Upper School Updates

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Sixty-two Upper School students traveled to Columbia last week for the Youth in Government Conference. This was our largest delegation yet, and our Cyclones showed professionalism, teamwork, and stamina. We're proud of the skills they're building and the way they represent Porter-Gaud! Click here to see more photos. 

Club Updates

• Club Members Meet the Secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Last week, several founding members of the Red, White, and Blue Club attended the annual Patriot Dinner at the Citadel, where they had the opportunity to hear from Kristi Noem, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Click here to see photos.  
• Veterans Day - In honor of Veterans Day, the Upper School Surf Club hosted a Lunch & Learn on Tuesday to highlight the mission of the Warrior Surf Foundation, which supports veterans through surf therapy. Students also wrote notes of appreciation that will be delivered to the VA Hospital, highlighted veterans from their family on the screens on campus and Security Officer and Veteran Jay Engstrom shared his experiences and perspective. Click here to see photos. 

College Counseling Updates

• FAFSA Update for Senior Families - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is live. We know applying for financial aid can be overwhelming and is unique to each family. We also know that not everyone has the time to attend an in-person information session on such a big topic. Taking that into consideration, we asked our colleague, Carolyn Sparks, from Wofford College to record a webinar on paying for college. Carolyn serves as the Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Director of Financial Aid at Wofford College. You can find the webinar in MyPG by clicking on the resources tab, selecting Upper School on the top right hand corner, and clicking “Applying for College Financial Aid.” 
• Junior College Night Follow Up - It was wonderful to see many of you at Junior College Night! To view the slides from the evening and access the follow up survey, please click here. 
• Save the Date: Athletic Recruitment 101 - All Upper School students and parents are invited to hear from Coach TJ Kostecky, the head men’s soccer coach and assistant athletic director for leadership at Bard College, on Wednesday, December 10, from 7-8 p.m. in the Upper School Library. During his 30-plus-year career, Coach Kostecky has worked at six universities and served as a coach, athletic director, professor, author, and entrepreneur. Be on the lookout for a formal RSVP, which will be sent out after Thanksgiving.
• Scholarship Roundup - Click here for a list of scholarship opportunities for Upper School students. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Wingfield, Administrative Assistant to College Counseling/Registrar, at ewingfield@portergaud.edu. 

Upcoming Service Projects
Next week, we invite students and families to participate in a variety of projects and activities for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. 

• Monday, November 17: Donate new or gently used coats for Neighbors Together by dropping them off in the boxes located at any division office.
• Tuesday, November 18: Bring in individual-sized shampoos, soaps, lotions, and hygiene items for toiletry bags to be distributed to local shelters. US students will assemble the bags after school. 
• Wednesday, November 19: School-wide challenge to fill a Blessing Box around Charleston. Please tag @pgservice in your social media posts so we can help spread more awareness about this week!
• Thursday, November 20: Charitable bake sale for One80Place. 
• Friday, November 21: Write cards and greetings for members of the unhoused community. Cards can be dropped off at any division office or at the table on the Green during lunch. 
• Saturday, November 22: Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for The Feeding of the Multitude at Berkeley Electric on Johns Island. You can register to volunteer by calling Claudia at 843-860-8811. 

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.

Updates from the PGPA

• 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.  
• 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 Calendar Dates for Planning Purposes

• November 24-28: Thanksgiving Break - School Closed
• December 13: Lessons and Carols (Church of the Holy Communion)
• December 16: Upper School Fall Semester Exams A & B Blocks
• December 17: Upper School Fall Semester Exams C & D Blocks
• December 18: Upper School Fall Semester Exams E & F Blocks
• December 19: Upper School Fall Semester Exams G & Make Up Blocks
• December 20-January 4: Christmas Break
• January 5: Faculty Workday
• January 6: Classes Resume for Second Semester
• January 14: Sophomore College Night