SG-Portal

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Weekly Updates

The first full week of school had been a whirlwind of activity. The students are falling into their routines and keeping all of us very busy. 

This week's update has a lot of information, including Winterim and Service Opportunities updates, so please be sure to take a moment to read through all of it.

Winterim
It is hard to imagine that we are already thinking about our February Winterim trips so early in the school year, but we need to plan early in order to schedule the different activities. Winterim is a unique time at Porter-Gaud Middle School where learning looks a little different. For a few days, students step outside the regular classroom and dive into hands-on programs, trips, and activities that open the door to new ideas, skills, and cultures. Whether travelling or taking part in experiences during the day, Winterim does count as a school day and not participating in Winterim does count as a school absence. This year, Winterim runs from Wednesday, February 18 through Friday, February 20, with the exception of Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, which runs from Monday, February 16 through Saturday, February 21.

This year, we have worked intentionally to design a variety of activities for our students, each rooted in the three themes of our school’s mission: service, learning, and purpose. During today’s Life 101 session, we reviewed these opportunities with the students and encouraged them to discuss the options with their families this evening.

We are excited to offer the following options for this school year:

5th Grade Winterim: All fifth-grade students attend. 

6th Grade Options:

• Adventure Quest 
• Disconnect to Reconnect 
• Echoes of the Gullah Geechee: A Tapestry of Heritage
• Pirates and Spirits of the Lowcountry 
• Roots and Shoots: Exploring Locally Grown Wonders
• STEM Explorers 
• Super Active Charleston 

7th Grade:

• Adventure Quest 
• Disconnect to Reconnect 
• Echoes of the Gullah Geechee: A Tapestry of Heritage
• Exploring Ecosystems: Learning through Stewardship
• Lights, Camera, Winterim! 
• Pirates and Spirits of the Lowcountry 
• Roots and Shoots: Exploring Locally Grown Wonders
• STEM Explorers 
• Super Active Charleston 

8th Grade:

• Adventure Quest 
• Costa Rica: Cultural Immersion | Service | Adventure*
• Disconnect to Reconnect 
• Echoes of the Gullah Geechee: A Tapestry of Heritage
• Exploring Ecosystems: Learning through Stewardship
• Lights, Camera, Winterim! 
• Pirates and Spirits of the Lowcountry
• Puerto Rico: San Juan and Beyond* 
• Roots and Shoots: Exploring Locally Grown Wonders
• STEM Explorers

 * out of town travel 

This year, only eighth-grade students will be traveling. If room becomes available on the eighth-grade travel trips, we will open registration for seventh-grade students on a first-come, first-served basis. A separate communication will follow if we do open up the eighth-grade travel experiences, so there is no need to select Costa Rica or Puerto Rico if you have a seventh-grade student.

All fifth-grade students participate in the fifth-grade Winterim. If you are the parent of a fifth-grade student, there is no need to sign your child up for Winterim. Tomorrow, we will send a separate communication to families of students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade with a link to register so you can sign up for your child's top three choices by Friday, September 5. All of these experiences have a limit on the number of students able to participate, so we recommend signing up as soon as possible. You can preview the Winterim activities before the registration drops by visiting our slide deck here: 2025-2026 SY Winterim Activities. 

Service Opportunities
The Middle School Service Program encompasses the Service Club, as well as off-campus opportunities open to all Middle School students. To see detailed information, please check the "MS Off-Campus Service" tab under Resources when you log in to MyPG. Below are opportunities that have been scheduled for the first semester. Opportunities are posted on the resource document, in the morning announcements, and in weekly parent updates. Space is limited and registration is required, as we must ensure that all paperwork is completed by all participants. An adult should complete the sign-up so that we can communicate with the person who is transporting the child to and from the service project.

• September 21: Beach Sweep/River Sweep, Gadsden Creek, 2 - 4 p.m. (sign-up will be posted in early September)
• October 4: Lowcountry Food Bank, 9 - 11:30 a.m. (signup will be posted in late September)
• November 8: Charleston Miracle League (Buddy On the Field), 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (signup will be posted in late October)

Enrichment Starts Monday!
We still have plenty of spots available, and you can sign up here. 

You’re Invited: Learn about PG Campus Ministry and Vestry
Join us on Sunday, August 24, from 4-5 p.m. in Washington Hall to hear from our three chaplains as they share campus ministry opportunities and pray together for the year ahead.

• Hear how God is at work in our school
• Connect with our campus ministry programs
• Pray together for our students, teachers, and broader school community

Save the Date: Middle School Back-to-School Night
On Wednesday, August 27, we will host our Back-to-School Night from 5:30-7 p.m. As part of our sustainability efforts, we will not print student schedules and ask you to take a picture of your student’s schedule in MyPG. The evening will begin with a presentation in the auditorium beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by a short session with your child’s advisor before transitioning to an Open House format where parents and caregivers are free to visit any teacher their child has in any order through the night. Staff will be on hand to help find your child’s classrooms. Special area teachers, Ms. White and  Ms. Campbell, will be located in the Middle School Library. We hope you can join us! 

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.

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

Updates from the PGPA

• Save the Date: Mark your calendars for the first PGPA meeting on Thursday, September 4, at 8:15 a.m. in Washington Dining Hall. All parents and caregivers are welcome and encouraged to attend. This meeting is a great way to learn about the many events and initiatives supported by the PGPA throughout the 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!