Lower School Updates

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Weekly Updates

We had another fantastic week in the Lower School! Please read the important updates below. 

Student-Parent/Guardian Handbook
We ask parents and guardians to review the policies and procedures contained in the Lower School Student-Parent/Guardian Handbook by Friday, September 5. One parent or guardian must sign an acknowledgment form for each student after reading the handbook. Parents and guardians can access the form by logging into MyPG and clicking on the yellow banner at the top of the page. Once one parent/guardian signs the form, it will automatically submit, and the yellow banner will disappear. 

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. 

Summer Reading Celebration
This year, we will again collect books to help support Lowcountry Orphan Relief. We are asking students to bring in a new book to share with the children associated with this organization. We will collect books from September 1-12.

Picture Day
Jostens Photography will be on campus on Monday, September 8, for student portraits in Gwynette Auditorium. Lower School students should wear a uniform polo with uniform bottoms (no PE shorts or skorts). If students have PE, make sure they wear gym shoes. Students who are absent may take their pictures on the photo retake date on Friday, October 3.

Items Left at Home
We are working hard to cultivate responsible students, and one of the things we would like them to do is remember all the things they will need at school each day. These things include completed homework, snacks, water bottles, etc. We encourage you to help your children prepare these things and place them in their backpacks each evening so that everything is ready as they leave for school. To help us develop these habits, we ask that you do not bring in any forgotten items during our school day. We want to make it a teachable moment when a child does not have their homework or they leave something at home. We are hopeful that not having it will help them realize the importance of preparing it the night before so that they can come to class prepared. If they forget a snack or water bottle, we will make sure they stay hydrated and get something to eat. Please help your children understand that this is what the school is asking you to do (or not do) – they should not be upset with you.

Chapel  
Parents and caregivers are invited to Chapel on Friday, August 29. Because our Chapel begins at 7:55 a.m., we ask parents who plan to attend to come to the office during carpool (between 7:30 and 7:50 a.m.) to sign in. Kim Doyle will scan your license and then print your visitor’s pass. After signing in, you will go to the auditorium lobby to wait for your child and then enter with your child and the homeroom class.

Please Sign in to SchoolPass
It is crucial that you update your child’s dismissal plan in SchoolPass so that your child is dismissed appropriately. If you need assistance doing this, please reach out to Anna McCubrey at amccubrey@portergaud.edu or Kim Doyle at kdoyle@portergaud.edu ASAP.

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.

Raising Readers: What Parents Can Do?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Visit the library. Take advantage of all the books, materials, story times, programs, and resources your local library has to offer.

Parent/Guardian Travel Notification
If parents/guardians will be out of town and their child will be under the care of another adult, it is very important that families notify the school in advance.

• Please email the Front Office (Kim kdoyle@portergaud.edu and Anna amccubrey@portergaud.edu), the School Nurse nurse@portergaud.edu, and the student’s Homeroom Teacher with the following information:
  • Caretaker’s full name(s)
  • Phone number(s) and best contact method
  • Dates during which the parents/guardians will be unavailable
• This ensures that, in the event of illness, injury, or emergency, the school can communicate directly with the designated caretaker and provide appropriate support for the student.

Lunch
We welcome all parents and caregivers to have lunch with their child beginning September 15. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we build relationships and teach our children the routines and expectations.  

Arrival Time
School begins at 7:50 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and at 8:50 a.m. on Wednesdays. Ideally, children should arrive by 7:45 a.m. (or 8:45 a.m. on Wednesdays) so that they have time to unpack and be ready to learn by 7:50 a.m. (or 8:50 a.m.). Arrival time sets the tone for the day, and arriving late often has negative effects on the rest of the morning.  Students who arrive after 7:50 a.m. (or 8:50 a.m.) need to check in at the office, and they will be marked tardy.

Dismissal & Extended Day Procedures

• Carpool Entry: Use Stadium Drive from Albemarle Road or the Connector. Proceed in the right lane.

Afternoon Dismissal Times

• LS car riders: 2:55–3:10 p.m. (Arrive 2:40–2:50 p.m.).
• LS + MS/US siblings: 3:10–3:20 p.m. (Do not enter the line before 3:10 p.m.).
• Extended Day: At 3:10 p.m., remaining LS students go to Extended Day. Students already called to carpool will continue waiting (no charge). LS/MS/US siblings not picked up by 3:20 p.m. also go to Extended Day.

Early Pick-Up

• Use SchoolPass and sign out at LS Office by 2:30 p.m.
• After 2 p.m. changes: call the office.

Late-In Wednesdays  
Please remember that on Wednesday mornings, students are to arrive between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m. School begins at 8:50 a.m. We have limited supervision for children of families for whom Wednesday late-ins are a burden. If this is the case for your family, please contact Anna McCubrey (amccubrey@portergaud.edu). Your child must be on the early drop-off list in order to attend, and must arrive between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. Because all teachers and faculty will be in meetings, we cannot accommodate students who arrive after 7:45 a.m. 

Lands End Labor Day Sale
One of our uniform vendors, Lands End, is offering discounts on select uniform items from August 27-September 2. Click here to learn more.

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: Volunteering for concessions is a great way to get involved and get to know people across the entire PG community. We have parents and caregivers from Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School who participate in this very important part of PGPA. Support is always appreciated (no experience required and all instructions will be given to all volunteers). These are one-hour shifts so the time commitment is nominal, and there are a variety of days and shifts available. Please click here for the signup.  
• Volunteer Opportunities: Click here to learn more about PGPA Volunteer Opportunities. 

Important Dates - Semester 1

• Monday, September 1: Labor Day - School Closed
• Friday, October 10: End of Quarter 1 - Faculty Workday - No School for Students
• Monday, October 13 and Tuesday, October 14: Fall Break - School Closed
• Friday, October 31: Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences - No School for Students
• November 3-7: A second day of Parent/Teacher Conferences is scheduled for each grade level - students will attend school on all of these days. Teachers will communicate specific meeting dates for their grade levels. They will remind you of these dates and send sign up information in October. 
• November 24-28: Thanksgiving Break - School Closed
• Friday, December 19: Half Day - Lower School Dismissal at 11:45 a.m.
• December 22-January 4: Christmas Break - School Closed
• Monday, January 5: Faculty Workday - No School for Students
• Tuesday, January 6: Classes Resume