Dear Parents,
We are headed into the final stretch of the school year, which is a bit hard to believe! Tomorrow morning, we will celebrate with our 8th grade students and their families, and Wednesday will be our all-school Unity Assembly, which is our opportunity to wish our seniors well.
With exams beginning on Thursday, students should focus on being well-rested and organizing their materials to prepare. The teachers have been working with students on study guides to help ease some of the stress of exams. Students are required to be in dress code on exam days but do not need to wear Chapel uniforms on Thursday.
After our Unity Assembly on Wednesday, students will have abbreviated classes, lunch, and then conclude with Field Day activities. Students should come to school on Wednesday in athletic clothing - shorts and sneakers. They will be issued their class field day shirts in homeroom.
This will be our final Moments from the Middle for the 2015-2016 school year. In June, we will send ERB scores, summer reading lists, supply lists, and information for the coming year. Please be sure your address on file is correct so we can send you this important information.
Finally, this has been a sad week for our Porter-Gaud community. I have been amazed to witness the support our teachers and staff provide our students. As a parent myself, I know I am reminded to take every opportunity to share with my boys how much I love them and how proud I am of them. On Friday, I shared a similar message with my P-G kids, too.
I hope you have a happy and restful summer!
Maureen
Grand Slam Breakfast
On Wednesday of last week, we gathered for our final advisory. Students and faculty enjoyed a delicious breakfast and then jumped into an advisory competition. Congratulations to Mr. Bolton, Mrs. Orvin, and Mrs. Rieder! They had the winning advisories! Students will compete as advisory on Wednesday of this week for Field Day!
iPad Collection
Students will need to turn in their iPads on the day of their last exams. They will give their iPads to the classroom teacher for that exam. Students were given a checklist of required items, which includes a name written on the back of the iPad, the case and front cover, as well as Apple ID and password information. 8th Grade students are also required to turn in the Apple wall charger and USB cord. If you have any questions, please contact the help desk at helpdesk@portergaud.edu
Outstanding Educator Award: Ms. Laura Orvin
Congratulations to our Middle School art teacher, Laura Orvin. Mrs. Orvin was named an Outstanding Educator as part of the 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Porter-Gaud's Middle School students won a number of awards in this contest, and we're grateful to Mrs. Orvin for inspiring her students to always to their best!
Eighth Grader Charles Truluck Wins Coveted Apple WWDC Scholarship
Eighth grader Charles Truluck and sophomore Tillson Galloway, received Apple's coveted Worldwide Developers Conference scholarships last week. Apple grants only 350 scholarships worldwide!
The students received a free ticket to Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference 2016 on June 13-17 in San Francisco. To be eligible for the scholarship, developers had to be 13 years or older, a full or part-time student or a member / alumni of a STEM organization. Developers had to submit three essays and an app they worked on that demonstrated "creative use of Apple technologies and runs on an Apple platform."
This is Charles Truluck's first WWDC scholarship award. He submitted an app that can project your vehicle speed information onto the inside of the vehicle's windshield, like a "heads up display" app. This is Tillson Galloway's third WWDC scholarship award. He submitted his iSignedIn and trucking apps.
"I am extremely proud of Charles and Tillson, " says Doug Bergman, director of Porter-Gaud's computer science program. "They exemplify computer science at Porter-Gaud with their innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirits." The students will be able to meet with more than 1,500 Apple engineers and attend more than 100 technical sessions and hands-on labs at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
Below are Tillson Galloway (left) and Charles Truluck (right):
Charles Truluck showing his vehicle speed app:
Summer Fun: Famous Adventures Day Camps
Former US administrative assistant Kyndra Luce is now directing Famous Adventures Day Camps. Learn more about these wonderful outdoor camps for kids ages 9-14 at https://famous-adventures.com/
At Famous Adventures Summer Camps, we believe that every child is full of great ideas, capable of achieving their dreams, and in-need of inspiring adults.
We also believe developing their connection to the natural world -- and to one another -- will help them find their greatest passions. When kids unplug, when they slow down, when they focus on the world around them, they begin to discover who they are. We firmly believe nature facilitates introspection and positive development.
While your children are young, give them time to observe the rise and fall of the tides, to sketch the details of a seashell, and to push their the limits on a high ropes course. With each step outside of their comfort zones, children begin to figure out how strong and smart they really are.
Wanted: Gently Used Swimsuits
This Saturday, May 28, the City of Charleston Department of Recreation is hosting its annual Splash Into Summer event at MLK from 12:00-2:00 p.m. There will be games, activities, and safety tips, and many local children are expected to participate.
However, many other local children will be turned away this weekend and throughout the summer when they come to the pool to escape the heat, hoping to be allowed to swim in their regular clothes because they don't have suits.
If you have a gently used swimsuit to donate, please send it in with your child THIS WEEK. There will be collection boxes in the divisions' main offices.