KEY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Weekly Updates
Our fourth graders have been busy tackling the real-life, local problem of flooding in Charleston. Our panel of local experts were very impressed with the flooding projects we tested yesterday!
Chapel on December 12
Please join us tomorrow for our last chapel before the holiday. On Friday, December 19, we will not have Chapel due to our first-grade performance.
Students May Wear Festive Attire on Friday, December 12
All students are encouraged to wear festive attire on Friday, December 12, to celebrate the season (no uniform required).
Annual Toy Drive
Tomorrow is the final day of our toy drive. All toys will be donated to our local non-profit organizations serving families and children in the Charleston area. All students are asked to bring an unwrapped new toy to school and deposit it into their homeroom toy box by tomorrow. Click here for more information, including gift suggestions. Thank you for your generosity!
Fourth Grade Families: Save the Date for Middle School Coffee and Technology Talk
All fourth grade and Middle School families are invited to an informative session on technology use in Middle School on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 8:15 - 9 a.m. in Washington Hall. Topics will include:
- The "Why" and "How" of technology use in Middle School
- The transition to using technology in fifth grade from fourth grade
- An overview of the different apps students use
Parenting Tip: Treasure the Holiday Moments
The week before Christmas break can feel like a whirlwind, but sprinkled throughout the rush are tiny sparks of joy, a giggle, a story, a moment of excitement. Let yourself pause and enjoy them. These are the memories that make the season meaningful.
Lessons and Carols Service
The Fourth Grade Choir will sing a selection for this year's Lessons and Carols Service, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, at Church of the Holy Communion (218 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403).
Lost and Found: Please Check for Missing Items
With the cooler temperatures, our lost and found in the Lower School Office has grown quite full! Please stop by or have your child check to see if any missing items belong to you. Any items remaining when school ends on December 19 will be donated.
Dismissal Changes in SchoolPass
Please be sure to update SchoolPass with all dismissal changes (even when you call the office for last minute changes).
Dining Update from Taher
Next week, our menu will be the chef's choice! Click here to view the menu for January 6-9. You can also follow Taher on Instagram (@taherpgdining) or access menus online.
Uniform Savings
Lands End is offering 25% off uniform styles through December 17. Click here for more information.
Bus Schedule for Week of December 15-19
- December 15: Regular schedule
- December 16: Regular schedule (Full Day for Lower School)
- December 17: Regular schedule (9 a.m. start on Wednesday; Full Day for Lower School)
- December 18: Regular schedule (Full Day for Lower School)
- December 19: Regular Friday morning schedule, noon return home (Lower School is dismissed at 11:45 a.m.) The bus will depart at 12 p.m.
Grade Level Websites
Please check your child’s class webpage for important information:
Save the Date: Parent Webinar on January 13
Please save the date for the upcoming webinar, “Elevating Discipline with the Brain in Mind” on January 12, 2026, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. This event is being offered as part of The Parent Series, a year-long program offering six one-hour webinars designed for independent school parents and caregivers in all stages of their child’s growth. Click here for additional details on how to register, and keep an eye out for more information about an Parent Coffee event to follow on campus the week after the webinar.
From the PGPA
- 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 Dates - Semester 1
- Friday, December 19: Half Day - Lower School Dismissal at 11:45 a.m.
- December 22-January 4: Christmas Break - School Closed
- Monday, January 5: Faculty Workday - No School for Students
- Tuesday, January 6: Classes Resume
We would love to discuss your place at Porter-Gaud.