Peabody School

Congratulations Class of 2026! We are so proud of you and can't wait to see all the amazing things you do.

Thank you Rob Garland Photographers for the photo!

A big thank you to the Class of 2026 families for supporting our 8th graders' vision to renovate our outdoor classroom space as their graduating gift. After raising over $26,000 we are excited to open this new space for students which includes a chalkboard, pinboard for posters, a "curio cabinet" for nature finds, and easier access to the Peabody woods with a staircase and bridge!

The next time you're on Third Street, be sure to check out the art on display from Peabody School in our Stage Left space. Their pieces honor changemakers in Charlottesville and will be on display until July!

Congratulations to our 8th graders on their outstanding multi genre research projects! Yesterday's showcase was the culmination of their 8th grade English class, and we loved learning from each student about their chosen topics. Great work, class of 2026! Your curiosity and creativity shone through your work!

Students in Ms. Harper’s A&E, ‘Charlottesville Firsts, Now,’ were excited to partner with the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society to learn about the work of Frances Brand (1901-1990) a U.S. Army major, a civil rights activist, a world traveler, a devoted churchgoer, and a portrait artist. According to the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, "In the 1970s, Brand undertook a series of portraits of individuals from Charlottesville and Albemarle County that would become the Gallery of “Firsts.” This collection had at least 157 portraits of local people that Brand believed to be the first to do something. Many were firsts in their field of study, work, or in public service, but Brand included those with less notable accomplishments that were nonetheless considered important by the community. She made an effort to represent a myriad of races, classes, religions, and professions. Of the 157 portraits, 93 feature women. Brand captured in her “Firsts” images of change in a small Southern community during the latter half of the twentieth century, a time when social change made it possible for individuals to achieve firsts where previously their gender, race, or nationality denied them the opportunity."

After researching Brand and visiting the Historical Society, students worked to identify someone in the Charlottesville community who was engaging in meaningful work. They chose to focus on Sarah Olivia - Program Director of Hope's Legacy Equine Rescue; Gabe and Sonya Silver - Founders of Rivanna River Company; and Ang Conn - Housing Programs Director at The Haven. Through research, visits, and interviews, students learned about the impact these people make every day in our community. The project culminated with a portrait of each person in the style of Frances Brand.

Ultimately, this project was about more than studying local history. It was an opportunity for students to celebrate people in our community who are making a difference right now, and to recognize that meaningful impact is not reserved for famous figures. By learning the stories of these local changemakers, students were encouraged to see that every person has the ability to contribute to their community, influence others positively, and create change through everyday acts of leadership, service, and care.

We invite you to join us this Friday, May 29th, at 5:00 pm to celebrate the students’ work. Paintings will be on display through July in the glass display windows by the Paramount Theater.

We are excited to celebrate our incredible grade 7/8 social studies teacher, Tolly Merrick, as he prepares to retire after over 30 years in education!

Tolly has spearheaded many incredible opportunities for our students. How many educators can say they had their students meet Justices Ginsburg, Alito, Sotomayor, and had a book dedicated in their name (Khizr Khan's "This is Our Constitution")!

We are so grateful for Tolly’s dedication to Peabody School and the lasting impact he has had on his students and colleagues. He will be very missed!

We hope you will stop by to celebrate Mr. Merrick this Thursday, May 28th, from 3:45-5:30pm at Eastwood Winery.

Photo 2 Credit: Jesús Pino Photography

Today we celebrate Mr. Orlando Day! The day began with an all-school assembly honoring Mr. Orlando and all that he has done for Peabody School. Several faculty members spoke about how Rob embodies our Peabody traits, and we were honored to be joined by school founder, Harriet Kaplan. 🩵🧡

📸 by Jesús Pino Photography

Congratulations to all of our middle school performers on a fantastic Spring Concert last week! It was a joy to celebrate the hard work, growth, and talent our students have shown throughout the year. Well done to everyone involved! 🎵✨