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    Student art is displayed on a welcome table at the PES Celebration of Learning. 
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    Visitors to Virginia Topping’s room check out samples of student work. 
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    Two young visitors to the Book Fair show off their choices. 
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    PES families shop at the Scholastic Book Fair. 
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    PES students line up to purchase books at the Scholastic Book Fair. 
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    From left, special education teacher Sheila Powley, wellness teacher Tanya Morris and school counselor Jennifer Swasey.
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    Sheila Powley, PES Principal Tammy O’Connor and Jennifer Swasey.
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    Families walk through hallways displayed with student artwork at the PES Celebration of Learning. 
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    PES Principal Tammy O’Connor helps some tiny visitors pick out ice cream. 
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    The PES gym hosts a Scholastic Book Fair Thursday night. 
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    Scott Johnson, left, and his grandson, Bryce, at the book fair. 
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    Student teacher Abbey Forbes, left, with her mentor teacher Shannon Dunning. 
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    Lucas and Elena Belliveau with the PES Tiger. 
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    Visitors to the PES ice cream social at the Celebration of Learning. 

Peterborough Elementary School hosted its first Celebration of Learning Thursday night, including an ice cream social in the cafeteria.

“We wanted to combine our Literacy Night and our Math Night into one big celebration of learning, and the book fair and just get the whole community out at once,” Principal Tammy O’Connor said. “This is the first time we’ve done this, and we are very happy with the turnout.”

In second-grade teacher Shannon Dunning’s classroom, students were sharing portfolios of their work with their siblings and families. Dunning said it was wonderful to see grandparents as well as parents attend the celebration.

“The kids are very proud to show off their work and share what we have been working on,” Dunning said.

Student teacher Abby Forbes set up an interactive science experiment in Dunning’s classroom, where she has been training this year. Students experimented with different types of gripping devices, including clothespins and straws, to simulate the way birds pick up food, including gummy worms, crackers and “fish” representing seeds, worm, nectar and fish.

“We’ve been studying birds’ beaks,” Forbes said. “We’re giving the students a chance to experiment with the different options and figure out which ones are easier to use.”

Second-grade teacher Jen Ambrosini said the night was a great success.

“We’ve had a full house,” she said.