Upper School Updates

_{KEY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS}

Ninth-grade honors history students spent several days exploring Charleston in preparation for National History Day, an annual program that challenges students to research a topic, create a documentary, and compete at the local, state, and national levels. To gather ideas, students visited the Avery Research Center and the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon. Click here for more photos. 

Student-Parent/Guardian Handbook
We ask parents and caregivers, as well as students, to review the policies and procedures contained in the Upper School Student-Parent/Guardian Handbook by Friday, September 5. Each student and one parent or guardian must sign an acknowledgment form 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. 

Picture Day: Monday, September 8
Upper School students in grades 9-11 will take yearbook pictures on Monday, September 8, and are asked to go to Gwynette during free periods, study halls, community time, or lunch. All Upper School students should wear polo shirts and uniform bottoms to school. If students are absent, there will be a photo retake date on Friday, October 3.

National Student Conferences Applications
We are excited to announce that the National Student Conferences Application is now open. Students have been invited to apply to one or more of the opportunities listed below. For these selected conferences, Porter-Gaud will cover all expenses. Applications are due by Friday, September 12. 

• National Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent (Washington, DC , November 21–22) – 8 spots
• AI Conference: From Classrooms to Careers (Houston, TX, December 3–6) – 4 spots
• Mere Anglicanism (Charleston, SC, January 22–24, 2026) – 10–12 spots
• NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit (Washington, DC, Jan 27–30) – 8 spots
• Academic Integrity Conference (Charlotte, NC, Jan 30–31) – 8–10 spots
• Student Leadership Summit on Belonging (Charleston, SC, March 6-7, 2026) – 25 spots

2025-26 Study Trips Program
This year, we will offer three international study trip experiences – a service learning/Spanish language trip in Honduras with the Lamb Institute, a Chinese language trip to Taiwan, and a science-based trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos. Click here to learn more. 

Upper School Back-to-School Night, September 3, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Please join us on Wednesday, September 3, to meet your child’s teachers. The Upper School building will be open for you to tour, and all teachers will be available in the Upper School building for you to meet. Please arrive according to this schedule:

• Families with last names beginning A-K, 6:30 - 7:15 p.m.
• Families with last names beginning L-Z, 7:15 - 8 p.m.

Please park in either the Upper School parking lot or the stadium parking lot and arrive through the gate next to the Upper School building. Overflow parking will be available in the MUSC parking lot across from the stadium or behind Richardson Hall. Click here for a campus map. We look forward to seeing you! 

Updates for Senior Families

• Senior Day of Caring: Every year, seniors begin their final year at Porter-Gaud by serving the Charleston community. On Monday, September 8, we will begin the day in Washington Hall at 9 a.m. to hear from Harvest Pack, the organization we will partner with to pack fortified bags of oatmeal that will be distributed to local food banks. After packaging the food, we will have lunch and depart to various service projects throughout the Charleston area. Seniors will return to campus at 3:30 p.m. Permission slips are available in the MyPG parent portal. To participate, every student must have a signed permission slip.
• Senior Privileges: Following Senior Day of Caring on Monday, September 8, senior privileges will begin on Tuesday, September 9. These privileges allow seniors who have a free period in the block before or after the lunch block to sign out for lunch and return before the start of their next class. Seniors with a free period first may arrive anytime prior to the start of the next class or activity. Seniors may have an early dismissal privilege when they have a free period last. Seniors and their parents/guardians must complete a permission form in MyPG before beginning these senior privileges. 
• Senior Portraits: Senior portrait proofs are ready for viewing on the Jostens Website. Click here for additional information, including details about picture retakes and senior yearbook ads. 
• Scheduling College Counseling Meetings: If you and/or your senior need to schedule a meeting with College Counseling, you can do so using the links below: 
  • Mrs. Brown
  • Ms. Harris
  • Mrs. LeBlanc

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 student 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!
• Volunteer Opportunities: Click here to learn more about PGPA Volunteer Opportunities. 

Important Calendar Dates for Planning Purposes

• September 1: Labor Day - School Closed
• September 3: Upper School Back-to-School Night
• September 8: Senior Day of Caring
• September 8: Picture Day
• September 9: Senior Privileges Begin
• September 15: Ninth Grade College Night
• September 15-19: Spirit Week
• September 19: Homecoming Game
• September 20: Homecoming Dance
• October 3: Picture Retakes
• October 10: End of Quarter - No School for Students - Teacher Workday
• October 13-14: Fall Break - School Closed
• October 17: PSAT/NMSQT for 11th grade 
• October 31: Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School for Students
• November 1-2: Fall Play
• November 3: First Day of Winter Sports
• November 10: Junior College Night
• November 24-28: Thanksgiving Break - School Closed
• December 13: Lessons and Carols (Church of the Holy Communion)
• December 16: Upper School Fall Semester Exams A & B Blocks
• December 17: Upper School Fall Semester Exams C & D Blocks
• December 18: Upper School Fall Semester Exams E & F Blocks
• December 19: Upper School Fall Semester Exams G & Make Up Blocks
• December 20-January 4: Christmas Break
• January 5: Faculty Workday
• January 6: Classes Resume for Second Semester
• January 14: Sophomore College Night