[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 5, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E97]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE PECK SCHOOL IN MORRISTOWN

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 5, 2013

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The Peck School 
in Morristown, New Jersey, which is celebrating its 120th Anniversary 
in 2013.
  Originally created as a school for women, Peck School was opened on 
Franklin Street under the name Miss Sutphen's School for Young Ladies 
in 1893. After nearly 23 years, the school had become one of the most 
prestigious in Morris County with over 100 students and 9 teachers. 
However, in 1917, the school was purchased by Lorraine T. Peck and the 
name was changed to the Peck School in 1918. In 1920 the school was 
relocated to Elm Street where it would stay for another quarter of a 
century. By 1946 the school had assumed its current colors of white and 
blue and in 1948 moved into where it currently resides, on South Street 
in the Lindenwold Mansion and adjacent property.
  Over the next decade, The Peck School saw rapid expansion and 
improvement. In 1950 the Mother's Association was created opening up 
the door to more programs including parent-teacher conferences, Parents 
Visiting Day, the Student Council, and the Alumni Association. Due to 
enrollment exceeding 200 students for the first time, the school 
constructed a new gymnasium/auditorium in order to accommodate the 
influx of young men and women. Moreover, in 1959 the school was split 
into two divisions. The first division would include Kindergarten to 
4th graders and the second division would include 5th to 8th graders.
  As the times changed, Peck School did the same by constantly adapting 
to the needs of its students, faculty, and parents. With the dawn of 
technology in the 1980s, Peck was able to add computers to the school, 
creating new facilities for technological related studies. These 
facilities included the addition of the ``Bridge'' and ``Fine Arts'' 
wings in 1984. These new sections of the school offered comprehensive 
group studies on computers, woodworking, and foreign languages. 
Additionally, the Mother's Association was renamed the Parents' 
Association to mirror the increased paternal involvement in student 
academic activities.
  After celebrating its 100th Anniversary with the opening of the 
Deetjen Kindergarten Building in 1993, the school decided to embark on 
even further expansion. These ground-breaking improvements consisted of 
the Caspersen-Tomlinson Upper School in 1995 and the F.M. Kirby Lower 
School on 1998. With new space and resources, Peck integrated an All-
School Technology Plan, establishing the school as a quintessential 
model for computer-based curriculum at the elementary and middle school 
levels. Finally, in 2006, Peck opened the massive 35,000 square foot 
Eckert Huff Building complimented by the new 32,000 square feet 
Athletic Center in 2007.
  Today, over 330 students attend the Peck School and study a diverse 
set of curriculums comprising of communication arts, drama, English, 
library studies, math, music, physical education, reading, science, 
history, technology, family life, visual arts, woodworking, and foreign 
languages. The school also contains an Individual Development and 
Community Responsibility Program designed to teach character 
development and life skills. Additionally, Peck houses one of the most 
competitive private-school 5th to 8th grade athletic programs in 
Northern New Jersey.
  In its 120 years, Peck School has grown from an organization of 6 
children to a nationally recognized institution focused on the 
development of young minds into successful adolescents.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and your colleagues to join me in 
congratulating The Peck School as it celebrates its 120th Anniversary.

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