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On May 16, The Peck School came alive with color, music, and connection as families, faculty, and staff gathered for World Cultures Night—a beloved tradition that celebrates the rich diversity within our community and across the globe.
Now in its decades-long run, World Cultures Night (World Cultures Night, a decades-long tradition at Peck) is much more than an event—it’s a joyful culmination of a yearlong journey exploring identity, heritage, and global traditions. Hosted by the Peck Parents Association’s World Cultures Committee in collaboration with Cymone Williamson, Director of Community Connections & Belonging, this year’s celebration featured new and exciting additions while honoring cherished traditions.

Throughout the evening, students and families explored more than a dozen hands-on cultural booths, each offering interactive experiences from around the world. Guests crafted papel picado (a traditional Mexican folk art), rangoli, Chinese lanterns, and tiki and Carnival masks. Others played Cricket, admired dolls from around the globe, received intricate henna designs, or watched sugar transformed into their very own Chinese sugar painting. Students also tested their geography skills with flag and continent trivia—all while discovering the rich cultural stories behind each activity.
The energy only(intensified)  as the crowd gathered for performances. One of the highlights was a powerful Korean sword dance and traditional drumming performance by the Woorigarak Korean Cultural Arts Center, which captivated the audience with its precision, rhythm, and storytelling.

 
Lower School Music Teacher Mrs. Whichman also led a spirited community dance, inviting students and families to practice the various cultural folk dances learned in Lower School music classrooms. The fashion show, always a favorite, showcased students dressed in traditional attire of their heritage, proudly celebrating their cultural roots through vibrant colors, patterns, and styles. And no World Cultures Night would be complete without the International Feast. In true potluck style, families brought in homemade dishes that reflected their heritage—offering guests a culinary tour of the world, from savory to sweet.

“This event is such a powerful reflection of our values at Peck,” said Williamson. “It fosters cultural awareness, inclusion, and most of all, a sense of belonging for every student and family. World Cultures Night is where we come together to learn, to share, and to celebrate one another.”

World Cultures Night continues to be a shining example of how joy, curiosity, and shared experience can bring a community closer together—and it remains a highlight of the school year for many at Peck.

In Lower School Spanish Teacher Señora Adriana Sykora’s second-grade Spanish class, students recently dove into the world of emotions—using selfies! As part of a creative and engaging lesson on vocabulary, students were tasked with identifying emotions using the verb tener vs estar and acting out a variety of feelings such as estoy feliz (I am happy), estoy triste (I am sad), estoy enojado/a (I am angry), tengo hambre (I am hungry), tengo calor (I am hot), estoy emocionado (excited), and more.

From beaming smiles to dramatic frowns—and every expression in between—the classroom buzzed with laughter and language as students enthusiastically practiced emotional phrases in Spanish, recording themselves on their iPads. The repeated speaking and recording of each phrase helped reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation, making the learning stick in a fun and memorable way.

Each student snapped selfies to match their expressions, carefully labeling the photos with the correct Spanish terms. By the end of the activity, they had created a delightful collage of expressive faces—each one showcasing a different emotion and a growing confidence in their language skills.

“It was such a fun and meaningful way for students to connect their emotions to new vocabulary,” said Sykora. “They were so engaged, and now they can not only name their feelings—they can do it in Spanish!”
 

Eighteen Upper School students from The Peck School recently showcased their historical research and creativity at the New Jersey National History Day state contest, held at William Paterson University. Representing ten impressive projects, these students spent the year exploring this year’s theme of “Rights and Responsibilities” and brought their work to a competitive academic stage.

Peck is proud to celebrate all of our student historians for their dedication, curiosity, and hard work throughout the year-long process.

We’re especially excited to announce two honors from the event:

• National Qualifier, 1st Place Group Website: The My Lai Massacre: Rights & Responsibilities in War — Joseph H. '26, Eric J. '26, and Hudson S. '26
   
• National Alternate, Individual Website: The Stanford Prison Experiment: Rights & Responsibilities in Psychology — Giana D. '25

“Congratulations to this impressive group of historians,” said Upper School History Teacher Jason Guss. “Their work reflects deep thinking, thorough research, and a real passion for understanding the past.”

Well done to all participants—you’ve made Peck proud!
 

On May 2, students, faculty, and parents of The Peck School worked side-by-side for their annual Day of Service, assembling much-needed food and supply kits, messages of hope, and even chew toys for essential organizations that support our communities.

First organized in 2019, Day of Service is an annual event that highlights the best of the Peck community: partnership between the school and parents, volunteerism and philanthropy, and hands-on demonstration of Consideration of Others. Students pair across grade levels to pack items, make cards or drawings with positive affirmations, and learn more about the underserved communities right here in our Morristown-area home. 
 
The Peck Parents Association (PA) Day of Service Committee plans and hosts the event, which relies on significant behind-the-scenes time and resources from parent volunteers—from community outreach to procuring donations that fund the event, to collaborating on a staggered schedule that allows more than 340 students and their teachers to efficiently complete the day’s service goals in a single morning!
 
This year, the community contributed to six different causes by donating:

• 350 Backpacks, books, and cards for Life Camp
• 200 breakfast bags for Nourish NJ
• 200 chew toys for St. Hubert's
• 200 cards for Soothing Paws
• 180 Flower Designs for Meals on Wheels
• 250 snack bags for Neighborhood House

Watch the highlights from the day here. Thank you to all who made this day possible!

In first grade at The Peck School, students are keeping a close eye on some very special classroom guests—caterpillars! As part of their exploration of the essential question, What makes a community?, our young learners are observing the metamorphosis of caterpillars into Pink Lady butterflies.

This hands-on science experience is more than just magical; it’s connected to the idea of growth, change, and interdependence. Just as each stage of a butterfly’s life cycle plays a vital role in its greater ecosystem, students are beginning to understand how every individual contributes to the health and success of a community.

From the tiny eggs to the crawling caterpillars, to the soon-to-emerge butterflies, the students are learning about patience, care, and responsibility. They’ve asked thoughtful questions, made detailed observations, and reflected on the ways that these creatures rely on their environment—and each other.

Soon, the class will release their butterflies into the wild, a symbolic and joyful moment that will serve as a celebration of life, transformation, and the important role every creature plays in the world around them. Through this experience, our first graders are discovering that communities—whether among people or insects—thrive on cooperation, connection, and care.

In a unique blend of history, craftsmanship, and play, fifth-grade students in Mark Mortensen’s Woodworking class at The Peck School dive deep into the ancient world by building and playing one of the oldest known board games in history: the Royal Game of Ur.

The Royal Game of Ur, also known as the Game of 20 Squares, dates back to approximately 3000 BCE. Unlike some ancient games reserved only for the elite, this game was played by both royalty and commoners alike across regions stretching from the Middle East to Crete and Sri Lanka. With pawns set up in the guard chambers, tomb, and penalty zones, players take turns rolling the dice and advancing pieces along a shared central path. The goal is to be the first to move all seven pawns off the board by exact count.

This interdisciplinary project ties directly into the fifth-grade history curriculum, where students are exploring the question “What makes a civilization?” As they study ancient civilizations, students also step into the roles of archaeologists, game designers, and craftspeople—bringing history to life through their hands.

Through this project, students are introduced to new tools such as a miter box, backsaw, and a pneumatic nailer. They learn to make precise 45-degree cuts, forming clean corners for their frames. Measuring, cutting, gluing, and assembling the gameboard teaches not only woodworking skills but also the value of craftsmanship and patience.

Students also create their own playing pieces from birch plywood, sanding, and staining them in two tones. The dice are crafted from wood blocks and drilled using a drill press to create symbolic dot patterns. The result: three dice that dictate movement across the 20 squares of the board.

To top it off, students thread their game pieces on rawhide lacing, creating a portable and tactile connection to their creation. Each student’s board is unique, a product of both personal creativity and historical understanding.

“It’s fun to watch students make connections between what they were doing in woodworking and what they had learned in history—understanding the game’s cultural significance and then building it with their own hands,” said Mortensen. “Though the game involves chance, it’s also about decision-making and risk assessment—making it a perfect learning tool for fifth graders.”

At The Peck School, fourth-grade students are finding their rhythm—literally!—in music teacher Lisa Wichman's class, where they’re learning to play the ukulele as part of the Lower School music curriculum. The fourth-grade ukulele program, which begins each January, offers students an approachable way to build musical skills while having a ton of fun along the way!

Students start by learning the basics: how to hold the ukulele, strum, and play a single chord. As their confidence and technique grow, they begin playing along with popular songs they recognize, such as “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors. These familiar tunes help students connect emotionally with the music and feel a sense of pride in their progress.

“The ukulele is such a fantastic instrument for young learners,” said Lower School Music Teacher Lisa Wichman. “It’s small, manageable, and gives kids immediate success. And even better—it’s something they’re inspired to continue practicing at home.”

And practice they do! Some students are so motivated that they’ve begun coming in during recess and free periods to hone their skills. Their excitement has even led to live performances at school assemblies—both fourth grade classes serenaded their classmates as they entered and exited last week’s Lower School Assembly, putting their ukulele skills on display.

This growing confidence will be on display during a Spring Sing performance, where a group of students will showcase their skills alongside classmates on other instruments like xylophones and drums. And to top it off, the year ends with the beloved “Ukulele Jam”—an outdoor concert on the music patio where the entire fourth grade shares their joyful progress with the school community.

At The Peck School, sixth-grade students are diving into the exciting world of robotics—where hardware meets software, and creativity meets critical thinking. Under the guidance of Upper School Technology Teacher Bruce Schwartz, students begin their journey with VEX VR, a virtual platform that introduces core programming concepts in a simulated environment.

From there, they transition to VEX IQ, building and coding real-world robots to complete interactive challenges such as Tug of War, Freeze Tag, Soccer, and Castle Crashers. Each activity teaches foundational engineering and programming skills—like how motors and sensors work, how gear ratios affect power and speed, and how to use sensors to detect color or touch.

Throughout the trimester, students use the same base robot, customizing it with different attachments to adapt to each challenge. They test designs, iterate, and compete in friendly competitions—experiencing the thrill of bringing their code to life.

“They love testing, building, and improving their robots,” said Schwartz. “They’re learning how to problem-solve, collaborate, and really think like engineers.”

With an emphasis on both the robotics (hardware) and the programing (software), the sixth-grade robotics elective is a key part of Peck’s K-8 commitment to technology education—ensuring every student is exposed to essential 21st-century skills at each stage of their learning journey.
 

This spring, third graders at The Peck School are diving into a brand-new genre: mystery! Swapping out their usual biography unit, students are now reading two exciting and age-appropriate mystery books—Summer of the Woods by Steven K. Smith and a title from the National Park Mystery Series by Aaron Johnson.

Each book is set in a different U.S. region, which ties perfectly into Peck’s regional studies in social studies. “It was a total win,” said the Third Grade Homeroom Teacher Nichole Bolio. “We found books that are engaging, connected to geography, and part of a series—so the kids want to keep reading!”

Students started with a fun prediction activity and are now building key skills like vocabulary, sequencing, and plot analysis. They’re learning how mystery authors leave clues, build suspense, and keep readers guessing.

With so many more books in each series, it’s a mystery adventure that could continue long after the unit ends.