KEY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Weekly Updates
We’ve had a wonderful time celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! In the Lower School, one of the highlights was a special performance by our students, bringing our community together to celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Throughout the month, our students have had opportunities to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures that enrich our world. Thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration so meaningful!
Chapel RSVP Important Update
If you plan to attend Chapel tomorrow, please RSVP using this link today. 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. This week we will introduce the virtue of kindness.
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, no problem; 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.
Understanding Your Child’s Report Card
First quarter report cards will be published on Tuesday, October 20, at 4 p.m. Because parents and guardians will have the opportunity to attend conferences with their child’s homeroom teachers, narrative comments will not be included for these content areas on first-quarter report cards.
The Value of Scary Books
As we approach our Fall Festival and all the exciting aspects of this season, our librarian found this infographic interesting and useful as we consider the books our children are reading. We think you might find it interesting as well.
Our Lady of Mercy Food Drive Ends Tomorrow & PG Service Dress Down Day
Tomorrow is the final day to contribute to our annual food and essentials drive benefiting Our Lady of Mercy Outreach and students and faculty are invited to dress down tomorrow! Our Lower School community has taken on the challenge of filling two vans with much-needed items. Thank you to everyone who has already donated and supported this meaningful effort. We appreciate your generosity!
Requested donations by grade level:
- 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)
We will also continue to accept monetary contributions through the end of the on Friday. Please Venmo @Porter-Gaud with the memo WORLD.
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 fourth-grade students will be Wednesday, October 28, or Thursday, October 29. On October 28, conferences will take place in homeroom classrooms, and there will be no school for students that day. Please note that October 29 will be a school day for all students.
Teachers will send an email with a Pick-A-Time scheduling link next week, and you can begin scheduling on Wednesday, October 21, at 10 a.m. We truly value these opportunities to connect with you and to discuss your child’s growth and progress. Please keep an eye out for additional details.
Join Us for Founders Day
Please plan to join us on Monday, October 19, for the Founders Day Concert in the Wendell Center. Our Lower School Choir will perform, as well Middle and Upper School choirs. There will also be an art exhibition and much more!
Register Now for Grandparents and Grand Friends Day
A very special Porter-Gaud tradition is just around the corner! Grandparents and Grand Friends Day will be held on Friday, February 5, 2027, from 12:45–2:15 p.m. Please mark your calendars. This special event is held every other year and is always a wonderful afternoon for our Lower School students and their guests.
Registration is now open! Families are welcome to register on behalf of their child’s grandparent or grand friend, or you may share the registration link directly with your guests. Grandparents will also receive an invitation email with a link to register.
We encourage every student to invite a special person to join them. If a grandparent is unable to attend, students are welcome to invite an aunt, uncle, adult sitter, neighbor, or another special adult in their life. Please indicate on the registration form if you would be willing to “share” a grandparent or grand friend with another student who may not have a guest that day.
Students may be dismissed for the day following Grandparents and Grand Friends Day. Families who choose to have their child dismissed after the event should make the appropriate updates in School Pass.
If you have any questions about Grandparents and Grand Friends Day, please contact Kendra Conway at (843) 402-4852 or kconway@portegaud.edu.
We look forward to celebrating this special Porter-Gaud tradition with our students and their guests!
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. Our teachers are not able to check their email during the school day, and they may miss important and/or time-sensitive information. In addition, our teachers are not able to respond to emails during the school day.
Parenting Tip of the Week: Eat at least one meal as a family each day.
Sharing a meal together is a wonderful way for families to connect, catch up on the day, share some laughs, and enjoy time with one another. But family meals don't always have to happen around the dinner table! With busy schedules, practices, and extracurricular activities, sometimes the best family meals happen on the go. Whether it's dinner at home, a picnic at the ballfield, or a quick meal together between activities, what matters most is taking the time to connect, enjoy each other's company, and make memories along the way.
Message from the Nurse’s Office: Flu Vaccination Clinic
Porter-Gaud will host one additional optional flu vaccination clinic this fall:
- Dottie’s Pharmacy - Monday, October 19, 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Dining Update from Taher
Please click here to access menus. You can also follow Taher on Instagram (@taherpgdining).
From the PGPA
- Third and Fourth Grade Play Dates: On October 23, we will host Third and Fourth Grade Playdates on the Lower School Playground from 6-7:15 p.m. We hope you can join us!
- RSVP for Fusion Fest: On Wednesday, November 4, come and enjoy an evening featuring small bites from local eateries and live performances of music and dance, showcasing traditions from around the globe. Click here to learn more and RSVP.
- Save the Date – Pop-Up Sale: Get ready for cooler temperatures and stock up on PG sweatshirts at the PGPA Pop-Up Sale on Friday, November 6, from 7:30-9 a.m. outside the stadium. Swing by on your way to or from drop-off!
- 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 19: Founders Day Concert, 7 p.m.
- 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 5 - Holiday Festival
- 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
We would love to discuss your place at Porter-Gaud.