Lower School Updates

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Weekly Updates

Our third graders set out on a boat adventure last week to explore our local waterways and learn about saltwater estuaries. Students took a trip to Morris Island and searched for marine fossils!

Parent-Teacher Conferences

We have truly valued these opportunities to connect with you and to discuss your child’s growth and progress. Thank you for your partnership and continued support.
 

Halloween Activities and Dress Down

Friday will be a regular day of school with students attending the Halloween Carnival at the designated times below: 

• 9 a.m. - Halloween Parade on the Green (first-grade and senior parents are invited to join us for this special tradition)
• 9:20 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. - First and Second Grades attend Halloween Carnival (Please remember that only parent volunteers can attend the carnival; seniors will join their first-grade buddies on the field until 10 a.m).
• 10:25 - 11:20 a.m. - Third and Fourth Grades attend Halloween Carnival (please remember that only parent volunteers can attend the carnival)

All Lower School students are invited to wear costumes to school on Friday. Please note that costumes may not include toy weapons.

Chapel

There is no Chapel tomorrow due to the revised schedule for our Halloween Carnival.

Lunch

Due to our revised schedule for our Halloween Carnival, we are not able to accommodate guests for lunch on Friday, October 30. Thank you for your understanding.

Lost and Found: Please Check for Missing Items

With the cooler temperatures, many students have been bringing jackets and other warm clothing to school. Our Lost and Found in the Lower School Office has grown quite full! Please stop by or have your child check to see if any missing items belong to you. And don’t forget to label clothing and personal items to help us return them more easily in the future.

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.  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.

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: Talk About What It Means to Be a Good Person 

Start early. When you read bedtime stories, for example, ask your child whether characters are being mean or nice and explore why.

Dining Update from Taher

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

From the PGPA

• 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 30:  PGPA Halloween Carnival (note: we will not have Chapel or visitors at lunch due to our modified schedule)
• 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