Fifth Graders and their New-Found Freedoms in the Upper School

The transition from Lower to Upper School is a big step in a student's academic journey. New teachers, more challenging subjects, and a wider array of extracurricular activities makes fifth grade a highly anticipated transition.

However, students’ eagerness to move on to fifth grade isn't just about being the newest members of the Upper School; it's about a newfound sense of independence and responsibility that comes with a simple yet significant privilege—a key card that allows the freedom to travel the halls on their own initiative.

These small plastic cards symbolize a rite of passage for students at The Peck School. They grant access to our various campus buildings and hallways during designated times, allowing them to travel from class to class independently. Proudly dangling from personalized lanyards adorned with pins or buttons or with individual class schedules neatly tucked into their plastic sleeves, students always find creative ways to make their key cards their own. For students who have spent the past few years under the watchful eyes of their Lower School homeroom teachers during hallway transitions, they wear these keycards as badges of honor as they represent a newfound autonomy that is exhilarating.

Upper School students are expected to take ownership of their actions and demonstrate maturity. This key card privilege is not just about roaming the halls unaccompanied; it's about developing crucial life skills, such as time management and decision-making. With great freedom comes great responsibility, and our newest members of the Upper School are excited for the opportunity to prove themselves trustworthy as they escort themselves between classes.

The transition from fourth to fifth grade is more than just a change in grade level. It's a stepping stone in these young students' lives, offering them a taste of independence and responsibility that will serve them well in the years to come. The key cards may be small pieces of plastic, but they represent big opportunities for growth and learning; making the journey into the Upper School an adventure worth anticipating.