Peck News Spring/Summer 2022: Horizons Widened

The Class of 2022 began their culminating year roasting marshmallows around a campfire and stepping outside their comfort zones on a day trip to Fairview Lake YMCA Camps in Stillwater Township, NJ.

Literally expanding their horizons, our cover photo shows members of the Class of 2022 (the Papandreou Advisory) learning how to navigate boats on the lake.

In addition to boating, our newest alumni accomplished a number of other outdoor skills-based and challenge-based activities such as archery, hiking, team-building, environmental science activities, and a giant swing through the treetops.

The graduating year of a student’s Peck experience is intentionally bookended with two experiential education trips (different in both scope and purpose) to provide critical opportunities for students to practice independence, collaboration, and teamwork.

DEAR PARENTS,

WHEN I JOINED the Peck family in 2014, the Class of 2022 was in first grade—and it’s hard to believe that eight years have gone by since then. During their journey, I’ve relished my front row seat as this group of Peck graduates grew from the curious first graders they once were to the independent young adults they are today.

It reminds me of the importance of our intentionally designed kindergarten through eighth-grade curriculum. It is through our structure that we are able to help students navigate the age-appropriate opportunities and challenges we have created for them at every grade level. It’s why, when they step foot on campus in September of their eighth-grade year, they are ready to be leaders of Student Council, Kindergarten Helpers, publishers of a yearbook, and role models for all students as they embark on their final year at Peck. In this issue of Peck News, we take a deep dive into that eighth-grade experience. From their traditional eighth-grade speeches and experiential education trips, to enjoying choice in their art electives classes, and their culminating Capstone Lab projects, we explore how our students’

final year sets the stage for them to go anywhere, and be anyone they can imagine. We celebrate the Class of 2022’s years at Peck and highlight their commencement.

We also catch up with alum Malcolm Sutherland-Foggio ’12, founder of Make Some Noise: Cure Kids Cancer, and meet our new Director of Admissions & Financial Aid Karen Dispenziere and our new Director of Athletics Jess McGinn.

Whether you join Peck in kindergarten or any year thereafter, the eighthgrade program is a unique culmination of a student’s experience—one that we continuously examine to ensure it provides the opportunities our students need to learn and grow. (Stay tuned this fall for news about our recently approved strategic plan, which includes a specific directive to further enhance and evolve the seventh and eighth-grade experience!)

Peck provides a safe playground for students to try on different interests, practice various leadership styles, and build a foundation of character before they launch into the world of secondary school. After all of the experiences they

had during their time at Peck, we know that they are ready to embrace any experience that awaits.

Congratulations Class of 2022! Go Pride!

Warmly, Andrew C. Delinsky Head of School

CONTENTS

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TRIPS

At Peck, an eighth grader’s experience begins not behind the stone walls of Lindenwold Mansion, or even on the lush green grass of the quad—but instead, out in the wilderness.

HORIZONS | WIDENED

As a K-8 school, Peck is uniquely poised to shepherd children through their adolescent years, and to not only produce the best outcomes, but also—and perhaps more importantly—help students begin to find their best selves as they imagine what their futures could hold.

EIGHTH-GRADE SPEECHES

The pinnacle of the Peck eighthgrade experience is undoubtedly the long-awaited Eighth Grade Speech.

Peck News

SPRING/SUMMER 2 022

A twice-yearly publication for families, faculty, and alumni of The Peck School in Morristown, New Jersey

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Andrew C. Delinsky adelinsky@peckschool.org

EDITORIAL STAFF

Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing

Heather Burchfield hburchfield@peckschool.org

Associate Director of Visual Brand Strategy Jen Cleary

ARTS ELECTIVES

Peck eighth-graders get to experiment in the arts by choosing electives aligned with their interests in woodworking, visual arts, drama, music, or tech and design.

THE CAPSTONE LAB

The Capstone Lab experience at Peck is a microcosm of the real world: eighth-graders are invited to try something new for which there may be no roadmap.

Digital Marketing Associate Brielle Runyon

WRITERS/CONTRIBUTORS:

Features & Departments: Heather Burchfield, Jen Cleary, Brielle Runyon; Class Notes & In Memoriam: Office of Advancement (Keri Skobo-Trought, Sarah Quinn Clausen)

PHOTOGRAPHY:

At-Home Studios (athomestudios.com), Peck Faculty, Peck Parents, The Peck School, The Peck School Archives

PRINTING: Bolger, Inc.

ART DIRECTOR: Greta G. Chinnadurai

The Peck School 247 South Street Morristown, NJ 07960 (973) 539-8660 peckschool.org

Northern New Jersey’s timeless and transformative co-ed independent elementary and middle school education for grades K-8.

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.

MIDDLE SCHOOL. Is there a phrase more fraught in the entire parental lexicon? Here is where adolescence raises its hormonally-charged hands, declaring I AM HERE with every eye roll, slammed door, and baffling catchphrase. Middle school is where kids begin to to dive headfirst into brand-new, and enormously complex, ideas and concepts. It’s where they are pushing heretofore unrealized boundaries, figuring out their identities and where they fit in, all while dealing with their rapidly changing bodies and minds.

They are feeling their way at the very edges of the nest, simultaneously wondering, are these wings supposed to get me from here to there?

Eighth graders in particular find themselves at a life stage where they are experiencing massive brain growth with the greatest potential of all the teen years to assimilate and master information. They’re leaping forward in problem solving, abstract thinking, deductive reasoning, strategic planning, and impulse control. Their frontal lobe—the seat

of higher reasoning—is growing and interconnecting. Yet, for the next 12 to 18 years until the frontal lobe reaches full maturity, they’re still lured towards risky acts courtesy of that pesky emotional brain center, the limbic system. (1)

Neurologist Frances Jensen, neurology department chair at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Teenage Brain, describes teen thinking as, “paradoxical… these are people with very sharp brains, but they’re not quite sure what to do with them.” (2)

So, what’s a parent of a middle schooler to do? The answer: find people who know how to harness all of the power and potential of adolescence, and leverage it to nurture a strong sense of agency, self-reflection, and leadership.

As a K-8 school, Peck is uniquely poised to shepherd kids through their

adolescent years, and to not only produce the best outcomes, but also, and perhaps more importantly, help students begin to find their best selves as they imagine what their futures could hold.

“I love the sense of discovery and growing self-awareness that develop during these critical years,” said Upper

School Head Sadie Albertyn. “Middle school is something to be celebrated, not endured, and we know the K-8 structure gets this right. We’re able to focus on childhood, while still providing authentic leadership opportunities. We believe in the power of student choice, and we put students on the path to explore who they

Middle school is something to be celebrated, not endured, and we know the K-8 structure gets this right.

are before they choose a high school. I see the benefits of this every day as our students walk our hallways with their shoulders back and minds open.”

At Peck, posessing an elevated level of self-assuredness while heading into high school is no accident. Take the Class of 2022 for example, whose academic and social experiences during eighth grade were specifically designed to help each find new horizons within themselves.

Capstone Lab (the equivalent of a seniorlevel capstone project in high school) asks eighth graders to independently bring to life something that excites them.

Celia Hepp ’22 translated her love of reading into a partnership with the NJ non-profit Bridge of Books, collecting and donating 2,600 books that would be distributed to a number of locations and programs, including an ESL program at Fort Dix (NJ) for Afghanistan refugees.

Eighth-grade speeches prompt students to not only devise and articulate a compelling, self-reflective narrative, but to also practice vulnerability by sharing a personal story in front of their peers and teachers. Lucky Valdivieso ’22 stepped up to the mic during an all-school assembly and delivered a powerful reflection on gratitude.

Structured leadership opportunities prompt students to realize the responsibilities that come with the privileges of their eighth-grade year at Peck. Lexi Schnur ’22 served as one of 10 editors to the school’s yearbook, The Linden. While a fun opportunity to practice storytelling and page design, students are ultimately responsible for producing a more than 200-page printed history of the school year.

Aside from curriculum, eighth graders get real-world practice being a role model simply by virtue of being the oldest kids in the school. “You get to feel what it’s like to have other kids admire you. And so when you fall short, it matters. And when you rise to it, it really matters,”

said Eighth-Grade Lead Teacher Virginia Savage ’05.

“If you’re in a school with older kids, I think it’s easier to get lost in the shuffle in that your day-to-day actions aren’t always witnessed by younger peers. And I think this teaches character in an implicit, and very real, way.”

Christine Williams, who directs Peck’s secondary school counseling program, adds that “this is a time of life where kids start to become their authentic selves, and then you can really figure out what is the next best step [for secondary school.] I love the way our kids get to be the big kids in seventh and eighth grade, and that’s what gives them so much independence and sense of self.”

How Peck’s Secondary School Process Widens Horizons

Along with the academic agency, leadership, and character development happening in the eighth-grade year comes a milestone unique to students in K-8 schools: learning how to be a stakeholder in one’s own educational journey.

The opportunity for choice and agency in this kind of decision is a rare gift, and one that typically comes during a junior or senior high school year. But at the tender age of 14? How powerful is it at this age to literally put into practice the idea that you can strive to go anywhere, and be anything?

Throughout their journey at Peck, students have learned how to develop their own perspectives and to share their ideas with adults. How to advocate for themselves. How to handle choice when selecting a school can be so visible to the rest of their community. How to assess themselves. How to show up and stand tall in a professional environment.

How to imagine for themselves, “what else can I do?”

“I think the process that we give them in classes, specifically starting in seventh grade where they learn to, for example, share their perspectives in Harkness discussions, instills in them a broader sense of what they can do in the world,” said Williams. “They discover they have a voice, and they aren’t looking for anybody to make choices for them.”

Though the secondary school process is pragmatic, involving hefty interview prep, testing practice, essay-writing guidance, and more, it also provides a significant uplift to the kind of soft skills needed for independence and future leadership. Students practice self-assessment, taking risks, and managing expectations and disappointments.

Of course, they’re not completely on their own, as family partnership is integral for success. Williams works just as closely with families as a unit as she does with individual students. This structure provides eighth graders with a safe space to take risks and grow into this new, wider version of themselves; one who can both evaluate and answer one of life’s most important questions: Do I feel like I can belong here?

With such new questions, challenges, and opportunities taking hold during adolescence, it’s an enormous benefit for middle schoolers to be assured they can fall into a safety net if they stumble. At Peck, our middle school kids know that they have an entire team of advocates behind them who know them, care about them, and will push them to both be and become their own best outcomes.

As the adage goes, “it takes a village,” and Peck’s K-8 model is no exception. With a cadre of experts in childhood and adolescence, our students can spread their wings and fly further than they ever thought before.

(1), (2) Pellissier, “Inside the eighth grader’s brain,” greatschools.org

Eighth Graders

2022

AN EIGHTH-GRADE PECK EXPERIENCE begins not behind the stone walls of Lindenwold Mansion or even on the lush green grass of the quad—but out in the wilderness. Surrounded by crisp fall air with leaves crunching beneath their feet, members of the Class of 2022 began their culminating year roasting marshmallows around a campfire and stepping outside their comfort zones while learning to depend on one another.

Fast forward seven months, and those same students are amidst the bustling crowds on Pennsylvania Avenue, biking through the cherry blossoms, and sailing off into the sunset on the Potomac.

The graduating year of a student’s Peck experience is intentionally bookended with two experiential education trips. The trips, different in both scope and purpose, provide critical opportunities for students to practice independence, collaboration, and teamwork.

In the fall, the Class of 2022 enjoyed a day trip to Fairview Lakes in Stillwater Township, NJ where they participated in trustbuilding activities, ropes courses, and a scenic hike.

Eighth-Grade Lead Teacher and Peck alumna Virginia Savage ’05 said the main focus of the fall trip is authentic connection for the classmates as part of the smaller micro-community of advisory.

“When eighth graders start the year, it’s natural to feel a bit apprehensive. They imagine these overarching expectations about what eighth grade is supposed to be and what their individual responsibilities are,” she said.

“Getting away from campus almost immediately in service of something so radically different from the day-to-day school

h orizons

experience reminds us that we have community connections beyond academics. Any adventure reinforces a bond that buttresses students against the very real stress points of application season and middle school life. It generates memories they can draw upon later in the year. It feels really good to solidify those connections with your advisory and your advisor in a setting where we’re all expected to be a little more vulnerable.”

Savage, who fondly recalled her own eighth-grade fall outdoor education trip, said the aspect of students going without creature comforts results in a tremendous amount of pride by the end of the trip.

“It’s about setting the tone for your advisory: we are a unit that looks out for one another, we are a unit that takes risks, we are a unit that laughs with one another, and we are a unit that notices

when somebody actually needs a hand reached out to them to pull them up,” Savage said.

After a year of learning, growing, and bonding, Savage said the spring trip to Washington DC, which has curricular ties to the students’ study of the United States Government and U.S. History, is meant more as a culminating class bonding experience. It marks the beginning of the end of the eighth graders’ final year at 247 South Street.

“DC is really more about a celebration of where they are now and how far we’ve come since the fall,” she said. “It’s our first major celebration of all the fun events in the spring.”

“The most memorable part of my trip was traveling and sharing rooms with my friends and peers,” said Morgan Edell ’22. “I think we all grew together and made amazing memories.”

Getting away from campus almost immediately in service of something so radically different from the day-to-day school experience reminds us that we have community connections beyond

Illuminating creative expression & independence through Art Electives

MOVING FROM KINDERGARTEN to eighth grade is like passing through a series of doors. In the Lower School, the door is opened for you—held ajar to allow little footsteps over the threshold. As the little footsteps grow in size and horizons widen with increased maturity, our Lower Schoolers move toward Upper School—where they begin to open these doors on their own. Eventually, they begin to create the doors themselves.

In preparation for life after Peck, the eighth-grade program intentionally allows for students to practice agency and independence in many ways. One of the biggest is in crafting a portion of their academic schedule by choosing their own arts elective. Rather than following a slate of prescripted arts classes during their final year at Peck, eighth-graders get to experiment by choosing electives aligned with their interests in woodworking, visual arts, drama, music, or tech and design.

We know that children want to be independent, but independence and agency are skills that need to be taught. At Peck, we intentionally craft opportunities for students to practice these skills.

“Our students are more than ready to explore and share a passion,” says the 21-22 Art Department Chair Karen Dispenziere, who was instrumental in creating the elective program. “We see they’re more engaged in their coursework, which comes from allowing them to explore the arts within school. Hopefully, we foster their desire to continue that exploration outside of school and after graduation.”

Each elective gives students a space to celebrate and solidify skills in creative expression and independence.

Tech & Design Escape Room

The Tech & Design art elective looked slightly different this year. Also known as Creative Computing, this semester-long elective resulted in students creating the experience of a lifetime for their peers: a puzzle-filled escape room. “Creating this escape room taught students to design, collaborate, and take calculated risks. They also learned about new programming languages,” says Bruce Schwartz, director of the Osborn Idea & Design Lab. The students fully led this project, designing each stage and obstacle with care and zeal. Additionally, the project faced an unexpected challenge—it needed to be relocated out of the Idea & Design Lab and into the Lindenwold Library due to unforeseen circumstances. The change required the team to create a new floor plan and work with additional materials to start and finish each puzzle.

“ We know that children want to be independent, but independence and agency are skills that need to be taught. At Peck, we intentionally craft opportunities for students to practice these skills.

The Art Studio

“Art is a global conversation and everyone has a voice—in the art room, you’re encouraged to find yours,” says Scott Beil, Upper School art teacher and instructor for The Art Studio elective. This elective is a semester-long, portfolio-based class, and this year’s theme was art investigation Students were tasked with researching and writing down their passions and inspirations—from artists to any visual stimuli that they are drawn to. Some students join this elective knowing they want to create new and exciting pieces through drawing, painting, sculpture, or digital art while others receive more guidance. Some students explored landscapes and inspirational quotes, while others ventured toward sculpture and laser cutting.

Woodworking

Not far from the art room door lies a different type of craft: woodworking with Mark Mortensen. In this year-long art elective, eighth graders can work on their capstone projects (if their capstone involves woodworking) while simultaneously being granted the opportunity to design and learn the skills necessary to utilize various tools in the woodshop. Some students create skateboards and sculptures, while others hone their familiarity with the techniques to make furniture and other complex structures. “I wanted them to choose a project that’s going to be a challenge for them—not a frustration—and one that will stretch their abilities,” says Mortensen.

Roots of Blues,

Pop, Rock, and Beyond

Musical exploration and fun exist and persist in the classroom with Upper School Music Teacher Sebastian Guererro. Students interested in learning and playing music trace the roots of current popular American music through listening, analysis, and instrument playing in this fall semester elective. This year’s class also positively impacted the Peck community by sharing multiple videos during assemblies titled “Name That Tune.” Songs for “Name That Tune” were selected, curated, and played by our eighth-grade musicians. Learning and playing through the origins of music, our eighth graders are encouraged to continue experimenting with different styles of music and instruments. Guerrero notes, “I hope students feel empowered to make music and see that it’s possible for everyone—especially with kids who have never tried it before.”

Eighth-Grade Drama

In the spring semester, eighth-grade students interested in pursuing the art of the stage have the chance to enroll in the drama arts elective. Peck’s young thespians take charge and command the stage, choreography, tech, lighting, and marketing for their performance at the end of the school year. “Our eighth graders in drama found a rendition of Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men called 12 Angry Villains. They took it upon themselves to write an epilogue and prologue for their performance in the spring,” states Guerrero.

EIGHTH-GRADE SPEECHES

Opportunity for Self-Reflection

The pinnacle of the Peck eighth-grade experience is undoubtedly the long-awaited Eighth-Grade Speech. Solid public speaking skills and experience are one of the many reasons why parents choose a Peck education for their child. These lessons begin right from the start in kindergarten and progress throughout the grades. Peck’s oldest students build upon years of public speaking experience and formal training in sixth grade to craft a compelling final narrative to share with their classmates prior to graduation. Students often reflect on meaningful experiences from their time at Peck, beloved family pets, long-lost relatives, and the bonds of family and friendship that center and ground them as people.

Enjoy these highlights from some of this year’s eighth-grade speeches:

Combining humor and humility, Christopher Fu explored his oncefelt hatred for Shakespeare and, subsequently, poetry, saying he felt restricted by the rules of this literary form. That is, until he discovered free form. Christopher detailed the process of his poetry submission to the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, for which he received an honorable mention.

“

Try to understand what you have an opinion on. Maybe through that your opinion might still be the same, but at least you will know, like I knew, that you had tried it out, you had given it a chance. ”

Christina Silva artfully brought the audience into the world of her neighbor Stan. By describing the sights and sounds of her elderly neighbor’s home and backyard, listeners were able to see and feel the impact this man had on Christina’s life.

“Stan taught me that love comes in countless forms and magic is all around us if we’re only willing to stop and listen. He taught me that when you love something—a place, a person, anything—you create a new world for them full of magic and music and paintings and books and lectures about safety. He taught me that you don’t say I love you with three little words. You say it in the things you create for that person. And if you really love someone, when the time comes, you smile through your tears and you let them go.”

Luke Pagano brought his audience along on his journey through learning guitar. Despite his lessons getting off to a bumpy start, Luke detailed the determination and perseverance he showed in his pursuit of guitar prowess. Learning the guitar was not always fun or easy, but Luke persisted and has now even performed live with his band!

“I'm telling you this because it connects to something key when learning anything new: Perseverance. Peck teaches us a lot about perseverance. If you get a bad grade on a test you don't just give up and do the same for all the other tests. You power through the bad grades and learn from your mistakes.”

Madi Eaton delivered a heart-warming tribute to her three younger brothers Sebastian, Ollie, and Max. Madi detailed the distinct personalities of each of her brothers and the unique relationship she has with each one. Max, athletic and energetic, knows how to press his sister’s buttons—though, besides challenging her to random push-up battles, he is a caring and nurturing younger brother. Ollie, wise for his age, enjoys stumping Madi with animal trivia, yet is her biggest cheerleader. Sebastian, charming and laidback, is Madi’s right hand as the closest in age.

“Memories made with my brothers are ones I will forever cherish. They have taught me so much, and I love them with all of my heart.”

Brody Kalafer delivered a funny and self-reflective speech to mark Peck’s final Kairos Assembly of the school year. Brody, a selfdescribed “disaster,” comedically detailed a two-week nature trip he and a former classmate took on one summer. Everything that could have gone wrong on the trip went wrong, but Brody realized that the reason the trip was so meaningful and fun was actually because of the hardships he and his friends experienced.

Addy Santomassimo, a lifelong soccer player, discussed the experiences over the years that developed her perseverance. She explained that perseverance isn’t just pushing through a tough loss or a difficult practice. Addy, who says she is incredibly injury-prone, chronicled how despite injury after injury, she kept getting on the field to play because she loves soccer, never wants to disappoint her teammates, and always strives to be her best.

“ I had an epiphany that made everything clear. All of the disasters and hardships that we faced those two weeks were just good times in disguise. A disaster is just a bonding experience waiting to happen.”

“Sometimes your passions take a lot out of you, physically and emotionally. But that doesn’t mean that you give up. If anything, I’ve learned such taxing experiences can only make you work harder.”

The Capstone Lab experience at Peck is a microcosm of the real world: eighth-graders are invited to try something new for which there may be no roadmap.

“The Capstone Lab is an invitation to try to articulate what kids are excited about,” said Chris Weaver, Peck’s director of curriculum and faculty development. “It’s also a chance to go beyond articulating and do something about it. That’s something we don’t often ask eighth graders to do.”

Students spend one 45-min class period per week for their entire culminating year at Peck engaged in the Capstone Lab. The lab is a space that provides opportunity for experimentation, observation, and practice. Participants are asked to contemplate how they can make a difference, solve a problem, or grow as learners throughout the development of a big project. Students set their own classwork and homework, write their own report cards, and enlist the help of a number of people outside the class.

“During this project I learned to set more realistic goals,” said Christina Silva ’22. “I set out to animate an entire film and in the beginning that was daunting, so I didn’t get much done. Mr. Weaver taught me how to make a step-by-step plan, set more manageable goals, and to keep moving, which is a really useful thing in life.”

NO ROADMAP REQUIRED: EXPLORING PASSIONS IN CAPSTONE LAB

ALEX MACVICAR ’22: Writing the First Draft of a Novel

Alex, an avid reader and writer, decided to use the creative freedom afforded by Capstone to write a 100-page draft of her first novel. Alex said before she could sit down and write, she had to research how to make dynamic characters and how to craft natural dialogue. Her capstone project has taught her that when she’s faced with writer’s block, it’s always better to stop, take a break, and come back to writing later.

“I definitely have a lot more respect for authors than I did before. I didn’t consider how challenging it was going to be. I knew it took authors years to write, but I didn’t understand the process.”

SAHIL SHAH ’22: Understanding Cryptocurrency

Sahil put his money where his mouth is when he researched and invested his own money in cryptocurrency. Sahil said he learned a lot about how crypto companies compare to more traditional investments, like the stock market, in returns and volatility, especially during a time of crisis. While some capstone projects have a clear beginning, middle, and end, Sahil said his adventure with cryptocurrency may just be beginning, as he believes crypto is the future of money.

“The capstone project really sparks your interest in something.”

“Fostering kittens is challenging because there’s usually always something medically wrong with at least one or two kittens, having been born feral and not taken care of. It’s also really hard to say goodbye to them when they get adopted!”

HAILEY DOWNEY ’22 AND HANNA LEE ’22 COLLABORATED ON A BAKING PROJECT INVOLVING THEIR LOVE OF CHOCOLATE. THEY LAUNCHED H&H BAKIN’ AS A VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH THEY WOULD NOT ONLY TEST AND EVALUATE RECIPES, BUT ALSO TO CREATE A DIGITAL RECIPE BOOK WITH THE PECK COMMUNITY.

USING PECK’S WOODSHOP, MATTHEW DEL VENTO ’22 MADE A 32-INCH ASH HARDWOOD BASEBALL BAT AS PART OF HIS CAPSTONE PROJECT. HE ALSO EVALUATED SWINGING AND HITTING STATISTICS.

SOPHIA KANOWITZ ’22: Coding an App: Mood Music

Sophia Kanowitz set out to build a mobile app, and that’s just what she did. While originally intended as a game, Sophia researched, coded, and tested an app to play music based on mood. A longtime tech enthusiast, she said she found the capstone experience challenging yet rewarding. The process of entering code can involve a lot of problem solving when the program doesn’t work and it’s unclear why. Sophia is considering continuing work on her app prototype next year as a student at the Morristown High School STEM Academy.

“The capstone project is really rewarding because you get to learn something that you wouldn’t typically learn in class. That’s really valuable, especially when it’s something special to you.”

THOMAS IOSSA ’22: Peck Athletics Uniform Design

Thomas Iossa, working closely with the Athletics Department, designed new uniforms for both the coeducational ice hockey team and the boys lacrosse team. While several sports at Peck have had uniform upgrades in the past few years, Thomas felt he could optimize the gear for hockey and lacrosse with lightweight materials. Thomas said he learned a lot about what it’s like to work with clients on a design project.

“I learned a lot about how to meet the needs of a customer while still staying true to my own design style.”

SADIE BOLTON ’22: Bon Voyage

Sadie Bolton, who has been sailing since age seven, designed a capstone project that incorporated her love of the water and the sport of sailing. Sadie took used sails from her family’s garage and taught herself how to sew them into a variety of items such as pillows, bags, wallets, and seat cushions for wooden stools. Through this endeavor, Sadie said she not only learned a great life skill in sewing, but she also learned about sales, marketing, and some of the barriers to starting a business. Sadie also plans to donate one of her stools to Peck for students to enjoy for years to come.

“The capstone project really helps you in the real world because I not only learned how to sew, but I learned how to market my products.”

CHASE CIGNARELLA ’22: Fostering Kittens

Chase Cignarella has always had cats. A few years ago, Chase and his family began fostering kittens after they discovered a community of feral cats in their neighborhood. When it came time to choose a capstone project, Chase said he immediately thought about fostering again. Partnering with St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, Chase is currently fostering three kittens and their mom until they are ready to be adopted. He also said he plans to continue fostering in the future.

“Fostering kittens is challenging because there’s usually always something medically wrong with at least one or two kittens, having been born feral and not taken care of. It’s also really hard to say goodbye to them when they get adopted!”

The lab is a space that provides opportunity for experimentation, observation, and practice. Participants are asked to contemplate how they can make a difference, solve a problem, or grow as learners throughout the development of a big project.

MALCOLM SUTHERLANDFOGGIO

FOR SOMEONE who has dealt with a lot of hardship in his life, Malcolm Sutherland-Foggio ’12 continues to see opportunity despite life’s obstacles.

As a fifth-grader at Peck, SutherlandFoggio was diagnosed with a pediatric bone cancer called pelvic Ewing’s sarcoma, underwent intensive chemotherapy, and had half of his pelvis removed.

As it would for many, the experience defined the course of Sutherland-Foggio’s life, but perhaps not in the way you might expect. Before his cancer was in remission—and while he was 11 years old, still an Upper Schooler at Peck— Sutherland-Foggio and his mom, Julie Sutherland, founded a pedatric cancer research non-profit called Make Some Noise. Over the next several years, he would go on to raise more than $2 million

and help to shine a spotlight on the prevelance of pediatric cancer. After matriculating to Delbarton School and then the University of Rochester, Sutherland-Foggio graduated college in 2020 with degrees in business and psychology. He then studied the intersection of climate, environment, and society in the university’s Take Five Scholars program. This program, unique to the University of Rochester, offers students a tuition-free semester or year to pursue an additional area of interest unrelated to their field of study.

Intending to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology, Sutherland-Foggio took a detour.

That detour led him to a job as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute’s Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Now, he not only conducts research, but he also brings joy to the lives of children in treatment for pediatric cancer. Relying heavily on his warm, gentle demeanor and colorful bow tie collection, SutherlandFoggio knows firsthand how important it is to bring a smile to a child each day.

“I realized I need to get more experience before I continue on in my studies. It’s been really great to be here,” he said via Zoom, sporting a bright orange bow tie with gray elephants. “It was kind of a dream come true to get this job because it aligns with all my interests, and it’s giving me a lot of experience.”

That experience includes a presentation on the factors associated with adolescent decision-making, and involvement in care in the context of advanced cancer for which he receieved the Palliative Care and End of Life Special Interest Group Poster Award from the Society of Pediatric Psychology. He also co-authored the article “Facebook Recruitment for Research of Children and Parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic” in Applied Nursing Research.

Sutherland-Foggio’s desire to turn a personal hardship into opportunities to help others—first through his non-profit, and now as a career—stems first and foremost from his upbringing as he credits his mom with the founding of Make Some Noise. Peck Kairos Nights (tech and homework-free family evenings planned twice a year), he says, also deserve some of the credit.

“I remember having family conversations about what’s the right thing to do in different situations,” he said.

The InDeCoRe values taught at Peck— care, respect, gratitude, courage, and resilience—and the intentional focus on character development are critical for students, especially in a kindergarten through eighth-grade setting. SutherlandFoggio has shown courage and resilience in spades, however he doesn’t prescribe to the cliché ‘You can do anything you put your mind to.’ Looking at his journal, he said he does live by the mantra: “It will never be now again.”

“Kids now have such an opportunity to create huge amounts of impact at a young age,” Sutherland-Foggio remarks, citing technological advancements in social media that provide large audiences for content. “It’s about following your passions, doing things that make you happy, and finding ways for those passions to be beneficial to others.”

He also feels strongly that young people, especially those who grow up with a privileged life, have a responsibility to do good for others.

“Nothing is handed to you,” he advises today’s Peck students. “If you want to be successful, you have to do it yourself, you have to work hard, and that’s not just go to school, do your work, go home, and done. You keep on working until there’s nothing more to be done.”

Which is exactly what Sutherland-Foggio plans to do. While he still plans to apply to graduate school, he says his future also includes some combination of research

NOTHING IS HANDED TO YOU,” HE ADVISES TODAY’S PECK STUDENTS. “IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD, AND THAT’S NOT JUST GO TO SCHOOL, DO YOUR WORK, GO HOME, AND DONE. YOU KEEP ON WORKING UNTIL THERE’S NOTHING MORE TO BE DONE.

and clinical work. Given his unique perspective as a cancer survivor, and now as a person living with a disabilty as a result of his cancer, Sutherland-Foggio hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of pediatric cancer patients, one humorous bow tie at a time.

“Everytime I get to interact with the kids it’s a good day,” he shared. “Kids are so resilient. We’re always doing our best just to have a good day. These kids are thankful to just be alive.”

COMMENCEMENT: Congratulations Class of 2022!

It was a beautiful, sunny day on June 10 when the Class of 2022 accepted their diplomas from Head of School Andy Delinsky and President of the Board of Trustees Suba Shah. Forty-four eighth-grade students from towns across several northern New Jersey counties participated in the commencement as they formally graduated from Morristown’s historic K-8 independent school.

Delinsky welcomed parents, family, and friends on campus for this momentous occasion, and spoke of the various accomplishments of this year’s graduating class. “Throughout their Peck journey, these graduates have participated in countless signature events, engaged in meaningful service, and represented The Peck School with pride on the sports field and on the stage. It’s also worth noting that they’ve shown remarkable and admirable resilience, as three out of their four Upper School years were impacted by Covid—yet they remained undaunted and courageous.”

Alumni Speaker

SOPHIE WILKINSON ’18 , an alumna of The Peck School and current graduating student at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, Class of 2022, spoke to her alma mater and the current graduating class as this year’s Alumni Speaker. During her speech, Wilkinson relayed her experience as a lacrosse player and as a high school student, imparting some final wisdom to the Class of 2022, “If you want something badly enough, don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do it—especially yourself. Be determined and keep persevering, and there’s nothing you can’t do.”

Class Gift

MICHAEL AIELLO, Student Council President, presented the Class of 2022’s gift to The Peck School: new picnic tables for the entire school to enjoy.

Eighth-Grade Address

Graduates SAMANTHA CASSANELLI, CELIA HEPP, LUKE PAGANO, KRISTEN SHINDLE, MADI EATON, MICHAEL AIELLO, AND ANNA BULTÓ , presented this year’s Eighth-Grade Address. As a group, they reflected on their memories at Peck and what our community and our school has meant to them.

SOPHIE WILKINSON ’18

MICHAEL AIELLO ’12

EIGHTH-GRADE SPEAKERS

The Walker D. Kirby Faculty Award

The Walker D. Kirby Faculty Award honors a member of the faculty whose dedication to the school, its students, and its mission is an exemplary inspiration to the graduating class and the entire Peck community. Each student in our graduating class votes to determine the recipient of this award. This year’s award went to Second Grade Homeroom Teacher Jane Attah.

SCAN FOR COMMENCEMENT

PHOTOS, AWARDS:

“The parent in me needs you to know that you are enough as you are,” Attah said. “With everything that makes you beautifully human…day by day you have to ask how am I fulfilling my purpose? How am I being impactful? I continue to live my why every second I step onto Peck’s campus and teach in the classroom. I hope you will begin to discover your why You are loved beyond measure, and destined to succeed.”

The Peck School congratulates the Class of 2022! Go Pride! Hear our Commencement Speakers on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/thepeckschool

FACULTY SPEAKER JANE ATTAH

CHRISTOPHER FU ’22 AND AUSTIN MAU ’22 LED PECK’S ALMA MATER, “OLD PECK SCHOOL.”

Class of 2022: Remember When?

It’s both the everyday experiences and signature moments that shape who we are now, and who we will someday become. For the Class of 2022, there have been countless milestones along the way that, unequivocally, all lead to the same shared identity: a lifelong member of the Peck family.

Let’s take a look back at a few of the defining moments of our newest Peck graduates.

Downy vs. Redhead

Back in 2015, the Class of 2022 Downys and Redheads rallied for team points in Peck’s iconic Downy/Redhead field events.

Take A Bow

Confidence is nurtured in many ways, and the Class of 2022 certainly found their footing during their performance of The Cheese Stands Alone in third grade. (The play reinforced values of considering others, being openminded, and being true to yourself.)

Go Pride!

Though the Class of 2022’s seventh-grade athletics seasons were constrained by the Covid-19 pandemic, our student-athletes still demonstrated sportsmanship, teamwork, and grit during sports classes and intramural competition.

Pinball Wizards

MiniMester is a week full of hands-on engineering and teamwork as a respite from standardized testing, and in January 2019, the Class of 2022’s fifth-grade selves built their first pinball machines.

Oh The Places We Go

Overnight class trips are indescribable learning experiences—even more so within the context of outdoor education. A favorite Peck memory for the Class of 2022 is their sixth-grade overnight trip to Fairview Lake.

Sailing Ahead

When asked in 2018 “How do sailboats capture wind to move across water?” the Class of 2022 eagerly prototyped miniature sailboats for their first Lower School STEAM week.

Snow, Snow, Snow!

Snow days at home are one thing, but snow on campus—especially in the aftermath of 2016’s Winter Storm Jonas—was irresistible!

Play Together, Stay Together

There’s a reason that recess is a favorite time of the day! It not only provides essential breathing space from rigorous learning, but it is also a space to make lifelong memories and friendships.

Team Eighth Grade

The entire school was back together to cheer on Team Eighth Grade (or Team Faculty!) during the annual basketball game—and yes, the Class of 2022 proved their mettle on the courts by defeating the faculty with a 55-53 win!

CAMPUS NEWS

Christina Dietz Designs Parklet

Lower School Woodworking Teacher Christina Dietz received a commission from The SSJ Neighborhood Network in Northwestern Pennsylvania to design and fabricate a parklet—or pop-up park—atop a 19-foot utility trailer. Dietz, a practicing artist, submitted a proposal with fellow artist Henry Pullin (a landscape architecture student) to the organization for a unique pop-up kitchenette that personifies a space often referred to as “the heart of a home.”

“The kitchen is a meeting space; a place for sustenance, to do homework, to practice for job interviews, and to share daily joys and sorrows,” said Dietz in her proposal. “It is a place for bustling activity and community. I hope this parklet feels cozy and familiar, and that neighbors will get to know each other over a cup of coffee in the kitchen.”

The parklet is a kitchen-inspired meeting space with a free library (disguised as a refrigerator), seating area, garden beds, and table space that can be used for both work and play. Colorful and weatherresistant, the parklet features joyful details that captivate imagination, especially for children. Visitors can pretend to set an egg timer on the stove or reach for a carved wooden oven mitt hanging on the wall. The parklet can also be used as a gathering and potluck space, with plenty of counter space to serve meals.

Dietz built the parklet at Peck, where students could see the process and learn a little bit about community-inspired art. “This project coincided with our lessons about Public Art in Third Grade Woodworking,” said Dietz. “Classes were super excited to visit the final product in person. It was an opportunity for students to see the process of a large-scale project and realize that art can happen outside of a museum or classroom.”

First Grade Teacher Christa Nees said that, “It was such a valuable experience for my first graders. They were able to make a connection between Christina’s process for the parklet and the process they went through when designing and building our three-dimensional community!”

Dietz and her colleague Pullin began construction in January, and delivered the completed piece to Erie, PA, in late spring.

Marc Bliemel ’18 Conducts Senior Project a Peck

MARC BLIEMEL ’18 , a senior at The Pingry School, elected to do his senior project back at his alma mater. Bleimel, who plans to study international business, shadowed Peck’s master Upper School faculty and assisted with classes. “I wanted to culminate my high school experience by going back to what prepared me for it,” he said. Marc will be attending Wake Forest University in the fall.

Student Council Appointed for 2022-23

Following a number of thoughtful speeches given by seventh graders interested in joining the Student Council for their graduating year, the president and slate of officers were announced to the student body in May. “This group of student council officers was heavily involved in the planning of numerous events this year (2021-22), including the Hunger Walk, Spirit Week, and the Cookies for Koplia fundraiser,” said Advisor Megan Boyle. “I am excited to work with them as eighth graders, and I already admire their dedication and determination to make Peck a better

Linden 2020-21 Recognition

place for everyone.” Congratulations to DEAN ZARRO (president), and Officers CARTER BAKER , ALEXA

The 2020-21 Linden Yearbook was recognized by Jostens for outstanding page design and featured in the company’s annual LookBook. This collection of the best yearbook covers, page designs, photography, and writing is produced each year to serve as inspiration for yearbook teams to come. Peck’s eighth-grade biography pages in the “Into the Unknown” yearbook were recognized for aligned elements, the spacing of elements, notable graphics, and quick read content. Congratulations, editors!

CASSANELLI , OWEN KIRCHNER , CHARLIE PENDY , CHARLIE RAMSEY , and WILL VIESER

PECK SENDS TWO GROUPS TO NHD NATIONALS

Two of Peck’s National History Day (NHD) group projects were selected to represent New Jersey in NHD’s National competition in June 2022. Nearly 3,000 students from across the United States and its territories, plus international schools in Asia, compete in the final stage of the NHD competition. After spending months preparing and presenting their group projects on the theme “Debate and Diplomacy,” six students total presented their hard work to a panel of historians and educators.

Congratulations to eighth graders HAILEY DOWNEY , MADI EATON , and SOPHIA KANOWITZ for their Strategic Arms Limitations Talks group exhibit, and to seventh graders (who are serving as alternates) QUINN ABBOTT , ERIKA AVERY , and DANIELA DIPISA for their Munich Massacre website.

Saturday, October 22

Family Fun, Autumn Activities, Delicious Treats, and More!

Peck announced an updated uniform in partnership with Lands’ End for all students beginning this fall. The updated uniform features a new blue plaid for skorts and skirts, modernized jumpers, new polo dresses in Lower School, and the addition of formal Wednesdays in the Upper School. Students will wear blazers on Wednesdays to coincidence with divisional and all-school assemblies.

Curious about the new look? Check it out here!

EMMA

’18 SHARED PASSION FOR MATH, SCIENCE THROUGH SENIOR PROJECT

EMMA SIMON ’18 , a senior at Newark Academy, wanted to share her passion for math and science with her alma mater for her senior project. With Upper School Science Teacher Tim Loveday as her sponsor, Simon returned to Peck for two weeks in May to assist in Upper School classrooms. “I want other people to have a passion for math and science, too. People can connect over their passions.” Simon will attend the University of Rochester in the fall and plans to major in biology.

See life at Peck at @ thepeckschool on INSTAGRAM!

SIMON

PARENTS ASSOCIATION DAY OF SERVICE

Despite the wind and cold on April 29, the sun was shining and Peck students—paired with their Reach Across buddies—as well as parent volunteers were as enthusiastic as ever for the PA’s annual Day of Service. Total, our community assembled nearly 700 care bags, snack packs, no-sew blankets, summer camp kits, and kindness kits. The packages will be sent to local nonprofits that help children, families, and elderly persons, as well as to St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center. Students also collected over 200 items to donate to MEND and The Seeing Eye, in addition to sponsoring a Seeing Eye puppy in training named Apple.

Awards For Writing, Character Presented at Robin Ross Assembly

Four fourth graders received recognition at their “moving up” ceremony, Peck’s annual Robin Ross Assembly. SONIA DADHEECH received The Sheila S. Slutsker Lower School Creative Arts Award,

GRAY SHIELDS and GUNNAR

SHIELDS received The Andy Gaffney Lower School Sportsmanship award, and ARJUN WADHERA received the peer-selected John J. Kowalik Lower School InDeCoRe Award.

Additionally, Head of School Andy Delinsky presented Peck’s Award for Distinction in Community Service, which is given annually to a member of the Morristown community who

merits distinction as a result of their personal dedication, community commitment, and service to others. The recipient for 2022 is KIDS TO KIDS , a non-profit led by a group of local high school students who provide special needs chilcren with peer-mentoring, homework assistance, and programming in arts, health and wellness, and a vareity of sports and phyiscal activities.

SONIA DADHEECH RECEIVES CREATIVE ARTS AWARD

ARJUN WADHERA RECEIVES INDECORE AWARD

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD-WINNERS GRAY AND GUNNAR SHIELDS WITH MR. PHILIP GAFFNEY

Downy-Redhead Day 2022

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, our Peck families and friends gathered on campus for the annual Spring Sing and Downy-Redhead Field Events. For a full photo gallery, scan the QR code.

Parents Association Spring Fundraiser 2022

The Peck School hosted this year’s Parents Association “There’s No Place Like Peck” Spring Fundraiser in The Peck Commons. After having a virtual spring fundraiser in 2021 due to the pandemic, the Parents Association and Peck felt it was time to bring everyone back on campus to celebrate together as a community. Each parent volunteer and staff member worked diligently and with excitement to create an incredible experience for all who attended, and The Peck Commons was transformed from our dining hall and multipurpose room to a fabulous party!

The first thing you heard when walking into The Peck Commons on the evening of Saturday, April 23, was laughter— followed by the sound of upbeat music. Then, you were greeted by a sea of blue. Blue and white balloons careened high above tables in massive displays, with an ivy wall to the left, mounted above it a neon sign that read “No Place Like Peck.” To the right of the ivy and neon, delicious food provided by Chef Joe Mirra and the dining staff at FLIK waited for hungry eyes. To the left: a dance floor, with smiling faces and tapping toes to the beats of Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, and more.

This year’s spring fundraiser exceeded expectations, raising more than $265,000 for our beloved school. We are so incredibly grateful for all of your support. Without you, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Truly, you are one of the greatest reasons why there is no place like Peck. We would like to thank our entire PA Spring Fundraiser committee and sponsors, and all of the volunteers and participants that made this night possible.

PA Spring Fundraiser Parent Volunteers:

EVENT CHAIRS: Melissa Bartoli, Jenny Goyal

EVENT SPONSORS: Zoe Kyrkos Vlahos, Cindi Orsini

TREASURER: Carlene Pruitt

AUCTION PLATFORM MANAGER: Sarah Sakr

TICKETING/RSVP: Noelle Kirchner

DECOR: Courtney Cachet

MARKETING: Jeannine Rowan

AUCTION ENTRY COORDINATORS: Sarah Heck, Debra Somers

AUCTION COORDINATORS: Elizabeth Cox, Kelly Shields

SPECIAL RAFFLE COORDINATORS: Sarah Neuhoff, Susan Santomassimo

CLASS BASKET COORDINATORS: Anne Bornia, Emily Dingle, Kelly Walk

VISUAL ARTS

THE ARTS AT PECK: SPRING 2022

1 Kindergarten, Van Gogh-inspired sunflowers. (Lydia Dingle; oil pastel, tempera paint)

2 First Grade, Picasso-inspired dachshund (Toby Lee; watercolor)

3 Second Grade, Cezanne-inspired still life (Lulu Zemaitis; tempera, sharpie)

4 Third Grade, O’Keefe-inspired flower (Ellie Hadjieleftheriou; watercolor)

5 Fourth Grade, utilitarian art ceramic scultpture (Gunnar Shields; ceramic clay)

6 Fifth Grade, Op-Art-inspired drawing (Ana Hadjieleftheriou; pencil, digital art)

7 Sixth Grade, Kehinde Wiley-inspired portrait (Heidi Lϋer; pencil, colored pencil)

WOODWORKING

8 Third Grade, pizza sculpture puzzle (Teddy Falk; plywood, sawdust, paint)

9 Fourth Grade, climbing wolf folk toy (Alexa Sanford; pine)

10 Fifth Grade, Senet gameboard (Scarlette Dibre; wood)

11 Seventh Grade, kitchen clock (Maggie Rogers; pine, assorted hardwoods)

MUSIC

12 After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, Peck’s Spring Sing returned with energy, enthusiasm, and the sheer joy of musical performance! Watch the Sing at www.peckschool.org/SpringSing2022

THEATER

13 Matilda, Jr. was a rousing success! Peck’s winter musical featured over 60 students in the cast and crew, plus critical leadership roles filled by students for sound, choreography, and website marketing materials. Congratulations, and Go Pride!

14 Peck’s Eighth-Grade Drama Elective Students channeled their inner villains during their production of 12 Angry Villans, a parody of the acclaimed play Twelve Angry Men. The play follows the trial of Peter Pan who has allegedly murdered an innocent pirate named Captain Hook. A jury of 12 of the most famous villains will decide Pan’s fate, if only they could stop arguing long enough to take a vote!

sportsmanship | underscored: ATHLETICS AT PECK

Our coaches give recaps for the winter and spring seasons for a few of our Peck teams. Go Pride!

Winter Season

Despite winning only two games, Boys Basketball had a really good season! Led by their two eighth-grade captains, Preston Khubani and Quinn Hynes, the team was competitive in almost every single game. With a stifling 3-2 zone defense and quality rebounding, this team posed major threats to their opposing offenses. They were supportive and provided heart and hustle every day.

Girls Basketball had a great season led by eighth-grade team captains Samantha Cassanelli, Jane Cepeda, and Hanna Lee. The team’s rebounding and shooting steadily improved throughout their time on the court and they finished the season by going undefeated in the Far Hills tournament!

Our Co-ed Ice Hockey team was led by eighth-grade captains Dylan Mallgrave, Trey Sanford, and seventh grader Dean Zarro. The team had a very successful season, although they suffered a heart-breaking defeat to Delbarton in the County Championship. This team was filled with some of the best hockey players Peck has ever seen!

Our Volleyball team had a strong season led by eighth-grade captains Sadie Bolton, Anna Bultó, and Celia Hepp. Throughout the season the girls made great strides with their passing game and overall defense. They were fierce servers who enjoyed developing their gameplay and playing in the county tournament.

Wrestling had a great season led by eighth-grade captains Brody Kalafer and Ford Tufankjian. The team was anchored by a large group of young wrestlers from the seventh grade and posted an impressive undefeated dual meet season. As this group of young athletes grew together and strengthened their bond, they provided encouragement and support as they learned to navigate this difficult sport.

Spring Season

Our Grade 5/6 Baseball teams posted a season that provided a ton of promise for the future. Young leaders on the field demonstrated the type of example we expect from our athletes holding each other to high expectations

and providing support and encouragement for each other as they learned the game. The teams played at a high level, generating good offense, strong pitching, and even completing a rare triple play in their final game of the season against Far Brook.

Our Grade 7/8 Baseball season was a tale of two different teams. With the most players ever in the history of Peck, they worked hard in practice and battled to keep up with strong competition. Led by four eighth-grade captains this year (Sahil Shah, Carter Willis, Matthew Del Vento, and Jake Budenbender), the team showed glimpses of greatness at times. With the Baseball program moving in the right direction, all the credit goes to our seventh and eighth-grade leadership and their efforts to model for our rising athletes.

Grade 5/6 Girls Lacrosse had a terrific season, welcoming some veteran players along with some that were entirely new to the sport! Throughout the season the players’ catching, throwing, ground balls, and shooting greatly improved. Everyone worked their hardest every day and had a great time playing!

The Grade 7/8 Girls Lacrosse team had an excellent season led by the eighth-grade captains Caroline Hendrickson, Addy Santomassimo, and Lexi Schnur. The team displayed excellent communication and teamwork

skills, consistently supported one another, and had some stellar victories throughout the season.

Led by first-time Peck head coach Jack Margiotta, the Grade 5/6 Boys Lacrosse team had a good season! Our experienced players helped to usher in new athletes to the sport as they installed a new offensive and defensive scheme that helped all players find a role on the field. This young group of players give the promise of a bright future.

The Grade 7/8 Boys Lacrosse team were led by eighth-grade captains Austin Mau and Quinn Hynes under the guidance of first-time Peck head coach Jack Margiotta. The team had a strong season, making it to the finals of the Middle School Athletic Association tournament all in a season where they learned a new offensive and defensive scheme. The team was filled throughout the lineup with talented players in the goal, on defensive, midfield, and attack.

Softball had one of their best seasons, led by eighth-grade captains Olivia Dietrich, Sophia Kanowitz, and Kristen Shindle. The fifth and sixth-grade players made solid contributions to the team’s efforts and the seventh and eighth-graders showed great guidance and encouragement to the younger players. All players worked hard to develop their skills and were wonderfully supportive of one another.

Academic Council Update

Peck’s Academic Council is the school’s primary vehicle for advancing academic initiatives. Open to all faculty and staff, the council serves as an arena for leadership, feedback, and context.

“Academic Council really answers the question, how do you get things done in a school?” said Chris Weaver, director of curriculum and faculty development. “This is an adaptive, transparent, and inclusive structure that really lets us get at what’s most important to our faculty and staff, and move our program forward.”

For the 2021-22 school year, three main initiatives arose from subcommittee research and implementation.

Lower School Writing Program

The fourth-grade team, in conjunction with reading specialists Melissa Sorge and Janine Finnegan, piloted a new, structured writing program for fourth graders. An initaitiave that began with a group of faculty last summer, the program follows the deeply-researched Zaner-Bloser “Jump into Writing” curriculum.

“This is a really good example of an initiative that has been a catalyst for further change,” said Weaver. “We’re looking at moving this pilot into grades two and three, and perhaps five. What we’re hoping to accomplish is greater clarity in terms of our scope and sequence, making sure that we’re hitting elements of narrative, opinion, and informational writing each year, and it works along side writing curriculum that is already in place.”

Handbook for Mentoring Associate Teachers

Art Teacher Karen Dispenziere (who leads the Associate Teacher program) and Fourth Grade Teacher Antonia Atkins led the development of an supplemental associate teacher handbook to assist grade-level teachers in mentoring and guiding their associate in a consistent manner.

“We built this program seven years ago,” said Weaver, “and we’ve had fantastic results in terms of bringing new talent and perspectives into the Lower School classrooms. The next step in maturing this program is a handbook that can guide teachers on how best to work with their associate, how to cultivate a meaningful mentoring experience, and how to provide greater contituinity of experience.”

Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Experience

Beginning in spring 2022, this newly-formed committee began exploring how Peck can differentiate the seventh- and eighth-grade experience from that of fifth and sixth grade, especially in terms of crafting more opportunities for agency, independence, and secondary school preparation.

“A key insight that drives this move, though it sounds obvious, is that seventh and eighth graders are different than fifth and sixth graders; however, our basic program structure remains consistent,” said Weaver. “What we hope to do is look critically at how we can better promote agency and ownership, provide greater freedom and choice, and harness that developmental mindset in a more productive way.”

Longtime Art Teacher To Become Next Admissions Director

After 25 years in the classroom as Peck’s beloved art teacher, Karen Dispenziere will assume the role of Director of Admissions & Financial Aid for the 2022-23 school year. Peck’s current Admissions Director, Erin Ceder, will be returning to her roots in the classroom as a second-grade teacher. Dispenziere has a bachelor’s degree in art education from University of Delaware and served as the Interim Director of Admissions during both of Ceder’s maternity leaves.

“Karen thrived in the role as interim director and loved the work of welcoming families to Peck, sharing our story, and finding new ways to attract families to our school,” said Head of School Andy Delinsky. “I know she will lead our efforts with dedication, integrity, and Peck pride.”

We caught up with Karen to ask her about her desire to move into admissions. Here’s what she had to say:

WHY DID YOU WANT TO MOVE TO ADMISSIONS?

After being in the classroom for 25 years, I am ready and excited to take on a new challenge. My previous experiences in Admissions as the Interim Director were wonderful and I’d always hoped to have an opportunity to get back into it. Over the past few years I’ve enjoyed working closely with the Admissions team to design and implement some of our most popular events for prospective families, such as our Mini-Masters art classes and Little Makers Design Challenges. I love working with and developing relationships with new families and students, and look forward to sharing my love of Peck with new and prospective families.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT PECK?

I love the community at Peck. The relationships that faculty build with each other, with students, and with families are the heart of our strong community. I look forward to contributing to this in a different way.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO JOIN THE PECK COMMUNITY ALL THOSE YEARS AGO?

What brought me to Peck so many years ago was my cousin (Sue Sweeney, Peck’s former Girls Athletics Director and lacrosse coach) who was in her first or second year in athletics. I was looking for a school that valued a strong arts education and was thrilled to be offered the role of Lower School Art Teacher. What brought me back to Peck after seven years at home with my daughters was the community that I had missed while away. What has kept me at Peck are the many opportunities I’ve had to grow as an educator and assume different roles and responsibilities.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR YOUR NEW ROLE?

I am most excited to meet our newly admitted students and families and to help guide them through their first year at Peck. I am equally excited to work closely with the Admissions Team (Wanda Fiorini and Annette Worthington) in attracting prospective families and welcoming them to campus.

Grieshaber, MacVicar Honored for 20 Years

For their 20-year milestones, Teacher and Librarian Mary Kate MacVicar and Director of Technology, Innovation, & Design Kevin Grieshaber each received their engraved Peck Captain’s Chair.

“Mrs. MacVicar is incredibly sensitive to every reader’s needs and savvy to her students’ interests. They always come first, and she always makes time for questions and sharing personal stories,” said Lower School Technology, Innovation & Design Specialist Jen Garvey.

MacVicar is the parent of two Peck alumnae, Grayson ’18 and Alex ’22. Their family will be moving to Maine this summer, and we wish Mrs. MacVicar the best!

Head of School Andy Delinsky said about Grieshaber, “while Mr. Grieshaber’s work outside the

classroom is significant, his passion for teaching young students is evident in the different classes he has taught throughout the years. He has an unquenchable desire to learn and grow and innovate.”

Grieshaber will be co-teaching the eighth-grade Creative Computing tech elective this fall, co-advising Peck’s VEX Robotics Team, as well as running an Upper School activity for video game development and VR exploration.

Peck Faculty, Staff Nominate Savage For Community Connections Award

Peck’s inaugural Faculty and Staff Award for Community Connections, endowed and created in memory of Peck parent David Schnur by the

Schnur family, was presented to Upper School English Teacher Virginia Savage ’05. This award was created to honor David’s legacy as a father, husband, son,

brother, teacher, and mentor and to acknowledge the care and support their family received from Peck faculty and staff during their time of need. It honors a faculty or staff member who creates and nurtures authentic and meaningful connections with students at The Peck School that help foster growth, belonging, and transformation. Faculty and staff annually nominate a fellow colleague for the award.

“I am deeply honored to be associated with someone of Dave Schnur’s character,” said Savage, “though it’s bittersweet, having come at such a high cost. The Schnur family embodies the exact compassionate connection we want to build here at Peck, and I am immensely grateful for their presence in the Peck community.”

VIRGINIA SAVAGE ’05 WITH MEREDITH AND LEXI SCHNUR ’22

Meet Jess McGinn: Peck’s New Director of Athletics

Jess McGinn began her tenure as Peck’s new Director of Athletics on July 1. McGinn is well-known in the local area as the director of the Morristown CLC Pride Lacrosse Club and as Bernardsville Middle School’s Teacher of the Year in 2021.

“Jess is the right person to lead our program now and into the future,” said Head of School Andy Delinsky.

McGinn, a lifelong Morristown resident, attended Morristown High School before attending Rutgers University, where she played women’s lacrosse. She also earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from the College of Saint Elizabeth. For the past 15 years, she has worked at Bernardsville Middle School as a health and physical education teacher, and as the varsity girls lacrosse coach at Bernards High School. Under McGinn’s leadership, her team was the 2017 Group 2 State Champions, and they were six-time conference champions. She was named the 2014 NJ Coach of the Year, she was twice named Conference Coach of the Year, and she was twice named Central Jersey Coach of the Year.

We caught up with McGinn to ask her about her move to Peck. Here’s what she had to say:

WHY DID YOU PURSUE A CAREER IN ATHLETICS AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT’S IMPORTANT IN SCHOOL?

Athletics have played such a critical role in my own life that it was a natural path. I believe a physically active lifestyle is a necessary ingredient to success in the classroom. From a competitive standpoint, the lessons learned on the playing field can help to foster more confident and empathetic contributors to the school community and beyond. Winning is not the end goal, but a byproduct of doing all of the little things right.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO JOIN THE PECK COMMUNITY?

I am very grateful for the chance to join The Peck School. From the moment I walked through the doors, I could feel how special Peck is. Each person I have met throughout this process has shown me how much intentional work goes toward creating a supportive environment where risk-taking is valued.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR YOUR NEW ROLE?

I am very excited to build upon the strong Peck tradition of excellence in athletics. I knew this was the right role for me because it allows balance between leadership and maintaining daily contact with student athletes. I am MOST excited for my first Downy-Redhead Day! Go Pride!

TEACHERS,

What Are You Looking Forward To?

While the slow days of summer may haze over visions of a new school year, anticipation for the first day of school is always on the mind of a teacher. So we asked a few of them—what are you most looking forward to come September?

DAVID MARSHALL Upper School Latin Teacher

“ I always look forward to the energy that buzzes in the halls and classrooms. There’s a real vibrancy to the start of the year as students and teachers reconnect and begin anew with a clean slate and hopeful expectations.”

MARIBEL MOHR AND KRISTIN YOUNG

The Kindergarten Team

Mrs. Mohr:

“ Who doesn’t love new school supplies?

The vividness of new markers, flipping

through my crisp, new lesson planner; opening

containers of perfectly smooth, untouched

playdough…pencils sharpened to a perfect point and reams of colorful construction paper!

We’re so excited to get to know the emerging personalities of the children we will spend the next 10 months of our lives with. Every year is a

new dynamic: the giggles, the wacky stories

about their pets, and the perpetual discovery of it

all through their wondrous eyes!”

Mrs. Young:

“ Clean desks, neat bookshelves, and bins of new materials in the K.I.D. Lab—pipe cleaners, wood blocks, new scotch tape; everything

they need to create new worlds. The first day of kindergarten is such an impactful turning point

in their lives, and I can’t wait to get to know my

students and see how they become part of our

close-knit Peck community!”

MRS. MOHR’S “KM” AND MRS. YOUNG’S “KY” 21-22 HOMEROOMS

ALEX SOUDAH Upper School History Teacher, DEIB Chair

“ My favorite part of the first day of school is meeting new students, seeing all of the smiles, and experiencing the excitement of a new year of learning ahead.”

LIZ BELASIC Upper School Science Teacher

“ My favorite part of the new school year is that the kids coming in each have a clean slate, a chance for them to have new experiences to help them grow into the person they are meant to be.”

JASON GUSS Upper School History Teacher

“ Before a new school year begins, I typically know each incoming seventh grader by name—yet, I really only know them superficially. Starting on that first day, though, that’s when I really get to know who they truly are, and who they want to be.”

ANTONIA ATKINS AND DAWNA LOPEZ SERRATO The

Fourth Grade Team

Mrs. Atkins:

“ Fourth grade is such an important year since it’s the last one before they ‘graduate’ to Upper School. Watching them take on new leadership roles with their kindergarten buddies, and how they show responsibility and care when they partner with Interfaith Food Pantry, are some of my favorite things about this grade. ”

Mrs. Lopez Serrato:

“ I’m looking forward to so many things! Teaching ‘3-word-shares’ for Morning Meeting on the first day of school, the amazing creativity that emerges in projects and writing, and watching that ‘moment of success’ when a student solves a challenging math problem that initially stumped them. We’re the leaders of the Lower School in fourth grade, and it feels good to be role models for their younger peers!”

THE FOURTH-GRADE CLASS OF 2026 CELEBRATED THEIR ‘GRADUATION’ FROM THE LOWER SCHOOL IN MAY.

Chef Joe Mirra Featured on Cover of FLIK’s Magazine

CHEF JOE MIRRA was featured on the cover of FLIK’s June Magazine for an exquisite appetizer he created for the end of year Board of Trustees dinner. Mirra’s Orange-Ginger Teriyaki Chicken Skewer was just one of his hits at the dinner, at which he also served shrimp with watermelon radish and jicama slaw, Chilean sea bass, and filet mignon with rainbow carrot and farro risotto.

A version of his dessert that night (poached pears) even made its appearance in the Peck dining hall during one of

Chef Joe’s World Cultures-inspired daily menus in May!

“I love getting the kids to try new things, and introducing them to food from other cultures,” said Mirra. “Cooking in a school is such a different atmosphere; it’s fun, especially when the little ones will just come into the kitchen and wave ‘hi’ to me and the FLIK team!”

World Cultures menus will be a new monthly addition at Peck, with Wednesdays featuring meals that honor a variety of heritages and cultures around the world.

Peck DEIB Committee Launches Faculty/Staff Affinity Groups

Peck’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee launched faculty/staff affinity groups during the school’s April 18 Professional Development Day.

Faculty and staff members had the option to participate in one of six affinity group choices to connect with colleagues who share a similar identity characteristic or interest.

“Affinity groups promote self care and wellness, cultivate a sense of belonging, and can be a vehicle for positive change within a community,” said Alex Soudah, chair of the DEIB Steering Committee.

CLASS NOTES

1940s

CAROLINE PRICE HEMMINGS ’44 has been living happily at Kendal at Lexington since 2004. She is an Independent resident, moving slowly but still upright, and has a great church and many friends so life is good. So many happy memories of Peck. She would love to hear from any of her contemporaries.

1950s

JOHN CLEARY ’56 has resided in southeastern Louisiana for the past 15 years on the north shore of Lake Ponchatrain pushing the “jungle back” with his machinery (Pastures, Rocks & Trees) and dancing whenever he has the opportunity. Fortunately, modern medicine has afforded him to do both. He remains lightly in touch with JONATHAN INGHAM ’56 and LLOYD “JIMMY-LLOYD” SALTUS ’56 —it’s an adopted southern tradition to accommodate simultaneously both his grammar school and current first names. He truly looks forward to Jimmy-Lloyd’s New Year’s annual review of his life—most entertaining. John religiously participates in his town’s weekly Saturday morning coffee gatherings to solve the world’s problems at the local farmers’ market. NOLA is a onehour drive away where he gathers all sorts of entertainment. Here at home, however, he deliberately eliminated TV but reads voraciously. He is still cleaning up Hurricane Ida’s damages, processing enough firewood to last a couple lifetimes. John no longer looks at tomorrow, just today.

JEREMY MEDINA ’56 is semi-retired after teaching Spanish and running a Madrid program for 52 and 34 years, respectively, at Hamilton College. He and his wife Jackie have three daughters (a business HR specialist, a jazz vocal performer and teacher, and a grade school teacher), who have produced eight astonishingly beautiful grandchildren (two of whom have already graduated from college, which makes no sense to him at all).

PAM (TILP) VAN RENSSELAER-LONG ’57 notes that she and her husband Bill are well and living in Steamboat Springs Co. They moved there several years ago to be close to their two

JOHN CLEARY ’56

JEREMY MEDINA ’56

KATIE BROWN ’98

daughters. Also they have good orthopedic doctors here, which was another reason to move. Colorado just had about 6 inches of snow but no skiing for them. Pam says they especially love the summers and can survive the winters. She is still in the travel business after over 50 years and business is booming after Covid...thank goodness! She still has memories of The Peck School and especially ninth grade!

MARION CURTIS ’59 is about to end a four generation run at Peck with Clifford Field ’24 being the last! Peck has been an integral part of her family and how everyone shaped up, good or bad! She said all seems to be going great so far though, so Peck deserves a lot of credit. They are living on Long Island now after 73 years in NJ. She still misses the news of old friends. Marion has six grandchildren now, three of whom went to Peck, and Marion also remarked that this was her first class note EVER!

CHARLES FISK ’59 visited campus this winter and shared many memories of classes attended in Lindenwold.

1960s

MICHAEL MACY ’65 remarked that his wife Lauri and he are just back from rafting the San Juan River in UT. Thanks to world class instruction last season his skate skiing reached new heights (or is it lengths?). He is ready to submit his first piece for BodyMind, his new monthly column in The Bend Source Weekly. He said life is good.

1970s

RANDY HOLLAND ’72 said “Good Day!” He is an alumnus of the class of 1972 and wants to re-connect as it is the 50th year of his class’ graduation. He has lived in the UK for the last 30 years.

KRIS BROWER SCHULTE ’75 Moved back to the campus of The Lawrenceville School at the start of the pandemic. She is still teaching history there but has stepped back from serious coaching. She says: “I love teaching and mentoring new teachers! I am also the Board Chair of HomeWorks, an after-school five-day boarding program that works with marginalized high school girls from Trenton, NJ. If anyone is interested in hearing about the unique and great work HomeWorks does, please drop me an email. MARGARET BABBOTT ’75 and I had a wonderful reunion last summer!”

SCOTT DUPONT ’78 fulfilled his childhood dream of working on a movie with screen legend Burt Reynolds. Scott teamed up with production partners (and fellow Peck

TAYLOR WILLIAMS ’03

ALEC WHIPPLE ’18

CHERIE ALCOFF ’89

alumni) ROBBY LEBUHN ’78 and PETER DUPONT’ 74 to produce the feature length documentary Movie Money CONFIDENTIAL which ended up being the last movie Mr. Reynolds ever filmed.

1980s

ALEXANDER TIGER ’86 will always remember his time at The Peck School. His daughter, Samantha, is 3.5 years old and his son, Nicholas, is 3 months old in the picture he provided. He works in NYC and Tokyo and hopes everyone from the Class of 1986 is well!

CHERIE ALCOFF ’89 shares that her son Gregory had his first communion on April 29, 2022 at St. Thomas More Church in NYC. It was a very exciting day for the entire second grade at St. David’s School, where Gregory attends! (He also plays squash and lacrosse). She is keeping busy at Avenue Capitol, where she has worked for the past 17 years, and says “hello” to everyone at Peck. Her picture is of the proud godparents (Sam, her older brother and Alexandra, her sister-in-law), Gregory, and herself.

1990s

KATIE (BROWN) FENSTERMAKER ’98 shared a photo of herself with a few old Peck friends! “It’s always fun catching up with a few favs,” she said. Left to right: Former Peck Teachers DOUG OWEN, KEVIN GILLIS, DON DIEBOLD, and RODDY MANCUSO ’86

SHANNON BARRY O’GRADY ’90 is so proud to have finished her first year as theater director at Salisbury High School where her students triumphed in productions of the plays She Kills Monsters and the musical Rent. She looks forward to teaching at a community college this summer and enjoying some family trips. Her own children are also thriving in the gifted and talented programs at their schools and her husband continues to excel as a CFP for Fidelity Investments.

2000s

KENNETH LOPIAN ’01 shares that his wife Aly and he welcomed their third child, Michael Lopian, in February 2022. Michael’s big sisters, Carter (3) and Lucy (2), are loving their new baby brother!

RYAN MCDONNELL ’09

SCOTT DUPONT ’78

ALEXANDER TIGER ’86

KATHERINE PARKER-MAGYAR ’01 wishes all a Happy 2022! She sends a story about one of her favorite trips ever: Finnish Lapland, above the Arctic Circle. This place is literally Frozen in real life; when she visited in winter 2019, the temperature was 20 degrees below freezing, but everywhere provides you with insane sleeping bag-style outerwear, so the cold never bothered her anyway. She slept in glass igloos, visited the North Pole (Santa is Finnish, stay woke), and drove husky sleds across the Arctic tundra. She also got into a minor collision at a reindeer farm when my reindeer broke loose from his reins and dragged her sleigh on a high-speed chase through the forest. (It was major drama).

TAYLOR WILLIAMS ’03 and her husband Tyler welcomed their second little girl, Palmer, in December. Palmer joins big sister Emerson, who will be two in June. Taylor has loved being back on campus to help coach field hockey alongside Julie Delinsky this spring as part of the Little Chicks/ Power Sticks clinics.

LILY DOWNING INFANTE ’05 had a baby girl, Eleanor Frances, born Oct. 28, 2021.

RYAN MCDONNELL ’09 has become active at St. Paul

Inside the Walls, leading Bible study, reading at mass, and maintaining the parish garden. He has also been involved with Garden State Track Club, running countless road races and track meets. Ryan also has gotten involved with Harmonium Choral Society singing Bass, along with the Washington and Lee Northern NJ Alumni Chapter. He ran his first half marathon in Morristown on Halloween, running 1:24:32, in 24th place. The picture he sent was taken just after finishing the race.

2010s

This May, LINDSEY YU ’14 graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Program with a dual-degree in Computer Science (Engineering) and Business Analytics (Wharton). She will be moving to New York this summer to work as an AI Data Scientist at Bank of America. Go Redheads!

JACQUELINE JAKIMOWICZ ’12 is finishing her first year at the University of Miami School of Law this May. She is thrilled to be interning this summer in New York at Pace Gallery, a leading international art gallery representing some of the most influential contemporary artists and estates from the past century. With a keen interest in art law, she looks forward to learning from the talented, experienced General Counsel and engaging with the art market through a legal lens.

LINDSEY YU ’14

AUSTIN MAU ’22

ADAM MAGISTRO ’12 , a Second Lieutenant USAF, married Ensign Kensey Dahlquist, USN on April 30, 2022. They will continue their military careers together in Okinawa, Japan as Air Force and Naval Civil Engineers.

ALEX LOSCHERT ’18 went on a college visit to Notre Dame this fall and ran into Krishna, a student from Nepal who had studied at Peck for a semester.

MARIA VIERA ’18 will be attending Colgate. Her first choice, and she got in early decision!

EMMA SIMON ’18 and MARC BLIEMEL ’18 both interned as Peck Teaching Assistants as part of their respective senior year capstone projects. Emma is matriculating to the University of Rochester from Newark Academy, and Marc to Wake Forest University from Pingry.

LAWRENCE (ALEC) WHIPPLE IV ’18 committed to playing in Canadian hockey league following high school graduation.

SOPHIE WILKINSON ’18 delivered the Alumni Address at Peck’s 2022 Commencement ceremony. She will be attending Davidson College in the fall, playing for their NCAA Division I womens lacrosse program.

KATIE EWIG ’18 is headed to SMU in the fall.

2020s

CHRISTIAN EWIG ’20 is doing well at MBS.

MAT ĺ AS DEICAS ’21 contributed his tech skills to Peck’s Technology, Innovation, & Design Department as they prepared laptops and other devices for the coming school year.

Newly-minted grads AUSTIN MAU ’22 and LUCKY VALDIVIESO ’22 spent time at their alma mater right away, as they lent their helping hands with Peck’s Summer Camp!

SOPHIE WILKINSON ’18

MATIAS DEÍCAS ’21

ALEX LOSCHERT ’18

IN MEMORIAM

Peck extends its sympathies to the families and friends of the following members of our community:

STUART BRUNET ’43 , January 26, 2022. After attending The Peck School, he graduated from Groton School, Harvard College, and The University of Virginia Law School. He served state-side for two years during the Korean War. Stuart is survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen Tower Brunet, three children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

SAVERIO CASSANELLI , January 27, 2022; grandfather to Alexa Cassanelli ’23 and Samantha Cassanelli ’22, father to current parent Joseph Cassanelli and father-in-law to Tina Cassanelli.

JOHN ANTHONY (TONY) MOUNTAIN ’53 , February 23, 2022. Tony loved talking about The Peck School years, and had endless enthusiasm for the 50th reunion.

THRUSTON “THRUSIE” PETTUS ’90, May 6, 2022. He is survived by his sister Katherine Wujcik ’87 and father Thruston Pettus.

Every effort has been made to include notices for “In Memoriam” from winter through spring 2022. We regret any omission; please notify the Advancement Office of any errors by calling (973) 539-8660 or emailing Sarah Quinn Clausen at squinnclausen@peckschool.org.

247 South Street | Morristown, NJ 07960-7381

peckschool.org

The Peck School honors the simple joys of childhood—and provides a haven where your child can be a child just a little longer. This is a place where school culture still trumps pop culture, and where they can grow into their full potential without growing up too soon.