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While Upper School students worked diligently through the morning on ERB Standardized Testing, their afternoons were met with collaboration and creativity as they constructed their MiniMester projects.

The entire Peck campus became an innovative workspace as students milled about classrooms, common spaces, and outdoor walkways with paints, cameras, and crazy costumes!

MiniMester is a project-based learning assignment that allows students to exercise their imaginations as they work in groups to build themed projects across grade levels.

Grade 5 was tasked with building pinball machines, replacing old-school Pac-Man themes with their own creative ideas. Grade 6 competed with one another as they constructed wood-and-cardboard chariots, with hopes that theirs would carry them across the finish line first on race day. Grade 7 was busy behind the scenes directing silent films, and last but not least, Grade 8 was hard at work constructing functional carnival games of all kinds!

It has been all-hands-on-deck for MiniMester, and all of our Upper School students should be proud of the finished products!

At The Peck School, service and community go hand in hand. During the last Kairos Night, the seventh grade hosted the annual Pasta for Preschool event, a heartwarming fundraiser benefiting Preschool Advantage, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing preschool education for children in need.

This year's event was a resounding success, with over 300 attendees, even more to-go orders, and donations made straight to the cause. Thanks to the generosity of the Peck community, this year’s seventh graders set a new Pasta for Preschool record, after raising an impressive $23,066!

"The incredible success of Pasta for Preschool was made possible by the dedication of our seventh-grade students, their supportive parents and teachers, the hard work from Chef Joe and his team, and the leadership of service learning coordinator Sue Longenecker,” said Seventh Grade Lead Teacher Megan Boyle. “It was a true community effort, coming together for a meaningful cause."

During this week's All-School Assembly, Joseph H. ’25 and Scarlett S. ’25 proudly presented a check on behalf of the entire seventh-grade class to representatives from Preschool Advantage. Their efforts exemplify Peck’s commitment to service learning and giving back to the community.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and supported this important initiative!
 

At The Peck School, a special kind of magic happens in the kindergarten classrooms—one that brings stories to life and strengthens our sense of community. Each week, students excitedly gather on the rug, eyes wide with anticipation, waiting to discover who will step through the door as their Mystery Reader.

Mystery Readers can be parents, teachers, or any faculty or staff member from across the school. Whether it’s a teacher from another grade, someone from the administration, or a friendly face from the communications or business office, every guest brings a new voice, a new story, and a new connection.

“This beloved tradition not only fosters a love of reading but also helps our students feel a deeper sense of belonging by getting to know the many people who make Peck special,” said Kindergarten Teacher Camryn Salamone.

The excitement of a surprise guest adds to the fun, but the true magic of Mystery Readers is in the relationships they build—one story at a time.
 

In Dr. Kennedy’s science class at The Peck School, young scientists recently embarked on an exciting hands-on exploration of the three states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas—using balloons!

Students observed and compared balloons filled with air, water, and ice, recording their findings as they weighed, touched, and examined each one. By noting characteristics like shape, temperature, and texture, they determined which state of matter each balloon contained.

With great anticipation, the lesson culminated in the ultimate experiment—popping the balloons—allowing students to experience firsthand how different states of matter react, noting their observations through their senses.

“The students get really excited when it comes to this kind of hands-on learning,” said Dr. Kennedy. “Being able to physically observe and interact with different states of matter helps them build a deeper understanding of science in a fun and engaging way.”
 

At The Peck School, learning Spanish is anything but ordinary! In a fun and dynamic collaborative project, eighth graders partnered with third graders to create an interactive and immersive restaurant experience.

After creating menus entirely in Spanish, the project culminated in a lively skit where eighth graders took on the role of waiters, and third graders acted as customers. Together, they practiced essential vocabulary and conversational skills, simulating real restaurant interactions. From polite greetings to ordering food and discussing specials, students engaged in a fun, real-world language experience that reinforced their Spanish-speaking confidence.

"It is great to see our older students mentor younger students in a project like this, as it builds confidence in both groups—eighth graders take on leadership roles while third graders gain valuable language skills in a fun and supportive environment,” said Lower School Spanish Teacher Adriana Sykora.

This cross-grade collaboration not only strengthened language skills but also fostered mentorship and community—an essential part of The Peck School experience!
 

Peck’s second graders explored the artistic legacy of Gee’s Bend, a small African American community in Alabama known for its bold, improvisational quilts. For generations, the women of Gee’s Bend have transformed fabric scraps into striking abstract designs—both functional and deeply expressive works of art.

Inspired by this remarkable tradition, second graders learned about the history of Gee’s Bend and its cultural significance. They then created their own small felt quilts, embracing the improvisational techniques that define this art form. Without predetermined patterns, students experimented with composition, layering, and color, developing an appreciation for the resourcefulness and artistic spirit of the original Gee’s Bend quilters.

This hands-on project was more than just an art lesson—it was a window into a history of perseverance, self-expression, and storytelling through fabric.