PiKEY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
On Friday, Maybank Speaker Joshua Shumak visited the Upper School to discuss South Carolina’s Native Americans during the Revolutionary War as part of our nation's 250th anniversary recognition. Special thanks to Mr. Shumak, the Maybank family, South Carolina Humanities, and our History Department for making this event possible!
National Student Conference Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for several National Student Conference opportunities for Upper School students. For students selected to participate, Porter-Gaud will cover all conference expenses.
Students may apply to one or more of the following opportunities:
- NextGen Roundtable: Deliberative Youth Summit | November 10–13, 2026 | Dallas, TX
- Consent Summit | November 20–21, 2026 | Washington, DC
- Student Civic Leadership Summit | January 26–29, 2027 | Washington, DC
- Student Leadership Summit on Belonging | March 19–20, 2027 | Charleston, SC | See pictures from last year
- Montgomery Youth Summit: History, Storytelling & Civic Engagement | April 13–16, 2027 | Montgomery, AL
Students interested in applying should complete the Universal Application Form, indicate the conference or conferences they are interested in attending, and upload an artifact such as an essay, video, or artwork that supports their application. Applications are due Friday, October 2.
These conferences provide students with opportunities to grow as leaders, connect with students from other communities, and bring new ideas and perspectives back to Porter-Gaud. Students selected to attend will also become part of the Student Leadership Hub.
Upper School Homecoming Dance | Saturday, October 3
Our Student Activities Council will sponsor the 2026 Upper School Homecoming Dance on Saturday, October 3, from 7–9 p.m. in Washington Hall. Students in the Classes of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 are encouraged to attend and enjoy the evening with their friends and classmates. Outside guests are not permitted.
This year’s Homecoming theme is Tropical! Washington Hall will be transformed with tropical decorations, activities, and other elements designed to make the evening a fun and memorable event for our students. The tropical theme is for the atmosphere of the dance and does not dictate student attire.
- Tickets: Tickets are now available, and we encourage students to purchase early. Early Bird tickets are $11 from September 16–26. Tickets will increase to $16 from September 27–October 2 and to $26 on the day of the dance, October 3. Tickets must be purchased online and these prices include $1 service fee. Purchase Homecoming Tickets here.
- Arrival and Dismissal: Students must arrive between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m., and the doors will close at 7:30 p.m. In accordance with our dance policy, students are required to remain at the dance until 9:00 p.m. Please plan transportation accordingly.
- Parking, Drop Off, and Pickup: Students who drive should park in the Lower School parking lot. Parents and caregivers dropping off or picking up students should use the Lower School carpool loop. The Lower School main entrance will be the only campus gate open for the dance.
- Attire: The dress is semi-casual, which includes attire such as sundresses and polo shirts. Again, the tropical theme does not change the dress expectations for the evening. We ask that all students dress appropriately for a school event. Students who arrive in attire that does not meet school expectations may be asked to leave the dance.
We look forward to a great evening and hope to see our Upper School students there!
Club Fair Monday, September 28
During our Watch block on Monday, students will participate in the club fair where they can join any of our student led clubs, special interest groups, or dialoge groups. Students will receive a list of the clubs with a brief description in the Week Ahead email Sunday and can also read about each club on the ClubHub site. Students will have time during the fair to learn more about clubs they are interested in and speak to the club leaders.
School Pictures Are Ready for Viewing and Ordering
You can access yearbook images 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 Retake Day
If your child was absent on Picture Day or would like a retake photo, we will have a Retake Day on Monday, October 5. Students should go to Gwynette during community time, study halls, lunch, or free periods.
Blood Drive
Our first Porter-Gaud Blood Drive will be Wednesday, September 30, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Students who are at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate. Sixteen-year-old donors require parent/guardian permission, and all student donors must complete the Porter-Gaud blood drive permission form. Students may donate only during a free period or lunch and may not miss class to donate.
World Food Day Collection
The annual celebration of World Food Day is Friday, October 16. The purpose of this day is to increase awareness and understanding of the complex issue of food security for all and the importance of sharing with those who are hungry. Our entire school observes this event by participating in a food collection for Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Center. We ask each grade to bring in a specific food item from October 6-16. Items can be dropped off in homerooms or at home athletic events.
- Grade 9 – Canned chicken
- Grade 10 – Canned tuna
- Grade 11 – Canned pink salmon
- Grade 12 – Hearty canned meats (ravioli, beef stew, Vienna sausages)
Service Opportunities
- Habitat for Humanity - Saturday, September 26, from 12:30–3:30 p.m. - Students will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on service at a Habitat for Humanity work site (the location shared with participants).
- Adopt-a-Highway - Monday, September 28, from 3:25–3:55 p.m. Students are invited to participate in our first campus Adopt-a-Highway project of the year. This is a quick after-school opportunity for students to help care for the area surrounding our campus and make a visible impact on our community.
- Canterbury House Bingo - Tuesday, September 29, from 3:30–4:15 p.m. Students can spend the afternoon building connections with residents at Canterbury House through a friendly game of BINGO. This Elderly Friendships project is a fun and meaningful way for students to share their time and companionship with members of our local community.
Updates from College Counseling
- Resources from Ninth Grade College Night: Thank you for your time, attention, and energy last week for our Ninth Grade College Kickoff. Please find the resources linked below:
- New Resource: College Funding & Merit Aid Guidance: Porter-Gaud College Counseling has partnered with Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method, to provide families with expert guidance on college financing, merit scholarships, and financial planning. Access grade-specific toolkits, recorded sessions, and custom calculators on our dedicated Porter-Gaud Resource Center (password: pgscmm). Be sure to check the calendar for our upcoming live workshop series.
- In-State College Night will take place Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the Upper School Building. The program is open to all Upper School students and families and is an opportunity to learn more about college options here in South Carolina.
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.
Food Allergy Awareness Week and Nut-Aware Reminder
As Food Allergy Awareness Week comes to a close tomorrow, thank you to our entire community for making it so meaningful and educational! Signs posted across campus shared key tips on supporting classmates with allergies, and a special thank you goes to our Taher dining team for keeping the Power Bowl station free of the top 9 allergens all week long.
Please remember that Porter-Gaud is a nut-aware campus, not a nut-free campus. To help protect students with life-threatening allergies, we ask families to choose items from our Approved Nut-Free Snack List whenever sending snacks or treats to school. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our learning environment safe for everyone!
Dining Update from Taher
Please click here to access menus. You can also follow Taher on Instagram (@taherpgdining).
From the PGPA
- 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 Calendar Dates for Planning Purposes
- September 28-Oct 2: Spirit Week
- October 2: Homecoming Game
- October 3: Homecoming Dance
- October 5: Picture Retakes
- October 9: End of Quarter - No School for Students - Teacher Workday
- October 12-13: Fall Break - School Closed
- October 16: PSAT/NMSQT for 11th grade
- October 19: Founders Day
- October 28: Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School for Students
- November 2: First Day of Winter Sports
- November 16: Junior College Night
- November 23-27: Thanksgiving Break - School Closed
- December 11: Holiday Assembly
- December 12: Lessons and Carols (Church of the Holy Communion)
- December 15: Upper School Fall Semester Exams A & B Blocks
- December 16: Upper School Fall Semester Exams C & D Blocks
- December 17: Upper School Fall Semester Exams E & F Blocks
- December 18: Upper School Fall Semester Exams G & Make Up Blocks
- December 19-January 3: Christmas Break
- January 4: Faculty Workday
- January 5: Classes Resume for Second Semester
- January 13: Sophomore College Night
We would love to discuss your place at Porter-Gaud.