Middle School Updates

_{KEY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS}

As we close in on three weeks left in the quarter, we encourage families to focus less on “fixing the grade” and instead help your child build study habits that will improve their grades overall and carry them through the school year. Below, I share six suggestions we have found beneficial through our years of collective experience.

• Do a quick gradebook check together. Sit down once or twice a week to review grades and missing assignments with your child, rather than checking secretly and confronting them afterward. Ask: “What do you notice?” and “What needs your attention first?” The goal is to gradually transfer responsibility to the student.
• Make a weekly game plan. Have your child identify missing work, upcoming tests/projects, and classes where they need extra attention. Then prioritize. Trying to “get everything fixed tonight” usually creates frustration; a short daily plan is much more manageable.
• Establish a consistent homework routine. Use the same general time, the same general place, and as few distractions as possible. Phones are particularly good at turning a 30-minute assignment into a 90-minute assignment. Consider having the phone charge somewhere else during focused work periods.
• Use short, focused study sessions. Middle schoolers don't necessarily benefit from sitting at a desk for two straight hours. Try 25–30 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. Before starting, have them identify exactly what they intend to accomplish during that block.
• Study by doing, not just looking. Rereading notes and highlighting can feel like studying without requiring much retrieval. Encourage students to quiz themselves, use flashcards, work practice problems without looking at examples, explain a concept aloud, or create questions they think might appear on the test.
• Encourage your child to communicate with teachers themselves. If something is missing, confusing, or not going well, help your child formulate what to say—but whenever possible, let them approach or email the teacher. 

Perhaps the most important advice we can offer is this: don't become your child's executive assistant. Parents and caregivers who provide structure, ask questions, establish routines, and help a child make a plan fare much better and create more harmonious households than those who track every assignment, email every teacher, pack the backpack, and manage every deadline. When this happens, the student usually doesn't develop the organizational muscles they'll eventually need.

Spirit Week

We are excited to celebrate Middle School Spirit Week at the end of the month from Wednesday, September 30, through Friday, October 2. Students will have the opportunity to participate in themed dress days planned for each day:

• Wednesday, September 30 – Decades Day: Students may dress up in the style of their grade level's assigned decade:
  • 5th Grade: 1950s
  • 6th Grade: 1960s
  • 7th Grade: 1970s
  • 8th Grade: 1980s
• Thursday, October 1 – Superhero Day: Students may dress up as their favorite superhero.
• Friday, October 2 – Super Cyclone Spirit Day: Show your school pride by wearing your favorite Cyclone Spirit wear!

Please ensure all outfits follow dress-down guidelines. Skirts and shorts must be an appropriate length, shoulders must be covered (no spaghetti straps or crop tops), and athletic shoes are required (no open-toed shoes, Crocs, or slides). Additionally, no hats or face coverings are permitted. Students not participating in the daily themes should wear their regular school uniform.

Upcoming Service Opportunities

• October 17: Katie's Krops
• November 21: Miracle League
• December 4: Holiday Market

Please use this link to learn more about the middle school service program and to reserve your child's spot for a project: MS Service Events.

Upper School Preview for Current Eighth Grade PG Parents and Caregivers

Save the date! Please plan to join us on Thursday, October 29, from 9-11 a.m. for an Upper School Preview for current 8th grade Porter-Gaud parents and caregivers. This event will include student and adult perspectives on life in the Upper School, a presentation of academics, arts, athletics, service, and spiritual Life; a Q&A; and a tour of the Upper School. More details will be shared in the coming weeks. 

Class Trips and Registration Links

We are excited to share registration details for our grade-level class trips, scheduled for Tuesday, May 4 – Friday, May 7. Families with students in grades 6–8 must register using the Orange Sky links below. Families of fifth graders do not need to take any action, as fifth-grade registration is handled automatically. Please note that class trips are counted as official school days and attendance is expected for each child. While the school works to minimize costs, a small registration fee applies to each student.

• 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.
  • Registration Link Here - https://orangeskytravel.com/200725/
• 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.
  • Registration Link Here - https://orangeskytravel.com/200723/
• 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.
  • Registration Link Here - https://orangeskytravel.com/200733/
• 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.
  • No need to register. We will have other paper work to complete as we draw closer to the trip.

Dining Update from Taher

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

This week, the power bowl station will be free of the top 9 allergens all week long in recognition of Allergy Awareness Week!

From the PGPA

• Halloween Volunteer Opportunities: Help the PGPA transform Porter-Gaud's campus into a festive and spooky place for the month of October! There are several ways to get involved. Learn more and sign up here. 
• 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. 
• 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

• 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