Griffins Connect
January 2nd #CreatingConnections #WholeChild
January is National Mentoring Month #CreatingConnections
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month? #WholeChild
Join Sterling School's ongoing partnership with Mentor Upstate, a nonprofit organization that seeks to support children with one-on-one positive relationships. We are looking for committed adults who are willing to support and encourage ONE student. If you or someone you know from our school community are willing to volunteer 30 minutes of your time weekly, we need you!
If willing to serve as a mentor, please complete the interest survey found HERE! We will follow-up with training information and other pertinent details. For any questions, email Mrs. Lindsay Berry (school counselor).
What's Ahead...
January 2: Registration for Girls on the Run (Spring Semester) Opens: CLICK HERE!
January 3: Return from Winter Break
January 5: School Improvement Council Monthly Meeting; 8:30-9:30am, Vegas Room
January 6: Winter Break Reading Challenge forms due
January 11: Jessica Khoury Author Visit (for grades 5th-8th)
January 13: Teacher Workday (No school for students)
January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No school)
Girls on the Run: 3rd-5th Grade Program
Registration for Girls on the Run (3rd-5th Grade Program) opened January 2nd. If any parent or community member is willing and interested to serve as a coach with Dr. Rucker during one of the two programs, please email Dr. Kylee Rucker.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW (For more information, CLICK HERE!)
- The Spring 2023 season registration will be open until February 14, 2023.
- The season will begin the week of February 6.
- Our standard schedule is to practice 2x a week for 10 weeks, but schedules will vary by site
- A season-culminating 5K event is scheduled for April 22, 2023 at Clemson University's ICAR Campus, 5 Research Drive in Greenville, SC 29607
4K Application Window for 2023-24 Year
In order for our Griffins to start their education on the right foot, we encourage participation in our high quality, full day 4K program! 4K Pre-Registration began January 9, 2023. If you know of anyone in our community who will be four years old on or before September 1, 2023, spread the word! #CreatingConnections #WholeChild
How to Apply:
Dates: January 9-March 10, 2023.
There are two ways parents can complete the application for their child. You can visit the Parent section of this website and set up a Backpack account. Once it’s set up, open the Backpack account, look for “Enroll A Student,” and follow the instructions.
For families that do not have internet access, the application can be completed at each school. Parents are urged to bring all the required documents when they visit the school. Children do not have to live in the school attendance area to apply at that location.
About the At-Risk 4K Program:
The GCS 4K program provides high quality, rigorous instruction in early reading, early math, and social-emotional skills using the SC Early Learning Standards. Students attend 7:45-2:15. The GCS Virtual Program is not available to 4K students. Children must be four years old on or before September 1, 2023 to be considered for this free program, beginning August 2023.
For more information, please email 4K@greenville.k12.sc.us or call 864-452-0437.
Support Young Readers: Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Expose our future Griffins to some great stories! Did you know Greenville First Steps, a nonprofit that develops support programs to improve school readiness outcomes for children, launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the following Greenville County zip codes: 29690, 29611 + 29669? Dolly’s early literacy program mails free books each month to registered children from birth to age 5. 📚
Can You Serve as a Substitute?
At Sterling School, we have amazing substitute teachers. These dedicated individuals help ensure that our school operates smoothly when a classroom teacher is absent. However, as a result of the pandemic, like most schools our list of active subs is short.
If you are able to help serve as a substitute for Sterling School and Greenville County Schools, please follow this link to get started and be sure to let us know (email Dr. Patterson!). We will be happy to help facilitate the process or connect you with current substitutes who can answer any of your questions. You may choose to work at any school or you can select Sterling exclusively. Work only on the days that fit your schedule. We appreciate your consideration to help the school by serving as a substitute!
We Need YOU! Volunteer Training
Thinking of chaperoning a field trip, becoming a room parent, or mentoring a student? Parents at Sterling School may now participate in volunteer training either in person or online.
Upon completion of the online training module, you will be asked to take a short quiz which will be submitted to Mr. Murphy for scoring. All volunteers must answer each question correctly. Failure to do so will result in potential volunteers being asked to review the training module again or attend a face-to-face training. If you have questions about the process or anything related to volunteering at Sterling, or if you prefer a face-to-face training, contact Mr. Murphy via email or (864) 355-4480.
2022 Winter Break Reading Challenge
Join us for our Winter Break Reading Challenge! K4 through 8th Grade Participants who complete our challenge will enjoy PANCAKES WITH THE PRINCIPALS!
- Kindergartners (4K & 5K) are asked to complete the Penguin/Snowball page. (CLICK HERE!)
- Students in Grades 1-8 are asked to complete the Candy Cane page. (CLICK HERE!)
NOTE: For the form to count, it needs to be completed between December 16 & January 1. Just follow the directions including a parent’s signature. All forms are due to homeroom teachers by Friday, January 6, 2023.
We would also love for you to share pictures of your child as he or she participates in this year's Challenge. You can simply email Dr. Patterson and we’ll share them to our school’s Facebook accounts. Happy Holidays & Happy Reading!
STARTALK Chinese Summer Program
*The following message comes from Dr. Yongfang Zhang, former Sterling/CTC parent.
In Summer 2023, the STARTALK Chinese program will be offered to forty-five rising 6th graders to graduating 12th graders in Spartanburg, Greenville, and other nearby counties. Transportation will be provided to and from Pelham Road Shopping Center at Greenville.
This prestigious, free-of-charge Federally-sponsored program consists of three parts: (1) Pre-camp gamified learning; (2) Two-week intensive day camp on Wofford campus (June 19-30, 2023); (3) Eight post-camp projects where students apply what they’ve learned.
If you wish to know more about STARTALK @ Wofford, you can visit their website (CLICK HERE!). The application is now open (CLICK HERE!) and the deadline to apply is February 1st, 2023. Students will be admitted on a rolling basis and are encouraged to apply soon!
CLICK HERE & HERE for more information. If you have any additional questions about the program, email Valerie Soto at sotovl@wofford.edu or Dr. Yongfang Zhang, STARTALK @ Wofford Director, at zhangy@wofford.edu.
GCS Flu/Covid Drive-through Testing Sites
Starting Monday, November 28, there will be free, drive-through testing for both Flu and Covid-19 provided at three locations. GCS students, employees, and their household contacts can get tested. Results will be provided in approximately 1 hour. An important change from last year: parents and employees are responsible for reporting any positive results directly to the school or their supervisor. DHEC has again contracted Mako Medical to administer the testing, and the three sites are the same as last year: Fountain Inn High School, MT Anderson Support Center, and Northside Park. All of the information has been updated on the GCS website, which includes flyers in both English and Spanish.
There are some notable changes from the process last year:
- They will test for both Flu and Covid-19: one swab, two tests.
- In addition to GCS students and employees, household contacts of both students and employees can get tested at these sites for free.
- Results will be provided in approximately 1 hour.
- It is the parent’s responsibility to report positive results to the school, and employees must report positive results to their supervisor. GCS will not be automatically alerted to the results.
- Pre-registering will help expedite the testing process.
- Be sure to check the flyer before going to a site. The flyer will reflect the latest information and reflect any updates such as changes in hours, location closures, etc.
Sterling School
Email: jpatterson@greenville.k12.sc.us
Website: www.greenville.k12.sc.us/sterling
Location: Sterling School, John McCarroll Way, Greenville, SC, United States
Phone: 864-355-4480
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theSterlingSchool
Twitter: @SterlingSchool