The Peck School

The Peck School
Address
247 South Street
Morristown, New Jersey
United States
Information
Type Private, coed, day school
Motto Disciplina ad Vivendum – “Learning For Life”
Established 1893
Headmaster Mr. Andrew Delinsky
Grades Kindergarten through eighth grade
Enrollment 330
Campus 14 acres (57,000 m2)
Color(s) Blue and White
Athletics Field Hockey, Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Lacrosse
Mascot Pride (lion)
Accreditation Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
Yearbook The Linden
Student:Faculty
ratio		 6:1
Website www.peckschool.org

The Peck School is an independent, co-educational day school with grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Peck School is located in Morristown, in Morris County, New Jersey. There are approximately 330 students. The Peck curriculum includes communication arts, drama, English, library studies, math, music, physical education, reading, science, history, social studies, technology, themes or family life, visual arts, woodworking, and world languages. Furthermore, Peck's InDeCoRe (Individual Development and Community Responsibility) Program teaches character development and life skills and traits. There are six core "InDeCoRe values" that the school emphasizes: Respect, Loyalty, Perseverance, Empathy, Responsibility, and Honesty.

The Peck School has two divisions, the Upper School (grades 5-8) and the Lower School (grades K-4). The Peck mission statement reads, "We believe that, in life, knowledge must be guided by values. Through a commitment to character formation and a rigorous and inspirational academic program, The Peck School strives to build in each student the capacity for disciplined learning and consideration of others. With dedicated faculty and families, we prepare our students to succeed in secondary school and to lead healthy, productive, and principled lives."

Peck strives to educate and strengthen the whole person. So not only does Peck have a rigorous and challenging intellectual program, it has a strong balance. Activities are held most Friday afternoons for Upper School students. Possible choices include The Linden (yearbook), ImPeckable News (student newspaper), the Student Council, Youth Council, Green Team, "Art Spirit" (literary magazine), the P.I.C club (Peck InDeCore Club), and more.

There is also another period called Peck Block, held a couple of times in a rotation, with opportunities ranging from Chorus to Coding. In addition, further extracurricular activities include Kindergarten Helpers, the Steel Pan Band, Pro Musica (a singing group for lower schoolers and upper schoolers), Peckapella (a 7-8 a cappella group), and the After School Enrichment Program, known as PEP. One of the significant elements of a Peck education is an emphasis on community service activities. From Kindergarten to 8th grade, students are made aware of the world around them and taught to act. In the 8th Grade, students select a "Service Learning Project" for their whole grade to adopt.

Like many independent schools, the Peck athletic program is required. It emphasizes sportsmanship, teamwork, and responsibility. Students compete inter-scholastically in grades 5-8 in a number of fall, winter, and spring sports. Peck has built up a reputation of having one of the most competitive private-school sports programs in the area. Peck's mascot is The Pride, which serves as a symbol of Peck's school-wide sense of pride.

The Peck School is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools[1] and the Commission on Elementary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Peck is also known for its many traditions. It has an annual field day called Downy-Redhead Day, which has relay races and an all-school tug-of-war. Much school competition is centered on those two teams. Peck has a talent show, where students can showcase their talents to the school body. There is a Christmas Sing. There is also a Spring Sing. Lower schoolers participate in a science fair, which is known as the Science Expo, and they submit their work to the Lower School literary Arts magazine (Spectrum). Commencement is held every year for graduating 8th graders, as students move on to secondary school. Graduates of the Peck School populate a wide range of competitive and exceptional schools. College placement tends to be just as excellent.

History

Peck School originally started in 1893 on Franklin Street, founded as Miss Sutphen's School for Young Ladies, with six initial students. Lorraine T. Peck purchased the school late in 1917. In 1920, the school moved to Elm Street, and then into its current location on South Street, in the Lindenwold Mansion and the surrounding acres.

In 1993, Peck School completed the Deetjen Kindergarten Building. In 1995, the Caspersen-Tomlinson Academic Building was completed, followed by the F. M. Kirby Lower School in 1998. In 2006 the 35,000 square feet Eckhert Huff Building was completed, which was followed by the Athletic Center in 2007.

Notable headmasters include Mr. Lorraine T. Peck (1917–1944), Mr. Philip S. Hesseltine (1946–1954), Mr. Rudy Deetjen (1977–1994), and Mr. John J. Kowalik (2003-2013). As of the 2013-2014 school year, Peck was in the rigorous process of searching for a new Headmaster. Andrew Delinsky, Upper School Principal at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, was announced as head of school with his term beginning in 2014.[2] In the meantime, the interim head is Mrs. Elizabeth P. Riegelman, former head of Newark Academy.

Notable Alumni

Sports

Peck School students compete on interscholastic sports teams from grades 5-8. In lower school grades, students learn fundamental motor skills, sports technique, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Peck sports include for girls and boys basketball, volleyball, field hockey, co-ed ice hockey, co-ed cross country, boys and girls lacrosse, softball, baseball and for boys soccer.

The girls 7/8 Field Hockey had an undefeated season in 2015, beating Boonton in the GMCJSCA Championship Final and continuing their legacy as county champions.

The boys 7/8 Lacrosse team had an undefeated season in 2014, beating rival Pingry 10-1 in the GMCJSCA Championship Final.

The Peck Girls Field Hockey team won the 2012 Morris County Tournament, and finished the season undefeated.

The Peck Boys 2011 Lacrosse team is currently undefeated with a record of 7-0, with big wins over Pingry School and Delbarton School.

The Peck Girls Lacrosse team won the 2010 Morris County Tournament, and finished the season undefeated.

The Peck Girls Field Hockey team won the 2009 Morris County Tournament, and finished the season undefeated.

The Peck Girls Field Hockey team won the 2008 Morris County Tournament, and finished the season undefeated.

The Peck Co-Ed Ice Hockey team was undefeated in the 2008-2009 season.

The Peck Boys basketball team during the 2007-2008 season was ranked # 1 in Morris County.

The Peck Boys Soccer Team during the 2006-2007 season was ranked # 1 in Morris County.

References

  1. ↑ School Search, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accessed July 29, 2008.
  2. ↑ http://www.peckschool.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=826&ModuleID=18
  3. ↑ Balliett, Whitney, Profiles: Harp Lady, New Yorker, pp. 40-44, December 24, 1990
  4. ↑ "Ninth Grader Wins N.J. Junior Chess Open". New Jersey Hills Media Group. May 25, 2006. Retrieved December 29, 2013.

Coordinates: 40°47′12″N 74°28′13″W / 40.78663°N 74.470181°W / 40.78663; -74.470181

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