Upper School students have the opportunity to participate and lead in many areas. Students gain a larger understanding of themselves and the world around them - on campus and beyond - by exploring, participating and contributing. At Peck, there are many opportunities. Programs that highlight the Upper School experience include:

• 2007-2008 Day/Date Calendar
  Please click and download the file in the gray area to the right.

• Activities
  On Friday afternoons throughout the school year, students in grades 5-8 have the opportunity to participate in activities ranging from academic and artistic enrichment to school and community services. Courses may include computer graphics, web page design, cartooning, French cooking, robotics, and crafts. The activity period allows students to participate in Student Council, work on the School's yearbook, or literary magazine, or volunteer to lend a hand in supervised settings on or off campus.

• Clubs
  Clubs vary in topic and interest. Developing a Global Vision, Politics and Debate, Stock Market, Music and Cross Words, Creative Writing, Technology and the Quaking Earth name a few. Each semester club options may change. All students participate during Peck Block.

• Musical Options:
  Chorus
  All students at Peck have the opportunity to participate in the Upper School Chorus, which meets once every six-day cycle for a 50-minute period. The group is divided for rehearsal into a two part treble chorus made up of fifth and sixth graders, and a three part mixed choir made up of seventh and eighth graders. The groups combine for performances in the winter and spring. The Upper School Chorus has participated in the Music in the Parks Festival for the past three years. In 2005 they earned a first-place trophy in the mixed choir division!

  Steel Pan
  The Peck School music program features a very unusual performing ensemble: The Pantastic Kids Steel Band. Each of the four bands (5th,6th, 7thand 8th) meets one morning per week before school from 7:30 - 8:10 a.m. The discipline to arrive at school early is rewarded by the joy of starting the day with exuberant Caribbean rhythms. Students have the opportunity to play all the various steel drums (called "pans"): six bass, triple cello, double guitar, double seconds, tenor lead. The Pantastic Kids Steel Band is directed by Richard Reiter, an EMMY Award winning composer and nationally recognized jazz musician. No previous training in music is necessary and there is a modest yearly fee. The ensembles perform at both school and community events. They recently wowed audiences at the Montclair Art Museum and Newark Academy.

• Service and Leadership
  Service and Leadership takes place during Peck Block and Friday Activites. Students volunteer to support community efforts on Peck’s campus and iniatives beyond Peck’s gates. Highlights include…
  

  Student Council
  The Upper School Student Council provides an avenue for leadership, a voice for the students, and the opportunity to serve the school and the greater community. All students in grades 5 -8 have the opportunity to serve on Student Council. Student Council is made up of elected officers and student volunteers. Elections for the 4 officer positions are held in the spring and are open to 7th Graders. Other members volunteer for Student Council by signing up for the activity.
  
  Student Council oversees dances for the 7th and 8th grade and the Bridge Roller Skating and Bowling Parties. Council is also responsible for T.G.I.M. (Thank Goodness It's Monday) contests, School Spirit Week, and the Upper School Talent Show. Student Council also leads many community service and charitable events in the School.

  Yearbook
  The Linden is a bound yearbook produced by 8th grade students and led by an 8th grade editorial staff. The 8th graders are honored in the book with individual pictures and write- ups. Each homeroom has a class picture and each grade level its own page. There are many pictures in The Linden that illustrate "life at Peck."

  The Linden editors and staff are chosen at the end of the 7th grade year. There are usually 3 to 4 editors who work closely with the faculty advisor from September to December during Friday afternoon activities. In the second half of the year, the principal editors also work on the yearbook during activities.

  The yearbook is handed out at the end of the year in a special assembly. The job of the Linden staff is to create a memorable book that will easily evoke memories of Peck for years to come.
  

  Impeckable News
  What’s happening in and beyond the Upper School? Check out the newspaper for fascinating features, interviews with Peck students, staff, and faculty, surveys near and abroad, and editorials on topics from A-to-Z.
  

  Partnering at Peck
  Commuity Service widens views and understanding. Actions and experiences may be little or big, but all are important. Older students may work with younger students on campus or volunteer at a local child care center. Eighth graders serve at the Community Soup Kitchen and families sign up for the Soup Kitchen's Annual Crop Walk. All participate in Thanksgiving food drives and collecting coats and mittens .
  
  Growing relationships of service is a goal. For the past five years, The Peck School,, and Children’s Center for Therapy and Learning have partnered. Students share experiences and projects at the Children's Center or prepare materials for the Center's children to use. Making a 'library' of Books on Tape was a favorite. This long relationship provides the students from each School to get to know each other and to 'see' experiences beyond their own.