The Weekly Griffin
Week of December 16, 2018 - #BuildingABetterGriffin
2018 Winter Break Reading Challenge
Join us for our Winter Break Reading Challenge! The grade level class (K5-5th grade) with the highest percentage of participation will win PANCAKES BREAKFAST WITH THE PRINCIPALS! The Middle School English Class with the highest percentage of participation will receive a CUPCAKE PARTY!
- Kindergartners are asked to complete the Penguin/Snowball page.
- Students in Grades 1-8 are asked to complete the Mitten page.
NOTE: For the form to count, it needs to be completed between December 22 & January 6. Just follow the directions including a parent’s signature. All forms are due to homeroom teachers by Wednesday, January 9, 2019.
We would also love for you to share pictures of your child as he or she participates in this year's Challenge. Use #SterlingReads2018 within your Facebook/Twitter posts and we'll share them on our school's page. You can also send a direct message or simply email Dr. Patterson. Happy Holidays & Happy Reading!
CLICK HERE for Winter Break Reading Challenge Flyer.
What's Ahead...
December 18 - Treats for Teachers from PTA
December 21 - Half Day; Elementary Dismisses @ 12:00; Middle @ 12:15
December 21 - Band/Strings Winter Concert @ 8:00am (Rescheduled Date)
December 22 - Winter Break Reading Challenge Begins
January 7 - Students Return from Winter Break
January 8 - Best Practices in Gifted & Talented Series, 9:00-10:30am (in Vegas)
*There is no Families for Lunch in December. This will resume in January.
Extension of 5K & 1st Grade Registration
Greenville County Schools is extending 5K and 1st grade registrations for students new to the district through Friday December 21, 2018. We are preparing for your child to enter school in August 2019 and are so excited to have your child with us. By completing registration early, you will save time!
It is important to register your child before school starts in August so we can ensure enough teachers and spaces are available at each school for incoming kindergarten and first grade students. Children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2019 must enroll in kindergarten. A child who will be six years old on or before September 1, 2019 must enroll in first grade. Students who are currently enrolled in a GCS 4K or 5K program do not need to register.
Please bring the following items to register:
Photo ID from any state or country
State-issued Birth Certificate
Properly Completed Immunization Certificate or Religious Exemption Certificate
Two Forms of Proof of Residence (two documents required such as a current utility bill and copy of lease agreement)
For your child’s school assignment and other information, visit the Kindergarten/First Grade Registration website or call INFOLine at 355-3100.
ACE Awards Nominations Now Open!
The ACE Awards (Advocates for Character and Education) is an annual award given to 72 male and female students from each of the 35 Greenville County middle and high schools. This award is designed to honor true “unsung heroes” who all too often are not recognized for their accomplishments. The selection process, established by Greenville County school counselors, focuses on identifying and selecting students who often go unnoticed for one reason or another, but have accomplished great things in their community, church or school.
If you would like to nominate a Greenville County 8th or 12th grader, please or go online to coaches4character.com and click the nominate button at the top of the page. All nominations must be submitted by January 31, 2019. An ACE Awards Advisory Committee at each school will choose finalists from among those nominated to complete an application for the ACE Award. One male and one female will be chosen from each middle and high school in Greenville County. All ACE award recipients will be recognized at the ACE Awards ceremony on May 15, 2019.
2018-19 Gifted Child Parent Information Series
The Next Session in our Best Practices In Gifted & Talented Education - Parent Information Series is Tuesday, January 8th.
Parents are invited to join teachers from the Charles Townes Center as they address topics related to Gifted Education. Both CTC and Sterling Program parents are invited to attend. The series will run through March. Times will vary each session.
Tuesday, January 8th, 9:00-10:30am (in Vegas)
This is a two-part session:
Part I: Arts Integration
Part II: Artistically Gifted & Talented
This two-part session will discuss the importance of integrating the arts into G/T curriculum and how to identify and enrich artistically gifted children. The presenters for this workshop will be Dhara Baiden, Jenn Johnston and Mollye Spitler.
Winter Break Half-Day (Dec. 21st)
Also, please note that there will be no after school programming or clubs. Lunch will be served and buses will pick up students as per the adjusted half-day schedule (2.5 hours early).
Half-Day School Hours
Elementary: 8:00-12:00
Middle: 8:00–12:15
2019 Middle School Curriculum Night
Parents of 5th, 6th & 7th Grade CTC Students...Save the date for Middle School Curriculum Night on Tuesday, February 12th! In January, you'll have the opportunity to RSVP for an optional catered dinner served prior to the event. Curriculum Night itself will be 6:00-7:30pm. More details will be announced after winter break.
MakerSpace Club
Would your middle school student be interested in helping our school develop a Maker Space for students?! 6th-8th grade students are invited to meet in the Media Center after school each Wednesday to discuss ideas, give input and help develop a plan. Ms. Matthews has cleared space in our media center to start our very own maker space this year! Meetings will finish no later than 3:15pm.
For more information, stop by the library or email Ms. Matthews at jmatthews@greenville.k12.sc.us.
Needed: PBIS & Classroom Prize Box Supplies
This time of year, many stores have specials on small stocking stuffers. While you're out shopping, keep your eyes open for small items that would be fun for classroom prize boxes. Small toys, art or craft supplies, bracelets/necklaces, and fun school supplies are just a few examples.
All grades at our school, K4-8th grade, have a system where students are rewarded for demonstrating positive character traits. You'll get bonus points if you find items that our older students would enjoy! If you'd like to donate items, send them to your child's teacher or drop them off in the front office with a note.
District Emergency Text Messaging
In an effort to better communicate with parents during times of emergency, the district's communications department is asking parents who currently have a landline listed as their "Primary Contact Phone" and wish to receive texts about school cancellations or other emergency schedule changes to make this formal request. Parents who already list a cellular phone as their primary contact will not need to take action to receive this service.
CLICK HERE to download the required "change" form. Once complete, this form should be returned and submitted to Mrs. Hammonds in the main office.
Skate for STEM
From now until January 21, 2019 at Ice on Main, Wednesday nights are “Skate for STEM Nights,” presented by the Duke Energy Foundation. The first fifty K-12 students who bring a copy of a recent progress report or report card showing a B or higher in math or science can skate for free. Click here for the flyer.
MyEnergyKit.org
Join the other 65 Sterling School families who have signed on for a FREE Energy Kit! As part of the Sterling School community, we are working to conserve energy and protect our environment. If we reach 100 kits, our school will receive a $250 check. Sterling School families and staff can request their FREE Energy Kit and credit your school by going online to MyEnergyKit.org or by calling our hotline at 1-855-386-9548.
Thank you, in advance, for requesting your kits and making a difference for our planet. When you request and use your kits, energy is saved. It’s as simple as that. And we’re hoping that by the end of the school year, we will have saved 10 million kWh of energy together. Can we make it?
Want to Get Involved? Our Students Need YOU!
Become a Mentor!
According to Harvard University's Center on Developing Child, "Every child who ends up doing well has had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult." The Sterling School has partnered 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 for the year. If you or someone you know from our school community can give 30 minutes a week, we need you!
If you have any questions, you are invited to email Jennifer Medlock, director of Mentor Greenville. If you are ready to jump in, you may begin by completing the mentor application CLICK HERE.
Become a Tutor!
Are you willing to make a difference in a child's life? One way you can do this is through tutoring. Tutoring has been shown to not only increase a student's academic performance, it also increases their chance of success in life!
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer tutor, Sterling School needs YOU! We have many students who could use your time, help, and knowledge in a small group and/or partner setting. Teachers will provide needed lessons and materials.
If interested or know someone who may be interested, contact Kim Marchbanks @ krmarchbanks@greenville.k12.sc.us .
Volunteer Training
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 at jmurphy@greenville.k12.sc.us or (864) 355-4480.
Preventing the Spread of Colds & Flu
Each school has a comprehensive health and safety plan, which includes daily disinfection of restrooms, health rooms, water coolers, desks and doorknobs. We work closely with the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and follow DHEC’s guidelines for all diseases. Each Greenville County public school has a school nurse who assesses students with flu-like symptoms. Any student with a fever of 100 degrees or higher is sent home. School nurses and teachers always emphasize the importance of good hygiene, including frequent hand washing and cough techniques to reduce the spread of viruses.
To fight the spread of illness, your child should:
- Stay home if sick.
- Wash hands thoroughly and often.
- Cover cough with sleeve.
- Stay away from people who are sick.
- Do not share eating utensils, food, or drinks.
- Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of rest.
If your child complains about not feeling well, please check their temperature before sending them to school. Do not send your child to school if they have a fever.
Your child should not return to school until they have been fever-free without the help of Tylenol or another product for 24 hours, has not vomited for 24 hours, and has not had diarrhea for 24 hours. If your child starts to have symptoms of the flu, call your healthcare provider or your local health department for guidance.
Make sure that your child’s school has your current telephone numbers.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
StoryCorps: The Great Thanksgiving Listen
In November, after a couple of weeks of planning and practice, Mrs. Baiden's 8th graders chose a person important to them to interview for a StoryCorps program called "The Great Thanksgiving Listen." It was an amazing project that StoryCorps put together, and it allowed students to connect to their chosen interviewee by taking the time to *listen* -- something not always done in today's world. All of the interviews that were submitted to the StoryCorps website will be archived in the Library of Congress for posterity. We are very proud of the excellent work our 8th graders did with this project! #GriffinPride #WholeChild
If you're interested to hear more, check out the following link!
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