Academic Departments

English

Through a carefully sequenced curriculum, Porter-Gaud’s English Department strives to provide each student with a comprehensive background in communication skills as well as an understanding of diverse forms of literature. Cultivating well structured and polished writing is our most important objective; therefore, assignments are frequent and closely assessed. We approach the study of literature by considering a broad range of eclectic works from various perspectives to foster analytical skills and to broaden cultural awareness.

Boasting students who received back-to-back NCTE Writing Awards in 2007 and 2008, Porter-Gaud is a perennial recipient of literary prizes bestowed by the Southern Association of Independent Schools. The WATCH, our literary magazine, has been named the best in the state for the last four consecutive years, and our newspaper, the Grits, and our yearbook, the Polygon, have also garnered honors.

Porter-Gaud alums of the literary world include the Lee Brothers, Katie Crouch, Charlie Geer, and Prioleau Alexander, all of whom have published books in the last ten years. In addition, several of our alumni are successful journalists employed by prestigious news organizations in various media.

However, perhaps what our English Department prides most is our reputation in the community. If you’re unconvinced by self-generated accolades, check out the word on the street.

Math

When most people think of mathematics they think of an equation, formula, perhaps a word problem or a finite measurement. At Porter-Gaud, we believe mathematics offers more than just the pursuit of an answer. Math offers infinite possibilities and teaches numerous skills that are applicable across multiple disciplines. Our mathematics faculty strives to teach students to think critically and learn to solve mathematical problems using a variety of strategies, not just a set pathway. Our students know how to communicate their solutions clearly, are accustomed to working effectively with their peers, and are able to understand the application of technology in the field of mathematics. Students should seek the answer, but more importantly, understand the process to reach a solution.

In the Lower School, we try to make Mathematics a hands-on subject instead of mundane problems in a workbook. Students participate in activities, games and even set math to music. We use SmartBoard technology to make math interactive and fun. In our Middle School, we concentrate on developing higher order thinking skills with a challenging curriculum taught by an energetic faculty. It is not all number crunching, however. Activities like MathCounts and Pi Day make learning fun, while encouraging a competitive spirit. In the Upper School, a knowledgeable group of teachers offer a wide variety of courses for every level of achievement in mathematics. Advanced Placement courses to challenge students with high aptitude are extensive and enjoy broad participation.

We want our students to graduate with the appropriate mathematical skills to confidently tackle any problem in a technical and fast-paced world. They will also possess the experience and ability to collaborate well with their peers when finding a solution requires a group effort.

Science

The science department strives to instill in our students a love of understanding, which is the essence of science. The pursuit of understanding leads to discovery, which is the engine that drives progress. Our students participate in hands-on science learning experiences enabling them to make personal sense of what they are learning and enabling them to become good problem solvers. Labs and other experiential learning activities are an integral part of the articulated 1-12 science curriculum at Porter-Gaud School.

Our faculty has a passion for the subject areas in which they teach and they pass that enthusiasm on to their students. Whether it is a trip to the Birds of Prey Center in the Lower School, developing an award winning science project in the Middle School or the manipulation of DNA in phosphorescent bacteria in the Upper School, our students experience science far beyond the pages of a textbook. Our science labs rival those in universities and are equipped with the tools to successfully expand even the most inquisitive of minds.

When a student graduates from Porter-Gaud we hope they continue to be curious and develop a lifelong quest for understanding. These interests and strengths will serve them well either in their profession or outside interests. It is our hope that, above all, they gain an understanding of how to seek answers.

Physical Education

With the decline in the physical condition of America’s youth reaching crisis proportions, sports take an increasingly crucial role in helping students build life-long habits of good health. A solid physical education program also delivers whole-life lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship and competitive success. It builds school spirit, deepens friendships, boosts personal confidence and complements the close student-teacher relationships that are central to every phase of the learning experience at Porter-Gaud.

Participation is the key. In addition to regular physical education classes, the school’s superb athletic staff organizes more than 50 teams, many guaranteeing season-long opportunities for play thanks to no-cut policies. In each grade, students of every capability level can sign up for team sports supervised by experienced coaches and a certified athletic trainer.

Computer Science

In the computer science department, students learn how to not only use a computer to solve problems, but program them to solve problems. Peek inside any of our labs or classrooms, and you will see students fully engaged with technology. Digital cameras, laptops, scanners, robots, digital microscopes, microphones, and even iPods are used daily to familiarize our students with how technology can be applied across multiple disciplines.

In the early years, students quickly learn to be proficient in the use of computer applications and take advantage of the Internet as a learning tool. Netbooks and SmartBoards have become an integral part of the Lower School curriculum in every subject area. Through the Middle School and Upper School years, students start to engage in true computer science and programming. Students learn to embrace and utilize the many Web 2.0 applications available to them including social networking, wikis, textual and audio blogs, video conferences, and 3-D chat rooms. Upper School students who want to take their computing expertise to extraordinary levels have opportunities to enter an accelerated four-year computer science track.

While many schools forbid gaming, Porter-Gaud uses this popular technology as a means to teach students to write their own. Our students are already preparing for the future in mobile computing by learning how to write applications for mobile devices. Portable music players are not just for entertainment. Porter-Gaud takes advantage of iPods for the study of foreign language. Students in almost all grades use email to regularly communicate with their teachers and many submit projects digitally.

We are strong believers in experiential learning and offer field trips to give our students a real-world view of technology. We invite guest speakers to campus who are the leaders in their respective technology fields to give our students the opportunity to learn from the pioneers of the modern computing era. When a student graduates from Porter-Gaud, they will be equipped with the necessary tools to push the technological envelope.

World Languages

At Porter-Gaud, we seek to foster an appreciation of different cultures and races that a language represents, not just an understanding of a language. We offer French, Latin, Mandarin Chinese (Lower School) and Spanish, some beginning at early ages, to work in unison with Porter-Gaud’s vision of a global education for our students at every age.

Students are not merely exposed to these languages by teaching them vocabulary and grammar. Led by a committed and enthusiastic faculty, students study history, traditions, and beliefs as we topple the wall of stereotypes and preconceived ideas. In the case of French and Spanish particularly, we don’t just concentrate on France, Spain or Mexico. Students are introduced to the various areas throughout the world where these languages are spoken.

Students have opportunities to see these cultures first-hand. Trips to destinations all over the world are offered throughout our students’ academic careers, adding immersive educational opportunities to our classroom language studies.

When students graduate from Porter-Gaud, we hope they carry the openness for others that we strive to instill in them. They will be able to communicate effectively with people in other parts of the world and will do so with a deep cultural understanding.

Religion

Religious and spiritual instruction have been central to Porter-Gaud’s student life since Rev. Anthony Porter first opened his school’s doors in 1867. But these subjects aren’t offered as an isolated facet of the curriculum; rather, the teachings of the scriptures and the world’s great religious and philosophical figures are integrated into each student’s everyday experiences. Discussed in a modern context, these lessons help students make thoughtful decisions as they grow into ethical, honest adults. As an Episcopal school with a heritage of faith going back over 140 years, Porter-Gaud stands on the strong foundation of Anglicanism while seeking to find areas of common life with those of other faith traditions. We seek to foster a community of mutual respect among people of all faiths, focusing on what unites us whenever possible. The student body and faculty are diverse, open and respectful of the religious differences that give our communities character and strength.

Spiritual instruction begins in the Lower School with weekly chapel sessions. Among various lessons, students are introduced to “W.A.T.C.H.,” a trademark philosophy of Porter-Gaud that teaches children to accept responsibility for the step-by-step progression of their Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character and Habits. Led by our school chaplains, the staff counsels students to apply religious lessons in all aspects of their lives. Students in grades 6-8 continue this instruction in biweekly chapel sessions. There’s also a voluntary – and very popular – Bible study group that meets regularly for pizza and discussion of scriptural questions. Eighth graders take a course in the Old Testament that relates the teachings to personal challenges like temptation, sibling rivalry and the limits of friendship.

Continuing the every-other-week schedule, older students attend chapel to discuss more mature topics, relating their moral and ethical responsibilities to issues that face today’s teenagers. Courses range from an ethics class on the teachings of Jesus to an elective that delves into the issues of faith and reason explored in the writings of exceptional thinkers like C.S. Lewis. Just as in Middle School, there is a voluntary weekly Bible study which attracts large numbers of students for pizza and a discussion of practical application of Scriptural teachings to the lives of students. Throughout all grade levels, religious counseling and after-hours discussion groups are offered to help students with private issues, as well as topics they want to review with others. The goal is to provide a continuum of faith-based support to integrate spiritual knowledge into daily lives. The results are inspiring, and gratifying. Porter-Gaud students are as impressive for their character and faith as they are for their academic, artistic and athletic achievements. They not only take responsibility for their own actions, they help guide the decisions of their peers, managing issues through the Honor Council and personal insistence on doing what’s right and honest.

History

The richness of the world’s history and the contributions of a variety of civilizations to the world in which we live today are the central focuses in the Porter-Gaud History Department. Students take this knowledge to develop an understanding of their place in local, national, and global communities. Our students are taught how to think, rather than what to think by an experienced and engaging faculty who challenges them to achieve beyond their expectations.

Social Studies is introduced in the Lower School in developmentally appropriate ways, focusing on the role of each student in the greater global community. Students continue to develop their understanding in the Middle School with a two-year sequence of United States’ history, followed by immersion in world geography and global current affairs. In the Upper School, we expand upon this knowledge base with a two-year world history sequence in 9^th and 10^th grades, with a particular focus on developing sound habits of mind through document and written analysis. Porter-Gaud encourages students with talent and passion for the subject to challenge themselves with AP courses in World History, United States History, Modern European History, Microeconomics, and American Government and offers opportunities for students to focus on specific areas of interest with six semester electives and two AP courses offered to Upper School seniors. Faculty-led adventures abroad and extra-curricular activities such as Great Books, Youth in Government, and Modern United Nations help reinforce the curriculum outside of the classroom.

It is our hope that once students graduate from Porter-Gaud, they do so with an understanding of their role as citizens of the local, national, and global communities, and use the knowledge they gained to improve the world around them.

Fine Arts

Beyond the obvious joys of learning to draw, sing or act, artistic growth plays a pivotal role in each child's core learning processes. Experts have demonstrated that arts education strengthens analytical skills, boosts achievement in academic areas, enriches cultural appetite and leads to greater career success and satisfaction.

Classes and extracurricular activities in theater, dance, music and fine art help children cultivate imagination and problem-solving abilities. Many of our students become skilled in music, dramatic presentation or other creative areas, but even if graduates never again pick up a brush, their youthful artistic training continues to enrich their lives by giving them a deeper appreciation for the beauty of their cultural heritage.

These are some of the reasons Porter-Gaud is expanding artistic instruction rather than following the path of so many schools that have reduced it.

The Lower, Middle and Upper schools each have their own fine art instructors and programs. Our 10,000 square foot Berkeley Grimball Center for the Arts and Gwynette Hall serve as homes for creative expression, and annual stage presentations give students the chance to work in capacities ranging from set painter to performer.