Exploring the Middle School Years at Peck TA K E A S T R O L L T H R O U G H
Pithers continues, “These kids are
campus at Upper School recess and
tweens going into teens, and they want
you’ll see dozens of pre-teens on the
to be spoken to like young adults rather
swings, shooting hoops, climbing the
than children. But at the same time,
ropes, and playing soccer. You’ll hear
they are still children who are dealing
talking, laughing, and connecting
with complex emotions, who still need
over stories at the picnic tables or in
to play, and who will make mistakes.”
common spaces.
Making sure to foster both sides of the
You might find four friends huddled
coin, so to speak, is what Peck’s Upper
around a Chess board, talking about
School program does.
their weekend plans while strategically moving their rook to capture the queen. You’ll take in the scene of five friends sprawled on couches, laughing together as photos from their time at Peck scroll on the TV behind them. Or two
“We give them both support and independence, teaching them advocacy but also acknowledging they have struggles and may need role models or coaching,” explains Pithers.
friends tossing a lacrosse ball back and
“For example, you can’t just say, ‘Well,
forth, while discussing their upcoming
why don’t you ask your teacher?’ but instead,
semi-final matchup.
start the conversation with ‘How can we
Middle school is a time of exponen-
break down the steps, and acknowledging
tial growth: physical, academic, and social-emotional. It’s also a time for duality—the paradigmatic push-and-pull between child and teenage identities. “Parents can have a hard time understanding that a middle schooler is both
ask your teacher?’—helping the student they might be sitting with something hard. This can set them up for the small victories that carry big rewards.” Peck’s K-8 program provides the ideal structure for this model, providing a familiar environment with trusted
a child and on their way to being a
adults so 10-14-year-olds can practice
teen—with childlike maturity but also a
the level of self-advocacy, independence,
craving for independence,” says Upper
and leadership expected in a high school
School Psychologist Dr. Lisa Pithers.
environment.
upper school 4 | FALL/W IN T ER 2024
