Lower School Updates

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Weekly Updates

This is a friendly reminder that there is no school this Friday. Friday is a scheduled teacher workday. We hope everyone has a wonderful break!

Chapel 
There is no Chapel this week due to classes not being in session.

Understanding Your Child’s Report Card
First quarter report cards will be published on Tuesday, October 21. Because parents and guardians will have the opportunity to attend conferences with their child’s homeroom (writing and social studies), reading, and math teachers, no narrative comments will be included for these content areas on first-quarter report cards. Click here for a guide to understanding your child's report card. 

Parenting Tip: Explain to your kids why values are important.
The simple answer: When you're kind, generous, honest, and respectful, you make the people around you feel good. More importantly, you feel good about yourself.

World Food Day Collection
The annual celebration of World Food Day is on Thursday, 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 1 – Tuna
• Grade 2 – Canned Beef Products (beef stew, Chef Boyardee products, etc.)
• Grade 3  – Grits                                       
• Grade 4 – Cereal (any kind)

If you prefer to make a monetary contribution, please Venmo @Porter-Gaud with the memo “WORLD.”

Dress-Down Day for PG Service
Please save the date for a school-wide dress-down day in recognition of the food drive effort and World Food Day on Thursday, October 16.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
As we prepare for our parent-teacher conferences, we’d like to share some important details to help you plan. Our first Conference Day will be Thursday, October 31, for all Lower School families. Conferences will take place in your child’s homeroom classroom, and there will be no school for students on that day.

To best support our students’ regular schedules, the second day of conferences will be held at Albemarle Point Center (APC), located at 176 Croghan Spur Road, across from our football and baseball fields. This arrangement allows students to follow their regular schedule while teachers meet with parents.

The schedule for each grade level at APC is as follows:

• First Grade: Monday, November 3
• Second Grade: Tuesday, November 4
• Third Grade: Thursday, November 6
• Fourth Grade: Friday, November 7

Teachers will be sending an email with a PickATime scheduling link for both the October 31 and November conferences. We truly value these opportunities to connect with you and to discuss your child’s growth and progress. Please look for additional details in the coming weeks.

Morning Drop-off Procedures
To help us keep students safe, students should not exit cars before faculty members are on duty. Supervision begins at 7:30 a.m. (and at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays). Thank you for your support in keeping mornings safe and smooth!

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.

From the Nurse’s Office
There will be an on-site flu vaccine clinic hosted by Dottie’s Pharmacy on Thursday, October 17, from 12 - 3:30 p.m. Click here to sign up and access the consent form.
 

Lands End Fall Savings
One of our uniform vendors, Lands End, will be offering 25% off all fall uniform styles until October 13 with the code EXPLORE25. Click here to learn more.

Dining Update from Taher
All families are invited to participate in a short survey about school lunch here. Thank you for participating! 

Please click here to see the menu for the upcoming week. Next Friday, we will enjoy a power bowl featuring a menu created by an Upper School history class based on their studies about Gullah Culture, called the LowCountry Layers Bowl. Kudos to Owen, Elliott, and Elle! You can also follow Taher on Instagram (@taherpgdining) or access menus online.

From the PGPA

• Holiday Festival Committee: Parents and caregivers in all divisions are needed for the Holiday Festival Committee, which assists with the Holiday Festival on Saturday, December 6, and decorating the campus on Sunday, November 30. All are welcome to attend the first drop-in meeting in Washington Hall on Wednesday, October 22, between 8:15 - 9:30 a.m. to learn more! Click here for more information. 
• RSVP for Fusion Fest by October 10! Celebrate the rich diversity and flavors of Asia on Wednesday, October 22, from 5-7 p.m. on the Green. Click here to learn more and to RSVP. 
• PG Prayer Circle: On October 17 at 8:45 a.m., join fellow parents at the pavilion near the stadium to meet the chaplains, enjoy coffee, and pray over the school. 
• 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 Dates - Semester 1

• 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