KEY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Weekly Updates
Thank you to all of the families who joined us for CycloneTown! It was wonderful to come together as a community as we begin the school year. See more photos here.
Student-Parent/Guardian Handbook
We ask all parents and guardians to review the policies and procedures contained in the Lower School Student-Parent/Guardian Handbook and sign an acknowledgment form by Friday, September 4. Once all parents or guardians sign the form, it will automatically submit, and the yellow banner will disappear. Parents and guardians can access the form by logging into MyPG and clicking on the yellow banner at the top of the page.
Supervision and Safety
We love being a school with students of all ages, and we want all of our Cyclones to come to athletic events. For the safety of our students and guests, we expect parents and caregivers to actively supervise their Lower School children when attending athletic events. Please do not drop off Lower School students at events and activities. For games at John Singleton Field, we also ask that parents ensure that their child(ren) stay off the tennis courts, the baseball diamond, and the opponent's side of the stadium. In addition, we ask that all fans use the front gate when entering and exiting games.
Items Left at Home
We are working to build student responsibility. Please help your child pack their backpack (homework, snacks, water) every evening. To reinforce this routine, please do not drop off forgotten items during the school day. If they forget a snack or water, we will take care of them, and forgotten homework is simply a teachable moment. Please let your child know this is a school policy so they aren't upset with you!
Chapel
Parents and caregivers are invited to join us for Chapel on Fridays beginning September 4 at 7:55 a.m. Please arrive between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. to check in with Kim Doyle in the Lower School office. Bring your driver’s license to scan for a visitor badge, then meet in the Lower School breezeway to walk with your child’s class to Chapel.
- 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.
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 unable to check or respond to emails during the school day and may miss important updates.
Lunch
We welcome all parents and caregivers to come and have lunch with their child beginning September 8. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we build relationships and teach our children the routines and expectations.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Traffic should begin to subside next week when enrichment activities begin. Thank you for your continued patience. Below are a few reminders:
Entering the Carpool Line
If you are coming from downtown, please take the Connector all the way to Croghan’s Spur, turn left, and make another left onto Albemarle Road. You will then turn right onto the Stadium Drive to enter the carpool line. Click here to watch a video of the path.
Early Pick-Up
- Use SchoolPass and sign your child out in the Lower School Office by 2:30 p.m.
- If plans change after 2 p.m., please update School Pass and also call the office directly.
From the Nurse’s Office
- Illness and Sick Policy: As stated in the handbook (page 63), students should stay home when they are sick. They may return to school once they meet all of the following criteria:
- Symptoms have improved overall.
- They have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
- They have not experienced vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours.
- They feel well enough to participate in a full day of school or work.
- Handwashing Reminder: Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds whenever possible. Hand sanitizer may be used when soap and water are unavailable.
- Medication and Health Form Reminders: Students who take medication at school must have an updated medical provider’s order each school year. All Emergency Action Plans must also be updated annually. If you have not completed your child’s SchoolDoc health profile for the current school year, please do so as soon as possible.
Raising Readers: What Parents Can Do?
- Read together every day. You can read the morning news at breakfast, share a story after supper, or cuddle up for a book at bedtime. A daily reading routine is something everyone can look forward to.
- Talk and build vocabulary. Interesting conversations build vocabulary, language skills, and knowledge about the world. Talk is a child’s best source of exposure to new words and ideas.
- Model reading. Kids want to do what the grownups do. Make sure your kids get to see you reading and hear you talk about it.
- Point out print. Read and talk about the words you see in the world around you. There’s lots to read—signs, recipes, cereal boxes, instruction manuals, news, maps, and menus.
- Visit the library. Take advantage of all the books, materials, story times, programs, and resources your local library has to offer.
Virtue Shirts
New Lower School students and all first-grade students will receive a Porter-Gaud Virtue Shirt during the first few weeks of school. If your child has outgrown their Virtue Shirt and needs a larger size, please contact Mr. Wey at dwey@portergaud.edu.
Celebrating Birthdays
Students get a dress down day on the day of their birthday (or their half birthday for summer birthdays). We ask that no food or other treats be sent in by parents and caregivers as all students are celebrated in class on their special day. Please also remember that if invitations are being brought to school, we ask that all students in the class are invited.
Grandparent Mailings
If your child has a grandparent who would like to receive invitations, mailings, and updates from Porter-Gaud, please click here to add them to our mailing list.
Uniform Savings
- French Toast is offering 30% off of merchandise until August 30. Click here to access the PG store on the French Toast site.
- Lands’ End is offering 20% off of merchandise starting on September 2. Click here to access the PG store on the Lands End site.
Dining Update from Taher
Please click here to access menus. You can also follow us on Instagram (@taherpgdining).
From the PGPA
- Fall Meeting: Please join us for our Fall PGPA Meeting on Thursday, September 10, at 8:15 a.m. in Washington Hall. We’ll share our goals for the school year, highlight upcoming events, and review volunteer opportunities. There is truly no shortage of ways to get involved!
- RSVP for Father’s Night Out: Enjoy an evening with fellow PG dads on Wednesday, September 9, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Munkle Brewing Co. (1513 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29405). Click here to RSVP.
- Online Spirit Store: Stock up on your Cyclone gear! Our online store is now open with fresh designs for the school year.
- 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!
Important Dates - Semester 1
- August 28: First Grade Playdate, 6–7:15 p.m. on the Playground
- September 7: Labor Day - No School
- September 14: Picture Day
- 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
We would love to discuss your place at Porter-Gaud.