The Peck School is an independent, co-educational day school with grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Peck School is located in Morristown, in Morris County, New Jersey. There are approximately 330 students. The Peck curriculum includes communication arts, drama, English, library studies, math, music, physical education, reading, science, history, social studies, technology, themes or family life, visual arts, woodworking, and world languages. The Peck School has two divisions, the Upper School and the Lower School. Activities are held most Friday afternoons for Upper School students. Possible choices include The Linden, ImPeckable News, the Student Council, Youth Council, Green Team, "Art Spirit", the P.I.C club, and more. There is also another period called Peck Block, held a couple of times in a rotation, with opportunities ranging from Chorus to Coding. In addition, further extracurricular activities include Kindergarten Helpers, the Steel Pan Band, Pro Musica, Peckapella, and the After School Enrichment Program, known as PEP. Like many independent schools, the Peck athletic program is required. It emphasizes sportsmanship, teamwork, and responsibility. Students compete inter-scholastically in grades 5-8 in a number of fall, winter, and spring sports. Peck has built up a reputation of having one of the most competitive private-school sports programs in the area. Peck's mascot is The Pride, which serves as a symbol of Peck's school-wide sense of pride. The Peck School is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools and the Commission on Elementary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Peck is also known for its many traditions. It has an annual field day called Downy-Redhead Day, which has relay races and an all-school tug-of-war. Much school competition is centered on those two teams. Peck has a talent show, where students can showcase their talents to the school body. There is a Christmas Sing. There is also a Spring Sing. Lower schoolers participate in a science fair, which is known as the Science Expo, and they submit their work to the Lower School literary Arts magazine. Commencement is held every year for graduating 8th graders, as students move on to secondary school. Graduates of the Peck School populate a wide range of competitive and exceptional schools. College placement tends to be just as excellent.
History
Peck School originally started in 1893 on Franklin Street, founded as Miss Sutphen's School for Young Ladies, with six initial students. Lorraine T. Peck purchased the school late in 1917. In 1920, the school moved to Elm Street, and then into its current location on South Street, in the Lindenwold Mansion and the surrounding acres. In 1993, Peck School completed the Deetjen Kindergarten Building. In 1995, the Caspersen-Tomlinson Academic Building was completed, followed by the F. M. Kirby Lower School in 1998. In 2006 the 35,000 square feet Eckhert Huff Building was completed, which was followed by the Athletic Center in 2007. Notable headmasters include Mr. Lorraine T. Peck, Mr. Philip S. Hesseltine, Mr. Rudy Deetjen, and Mr. John J. Kowalik. Andrew Delinsky, former Upper School Principal at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, has been serving as head of the school since 2014.
Peck School students compete on interscholastic sports teams from grades 5-8. In lower school grades, students learn fundamental motor skills, sports technique, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Peck sports include for girls and boys basketball, volleyball, field hockey, co-ed ice hockey, co-ed cross country, boys and girls lacrosse, softball, baseball wrestling and for boys soccer.
