As a current junior at Peddie, I can still vividly recall my anxiety as an incoming freshman. Although POCO is meant for meeting new people and learning about the campus, a million worries plagued my mind. The upperclassmen in my POCO groups seemed daunting but I was quickly relieved when they took me under their wing throughout the activities.

I am now a campus leader who takes on the role of guiding new students into a fresh environment. 

A full circle moment indeed. 

On Thursday, August 29, all new boarding students moved into their dorms. As a prefect helping out Masters, the freshmen girls’ dorm, I learned of the lengthy journeys many families underwent to arrive on campus. After a few hours of unpacking, new students headed to Geiger-Reeves Hall for Mr. Quinn’s welcome speech. This hectic but exciting day was packed with various planned activities. We enjoyed dinner from PFS at the dining hall in our POCO groups as new freshmen, sophomores and juniors got to know each other. Campus leaders broke the awkward silences and occasional discomfort as everyone was feeling a bit anxious. 

Next, POCO activities were in full spring! There were 13 teams, each with a different superhero name. For example, The Avengers, PowerPuff Girls, Power Rangers and Fantastic Four. We rotated through different stations to play games such as parkour, slip and slide relay race, and competitive limbo. Finally, after a long day of events, Rita’s Water Ice was served under the dining hall tent for a cool-down treat.

On Friday, campus leaders and new students got involved in Hightstown community service to engage with the local community and familiarize themselves with a brand new area. 

POCO is always an exciting time as the Peddie campus comes alive to welcome new students and mark the start of a new year. We deeply appreciate all the faculty and staff who worked endlessly to ensure a successful orientation every year!