Lower School Updates

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Weekly Updates

Happy Thanksgiving! As we approach the holiday season, we want to thank you for sharing your children with us. It is a joy to be here each day. The smiles, the hard work, the kindness – all true gifts to us! Thank you! We look forward to the next few weeks of holiday cheer and hope that everyone can spend some extra time with family and close friends. Please review the information below. We hope you will be able to join us for some of these upcoming festive events!

No Chapel on November 21
We will not have Chapel on November 21 due to the second-grade performance, “A Show of Gratitude.”

Extended Day Holiday Takeover on December 11
We invite all interested Lower School students to join Extended Day on Thursday, December 11, for the Extended Day Holiday Takeover hosted by the Upper School Student Council! This annual event is always a hit, and all Lower School children are invited. Student Council members will lead our students through a variety of activities, including cookie decorating, ornament making, bingo, and more! Students can also enjoy a party on the playground with our Extended Day Staff and DJ Zac's killer TSwift playlist. We do not want any students to miss out on the fun! If your child does not attend Extended Day on a regular basis, you would need to pay the drop-in rate for the day, and all proceeds will go to the Upper School Student Council. To sign up, all you have to do is mark your student as "Extended Day" on SchoolPass. We all hope to see your children there!

Morning Arrival & Tardies
Morning drop-off takes place from 7:30–7:50 a.m., and we encourage all Lower School students to be in class and ready to begin their day by 7:45 a.m. This brief time before classes start is incredibly valuable as it allows students to unpack, get organized, and ease into the day by engaging in quiet activities like reading or finishing morning work.

We’ve noticed that late arrivals have continued to be a challenge, which can be disruptive for both students and classrooms. Please make every effort to arrive on time so your child can start the day calmly and confidently. Students arriving after 7:50 a.m. will be marked tardy and must check in at the Lower School office. Even more importantly, students are missing valuable instructional time and morning meetings that begin promptly at 7:50 a.m.

Save the Date for Upcoming Lower School Choir Performances 

• Holiday Festival: The Lower School Choir will perform at this year's PGPA Holiday Festival on December 6, at 12 p.m. More details about this event can be found below! 
• Lessons and Carols: The Lower School Choir will sing a selection for this year's Lessons and Carols Service, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, at Church of the Holy Communion (218 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403). 

Lost and Found: Please Check for Missing Items
With the cooler temperatures, 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. 

Parenting Tip: Enjoy Thanksgiving With Your Family 
Take extra time over the holiday to be close with your family. 

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 or respond to their email during the school day, and they may miss important and/or time-sensitive information. 

Dining Update from Taher
Please click here to see the menu for the upcoming week. You can also follow Taher on Instagram (@taherpgdining) or access menus online.

Lands End Cyber Week Sale
From November 27 through December 3, one of our uniform vendors, Lands End, will be offering 25% off most uniform items. Click here for more information.

From the PGPA

• Holiday Market: Please mark your calendars! This year’s event will be held on Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fun will include shopping with 50 local vendors, food, musical performances by the Porter-Gaud choirs, new Porter-Gaud merchandise, play and activities for young children, visits with Santa, snow, and much more! We hope that you can join us for this holiday tradition!
• Holiday Market Pre-Orders: Get a head start on your holiday shopping with two exciting opportunities for pre-orders and pickup at the Holiday Market on Saturday, December 6, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Click here for more details and to place your orders.  
• PGPA Wellness Speaker: On Tuesday, December 2, at 8 a.m., Rose Cummings, a licensed professional counselor, will present "From Worrying to Well Being: How to Recognize Anxiety in Your Child and Nurture Confidence, Calm, and Joy" in Washington Hall. We hope you can join us! 
• Fathers' Night Out: Lowcountry Boil: Enjoy an evening with fellow PG dads on Friday, December 5, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at 234 Little Palm Loop, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. Click here to RSVP. 
• Save the Date: Denim and Diamonds Auction & Celebration: Join us on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 7 – 10 p.m. at The Island House for a luxurious twist on the wild west! The evening is sure to sparkle with community, generosity, and big impact! Click here to learn more, including ways you can help make the event a success! 
• PGPA Concessions Sign Up: 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 Dates - Semester 1

• 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