DEAR PECK COMMUNITY, A S A N E D U C AT O R , I LOV E working with middle school students. I find them fun, introspective, endearing, and challenging in all the right ways— middle schoolers force educators (and parents!) to bring their “A” game. Knowing that middle schoolers are experiencing the same ups and downs, the same vulnerabilities, and the same insecurities many of us experienced during our middle school years requires our empathy and reflection on what we needed as middle schoolers that we may
If given a choice to return to the past, would I choose to revisit my middle school years? Absolutely not. But that’s part of our motivation today. How do we make Peck’s middle school experience enriching and enjoyable despite the difficulty of adolescence? It starts with experienced, caring educators and a community and culture that values and celebrates all things middle school— or, in Peck’s case, the Upper School. Everything we do at Peck is intentional;
not have received.
we work hard to craft an experience that
Peck middle schoolers need to know
care, and prepares them to soar.
they’re valued and seen; they need to
honors our students, demonstrates we We also invite you to interact with this
know they’re appreciated even as they
In this issue, you will read about
navigate some of the most awkward years
our strategic approach to teaching
of their lives; they need to know they are
middle schoolers. You’ll read about
competent and trusted; they need skilled
you to doodle throughout the issue, and
our intentional integration of student
educators and caring parents. They need
find the hidden pictures in Scott Beil’s
reflection in the kindergarten through
these things to be successful.
intricate Peck-inspired doodle on the last
eighth-grade curriculum to develop
page of this magazine.
Perhaps like yours, my middle school
lifelong learners and risk-takers. You’ll
experience was a mixed bag, and over my past 10 years at Peck, I’ve frequently wished I could have had this middle
have the chance to take a remixed version of Sarah Chan’s infamous Comma Test,
issue! You may remember doodling on your notebooks in class. We encourage
Enjoy this issue highlighting the Peck middle-school experience. Go Pride!
hear stories from Peck faculty about their
school experience! I remember all too
own middle school experiences, and enjoy
vividly my own desperate attempts to fit
a visual take on the 16 best things about
in—whether through the clothes I was
Peck’s middle school. You’ll also learn
wearing or the friends I was keeping—as
of the accomplishments of Kobby Adu-
well as my academic insecurities and
Diawuo ’09, who began his Peck journey
my growing awareness of how I stacked
in middle school and is now thriving
up against others. I also remember
in the finance sector working as Vice
the teachers who built me up and the
President of Investments at HarbourView
magnitude of their impact.
Equity Partners.
Warmly,
Andrew C. Delinsky Head of School
