Lower School Updates

_{KEY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS}

Weekly Updates

Dear Porter-Gaud Families,

As we approach the end of our first semester, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. We are deeply honored that you have entrusted us with your children as we continue to learn and grow together. Your children bring joy to our classrooms, endless energy to the playground, and shine brilliantly on stage. They are the heart of our work and the reason we are inspired each day.

Thank you for being our partner and an essential part of what makes Porter-Gaud such a special and thriving community. Have a wonderful holiday season with close friends and family.

Mr. Page and Mrs. Hamilton

Thank You!
We are so grateful to our parents and Upper School Jewish Life students who shared the joy and meaning of Hanukkah with our Lower School students. Click here for more photos. 

Half Day Reminder:  Friday, December 20 - Lunch is not served
We will have a regular morning bus schedule on Friday, December 20. Dismissal is at 11:45 a.m., and the bus will depart from school at 12 p.m.  We will not have Extended Day programs.

• Friday students do not need to be in uniform.  Children can choose to wear festive attire during the last day of school.  

Chapel
On Friday, December 20, we will not have Chapel due to our first-grade performance.  

Important Personal Technology Policy Update
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our in-person information sessions earlier this week. If you weren’t able to attend, please note the following update: 

• What is the personal technology policy for Lower School students? Cell phones may not be visible or audible on campus during school hours. Violation of this rule will result in the confiscation of the phone by a teacher or administrator. We also discourage smartwatches in the Lower School. If it is necessary to bring a smartwatch to school, it must be turned off and stored in the student’s backpack. 
• What happens if my child comes to school with personal technology? For the first offense, the device will be confiscated and students can come to the Lower School Office at the end of the day and their devices will be returned to them. For subsequent offenses, parents or caregivers will be called and required to come to school to retrieve the device.

You can view a list of frequently asked questions for all divisions by clicking here. 

Uniform Policy Update: Outerwear Guidelines
As the weather gets colder, we want to clarify our uniform guidelines for outerwear.

• In the Classroom: Jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, and hoodies worn indoors must be either official Porter-Gaud gear or solid-colored (gray, white, or black). Logos should be no larger than the size of your fist.
• Outerwear for Outdoors: Students are welcome to wear non-Porter-Gaud jackets or coats to school, but these must be removed once inside the building.
• P.E. Uniform:  P.E. uniforms should only be worn on days that students have P.E.
• Leggings:  Leggings and tights may be worn under skirts, shorts, and dresses if desired. They must be solid black, white, or gray in color. 
• Lower School Students: We understand that students may be transitioning between classrooms and buildings during the day. We will be flexible and extend grace where necessary.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Lost and Found
There is a table in our breezeway with lost and found items.  Please take a look if your child has lost something in the past few weeks.  All items remaining after December 20 will be donated.

Parenting Tip: Savor Moments Together 
Take a moment to appreciate the little things. Yes, being a parent can feel overwhelming at times. The school projects, the homework, the endless routines—it's a lot! But in the middle of all that, your child just had a big laugh or shared something special with you. These moments are the ones to cherish. They remind us why we keep going, even when everything else feels hectic.

Save the Date: Speaker Series with Chris Herren on January 30
Porter-Gaud is excited to host Chris Herren, a former professional basketball player, speaker, and wellness advocate, on Thursday, January 30. He will speak to our Middle and Upper School students during the school day and to parents and caregivers in the evening. Click here to learn more about his program and to RSVP. 

Dining Update from Taher
Follow Taher on Instagram (@taherpgdining) to see the latest offerings in Washington Hall. You are also welcome to email dining@portergaud.edu with any questions or feedback. To access daily menus, please click here. 

From Our Chaplains
Click here to read reflections from our chaplains, access recommended resources, and request prayer. 

From the PGPA

• Faculty and Staff Appreciation: We want to extend a huge thank you to all of the volunteers who helped distribute holiday meals to PG faculty and staff today. Click here to see photos. 
• Concessions: Please click here to sign up for shifts and support our Cyclone sports teams.

Important Dates - Semester 1

• Friday, December 20: Half Day - Lower School Dismissal at 11:45 a.m.
  • There will be NO Extended Day
  • Bus will leave school at 12 p.m.
• December 23-January 3: Christmas Break - School Closed
• Monday, January 6: Faculty Workday - No School for Students
• Tuesday, January 7: Classes Resume
• Monday, January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - School Closed
• March 22, 2025: PGPA Spring Party at 4 p.m., John Singleton Stadium