peck’s new Head of School, Mr. Andrew C. Delinsky! A tour of the School preceded drinks and dinner in the Old Gym for the alumni and a number of their former teachers. Go to the Media Gallery on Peck’s website to view photos from this fun evening.

Greg Mintz ’00 and his wife Meredith have a son named Harrison who was born in February 2014. The Mintz family is in Convent Station, NJ. Will Gano ’01 married Katie Albright on July 26, 2014. Jahlisa Dodson ’02 married Kieran Brathwaite on July 20, 2014. Asia Stewart ’02 was a bridesmaid at the wedding. Andrew Bruen ’03 and his wife Callie are being kept busy with their new daughter, Ella Rose, who was born on January 7, 2014.

EAD

Spirit

No Matter Their Age!

Show Th

I’

I’ M

A D OW

& REDHEA S E I N DS DOW eir Team

A RE D

Meal time is always a happier time when your new (and sometimes not so new) additions are wearing their Peck bibs! These fashion forward food catchers can’t be bought in any store and they are only available to our former Peck students. Just let the Alumni Office know of your new arrival by emailing the Associate Director of Alumni

Kay Malone at kmalone@peckschool.org and a bib will be at your doorstep in no time. Be sure to send in a photo of your little one showing their Peck Pride and your photo will be included in next year’s Peck News.

TEAM DOWNY

TEAM REDHEAD Beckett Mollie McAlpin Maughn ’92

Here our latest team members who were not too shy to send in photos:

Hazel

Ellen Dericks Caywood ’90 Still stylish after numerous washings! (Or Look, Mom, it still fits!)

The

REDHEArDthSe

outnumbe the Downies in “Bib Rivalry” for 2013-2014!

Terry White ’04 started a company which features athletic wear for the urban athlete – Wola-Co (Way of Life Athletic). Launched in June 2014, more information on the new venture may be found at www.wola-co.com. Kenneth Nyamekye ’06 is looking forward to employment opportunities in the public health/management field upon his graduation from Rutgers in 2014.

We Want To

TEAM DOWNY AND TEAM REDHEAD

Ella Colby Andrew Katie Bruen’03 Brown Fenstermaker ’98

Hear from You & See You, Too!

Charlotte Parker ’05 and her family were featured in a story on the Harvard alumni website. According to the article, “The HarvardYale game is a celebration of intense community spirit, strengthening the bonds that students and alumni have with their alma maters and deepening the age-old rivalry between the two schools…. and in the crowd stands the Parker family – divided. Charlotte’s parents,

TEAM REDHEAD Harrison

Lauren Worthington Morse ’94

Steve (Harvard), and Liz (Yale) account for the split loyalty, and Charlotte (Yale) and her sister, Ellie ’07 (Harvard) have continued the legacy. We are waiting to hear where younger brother James, a member of the Peck Class of 2013, will attend to tip the balance in the Parker household.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR NEWS & PHOTOS FOR PECK NEWS 2015.

ALUMNI

2000’s Shane Vince ’00 married Michelle Rae Wade on June 6, 2014 at The Ashford Estate in Cream Ridge, NJ. The wedding party included Shane’s twin Daniel ’00 as best man and brothers Wyatt and Bryan as groomsmen – members of the classes of ’94 and ’98 respectfully.

Ellie Parker ’07 is the Vice President of The Harvard Lampoon – the University’s famous undergraduate humor publication. Ellie and the President of The Harvard Lampoon are the first team of women to run the magazine. Jihad Harkeem ’08, is juggling school, The New School in NYC, and working as an administrative assistant for the lifestyle website, Hanley Mellon. Kobby Adu-Diawuo’09, a student at Georgetown, is enjoying attending Georgetown basketball games when he is not studying! Raven Young ’09, a student at Villanova, completed and “graduated” from the Villanova Leadership Academy which provides information and resources that students will find helpful during their time at the university. She has also volunteered with the group “Rays of Sunshine” and she is part of the Campus Activities Team which included planning “Merry Christmas Villanova Week.”

Virginia Savage ’05: “I feel incredibly fortunate to have had such an extensive experience at Peck this spring. It is a privilege to work with, observe, and continue to learn from the teachers who significantly shaped formative years of my life. I wore many hats during these past few months at Peck, and enjoyed the opportunity to interact with a variety of students and teachers as I participated in different components of independent school life. Expanding my internship throughout the spring allowed me extensive time in 6th grade History, 7th, 8th, and 5th grade English, 5/6 Boys’ Lacrosse, and the Peck After School Program. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Peck, and look forward to applying what I have learned here to my work at Greenwich Country Day this upcoming fall.” Nyasia Jones ’07 is a biology major at Emory University, where she is on the board of a minority pre-med society and spends time tutoring a second grade class.

PECK NEWS 2014

The following was submitted by Mr. Bobby Malone, Assistant Athletic Director

Peck Graduates Participate in Division I Lacrosse Tournament The Peck School boys’ lacrosse program, started by Athletic Director Don Diebold over 30 years ago, has a long standing tradition of success at the middle school level. One metric of a program’s true strength is the success of its athletes at the next level. Peck’s lacrosse program has produced numerous lacrosse players who have excelled at the high school level both locally and across the country at numerous boarding schools. Recently the program’s graduates have had tremendous success at the Division I college level as well. This season, 8 Peck graduates participated in the Men’s Division I Championship Lacrosse Tournament. Jack Molloy ’07, Cornell (Delbarton); Mark Leonhard ’08, Penn (Lawrenceville); Brendan Newman ’07 Harvard (Lawrenceville), Walker Kirby ’08 Harvard (Lawrenceville), Austin Williams ’09 (Delbarton) and Jamie White ’09 (Delbarton) both play for Harvard. Morgan Kirby ’07 and John Shaffer ’08 play for Duke, the National Champions in 2013 and 2014.

GO PRIDE!!!

Dear Athletic Alumni… One of the Athletic Department’s projects this year is to ‘map out’ our alumni who played an interscholastic sport in college. If you played an interscholastic sport in college, please email Mrs. Sue Sweeney ssweeney@ peckschool.org. Include your name, year graduated from Peck, the college you are attending (or attended) and the sport(s) you played.

15 31 44

42 22

If you were given All American Honors, please let me know that too. This map will be posted on a bulletin board in the Athletic Center for our students and parents to see! Thank you, Mrs. Sweeney

11 72 88

If you played an interscholastic sport in college

Contact Mrs. Sue Sweeney ssweeney@peckschool.org

Although the Red Sox were not playing, (L-R) former Headmaster John Kowalik, former Director of Curriculum Vic Taylor, fifth grade homeroom teacher Jim Cross and Vic Taylor’s predecessor, Vince Janney got together for a Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves baseball game this past summer in Washington DC.

We Want To

Hear from You & See You, Too!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR NEWS & PHOTOS FOR PECK NEWS 2015.

ALUMNI

2010’s Kiwi Comizio ’10, served as captain of the Oak Knoll field hockey and lacrosse teams and received numerous honors in both sports including: Second Team All-State, Prep A Player of the Year, Best Offensive Player, First Team Regional All-American, and Third Team National All-American. Kiwi was the Alumni Speaker at Commencement 2014. Maeve Devlin ’10, a student at Lawrenceville, won two gold medals for the school during the spring Prep championships for track and field. Maeve earned her medals in the Team Triple Jump and the Team Pole Vault. Michael Gilfillan ’10 plays ice hockey for Delbarton. Marcus Jones ’10 volunteered at the Children’s Learning Center which is one of the community service projects at St. Paul’s. Ryan McCarthy ’10 had a tremendous season on the Oak Knoll field hockey team. Ryan scored the game winning goal to advance Oak Knoll to the semifinals in the Investors Bank Tournament of Champions in November 2013.

Shane Brown ’11 was named to the All Daily Record First Team for hockey. Shane is Morristown High School’s goalie; he stopped 22 goals to lead the Colonials in the Public B championship game. Jasmin Guzman ’11, a student at Miss Hall’s School, is kept busy with her classes, play rehearsals, playing soccer, a member of Essence which is a club that discusses race and ethnicity, a member of the Ceramics Club, and she is involved in a tutoring program at the local elementary school and also tutors a fellow student in French. Jack Humphries ’11 is having success in and out of the classroom at Hotchkiss. According to an email received by Secondary School Counselor Daisy Douglas Savage, Jack received the Science Prize and the coveted Theodore Newlin Prize which is given to only four students in the grade for contributing the most to their grade and to the entire school while he was a sophomore. In addition, Jack was a member of the track team. He also participated in Peck’s Alumni Panel in December 2013.

According to the May 2014 issue of the Hotchkiss Happenings Natalie Kawam ’11 has been accepted to the summer opera program at The Walnut Hill School for the Arts. After several weeks attending rehearsals, coaching, and lessons on the school’s campus, Natalie will fly to Italy to experience opera culture, attending a performance at the historic Arena di Verona, singing at Casa Verdi, and visiting the famous La Scala Opera House. The program culminates with a public performance back on the Walnut Hill campus in Massachusetts. Natalie is a student at Hotchkiss. Brendan Kenny ’11 is a sprinter at Delbarton. Sebastian Lutz ’11 was named Most Valuable Swimmer at the Prep A Championships after finishing in first place in the 50 free and the 100 free races. Sebastian is at Pingry. Patricia Morel ’11 has learned to manage her time and workload at Millbrook School with the help of the community and the skills that the school has taught her.

Will McCarthy ’10 not only played on the Delbarton ice hockey team (mentioned in the Daily Record 1/13/14 and 2/24/14), he scored the game tying goal in Delbarton’s first lacrosse game of the spring 2014 season. Delbarton went on to win the game in overtime. (Star Ledger 3/27/14) and Delbarton went on to capture the NJSIAA Non-Public A Boys Lacrosse Tournament. Will McDonald ’10 received the MPV award for his performance in the second annual Basilone Bowl football game which honors the memory of WWII USMC Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone. The football game brings together eighty graduated seniors from local high schools under the direction of the Somerset County Football Coaches Association and the U. S. Marine Corps. Will Pagano ’10 was among Delbarton’s top four golfers at the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions in June 2014. The Delbarton golf team was named the All Daily Record Golf Team of the Year for 2014. Maxim Zwarycz ’10 made the cut for the 2014 US Rowing Youth National Championships in June 2014. Maxim graduated from Delbarton in June and rows for the Mountain Lakes Rowing Club.

PECK NEWS 2014

On a wintry January evening Malcolm Sutherland Foggio’s former teachers came to the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park for Noise Night 2014 - “An evening to raise awareness and research funding for childhood cancer.” (L-R) Vic Taylor, Jim Cross, founder of Make Some Noise Malcolm Sutherland Foggio ’12, Stewart Wilkinson

Andrew Verdesca ’11, a student at Pingry, was named a semifinalist in the 2013-2014 Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. Funded by the Siemens Foundation and administered by the College Board, this competition recognizes high school students’ exemplary and authentic scientific and mathematics research. Over 2,400 students registered for the competition submitting nearly 1,600 projects.

When our Peck alumni find themselves playing sports in high school (and sometimes in college) they might find a familiar face on the opposing team – one of their former Peck classmates! Although they are cheering for their new schools, they will always have a bond with their former Peck team mates.

Rita Keazer ’12 is experiencing many different aspects of St. Paul’s School. On the academic side, she loves her chemistry class – especially balancing equations which she claims baffled her while at Peck but finds that she is “surprisingly good at St. Paul’s.” She is also involved with a Service Learning Team teaching English to refugees from Nepal and the Congo. On the sports side, when not managing the Hockey Concession Stand, she is the manager for the Girls Varsity Hockey Team. And she still has time for music – voice lessons! Ariel Claxton ’13 is on the track team at Lawrenceville where she was on the 1,800 meter relay team which came in first at the Prep championships that took place at Lawrenceville in April 2014. Jaydee Figueroa ’13 is enjoying St. Paul’s. Besides working diligently in the classroom, she is also finding being a member of the varsity basketball team requires commitment and time management skills!

Girls Athletic Director Sue Sweeney was so proud to be surrounded by her former Peck girls, who now are on the Pingry and Oak Knoll teams, at the NJ state field hockey game in November 2013. Front Row: (L-R) Katie Coyne ’12, Ryan McCarthy ’10, K i rby Com izio ’12, Macken zie Ken ny ’13. Back Row: (L-R) Amanda Van Orden ’13, Katia Colon ’11, Remy Snook ’11, Mrs. Sweeney, Laura Wynne ’13, Lily Neibart ’10, Mary Pagano ’13

Peter Shepanzyk ’13 is on the Delbarton swim team.

Girls from Kent Place and Oak Knoll came together after their game for a Peck group photo. (L-R) Kirby Comizio ’12, Mackenzie Kenny ’13, Lauren Nyamekye ’12, Emma Farinacci ‘13, Ryan McCarthy ’10, Megan Storms ’10, Catie Owen ’11, Remy Snook ’11, Julia Schmuckler ’12

We Want To

Hear from You & See You, Too!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR NEWS & PHOTOS FOR PECK NEWS 2015.

ALUMNI

Class of 2010 The following alumni have shared their future plans with the School:

Blanchard, Julia Brummer, Maggie Coffey, Emma Comizio, Kiwi Craugh, Sheamus Denholm, Megan Devlin, Maeve Easley, George Geller, Daniel Gilfillan, Michael Hong, Derek Huff, Alex Ippolito, Amanda Jones, Marcus Kingsbery, Billy MacCowatt, Mimi Masucci, Charlotte McCarthy, Ryan McCarthy, Will

NYU College of Charleston Boston College Yale Washington & Lee Kings College London Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dartmouth Lafayette Boston College Brown Duke Syracuse Colby Washington & Lee Washington & Lee GAP YEAR Princeton Lafayette

McDonald, Will Moss, William Najjar, Serena Neibart, Lily Pagano, William Parekh, Bela Pelaez, Robert Ryan, Chloe Savel, Ethan Schmuckler, Rachel Slack, Lucy Storms, Megan Supron, Andrew Thebault, Alexandra Trentini, Emilio Villano, Davis Zajkowski, Christina Zwarycz, Maxim

Georgetown Southern Methodist University NYU Gettysburg Vanderbilt UPenn Hofstra University of Delaware Wesleyan University of Delaware Harvard Dennison Rice University Fairfield Fairfield NYU UPenn Brown

The Peck School

Class Of 2014 Quentin Abramo Alexander Alin-Hvidsten Humza Bari Matthew Campbell Lauren Cloughen Chet Comizio Jennifer Coyne Josephine Cummings Mariel Czerniecki Calvary Dominique Giana Earrusso George Enman Mark Forbes Madison Gibbons Gregory Gilbert Charlotte Hagerty John Hahn Oliver Hollo Joao Honorio Frances Hough Wesley Jakimowicz

PECK NEWS 2014

St. Andrew’s School (DE) Pingry School Morristown-Beard School Delbarton School The Lawrenceville School Delbarton School Pingry School Pingry School Oak Knoll School Pingry School Kent Place School Pingry School Delbarton School St. Paul’s School Newark Academy Kent Place School Delbarton School Deerfield Academy Delbarton School Taft School Pingry School

Samuel Kirby Andrew Lee Thomas MacCowatt Hunter Macy Alison McCarthy Jordan McGinley Jonathan Misihowsky Andrew Nestle Elizabeth Owen Filip Parlapiano Benjamin Ramos Nicholas Ramsey Ariana Russo Erikka Schlott John Schuessler Alison Verdesca Caroline Wolfe Anton Wolkenstein Yannick Wyss Lauren Yu

The Lawrenceville School Delbarton School Delbarton School Taft School Oak Knoll School Pingry School Oratory Prep Delbarton School Kent Place School Blair Academy Pingry School Delbarton School Oak Knoll School The Lawrenceville School Pingry School Pingry School Blair Academy Delbarton School International School of Basel Pingry School

In Memoriam (2014) The School extends sympathy to the families and friends of the following members of the Peck community:

James W. Cahouet, November 19, 2012; former member of the Peck faculty from 1967 to 1969 and husband of Jean Watson Cahouet ’54. William Sydnor Settle,

April 27, 2013; father of Lisa Settle Callaway ’80 and William Settle Jr. ’83 and husband of Noel Settle.

Franklin D. Reeve ’42, June 28, 2013; brother of Anne Reeve Childs ’56 and Richard Reeve ’43. Dr. Byron G. Sherman ’34,

July 29, 2013; brother of Natalie Sherman Kleinkauf ’33, great uncle of Amanda MacKenzie Benchley ’83 and Kara MacKenzie ’85 and great-great uncle of Annabel Plante ’17.

Paul Danco ’54, August 12, 2013. Edwina “Dinny” Munson Doyle ’47,

September 14, 2013; sister of Louise Munson Herring ’54.

Binney White Nast ’51, October 19,

2013; sister of Patricia White ’54.

Susan Fouke Pettus, November 8, 2013; mother of Katherine Pettus Wujcik ’87 and Thruston Pettus Jr. ’90 and wife of Thruston W. Pettus. Dr. John “Jack” Culbertson Jr., ’65,

December 2, 2013; brother of Marion Culbertson Burke, a member of the Class of 1959, and Katherine Culbertson Prentice ’61 and husband of Elizabeth Broaddus Culbertson. Jack was the son of Grace Kirby Culbertson and the late John H. Culbertson Sr. He also was a cousin to many of the Kirby family who have long been associated with the School.

Raymond P. Gila, January 5, 2014; fa-

ther of Peck first grade teacher Christa Nees, and grandfather of Morgan Nees,

a member of the Class of 2009, and Riley Nees ’12. William “Bill” Witman, January 13, 2014; husband of Camilla McClave Witman, former Peck Director of Admissions.

Judge John K. Speer Jr., May 1, 2014;

father of John K. Speer III ’74 and Philip M. Speer ’80 and husband of Debby.

William Cromarty, February 12, 2014; father of Laura Cromarty ’87.

Thomas N. Slutsker, May 16, 2014; husband of Sheila Slutsker, former Head of the Lower School 1980-1995 and grandfather to former Peck student Callie Marx, a member of the Class of 2007.

Haskell P. MacCowatt, February 16, 2014; grandfather of Peck alumni Mimi ’10, Tommy ’14 and Liza, a member of the Class of 2011.

Kathryn G. Plympton, June 1, 2014; mother of Douglas F. Plympton ’72 and Peck Trustee Margaret (Peggy) F. Plympton ’68.

Madame Edmond Linsmaux,

Joseph C. Ricotta, June 22, 2014; fa-

February 26, 2014; mother of Claire Fawzi, Language Department Chair and grandmother of Nicholas Fawzi ’94 and Susie Fawzi ’99.

Bernard J. Durnin, March 3, 2014; father of Brian Durnin, a member of Peck’s Technology Department. Ross E. Traphagen, March 4, 2014;

father of Laura ’77 and Judson ’80, stepfather of Edward May ’69 and Sara May ’72 and husband of Barbara Traphagen. Mr. Traphagen served on the Peck Board of Trustees in the 1970s.

Mary Grieshaber, March 23, 2014; mother of Kevin Grieshaber, Director of Technology at Peck. Deborah Ann Malone, April 3, 2014;

ther of Joey ’18 and Julianna ’21.

Natalie Sherman Kleinkauf ’33,

July 2, 2014; sister of the late Byron Sherman ’34, grandmother of Amanda MacKenzie Benchley ’83 and Kara Mackenzie ’85, and great grandmother of Annabel Plante ’17.

Margaret Gillis, August 29, 2014; mother of Kevin Gillis, Lower School and Upper School art teacher, and grandmother of Courtney ’02. Stanley Struebing, September 9, 2014; father of School psychologist, Dr. Susanne Struebing. Paul Barry,

September 11, 2014; father of Shannon Barry O’Grady ’90.

Skipwith Ho, April 7, 2014; mother of fourth grade teacher, Antonia Pelaez, and grandmother of Robby ’10 and Tyler, a member of the Class of 2016.

Diane Delmonico Ivins ’41, September 22, 2014; sister of the late Shirley Delmonico ‘32 and the late Charles Delmonico ’36, and sister-in-law of former faculty member and past trustee, Pat Moody. Mrs. Ivins taught third grade at Peck during the 1950s.

Margaret Bruen, April 17, 2014; grandmother of Bill ’00 and Andrew ’03, and wife of William Bruen Sr.

Corwin (Joe) Poy, September 25, 2014; father of Christopher Poy ’16 and husband of Karen Poy.

sister of seventh grade homeroom teacher, Bobby Malone.

ALUMNI

THE PECK SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF FOR 2014-2015: Kimberly Apgar, Tee Atkins, Jane Attah, Johnnie Barlow, Suzanne Becker, Nora Beitz, Helen Biffen, Jeannie Brown, Katherine Bruno, Darcy Caldwell, Lorraine Callaghan, Chelsey Carr, Laura Caruso, Erin Ceder, Sarah Chan, Jen Cleary, Bronagh Coakley, Dyana Conroy, Timothy Cooney, James Cross, Andrew Delinsky, Don Diebold, Karen Dispenziere, Rick Dixon, Molly Donnelly, Brian Durnin, Genny Elias-Warren, Mary Faugno, Claire Fawzi, Wanda Fiorini, David Forman, Jen Garvey, Kevin Gillis, Kevin Grieshaber, Robert Griffin, Will Harvard, Hope Herbst, Rod Januzzi, Carlos Jara, Erin Kurdyla, Elizabeth LaRosa, Michelle LeGrand, Yvette Lopez-Grieshaber, Colleen Loughman, Timothy Loveday, Christine LoVerde, Kimberly Luciano, Andrew Lyman, Mary Kate MacVicar, Kay Malone, Susan Marino-Jennings, Chris Marion, Nicki McGrath, Maribel Mohr, Mark Mortensen, Tyler Moseley, Elizabeth Muller, Joan Myers, Christa Nees, Carol Nowak, Sally Noyes, Amy Papandreou, Antonia Pelaez, Richard Reiter, Roberta Russell, Daisy Douglas Savage, Sasha Schreiner, Nina Sharma, Julie Skinner, Zan Struebing, Sue Sweeney, Adriana Sykora, Joan Syp, Carolyn Vallario, Sara Wheeler, Stewart Wilkinson, Leigh Williams, Dennis Yanoski, Kristin Young

PECK NEWS 2014

December 18 : Holiday Con cert and Gran Luncheon dparents’ Return to cam

December 19 : Christmas S Our holiday tra ing di

following the

tion continue s with this sign Sing. ature Peck

January 5: Cla sses

event! Winte r break

begins

Resume—We lcome to 201 5!

May 7: Mahlo n-Pitney Socie Current and Pa ty Trustee Din st Trustees ar ner e invited ba trustees! Invitations will

ck to campu rly in the sprin s for a special dinner cele brating our g.

be mailed ea

Peck event! In

June 5: Com mencement Spring 2016: Family

+ Reunion!

PECK NEWS

247 South Street • Morristown, NJ • 07960-7381

www.peckschool.org • www.facebook.com/peckschool

2014

PECK NEWS 2014

#PeckThrowback

Welcoming

Our New

Head of School

IN THIS ISSUE

Tech@Peck