Yesterday, we had an opportunity to visit the site of the New Peck Elementary School. As you can see, they have broken ground and the multi-million dollar project is well underway. The new school is located between the current Peck Elementary and Lovett snd Florida Streets in the Glenwood neighborhood. The design of the school was inspired by the woods that will surround the school. Teachers will be encouraged to provide opportunities for students to learn about nature from the property around the school. The new school will be a pre-K-8 Expeditionary Magnet School. The Expeditionary Learning Model is an outgrowth of collaboration between Harvard University and the Outward Bound Program, with emphasis on teamwork, courage, compassion, and active learning.*
Peck Elementary School was built in 1929. Over the past 94 years, so much has changed and the new school will reflect needs of the 21st century learner. This project part of the first phase of construction in the master facilities plan for Guilford County Schools. Given the preK-8th grade model, it is anticipated the new school will accommodate 900 students and should be completed in 2024. In the meantime, Peck Elementary will remain open. The school was named for Mrs. Clara Jane Thornton Peck. Mrs. Peck was a nurse whose many volunteer efforts were akin to what social workers do today. Throughout her adult life, she helped care for those in need, including during the 1918 and 1920 influenza outbreaks. Mrs. Peck died in 1926 at the age of 62. Let's hope the new school will be named for her, this inspiring woman who was born during the Civil War. We're confident the school would make her proud.
Happy Friday! Happy last day of March!
* see this News & Record article from 2020 for more information. It is well worth reading.
A worthy name for a school.
Posted by: William Kendall | Friday, March 31, 2023 at 05:10 PM