A First Taste of Peddie

The July sun blazes high over Armellino Quad. Burgers sizzle on the grill. Water balloons soar through the air to screams of delight. Eighty-three middle schoolers enjoy a cookout on Armellino Quad after a long day of classes, extracurriculars and fun. These are the sights and sounds of Peddie Summer Academy (PSA).

PSA is a summer boarding and day school experience for rising 7th to 9th graders. For two weeks, these students learn, play, create and live on Peddie’s campus. The aim is twofold: to give these students their first taste of life at boarding school and to have an incredible summer.

Or, as one counselor put it: “Peddie Summer Academy is everything good about Peddie thrown into two weeks.”

How It Started

PSA Director Josh Sham believes in the magic of an amazing summer. As a longtime Peddie science teacher and assistant cross country and track and field coach, he also knows that Peddie’s uplifting and close-knit community is its greatest superpower. In PSA, Sham has designed a summer camp experience that allows students to try two extraordinary weeks at Peddie, just as they’re beginning to plan for high school.

“Ultimately,” Sham said, “we want kids to experience boarding school.”

In developing the program, Sham called upon science teacher Shani Peretz and history teacher and varsity wrestling coach Austin Frank. The three wanted to replicate not just the academic rigor and excitement of the Peddie classroom, but the complete experience. Crucially, they staffed the program entirely with Peddie faculty, students and young alumni. “Every single person understands Peddie,” said Sham. “They’re part of this culture. You can feel that Peddie energy.”

The program opened in 2023 with a roster of 48 students. By 2025, that number had grown to 83.

Learning That Excites

Writing a personal essay with English teacher Jenate Brown or designing a building for Claudio Middleton’s Architecture class are some of the highlights of a Peddie student’s academic experience. Thanks to PSA, classes of rising 7th to 9th graders can share in these innovative educational experiences, designed and taught by Peddie faculty who bring learning to life.

“Architecture was everything I hoped it would be and more,” PSA student Advika Gupta said of her favorite class. “I love how hands-on the learning is.”

PSA’s highly engaging lessons make for wildly exciting classrooms. Jen Morgan’s Forensics class uses skills honed in the chemistry lab to solve imaginary crimes. Claudio Middleton’s Japanese Sculpture class designs experimental wooden sculptures. Nika Blank’s Physics class builds and tests popsicle stick bridge designs and air-powered cars.

But for many, it’s not just the content that excites. “It’s the teachers who make the classes really fun and enjoyable,” said Michael Pratt, another PSA student.

Building Culture

The fun doesn’t end after class. PSA’s extracurricular programs allow students to pursue interests in athletics, arts and robotics, building team spirit and camaraderie while also challenging students to try new things.

In robotics, students design and program Lego robots with robotics coach Robert Tackett. Visual arts students practice the art of drawing and painting with Peddie alumna Eva Middleton ’25. Athletes play a new sport every day on Peddie’s athletic fields with Austin Frank as their coach. Theater students rehearse pieces from the musical, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” under the direction of Peddie theater legend Liz Sherman, culminating in a group performance at the “PSA’s Got Talent” show.

Regular chapel meetings, including student speakers and musical performances, also provide students with an authentic Peddie experience of connection and reflection. “These two weeks of summer are probably the best I’ve had,” said Saif Kazmi from the podium at Ayer Memorial Chapel, before going on to individually thank the teachers, counselors and students who supported him.

Expert Counsel

PSA’s formidable team of counselors includes former Peddie prefects, athletes, performers and co-presidents. Their collective wealth of experience and knowledge makes them the best possible guides for PSA’s students during their first days away from home.

“We’re all a huge team, just trying to make sure everything runs well and all of the kids are having a great time.” Abby Brady ’23 has been part of the PSA team since its opening. She’s now the assistant director of student experience, providing guidance to the counselors and meeting individually with every PSA student to make sure they’re having fun and making connections. It translates to a community of friendship and support, in classrooms and in the dormitories.

“It’s been a really, really good experience,” said Pratt, who chose to board at PSA despite living nearby. “My roommate is a nice guy, and he made me feel comfortable being around other people that I haven’t seen before.”

“It’s helped me open up a lot,” Gupta, who traveled from India to attend PSA, agreed. “I was worried about feeling different from everyone else, but it feels almost exactly like being with my friends back home.”

“The whole counselor team has so much love for Peddie as a school,” said counselor Connor Pawliczak ’25. “That’s the most important part of the job. Because we all loved our time here and we have such fond memories, it’s so easy to share that with these kids, especially the ones who are really interested in Peddie.”

How PSA Helps Peddie

In her first days as a freshman at Peddie, Amelia Kenney ’28 found herself in a unique position. She already knew her way around campus. Teachers, upperclassmen and even fellow freshmen immediately recognized and greeted her. “Getting to know these people at PSA and then coming to Peddie and having that smooth transition was just great,” recalled Kenney.

Kenney attended PSA in 2023. Since arriving at Peddie as a student, she has starred in the Freshman Musical and scored the winning goal for the JV Field Hockey team on Peddie-Blair Day. Kenney credits PSA with building the confidence that helped her leap into life at Peddie. “I got to meet people from all over and see things on campus that you wouldn’t see from going on a tour,” she said.

“There’s no better way to decide whether Peddie is the place for you than to do it for two weeks,” said Sham. “I want kids to fall in love with Peddie.”

Today, there are 15 Peddie sophomores and freshmen whose admission journeys began with a wonderful two weeks at Peddie Summer Academy. By seeking out and accepting excellent students with an interest in boarding school for PSA, Sham’s program enriches the pool of potential Peddie students and, ultimately, the student body. While not every PSA student chooses to pursue boarding school, Sham feels that “Every kid deserves to be here. Whether or not they’re a potential Peddie applicant, they deserve to be here, and they deserve to have an amazing summer.”

Learn more about Peddie Summer Academy at peddie.org/summeracademy.