Assemblies
During Lower School Assemblies, students gather to share original writing, group poems, songs, or Fourth Grade "Book Talks." Students also recite the Lower School prayer, the flag salute and sing a song. All School Assemblies, led by the Headmaster; provide energy, news and spirit. Following a special message or values theme, the assembly concludes with the flag salute, a song and a prayer or reflection.

Special assemblies are held several times annually. Presenters have included the Morristown K-9 Unit, the Morristown Fire Department, St. Barnabas (Mobile Fire Safety Unit), the New Jersey Ballet, the Westminster Bell Choir, visiting authors, selected outside presenters teaching the children about other cultures, and members of our own school community presenting a Diwali program.

Christmas Sing
Our holiday concert is a beautiful blend of vocal and instrumental selections, both traditional and new, representing Christmas and Hanukkah, as well as various cultures. There are two performances: an afternoon performance for grandparents, residents of an area nursing home, and Kindergarten parents, and a formal evening performance for Grade One - Eight parents.

Reach Across
Upper School and Lower School students "reach across" several times annually with activities involving students across the two campuses. Activities have included a values project, "We All Fit Together Like Pieces of a Puzzle," and making paper airplanes to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' flight.

100TH Day
Each grade celebrates the 100th day of school with crafts, collections, snacks, and necklaces of 100 items, as well as math problem solving.

Science Expo
April brings the annual Science Expo. Students in each grade prepare a science project, which is displayed during Expo. Second - fourth graders present their projects, in which they have explored a problem using the scientific method. Parents are invited to view the projects on Friday afternoon.

Grandfriends Day
One of the most special traditions at Peck, this day begins with a Lower School Sing followed by an Upper School Sing, classroom visits, and a delicious lunch. The annual Downey Redhead Field Events highlight an exciting afternoon.

Spectrum
The Lower School literary arts magazine is the Spectrum. Included are original writing and art selections from each child. The Spectrum is presented at the closing Lower School assembly in late May.

Chess Club
The Chess Club is open to students in grades one - four. There are two groups, advanced and beginners, which each meet once weekly, Wednesday or Thursday after school, for eight-week sessions in the fall, in the winter, and in the spring.

Annual Kindergarten Activities and Events
Halloween Parade and Party On Halloween, or the closest school day to it, the children are asked to bring their costumes to school. Some parents are asked to come and help the children dress. If special makeup is required, we ask the parent to take responsibility for applying it on their own child. For safety reasons they do not wear masks. The First Grade meets us in the Kindergarten Building. Then all parade as a group around the School. Parents meet outside of the Kindergarten Building to view the festivities and take photos. A classroom party follows.

Thanksgiving Feast The children celebrate Thanksgiving with a special lunch in school on Monday or Tuesday before the holiday. They make costumes in class, dressing as Pilgrims or Native Americans. The class enjoys turkey sandwiches, salad, and a special dessert prepared by parents. Small centerpieces add to the festivities. The class parents arrange the project.

Holiday Party On the last day before winter break, the children enjoy a simple celebration arranged by the Class Parent with help from the other parents.

Valentines Day Kindergarten students bring in valentines for both classes to be distributed on the day of the classroom party. The Class Parent arranges the party with the help of others.

Spring Bonnets The students, with the help of their parents and teachers, make bonnets in the Kindergarten the week before Easter. The children share their creations with a Spring Parade around the school. This parade is always scheduled the Thursday afternoon before dismissal for the holiday weekend. Parents are asked to send large pieces of wallpaper to school along with unusual, funny decorations that can be placed on their hats.

Field Trips It is the goal to schedule many field trips throughout the year. Permission slips and information are sent home and children are transported by cars. Class parents arrange for transportation. Each parent must send a booster seat on the day of the trips. Trips include a visit to a farm, a veterinary clinic, an arboretum, the Morris Museum, and Washington's Headquarters.

Community Service The first Kindergarten community service project takes place at Thanksgiving. Parent volunteers assist with baking bread, which is given to the Market Street Mission. During the year, children color pictures for nursing home patients as part of "Color A Smile". The children also work with the Lower School and Student Council on group service projects, such as the Thanksgiving Food Drive and the Toys for Tots Drive.

Class Plays The children in Kindergarten have the opportunity of presenting two plays during the school year. One is performed on the last day before our December holiday vacation and the other on the final day of school. Parents are welcomed to assist in many areas -costumes, props, scenery or treats for the cast party following the performances.

Class Picnic Both classes have a combined picnic in June, at the home of a Kindergarten family.

Birthdays The children are encouraged to celebrate their birthdays in school with a special snack for the entire group. Please contact the teacher to prevent scheduling conflicts. Summer birthdays may also be celebrated.

Annual First Grade Activities and Events
Halloween Parade and Party On Halloween, or the closest day to it, children are asked to bring their costumes to school in a labeled bag. They put on costumes and march in a parade with the Kindergarten around the school. For reasons of safety, they do not wear masks. Parents are invited to come watch the parade on the driveway or under the covered walkway and take photos. A classroom party follows, arranged by the Class Parent.

Holiday Party On the last day before winter break, the children enjoy a simple celebration arranged by the Class Parent with help from the other parents.

Valentine's Day The First Grade students bring in valentines for both classes to be distributed on the day of the classroom party. The Class Parent arranges the party with the help of others.

Spring/Easter A party is once again organized by the Class Parent, and may include an egg hunt, some baskets, and candy.

Mother's Day Tea The children plan and prepare a tea party for their mothers with the help of their teachers. The tea party is held in the dining room. Formal "tea party dress" is worn. Many nice things happen, but it is a surprise.

Peck Alphabet Coloring Books A special project begun in 2003-204 is an alphabet coloring book, which illustrates values and things about the school; the books are presented to the Kindergarten students.

Field Trips Field Trips are planned throughout the year. Examples include science trips, plays, and visits to museums and farms. The trips differ from year to year. Parents often drive. Seat belts are required for each passenger in any parent vehicle. Each parent must send in a booster seat on the day of the trip. Sometimes a bus is hired to transport the class.

Community Service At Halloween, children bring in candy for the children in Paterson. First graders make beautiful gingerbread houses in December for a community center and also help bake muffins in science for the Soup Kitchen. The children also work with the Lower School and Student Council on group service projects, such as the Thanksgiving Food Drive and Toys for Tots Drive.

Class Play In grades one through four, students will do three plays. The teachers choose, direct, and plan the play. Parents' help is needed and welcome in many areas - costumes, scenery, and props, typing, and printing programs. A video often taken by a professional is available for purchase, however, purchases are optional. The Class Parent also helps with the cast party after the dress rehearsal or after the play.

Class Picnic Both classes have a combined picnic in June, at the home of a First Grade family.

Birthdays The children are encouraged to celebrate their birthdays in school with a special snack for the entire group. Please contact the teacher to prevent scheduling conflicts. Summer birthdays may also be celebrated.

Annual Second Grade Activities and Events
Halloween Party Our Halloween celebration centers on a book report assignment that the children are given at the beginning of October. Corresponding with this assignment, students bring simple costumes to school on Halloween which are used for a presentation that parents are invited to attend. Afterwards, a party organized by the class parent is held in the classroom.

International Feast This event occurs in December on the day that winter vacation begins. It is a celebration of each student's ancestry and is the culmination of our study of holiday festivals around the world. Each child is expected to bring in a dish that represents his/her ancestry. All parents and Kindergarten siblings are invited to attend.

Valentines Day Students bring in valentines for their classmates. A party, arranged by the Class Parent, is part of the days' activities.

Igloos and Alaskan Feast These two events occur as part of our in-depth study of Alaska. When igloo projects are made, three to four parents per class are once again enlisted by the Class Parent to assist. The Class Parent will also ask two parents per class to help with the Alaskan Feast. The feast is a low-key event for Second Grade students.

Grade Two Book Club New in 2003, Second Graders have an optional special book club in the Headmaster's office at 7:40 several times a year. They read and discuss a selected book and then have refreshments together.

Field Trips Various field trips are scheduled throughout the year coinciding with our curriculum. Some of our more regular trips are to Waterloo Village, the Natural History Museum, the Newark Museum and the Raptor Trust. Parents will receive a letter outlining the trip and a permission slip at least one week in advance of the event. Transportation to our destination is usually by school bus, luxury bus, or cars driven by parents, depending on where the trip is located. Four to five parents per class are organized by the Class Parents to travel on the field trip. These parents are responsible for a group of four students and are expected to participate fully in the learning experience of the trip.

Community Service Each year a community service project appropriate for Second Grade is chosen by the teachers. One example is bringing in a lunch for area disadvantaged children. Students help bake muffins in December for the Soup Kitchen. The children also work with the Lower School and Student Council on group service projects, such as the Thanksgiving Food Drive and the Toys for Tots Drive.

Class Plays This is a project that children love, as they can show their different talents. Parents' support is vital as they assist with costumes, sets, programs, and a cast party. A video taken by a professional is an optional purchase.

Class Picnic Both classes have a combined picnic in June, at the home of a Second Grade family.

Birthdays The children like to celebrate their birthdays in school with a special snack for the entire group. Summer birthdays may also be celebrated.

Annual Third Grade Activities and Events
Halloween Party On Halloween Day, or the closest school day to it, children are asked to bring their costumes to school in a labeled bag. They put on costumes, masks, or make-up for the party that is held in the classroom at the end of the day. The Class Parents organize the snack for the party.

Holiday Breakfast On the last full day of school before winter vacation, the Third Graders have a breakfast in the Dining Hall. Parents may contribute centerpieces, food items, paper goods or assist in setting up, serving or cleaning up. This is coordinated by Class Parents. Children exchange a small "Secret Santa" gift at the end of breakfast.

Valentines Day Students bring in valentines for their classmates. A party, arranged by the Class Parent, is part of the days' activities.

The State Feast The State Feast is an annual celebration and the culmination of the Third Grade's semester long study of the United States. Parents are invited to join their children for a luncheon buffet in the Music Room. Families choose and contribute a dish which is representative of the products of each child's adopted state. This event is coordinated by the teachers. Assistance in setting up, decorating, serving, and clean up is handled by the Class Parents.

Peckxtra Extra Third and fourth grade students learn how to write a small newspaper, with a theme of values. This is a cooperative effort, with each student having a "job." Students do interviews, and research, write and edit, do layout, and publish. It involves the integration of writing, values, social studies, and technology.

Field Trips Field Trips may be scheduled throughout the year by the teachers. Children are transported either by cars, school buses, or luxury coach depending on the location of the site to be visited. Permission slips and details of all trips are sent home at least a week in advance. Class parents arrange for parent chaperones as needed. One annual trip has been a visit to Easton, Pennsylvania in late May. The morning is spent in the Weller Center where the children participate in a "Health Adventure" presentation. In the afternoon, we travel to the Hugh Moore Park for a short ride on a mule drawn canal boat.

Class Plays Parents are welcome to assist in many areas - costumes, scenery, props, typing, and printing programs, videotaping of the dress rehearsal, and treats for the Cast Party on the afternoon before the play. The Class Parents coordinate these roles. The teachers select the play and produce and direct it.

Community Service The Mitten Tree is a favorite annual community service, coordinated by the third grade, and contributed to the Neighborhood House. The Books on Tape project, begun in 2002, is a wonderful new community service. Peck children read favorite children's books on tape for the children at The Children's Center for Therapy and Learning. Sets of books are purchased to accompany the tapes. These items are then given to The Children's Center, in honor of the students there and their new library. Third graders also help bake muffins in December and work with the Lower School and Student Council on group service projects, such as the Thanksgiving Food Drive and the Toys for Tots Drive.

Class Picnic Both classes have a combined picnic in June, at the home of a Third Grade family.

Birthdays The children like to celebrate their birthdays in school with a special snack for the entire group. Summer birthdays may also be celebrated.

Annual Fourth Grade Activities and Events
Book Talk New in 2002, Book Talk is a conversation between two students about a book they have each read. The presentation, done in a Lower School assembly, includes an announcer and music, and is done in a specially staged setting resembling a televised talk show.

Halloween Party There is an in-class party at the end of the school day closest to October 31, at which time children wear costumes, have snacks, and enjoy games. Snacks are organized by the Class Parents.

Holiday Party Fourth Grade has an in-class party where Secret Santas are revealed and festivities appropriate to the holiday take place.

Valentine's Day Children exchange valentines and enjoy a small party while reading their cards.

Peckxtra Extra Third and fourth grade students learn how to write a small newspaper, with a theme of values. This is a cooperative effort, with each student having a "job." Students do interviews, and research, write and edit, do layout, and publish. It involves the integration of writing, values, social studies, and technology.

FCD (Freedom from Chemical Dependency) This program is conducted in fourth grade and in the Upper School. It is designed in an age appropriate way to help students recognize the importance of healthy choices.

Internet Safety A police officer is invited to the Fourth Grade to teach the students about Internet safety.

Field Trips Field trips are scheduled by teachers to enhance the curriculum and to provide an enrichment experience for students. Buses provide the transportation and each event is properly chaperoned. Trips typical to Grade Four include a day at Sandy Hook, which integrates science and our study of New Jersey; and a trip to Philadelphia, where we visit Independence Hall to culminate our study of the Birth of Nation. Other trips may include a walking trip to an historic Morristown area.

Community Service Fourth graders participate in making muffins for the Soup Kitchen of Morristown. Then they deliver the muffins and learn about this charity and how it addresses the needs of the homeless population in this area. They also work with the Lower School and Student Council on group service projects, such as the Thanksgiving Food Drive and the Toys for Tots Drive.

Class Play This is a project that children love as they can show their different talents. Parents' support is vital as they assist with costumes, sets, programs, and a cast party.

Class Picnic Both classes have a combined picnic in June, at the home of a Third Grade family.

Birthdays The children like to celebrate their birthdays in school with a special snack for the entire group. Summer birthdays may also be celebrated.