KEY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
As we wrap up our third week of school, we look forward to Labor Day Weekend and the short break it affords. We hope you enjoy some rest and relaxation with family and friends.
Conversation Starters
If “How was school today?” usually gets you a “Fine,” “Good,” or the occasional grunt, you’re not alone. Here are a few ways to open the door to better conversations:
- Give them a little time to decompress. After navigating classes, friends, teachers, expectations, and activities all day, many Middle Schoolers need some downtime. A snack on the car ride home can ease the transition from school to home.
- Ask questions that can’t be answered with “fine.” Try something more specific:
- “What made you laugh today?”
- “What was the hardest part of your day?”
- “What’s something you’re looking forward to tomorrow?”
- Resist the urge to fix the problem immediately. When your child shares something difficult, start with curiosity rather than solutions. “That sounds frustrating—what happened next?” will often keep the conversation going longer than “Here’s what you need to do.”
- Share a little about your own day. Conversation works both ways. Tell them something funny, frustrating, or unexpected that happened to you. Modeling the kind of sharing you hope to hear can make the interaction feel like a conversation rather than an interview.
And perhaps the most important reminder: don’t measure connection by the length of any single conversation. Middle Schoolers may offer information in small doses. Keeping the door open—and being ready to listen when they choose to walk through it—is often more important than getting them to talk on our timetable.
Life 101
This week, our middle school students participated in an assembly titled "Cultivating Lives of Purpose: Kindness, Dignity & What We Do When Something Isn't Right." The presentation focused on two core ideas: that people matter and our choices matter. We discussed how kindness is an active choice we make to honor the inherent dignity of every person in our community, while establishing clear boundaries against behaviors that "cross a line" into identity-based harm—such as racial or religious slurs, body-shaming, hurtful stereotypes, and online harassment.
Rather than needing a "perfect" response when they witness these behaviors, students were equipped with five practical bystander intervention options, which we call the "5Ds": Distract, Delegate, Delay, Direct, and Document to help them safely support one another and ensure our school remains a safe, welcoming environment for everyone.
Picture Day is Monday, September 14
We request all students to be in uniform (no PE shorts or skorts). If students have PE, please make sure they wear gym shoes.
If you would be interested in volunteering on this day, please click here to learn more.
Service Opportunities
Join us for the annual SC Beach Sweep/River Sweep on Saturday, September 19, at Demetre Park on James Island! We will sweep the beach from 9-10 a.m.. A school permission form will be loaded into MyPG and must be signed for each participant. The deadline to sign up is Monday, September 14. Reserve your child's spot here!
Looking ahead:
- October 17: Katie's Krops flagship garden in Summerville
- November 21: Miracle League Buddies in North Charleston
Shady Acres Garden Update
This summer, the garden underwent a major overhaul under the direction of our Facilities Team. Sixth grade life science classes are utilizing this new space as a service learning project. They will grow crops throughout the school year that will be donated to local organizations that help neighbors facing food insecurity. Pollinator plants have been installed and crops will follow in mid-September! To learn more, watch this student-created video made by the Garden Communication Team.
Class Trips
We’re excited to share the next evolution of our grade-level class trips, which are scheduled for Tuesday, May 4 – Friday, May 7. Please note that dates may shift slightly depending on logistics. We will communicate any changes as soon as they are confirmed. Next week, we will provide the link for families to register their child. Please note that all rooms are quad room to help keep trip costs affordable.
- 8th Grade – Leadership and Teamwork the Disney Way - Building on the success of last year’s Winterim trip, this experience will now serve as the culminating class trip for 8th grade, ensuring every student can participate in this fun and educational leadership experience.
- 7th Grade – Washington, D.C. - A classic educational experience, this trip includes visits to key D.C. landmarks, museums, and the U.S. Capitol, aligned with the 7th-grade history curriculum.
- 6th Grade – Savannah, Georgia, and St. Augustine, Florida - The Savannah and St. Augustine trip offers students a unique blend of history, science, and coastal exploration across Georgia and Florida. Students experience the region through a dolphin cruise at Tybee Island, a guided tour of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, and visits to Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth and historic River Street. The itinerary also includes a visit to the Kennedy Space Center, a hands-on experience at the Kazoobie Kazoo Factory where students build their own custom kazoo, and a walking tour of historic Beaufort.
- 5th Grade – Camp Timberlake - A hallmark experience of the Middle School journey, the Camp Timberlake trip offers unforgettable outdoor education, challenge by choice activities, hiking excursions, and bonding that lays the foundation for meaningful relationships throughout the rest of Middle School. Please note, the location may change to Camp Merri Mac depending on venue availability.
Student-Parent/Guardian Handbook
We ask all parents and guardians, as well as students, to review the policies and procedures contained in the Middle School Student-Parent/Guardian Handbook by Friday, September 4. Each student and their parent(s) or guardian(s) 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 the student and all parents or guardians sign the form, it will automatically submit, and the yellow banner will disappear.
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.
- Fall Meeting: Please join us for our Fall PGPA Meeting on Thursday, September 10, at 8:15 a.m. in Washington Hall. We’ll share our goals for the school year, highlight upcoming events, and review volunteer opportunities. There is truly no shortage of ways to get involved!
- RSVP for Father’s Night Out: Enjoy an evening with fellow PG dads on Wednesday, September 9, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Munkle Brewing Co. (1513 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29405). Click here to RSVP.
- 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 Calendar Dates for Planning Purposes
- September 7: Labor Day - School Closed
- September 14: Picture Day
- September 16: HBCU Breakfast
- October 5: Picture Retakes
- October 9: End of Quarter - No School for Students - Teacher Workday
- October 12-13: Fall Break - School Closed
- October 19: Founders Day
- October 28: Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School for Students
- November 23-27: Thanksgiving Break - School Closed
- December 12: Lessons and Carols (Church of the Holy Communion)
- December 19-January 3: Christmas Break
- January 4: Faculty Workday
- January 5: Classes Resume for Second Semester
We would love to discuss your place at Porter-Gaud.