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Distance Learning at Peck

Traditions Transformed: Bringing Signature Events Online

What is a teacher to do when the event they’ve meticulously prepared for all year long simply won’t work in a distance-learning setting? They do what Peck teachers do well: they adapt.
“What we are doing as educators is embracing the notion that you can’t stop the wave, but you can learn to surf. We have all become adept with our technical skills and that has enabled us to rethink our timeless traditions, not just for the sake of continuing them online, but to reshape them in truly appropriate and meaningful ways,” offered Nina Sharma, Head of Lower School.
 
When Peck moved to a distance-learning model after March Break, Lower School teachers quickly moved their highly-anticipated signature events—performances, presentations, and special gatherings—online in ingenious ways.
 
“Rainforest Day in the K” is a much-loved morning commemorating a unit of study on rainforests. In the past, kindergarten students invited their father or a special friend to a lively presentation of exotic animals by Danny Mendez, conservationist, educator, and founder of Zoo Jersey.
 
This year, the whole family was invited to join their kindergartner for a virtual visit to Costa Rica on Zoom, followed by a live on-camera visit with Mr. Mendez and his tropical creatures. “A lot of our signature events have become whole-family-oriented now,” explained Sharma, “because this experience of distance learning is more family-oriented.”
 
The first grade celebrated their annual tea as a Zoom gathering. Each family was asked to create their own tea area, with a snack, teacups, and fancy attire. “It was fabulous to see the different setups people came up with,” said First Grade Teacher Christa Nees.

In their first-ever virtual biography presentations, second-grade students selected notable men and women from various time periods and categories, from Ancient Egypt to the Civil Rights movement. After researching their figures, students wrote three clues to present to viewers. Parents joined the class on a Zoom call and took turns attempting to guess the subject of each biography.

“We were able to use the technology to reinforce public speaking skills,” explained Second Grade Teacher Sasha Shreiner, “like using the camera to establish eye contact and adding extra expression to their words to ensure they were connecting with their long-distance audience. The students demonstrated incredible flexibility, courage, and persistence to work together.”

The third grade also put a distance-learning twist on their state adoption tradition. Each student chose an American state and researched what made it unique, presenting their findings to their class via Zoom with detailed slides, theme costumes, and other special touches, including regional specialty snacks.

Fourth grade students similarly adapted their annual American history presentations. 

“Instead of performing together in a ‘living timeline’ to act out iconic moments in U.S. history, students created videos on a platform called Flipgrid, building off of recent book reports reflecting on a specific historical figure, event, or place,” said Fourth Grade Teacher Christine Reder. 

Students shared those videos, along with artistic creations like colorful dioramas and detailed models, on class Zoom meetings.

The ingenuity and compassion the Lower School administration and faculty showed in preserving these timeless traditions was much appreciated by Peck parents.

“The first grade teachers were dedicated to recreating the tea experience remotely,” remarked Virginia Cepeda, parent of three Peck students and incoming Parents Association President. “It was so much fun to dress up, set the table for tea, and see all of our friends we have missed so much. The event was a highlight of our quarantine, and one I will never forget.”

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THE PECK SCHOOL

247 South Street  |  Morristown, NJ  07960
973-539-8660
Northern New Jersey's timeless and transformative co-ed independent elementary and middle school education for grades K-8.