Parent Association
We are not simply a school - we are a community of families because of the dedication of our parent volunteers. Porter-Gaud values and encourages parent engagement. The relationships between parents, faculty, students, and administrators are strengthened by parent involvement in the volunteer opportunities offered by the Porter-Gaud Parent Association (PGPA).
The mission of the PGPA is to:
- Build community among families through special events and volunteer opportunities.
- Provide families with information and resources helpful to parenting.
- Raise funds that support school programs.
The Porter-Gaud experience is enhanced when our parents share their talents and time with our community. We encourage you to get involved!
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 22 - PGPA Athletics Oyster Roast, 5-8 p.m., John Singleton Field
February 7 - PGPA General Meeting, 8:15 a.m., Washington Hall
May 6 - PGPA Spring Party
May 15 - PGPA Board and Grade Reps Meeting, 8 a.m.
May 17 - Coaches Dinner
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We need volunteers for winter sports concessions.
Sign up HERE for Basketball Concessions.
- Leadership and Committees
- Grade-Level Representatives
- DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
- Faith
- FAMILY WELLNESS
- Athletics
- Volunteer
- Contact Us
Leadership and Committees
PGPA Executive Committee 2022-2023
President - Megan Durkee and Jessica Cutler
Vice President - David Teich
Communications/Secretary - Mandy Wooddy
Treasurer - Manda Poletti
Cyclone Athletics - Jessica Cutler and David Teich
Community Building - Megan Durkee
Past President - Jennifer Black and Dee Fortson
PGPA Board 2022-2023
Athletics
Fall Sports Concessions - Alison Schmidt and Jessica Cutler
Winter Sports Concessions - Krysten Hariri and Kristin Cummings
Spring Sports Concessions - Open
Coach Appreciation and Team Parent Rep - Nicole Ferraro
Athletic Events - Hope Gamble and Jennifer Senn
Fundraising - Craig Sedmak and Billy Shuman
Events
PG Merchandise - Avery Smith (US), Gretchen Naylor (MS), Amanda Doherty (LS)
PG Spring Community Event - Robin Poliakoff and Mosmi Patel
Halloween - Susan Robinson, Lauren Netter, and Fernanda Brewer
Holiday Festival - Cindy Nistad, Rossana Guimaraes, and Abigail Speights
Community Building
US Division Representative - Nicole Ferraro
US Teacher Appreciation - Caroline Clark
MS Representative - Kristin Wisner
MS Teacher Appreciation - Blair Turner and Merritt Buck
LS Representative - Dorothy Thaxton
LS Teacher Appreciation - Lauren Lail and Kate Johnson
Facilities/FLIK Appreciation - Ellen Brown, Erin Farrow, and Hillary Bennett
Faith / Moms in Prayer - Jill Settle
Diversity & Inclusion Parent Alliance (DIPA) - Kimberly Brown, Shayna Howell, and Bruce Johnson
Family Wellness - Jill Curb and Danielle Lopez
International Families - Rossana Guimaraes, Shahnaz Azimi, and Amy Salzhauer
Grade-Level Representatives
LOWER SCHOOL
Lower School Lead: Dorothy Thaxton and Cindy Nistad
Grade 1: Masheed Rockwell, Jamie Hill, Lisa McElhaney, and Anna Maria Kammeyer
Grade 2: Lisa McFadden, Carolyn McChesney, Heather Adams, and Maria Scott
Grade 3: Becky Cheek, Nikeema Heyward-Smith, and Megan Louis
Grade 4: Morgan Marshall, Kacie Highsmith, and Christie Powell
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle School Lead: Kristin Wisner
Grade 5: Anna Wartinbee and Caroline Ashwander
Grade 6: Charlotte Stein and Sarah Wendell
Grade 7: Katie McCabe and Holly Centurino
Grade 8: Jennifer Thiem and Melanie Rosen
UPPER SCHOOL
Upper School Lead: Nicole Ferraro
Grade 9: Mettrie Lari, Kathy Estey, and Alison Schmidt
Grade 10: Jennifer Thompson, Mandy Wooddy, and Jill Curb
Grade 11: Justine Autry, Christine Mermer, and Kristin Cummings
Grade 12: Lauren Lewis, Linda Porter, and Ellen Lucas
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
The Diversity and Inclusion Parent Alliances's (DIPA) mission is to help students and families grow in their understanding of diversity and cultural sensitivity, develop awareness and empathy, and recognize and appreciate the unique nature of our school community. This parent partnership is in support of our school’s mission and in building a welcoming and inclusive community.
Past Events
October 19, 2022 – Beyond Diversity: Why a Culture of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Prepare our Learners for the Challenges of the 21st Century: Dr. Yerko Sepúlveda, Porter Gaud's Director of Community Engagement and Belonging, introduced the CEB office at Porter-Gaud, explored the latest trends in equity work in education, and shared about the action steps the CEB office is taking to ensure we continue creating an inclusive and equitable community where everyone at our school develops a sense of belonging.
RESOURCES
- Civil Discourse Zoom: Nov. 12
- DEI in Schools & Businesses Zoom: Dec. 3
- LGBTQ+ Resources from We Are Family
Civil Discourse Zoom: Nov. 12
Ashley Davis of the Charleston League of Women Voters joined the DIPA Coffee with tips and tools for civil discourse discussions and achieving meangful conversations. Ashley is the Director of Membership and the Chair of the Civil Discourse Committee for the Charleston League. She is also a member and trained civil discourse moderator for the Braver Angels organization.
CivilDiscoursewithAshleyDavis.mp4
Resources for Meaningful Conversations
DEI in Schools & Businesses Zoom: Dec. 3
The Ins and Outs of DEI. Michael Moore, Porter-Gaud parent and the Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Blackbaud, will lead a conversation about DEI, what it is and why it is important. Watch Zoom HERE.
LGBTQ+ Resources from We Are Family
Faith
Moms In Prayer is an international organization with a vision that every school in the world would be covered with prayer. Starting on September 20, we will meet every Tuesday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. to intercede on behalf of our children and school through prayer. We invite all mothers to join us in Washington Hall anytime! Feel free to visit momsinprayer.org or contact Jill Settle with questions at jillasettle@gmail.com or 843-697-
Resources for Upper School Parents/Student Organizations
- FCA - Fellowship of Christian Athletes is in the process of forming an all-school sports huddle. If your child is interested in being a leader, please contact Jill Settle at jillasettle@gmail.com.
- Young Life - You can follow the Porter-Gaud Young Life group on Instagram @portergaudyounglife.
FAMILY WELLNESS
PARENT ZOOMS & RESOURCES
The Family Wellness team works with School administrators, deans and counselors to select wellness speakers, panel discussions, recommended blogs, articles, and books as resources for parents.
- NEW VIDEOS: Substance Abuse and the Teenage Brain
- NEW VIDEO: Explicit Content and Healthy Relationships with Parent Stephanie Boye
- JANUARY 28: PG TECH NIGHT RESOURCES
- NEW VIDEO: Emotional Regulation with Cheryl Donaldson | 11/5
- Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Teens with Dr. Liza Grueneberger | 11/19
NEW VIDEOS: Substance Abuse and the Teenage Brain
Dr. Kevin Gray of MUSC's Youth Collaborative shares research and science of cannibis use and teenage brain. This parent Zoom took place on April 16.
Dr. Lindsay Squeglia of MUSC's Youth Collaborative shares the science and teenage clinical trial data of alcohol use and the teenage brain. The parent Zoom took place April 29.
WEBSITES:
https://muschealth.org/
NEW VIDEO: Explicit Content and Healthy Relationships with Parent Stephanie Boye
Parent Stephanie Boye's workshop for parents on talking to your kids about explicit/adult content and building healthy relationships. This parent Zoom took place on April 13.
JANUARY 28: PG TECH NIGHT RESOURCES
Managing Your Technology at Home slide deck from PG Tech Director Phil Zaubi
Mental health and technology contract resources from our PG counseling team
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Common Sense Media Family Resources
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Wait until Eighth parent movement/pledge for cell phone purchases
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Technology contract templates
Monitoring and discussing explicit content with your teens with parent Stephanie Boye
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Watch Parent Stephanie Boye's 2019 TedX Charleston Talk
Lastly, please take a moment to complete the PARENT SURVEY. Your input and feedback will be helpful for building future parent programming. Please complete the survey by Friday, February 5.
NEW VIDEO: Emotional Regulation with Cheryl Donaldson | 11/5
November 5 at 6:30 p.m. | Join us for Cheryl Donaldson, psychologist, and parent of PG graduate will focus on emotional regulation. As an accomplished mental health clinician with over 20-years of experience, Cheryl has worked in inpatient, day hospital, outpatient, community private practice, testing, evaluations, and school social work settings. With her depth and breadth of experience, Cheryl’s primary focus is on family, and adolescent coaching and counseling. Her aim is to help families flourish.
Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Teens with Dr. Liza Grueneberger | 11/19
Dr. Liza Grueneberger, child psychiatrist and PG parent, shares about stress/anxiety and depression. Liza is Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry and Neurology and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Neurology. Lisa has a private practice in Mount Pleasant for children and adult patients. Her predominant focus is on anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and ADHD.
WELLNESS RESOURCES
- Positive Peer Relationships & Bullying
- Building Empathy
- Talking to Your Kids about Social Justice and Racism
Positive Peer Relationships & Bullying
ARTICLES
Is it Rude, is it Mean or is it Bullying? By Signe Whitson, LSW
BOOKS
Best Friends, Worst Enemies by Michael Thompson and Cathe O’Neil-Grace
Odd Girls Out by Rachel Simmons
Discipline with Dignity: How to Build Responsibility, Relationships, and Respect in Your Classroom by Richard L. Curwin , Allen N. Mendler , Brian D. Mendler
ORGANIZATIONS / SUPPORT
PACER
Building Empathy
Talking to Your Kids about Social Justice and Racism
FEATURED RESOURCES
MANAGING STRESS & ANXIETY
Reading suggestions from Cheryl Donaldson
- The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression One Small Change at a Time. Alex Korb PhD
- The Collapse of Parenting: How we Hurt our Kids when we Treat them like Grown-Ups. Leonard Sax MD. PhD
- Why Do They Act That Way: A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for you and your Teen. David Walsh PhD
Mental Health & Wellness
Suggestions from adolescent clinical psychiatrist Liza Grueneberger:
The Preston Foundation (also on Facebook)
Psychiatrist on call for guidance at MUSC Psychiatry. 843.792.2123
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800.273.8255
Podcasts:
- Happier
- The Hilarious World of Depression
- The Struggle Bus
- Calmer You
Apps:
- Breethe (free)
- Headspace ($12.99/month)
- Calm ($12.99/month; $59.99/year)
Instagram:
@namicommunicate
@life_without_anxiety
@thelatestkate
Athletics
Athletics
The PGPA supports the objectives and mission of Cyclone Athletics in a variety of ways, including:
- Fundraising to enhance our athletic programs for student-athletes and coaches
- Planning events, including the Annual PGPA Athletics Oyster Roast
- Promoting school spirit and celebrating the hard work of our student-athletes
- Encouraging community building among PG's organized sports teams
- Organizing coach appreciation activities
Whether working a shift at a concession stand or helping to organize events, there are a number of different opportunities for parents to get involved. If you'd like to join us, click here to learn more and access our volunteer form. Thank you for your support!
Volunteer
SIGN UP BELOW:
Our PG Parent Association has several volunteer opportunities. We'd love your help. Sign up today!
Complete the PGPA Volunteer Form
Thanks for your support!