Lower School Updates

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Weekly Updates

Picture Day

Picture Day is Monday, September 14.  We request that all students be in uniform (no PE shorts or skorts). If students have PE, please make sure they wear gym shoes. 

Morning Carpool Reminder

Please keep your child in the car until 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, and until Lower School teachers are actively opening car doors.

We have had a few instances of students getting out of their cars before morning carpool has officially begun. While you may see other adults walking through or working in the area, they may not be serving on carpool duty and should not be considered an indication that students may exit their vehicles.

Thank you for helping us ensure that students remain safely supervised during morning arrival!

Chapel RSVP

We are introducing a new RSVP process to help make Friday morning Chapel check-in smoother for families. If you plan to attend Chapel tomorrow, please RSVP using this link today. We will print your visitor badge in advance and have it waiting for you in the Lower School office tomorrow morning.

Going forward, we kindly ask that families RSVP by 1:00 p.m. on the Thursday prior to Chapel.

Please arrive between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. and check in with Kim Doyle in the Lower School office. If you forget to RSVP, no problem; we will simply use our normal visitor check-in process, so please bring your driver’s license to scan for a visitor badge. After checking in, please meet in the Lower School breezeway, where you can walk to Chapel with your child’s class.

Thank you for helping us test this new process!

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.

Key Reminders for Families

• Please avoid sending snacks or lunches containing peanuts or tree nuts and choose items from our approved snack list.  We encourage all students to use this snack list when bringing in food or snacks for school.
• We encourage non-food-based celebrations whenever possible.
• Food sharing is not permitted among students.
• Faculty and staff are trained to recognize and respond to allergic reactions, with emergency medications accessible and administered according to individual care plans.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep all students safe and supported during Food Allergy Awareness Week—and throughout the school year!

Parenting Tip: Set Smart Limits/Take Charge 

Children crave limits, which help them understand and manage an often confusing world. Show your love by setting boundaries so your kids can explore and discover their passions safely.

From the Nurse’s Office

During the first few weeks of school, it is common to see cases of head lice following summer camps, travel, and other activities. Please click here for information about detecting, treating, and preventing head lice. We recommend carefully checking your child’s hair and scalp, particularly behind the ears and near the neckline.

Dining Update from Taher

Please click here to access menus. You can also follow us on Instagram (@taherpgdining).  

From the PGPA

• Teacher Appreciation – Help Us Say Thank You! We are committed to showing our faculty and staff how much we value all they do for our children and our school community. With your support, we provide gestures of appreciation throughout the year, such as special meals, holiday celebrations, Teacher Appreciation Week, and more. Click here to learn more and make a donation. 
• Picture Day Volunteer Opportunity: If you would be interested in volunteering on picture days, please click here to learn more. 
• You're Invited: Coffee and Conversation: PGPA's Families for Cultural Engagement invites parents and caregivers in all divisions to Coffee and Conversation on Tuesday, September 22, from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. in Washington Hall. The Dean of Wellness and our Lower, Middle, and Upper School Counselors will share strategies for tackling tough topics with our children—focusing on expectations, engagement, and resilience—followed by division-specific breakout sessions. 
• Holiday Decorating Committee: This committee will be making the school festive and fun for the holidays! If you’d like to get involved, please join them for the first meeting on Wednesday, September 16, at 9 a.m. on The Green. 
• 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 Dates - Semester 1

• September 14:  Picture Day
• October 5:  Picture Retake Day
• October 9:  End of Quarter 1 - Faculty Workday - No School for Students
• October 12–13:  Fall Break - School Closed
• October 20:  Quarter 1 Report Cards Published
• October 28:  Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences - No School for Students
• October 29: Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences for Fourth Grade - School is in Session
• October 30:  PGPA Halloween Carnival
• November 23–27:  Thanksgiving Break - School Closed
• December 18:  Half Day - Lower School Dismissal at 11:45 a.m. 
• December 21–January 1:  Christmas Break - School Closed
• January 4:  Faculty Work Day - No School for Students
• January 5:  Classes Resume