Lower School Updates

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Weekly Updates

Our Lady of Mercy Food Drive | October 5–16

Lower School will once again support Our Lady of Mercy Outreach through our annual food and essentials drive. This year, we have accepted the challenge of filling two full vans with much-needed items. Thank you for your support!

Each grade level is asked to contribute the following:

• Grade 1: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss
• Grade 2: Deodorant, shampoo, and conditioner
• Grade 3: Body lotion, body wash, and soap
• Grade 4: Cereal (any kind)

Donations will be accepted at school and at athletic events. 

Chapel RSVP Important Update

If you plan to attend Chapel tomorrow, please RSVP using this link today. We will be introducing the virtue of kindness. 

We are beginning to transition to a new visitor management system called Ruvna.  If you RSVP, you will receive a text message from Ruvna containing a link to your trusted visitor pass which is a QR code.  Although Ruvna cannot preprint badges, the QR code can be saved to your phone for future use and this will help expedite the sign in process. 

Please arrive between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. and check in with Kim Doyle in the Lower School office. If you forget to RSVP, we will simply use our normal visitor check-in process, so please bring your driver’s license to scan for a visitor badge. After checking in, please meet in the Lower School breezeway, where you can walk to Chapel with your child’s class.

• Parking: Please park in the designated Lower School visitor or overflow lots. Parking near the Chapel or Upper School is not available for Lower School guests.
• Late Arrivals: If arriving after 7:45 a.m., do not drop your child off at the Chapel or Upper School. Please check in at the Lower School office first so your child can be safely signed in.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

As we prepare for our parent-teacher conferences, we’d like to share some important details to help you plan. Our Conference Day for all Lower School students in grades 1-3 will be Wednesday October 28. Conferences for all grade 4 students will be Wednesday October 28 or Thursday October 29.  Conferences will take place in homeroom classrooms, and there will be no school for students on October 28. October 29 will be a school day for all students. 

Teachers will be sending an email with a PickATime scheduling link. We truly value these opportunities to connect with you and to discuss your child’s growth and progress. Please look for additional details in the coming weeks.

Communicating Time-Sensitive Information

Contact the Lower School office at 843-556-3376 if you have time-sensitive information to share during the school day, including dismissal changes that occur after 2 p.m. Teachers are unable to check or respond to emails during the school day, so urgent messages sent via email may be missed.

Parenting Tip: Teach Kids This Bravery Trick. 

Tell them to always notice the color of a person's eyes. Making eye contact will help a hesitant child appear more self-reliant and will help any kid to be more assertive and confident with friends.

Student Flu Vaccination Clinics

Porter-Gaud will host two optional flu vaccination clinics this fall:

• Parkwood Pediatrics - Friday, October 2, 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 
• Dottie’s Pharmacy - Friday, October 16, 11:00 a.m. – 3 p.m.

For additional information, including consent forms and sign-up links, please click here.

School Pictures Are Ready for Viewing and Ordering

You can access photos from Picture Day and place orders by signing in to the Jostens website using the event code FE11426 and the same email address you use for school communications.  

Picture Retakes

If your child was absent on Picture Day or would like a retake photo, we will have a picture retake day on Monday, October 5. Please send an email to Anna McCubrey (amccubrey@portergaud.edu) if your child plans to have their photo taken. Students should wear uniform polo shirts and uniform bottoms to school. If students have PE, they should not wear PE uniforms but are encouraged to wear gym shoes.

Dining Update from Taher

Please click here to access menus. You can also follow Taher on Instagram (@taherpgdining). 

From the PGPA

• Halloween Volunteer Opportunities:  The Halloween Carnival Volunteer Sign Up will be emailed on Wednesday, October 7, at 5 p.m.

• PGPA Concessions Sign Up: PGPA Fall Concessions are underway! Please click here to sign up for shifts and support our athletics teams. No experience necessary!
• Online Spirit Store: Stock up on your Cyclone gear!  Our online store is now open with fresh designs for the school year. 

Important Dates - Semester 1

• October 5:  Picture Retake Day
• October 9:  End of Quarter 1 - Faculty Workday - No School for Students
• October 12–13:  Fall Break - School Closed
• October 20:  Quarter 1 Report Cards Published
• October 28:  Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences - No School for Students
• October 29: Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences for Fourth Grade - School is in Session
• October 30:  PGPA Halloween Carnival
• November 23–27:  Thanksgiving Break - School Closed
• December 18:  Half Day - Lower School Dismissal at 11:45 a.m. 
• December 21–January 1:  Christmas Break - School Closed
• January 4:  Faculty Work Day - No School for Students
• January 5:  Classes Resume