Peck Enrichment Program

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Adventure Awaits!

The Peck Enrichment Program (PEP) offers students an opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to extracurricular learning that is fun, engaging, and sparks their passions! Students can hone their skills in a variety of subjects from chess, dance, art, sports, or cooking—all infused with Peck's core values and high standards.

PEP sessions are offered during the fall, winter, and spring. Each session is eight weeks long, unless specified, with courses meeting weekly during that time period.

All courses are taught by Peck teachers and other professional educators or industry experts.

Registration for Winter PEP begins on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. and will close on Monday, March 2 at 4 p.m. The first class begins on March 24.

The Details

Classes will run 2:50 - 3:55 p.m.
Parents can pick up between 3:55-4:10 p.m. After 4:10 p.m., students will be escorted to AfterSchool.
Makeup classes will not be available for students that are absent.
Instructors cannot accommodate an early pickup from class.
Class fees are charged to your Tuition Management account.

Spring 2026 Class Descriptions

Classes begin January 6 and run through the last week in February.

TUESDAY

Tuesdays: 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12

Grades K-2: 3D Printing with Nexplore (Max 14)

Nexplore 3D Printing Start+ empowers students to bring their imaginations into reality with 3Doodler pens. Each lesson combines a structured STEAM project with wiggle room to doodle, explore, and create their own ideas. Students might construct landforms to learn about geography or use geometry to make their own shapeshifters. Nexplore 3D Printing Start+ transforms STEM concepts into 3D projects and sparks joy as students watch science come to life.

Grades K-4: Intermediate Chess with Grandmaster Mac and Ms. Attah *Prior chess experience required. (Max 18)

Join GrandmasterMac's Chess Academy for a fun new session of chess! Students in the intermediate chess class already know how all the pieces move and about special moves like en passant and castling. Classmates will learn common checkmate patterns, basic tactics like pins and double attacks, and learn the rules of tournament chess. GrandmasterMac will offer prizes like chess keychains, wristbands, tournament scorebooks, and a trophy.

Grades 3-4: Spark Lab: Energy, Motion, & Marvels with Dr. Kennedy (Max 10)

In Spark Lab, students investigate how energy makes things move, glow, and sound using creative experiments and engineering challenges. Through exploration and teamwork, children build confidence as young scientists while having a lot of fun.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesdays: 3/25, 4/1, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20. No classes on 4/8 due to parent-teacher conferences.

Grades K-2: Spring Explorers with Ms. Keane and Ms. Sigman (Max 16)

Get ready to explore spring! Students will head outside for nature walks to check out budding trees and blooming flowers, hunt for crawling creatures, and spot our feathered friends. We'll get our hands dirty planting seeds and flowers to watch them grow, make fun crafts inspired by nature, and play outdoor games. Each session is packed with hands-on adventures that bring the joy and beauty of spring to life!

Grades K-4: The Grove Project with Ms. Tecza (Max 15)

Are you ready to LIVE Peck’s InDeCoRe values? The Grove empowers youth to make a difference in their communities through hands-on volunteer experiences enhanced with a service curriculum. Over 8 weeks The Grove Project will weave Peck’s InDeCoRe values of Care, Gratitude, Resilience, Courage, and Respect into hands-on project-based service learning. Throughout the 8 weeks students will learn about several local non-profits and expand their understanding of community needs through fundraising, material donations, education, hands-on activities, and creation of personalized product donations.

THURSDAY

Thursdays: 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14.

Grades K-4: Beginner Chess with Grandmaster Mac and Ms. Attah (Max 18)

Join GrandmasterMac's Chess Academy for a fun and exciting chess class! Chess is a fun way to practice valuable skills like planning, critical thinking, and spatial reasoning. Students will take their first steps in the royal game, learning all piece movements, getting in and out of check, how to capture and checkmate. GrandmasterMac will make the class fun and educational through the use of prizes, trophies, and exciting mini-games to help students develop their love of the game.

Grades K-4: Martial Arts (Max 25)

Unleash your inner strength, focus, and confidence in this high-energy martial arts class taught by none other than Master Adam Sackett — Owner and Head Instructor of the Family Martial Arts Center of Scotch Plains-Fanwood. With 27 years of teaching experience, a long list of accolades, and a reputation backed by 5-star reviews, Master Sackett brings expertise, discipline, and fun to every session. Students will build strength, self-control, and perseverance through age-appropriate martial arts techniques in a supportive, motivating environment. Whether your child is a beginner or has some experience, this class will help them grow physically and mentally — and have a blast doing it!

Grades 3-4: Sewn Circuitry with Mrs. Garvey and Mrs. Walker (Max 13)

Students will learn the basics of circuit design while creating unique, soft-circuit projects. Learn how to light up a craft project by sewing with conductive thread, LEDs, and batteries. Combine your love of art, tech, and science.

FRIDAY

Fridays: 3/27, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/15, 5/29 . Note: 7 sessions only. No classes on 4/3, 5/2, or 5/22.

Grades K-1: PreK Kickers (Max 30)

Founded in 2009, Pre K Kickers is designed to help young children fall in love with soccer through fun, energetic, and age-appropriate sessions. With a curriculum tailored for ages 3–8, kids build confidence, athletic skills, and teamwork in a playful, encouraging environment. Each class is packed with movement, laughter, and skill-building—the perfect way to get little feet moving and smiles growing!

Grades K-4: Little Chicks, Power Sticks: Field Hockey with Coaches Julie Delinsky and Taylor Williams '03 (Max 24)

Join Julie Delinsky, Pingry Field Hockey Varsity Head Coach, 2024 Skyland Conference Coach of the Year and 2025 County and Prep Champions for field hockey. You will also have the opportunity to be coached by some of your best Peck Upper School and Alumni field hockey players for this Spring PEP program! If you have never played field hockey before or you have and want to continue the sport, this is the place for you! All field hockey equipment (sticks and shinguards) will be provided. This is a great opportunity to develop a love and understanding of the sport. Just think, one day you will be out there continuing the legacy of the Peck Field Hockey Team!

Grades K-2: Co-Ed Lacrosse with Reese Lysiak '26 and Coach Jack Margiotta (Max 15)

Join Upper School and Patriots LAX coach Jack Margiotta and eighth grader Reese Lysiak for this introductory lacrosse class! As part of Reese's eight-grade Capstone project, she is partnering with our PEP program and Coach Margiotta to teach the fundamentals of lacrosse in a fun, age-appropriate way that is perfect for kids picking up a stick for the first time. Open to boys and girls!

We’ll build skills through exciting games and activities such as Sharks and Minnows, Sleeping Giants, relay races, Hungry Hippos, and more. These games help athletes develop stick skills, coordination, movement, and confidence while keeping them engaged and having fun.

Our instruction is based on the USA Lacrosse Athlete Development Model (LADM), which is designed to teach the game the right way for young athletes. At this age, the focus is on learning through play, developing athleticism, and creating a positive first experience with lacrosse — not on complex systems or advanced concepts.

Grades 3-4: Musical Theater Mania with Patrick Machir '26, Eve Cangemi '26, and Mrs. Sue Longenecker (Max 12)

Join eighth-grade Upper School Performing Arts Coordinators Patrick Machir and Eve Cangemi, along with Winter Musical Director Sue Longenecker, for this high-energy musical theater class! As part of Patrick and Eve's eighth-grade Capstone project, they are partnering with our PEP program and Mrs. Longenecker to teach fundamentals of musical theater. Participants will sing songs from a musical, learn choreography, and act out a scene while building confidence and creativity. The session will culminate in a special opportunity for students to showcase their work at a school assembly. This joyful class is designed to inspire a love of musical theatre and performance in younger students.

Grades 5-8: Pickleball (Max 15)

Come learn how to play or continue to sharpen your Pickleball skills! We will teach in a progression. We will start with pickleball fundamentals: scoring, rules, court positioning, and pickleball basics. Every class with have match play. Each week we will reinforce the basics and focus on court positioning and strategy.