Upper School Updates

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Tuesday's Unity Assembly brought the Porter-Gaud community together one final time to celebrate the Class of 2026 and the bonds formed across every division of the school. The celebration continued with the Senior Farewell as faculty and staff lined up to cheer on seniors during one of their final moments on campus before graduation. Click here to view photos. 

Exam Schedule 
Each block has a dedicated time and day for an exam, a cumulative project, or a unit test. All classes except for AP classes that have already completed exams, study halls, and free periods will meet during their assigned exam block. If students have a free period or a study hall for the afternoon block, they can leave and go home after their morning exam. If they have a free period or study hall during the first block of the day, they may arrive in time for the afternoon block. Students must remain in their classroom or under the supervision of their teacher for the duration of the period to not disturb others. Students are encouraged to bring a book to read or other non-computer work to do while they wait for the end of the exam period.

Tuesday, May 26

• 9:30–11:30 a.m. — G Block
• 12–12:30 p.m. — Lunch
• 1–3 p.m. — F Block

Wednesday, May 27

• 9:30–11:30 a.m. — E Block
• 12–12:30 p.m. — Lunch
• 1–3 p.m. — D Block

Thursday, May 28

• 9:30–11:30 a.m. — C Block
• 12–12:30 p.m. — Lunch
• 1–3 p.m. — B Block

Friday, May 29

9:30–11:30 a.m. — A Block
1–3 p.m. — Make-Up Exams

Advisor Change Requests
Advisor request forms were sent to students last week. Any student whose advisor is leaving the Upper School or who would like to make a change for the 2026-27 school year must complete the advisor change request form and indicate their top six choices from the list of advisors for their class by Friday, May 22. Please contact Mr. Hilpert at bhilpert@portergaud.edu with any questions about advisor selection. 

Book, Technology, and Uniform Returns – Upper School
As we approach the close of the school year, we encourage students to return items, including library books, technology (if necessary), and athletic uniforms. Seniors should have already returned all items, including Yondr pouches, and underclassmen must return items by Friday, May 29. Report cards and final transcripts will be held if items are not returned or if accounts are not paid in full. Click here for more information. 

Student Medications
Any student medications that were kept in the nurse’s office will be sent home next week. 

SchoolDoc for the 2026-27 School Year
It is time to complete all new and returning student health profiles for the 2026-27 school year. To access SchoolDoc, log into the MyPG parent portal, navigate to the Resources tab, and click on the SchoolDoc icon. Families are expected to complete all health profiles before the first day of school on August 13, 2026.

If your child is playing a sport next year, please keep an eye out for additional information about completing athletic health forms. 

From College Counseling: ACT/SAT Bootcamp
For students who would like help preparing for the ACT and SAT exams, there is an ACT/SAT Bootcamp at The Citadel from May 29 - 31. The schedule for the three-day (20-hour) bootcamp is below: 

• Friday, May 29, from 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm   
• Saturday, May 30, from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (lunch break 1 - 2 p.m.) 
• Sunday, May 31, from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (lunch break 1 - 2 p.m.) 

The discounted rate for PG students is $199. Click here to enroll and use the coupon code CITADELBOOTCAMP at checkout. 

Bus Service for the 2026-27 School Year
Ride It Out, LLC is proud to be providing its sixth year of bus service to Porter-Gaud East Cooper Families for the 2026-2027 school year. Due to increased operational costs and fuel costs, they will be increasing prices slightly for next year. Prices are as follows:

• Round-Trip for One Child: $315 per month (annual cost $3,150.00). If paid in full by 7/1/2026, a one-month discount will be applied, and the annual cost will be $2,992.
• One Way: $255 per month (annual cost $2,550.00).  If paid in full by July 1, 2026, a one-month discount will be applied, and the annual cost will be $2,422.
• Round-Trip for Second Child: $255 per month (annual cost $2,550). There is no one-time payment discount beyond the reduced rate for a second child.

Please click here to view route information and to complete the sign up form. Once they receive your submission, Ride It Out will contact you to confirm your registration and share their ridership contract. For new families using bus service, please note that parents will be entering into contracts directly with the bus company, and issues that occur with bus transportation should be handled directly with Ride It Out. Porter-Gaud is merely facilitating the stop locations on our campuses and initial communications to parents. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sandy Shelter, Ride It Out Office Manager, at info@justrideitout.com or 843-849-7433.

Math Research Summer Camp Opportunity
The 2026 Math Research Experience for Lowcountry High School Students and Teachers will be held July 20-24 at The Citadel. During this week-long camp, students will solve math problems in groups of three with a teacher and/or Citadel faculty mentor. Click here to learn more. 

Interdisciplinary Seminars for the 2026-27 School Year
The Porter-Gaud Interdisciplinary Seminar program is designed to foster curiosity in students and provide them with the opportunity to further develop these transferable skills by engaging in rigorous, cross-disciplinary learning and exploring real-world applications in areas that interest them. We are currently accepting seminar applications for the 2026-27 school year. For more details, please click here. Applications must be submitted prior to August 14 by 9 a.m. 

College Shirt Donations
As our seniors make their final college decisions, you may have some college gear you purchased on college visits that your student won’t be bringing to college. If so, we would love to pass these shirts and sweatshirts along to the rising senior class to wear next year! Students can bring any unwanted college gear to the College Counseling Office, and we will share it with the Class of 2027 this fall. 

Online Version of WATCH Magazine
Click here to read the latest issue of WATCH magazine. Kudos to our student writers and publishers on an amazing publication!  

Service Opportunities

• Summer Service – Click here to see a list of service opportunities over the summer months.
• Charleston Memorial Stair Climb on Saturday, June 20 - Porter-Gaud students are invited to participate as a group in the Charleston Memorial Stair Climb on Saturday, June 20, at the North Charleston Coliseum. Organized by rising senior LJ LeVeen, this meaningful service opportunity honors the 412 first responders who lost their lives on September 11, with each climber receiving an ID tag representing one of those individuals. Registration is $58, and students should register by May 23 to guarantee their shirt size; interested students should register individually and note Porter-Gaud as their group.

French Toast Back-to-School Sale
From June 8-22, French Toast will host a back-to-school uniform sale, with a 25% discount on embroidery and a 30% discount on merchandise.

Dining Update from Taher
Click here to view the menu for next week or access menus online. 

Important Calendar Dates for Planning Purposes

• May 21: Baccalaureate (5 p.m. - Church of the Holy Communion)
• May 23: Graduation (6:30 p.m.)
• May 26: Upper School Spring Semester Exams G & F Blocks
• May 27: Upper School Spring Semester Exams E & D Blocks
• May 28: Upper School Spring Semester Exams C & B Blocks
• May 29: Upper School Spring Semester Exams A & Make Up Blocks