The Weekly Griffin
Week of March 10, 2019 - #BuildingABetterGriffin
"Making" a Way to Success!
The work or "tinkering" that is done in MakerSpaces is a powerful tool for learning at all grade levels. In fact, according to Curiosity Commons, "MakerSpaces were recently identified as one of six important developments in educational technology for K-12 education by the New Media Consortium (NMC) Horizon Report for 2015, which states, 'Makerspaces are increasingly being looked to as a method for engaging learners in creative, higher-order problem-solving through hands-on design, construction, and iteration' (p. 38). According to the NMC (2015), MakerSpaces have the potential to effectively support the necessary skillset for students in the 21st Century (p. 38)."
At Sterling, we want our students to become empowered, creative, resilient leaders who can solve problems, advocate for others and themselves, and empathize with others. Such soft skills do not develop in a vacuum; like cognitive strategies, they must be taught, modeled, and encouraged through an intentional process. When students learn in a safe environment where they are encouraged to explore, they will become lifelong learners who not only investigate but influence the world around them. #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
***If you'd like to support our school's MakerSpace, we are currently in need of the following supplies: LEGO's, duct tape, glue, packing tape, puzzles, scissors, and markers! All donations can be delivered to the front office or to our media center. Thank you!
Sterling/CTC Student Places 3rd in Regional Science Fair
Congratulations to 8th grade student Rishita Tikkala! Rishita placed third in the middle school Biology and Health Division of the South Carolina Regional Science Fair, sponsored by Southern Wesleyan University. Rishita’s project was “Resistance of Bacteria to the ordinary kitchen cleaning materials and best ways to disinfect.”
Briefly, Rishita's research included culturing bacteria on agar plates from the kitchen sink using a home made incubator (card board box and a desk lamp) and checking for their growth pattern while using different disinfectant solutions. #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
What's Ahead...
March 12 - 4K Pre-Registration: Deadline
March 15 - Deadline for Greenville Drive Reading Challenge
March 15 - Last day to purchase elementary yearbook for $20.00 ($25 after this date)
March 19 - Best Practices in Gifted Education Series, 9:00-9:30am in Vegas
March 20 - Families for Lunch
March 22 - Bingo Night (3:30-7:30pm)
*Please continue to be mindful of our drop-off and pick-up. Have students exit or load the full length of the awing and please keep this area/time "cell phone free!"
2019 Sterling School Spelling Bee
Last week, we held the annual Sterling School Spelling Bee. With the word “frippery,” Aditya Harikumar (5th grade) became our elementary champion, and with the word “ricotta,” Maggie Austin (8th grade) won at the middle school level. CONGRATULATIONS to Maggie, Aditya, and to all of this year’s spellers! #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
Middle School Student Improvement Council
Hear ye, Hear ye! Introducing the Middle School Student Improvement Council!
If your student is interested in becoming a grade level representative on the M.S.S.I.C., please encourage them to come to a meeting on Tuesday, March 19 in room 820 (Ms. Saunders’ room). There they will hear all about this new opportunity to serve their class and help to improve our CTC Middle school! The meeting will begin promptly at 2:55 and be finished by 3:15. #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
Greenville Drive Reading Challenge
Your child's ability to read well is a critical predictor of educational and lifelong success. This Spring, the Greenville Drive proudly presents the 12th Annual Reading All-Stars Program. The Reading All-Stars Program is a reading incentive program for any Kindergarten - 8th grade student aimed at promoting reading and academic success across the Upstate. We're looking for 100% participation from our Griffins!
The Requirements: Students are challenged to read 5 reading-level appropriate books (Elementary level) or 500 pages (Middle School level) in a 5-week time period to qualify as a Reading All-Star.
Key 2019 Dates: Monday, February 11-Friday, March 15 with a celebration on Monday, May 6
To Do: Send your child's completed reading log to your child's homeroom teacher by March 18th. Logs were distributed to students last week. If you need another reading log, CLICK HERE!
How Students Win: Students who complete the reading program will receive a ticket voucher to the Celebration Game. At the game, they will receive Reading All-Stars merchandise, a book for their personal library, and participation in the pre-game parade (Elementary level) or Meet-the-Player event (Middle School level).
#ReadersAreLeaders #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
2018-19 Gifted Child Information Series
Mark your calendar so you can be sure to attend the March Best Practices in Gifted Education series at Sterling/CTC. All sessions will be held in the Vegas Room.
Tuesday, March 19th, 9:00-9:30am
Topic: Enrichment & Extension
(How is Spanish at CTC different?)
Jessica Goll & Liz VanDommelen
Also, to access any of the previous session presentations, CLICK HERE!
4K Pre-Registration: Tuesday is the Deadline!
From the Sterling SIC: Middle School Survey
The Sterling SIC wants your opinion and is asking for feedback from our CTC Middle School families! Please share your input by March 22nd. CLICK HERE!
From the Sterling SIC: Volunteer Flyer
Local service organizations, businesses, and churches are always looking for ways to give back to their communities. What better way that volunteering at Sterling School! Our School Improvement Council has put together a helpful flyer for our families to share with their networks that describes all the opportunities available and provides helpful contact information. CLICK HERE for Sterling Volunteer Flyer.
Elementary Yearbook
Digital Families Event, Sponsored by our PTA
Thurs, March 28th - Digital Families Event (Grades 3rd-8th): PTA is excited to invite all 3rd-8th grade students and their parents to attend Digital Families Night on Thursday, March 28th, from 6:00-7:30pm. We’ll start serving dinner at 5:15. Parents will connect with their kids to understand what it’s like for them growing up online. You'll go through interactive sessions together to explore how your family responds to real-life online interactions and how you can protect one another online.
Have you started talking with your kids about online safety and digital citizenship? Now’s the time! We want to include as many families as possible, and we hope you'll RSVP to join us. Please register by Thursday, March 21st!
Join us for a FREE DINNER, drawings for DOOR PRIZES, and a great opportunity to connect with your children!! Together, let's help our kids learn about topics such as how to create secure passwords, deciding what information is appropriate to share online, how our online behaviors can shape our privacy, and what it means to be an "upstander" and not just a bystander.
Connect with your children to understand what it’s like for them growing up online. Go through interactive sessions to explore how your family responds to real life online interactions and how you can protect one another online.
- RSVP for free dinner by Thurs, March 21st: CLICK HERE!
- Volunteer Sign Up Genius: CLICK HERE!
Thurs, April 25th - Family STEM Night (Grades 3rd-5th): Families can participate in fun, hands-on STEM activities! Great enrichment opportunity! (See flyer below for more information.)
BINGO Night is Back!
Excitement is building for the return of our annual Bingo Night! We have gotten in some fabulous prizes from generous donors. Now we need players to win those prizes! You're invited to a fun, fabulous night of BINGO!
When: Friday, March 22nd
Session Times:
First Session: 3:30-5:00pm
Dinner break from 5:00-6:00pm
Chick-Fil-A and pizza will be available to purchase
Second Session: 6:00-7:30pm
Families may attend either session
Price: None, Nada, Zip! It’s FREE to participate! We are asking for a voluntary contribution at the door to our backpack buddies program. Suggested donations can be found HERE.
- Volunteer Sign Up Genius: CLICK HERE!
- No RSVP required for dinner - Order & pay at the event (Chick-Fil-A and pizza)
Doors will open for the first round at 3:15. Car riders should be picked up as usual after school. Parking will be available in all school lots. You may not park in the fire lane or in the parking lot behind Tanners. Starting at 3:30, you may line the outside of the driveway. Do not park on both sides of the drive or block the flow of traffic. If you are parked inappropriately you will be called out to move your car. Carpooling is recommended. We are looking forward to a really fun event. We hope to see you all there!
GSSM Summer Camp is Coming to Sterling School!
iTeams Xtreme for current 5th-7th grade students
June 24 - 27, 8:30am - 4:00pm
(Micro)control Your World!
Dive into microcontrollers and their applications through one of two tracks:
Arduino & Robotics
Explore the world of computational thinking and microcontrollers using Arduino technology and robotics. Learn how to program your very own microcontrolled robot and pit it against other students' robots in camp-wide competitions such as Maze Runner and Robot Wars.
Arduino & the Internet of Things
Explore the world of programming with Arduino technology. Increase your programming skills while learning about digital communication, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things.
Register for iTeams Xtreme HERE.
CREATEng for current 7th and 8th grade students
June 17 -20, 8:30am - 4:00pm
Innovate. Design. Create.
CREATEng is GSSM’s one-of-a-kind engineering and design thinking day camp for rising 8th and 9th graders. Students take on the role of NASA engineers charged with developing a sustainable colony on Mars. Working through project-based, hands-on team challenges, students learn what engineering is and what engineers do. With a focus on civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering students work through a series of mini challenges from building windproof structures and protecting transportation with impenetrable wheels for the Rover, to using Arduino technology for greenhouse automation.
CREATEng students will interact with guest speakers and go on a field trip to a local company to see engineering in action.
Register for CREATEng HERE.
April Arts 2019
Be sure to join us for April Arts on Friday, April 5th, from 5:30 until 7:30pm!!
April Arts is Sterling School's signature event! This night brings together our school community of parents, students, neighbors, and friends to celebrate all forms of the arts. Last year, over 800 people attended April Arts!
Student artwork from the entire year is displayed in the hallways, students perform throughout the evening, and we offer hands-on art activities to all! We plan each year's event around a theme that connects the artwork, music, activities, and even dinner.
This year, our theme is Arte y Arquitectura: Build Your Creativity! We want to educate, inspire and provide opportunities to build, design, and create. All activities will focus on Spanish and Hispanic influence in art and architecture.
- RSVP for authentic Spanish dinner by Friday, March 29th: CLICK HERE!
- Volunteer at an activity station during April Arts, or help with set up before the event: CLICK HERE!
- Volunteer to serve dinner, sign-in guests, or clean-up: CLICK HERE!
- April Arts T-shirt Orders: CLICK HERE!
MyEnergyKit.org
Join the other 95 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?
ARMES Program at the Fine Arts Center!
Classes are held two days per week after regular school hours, for a total of 3 hours of instruction each week. Sterling School has quite a few students who participate in the ARMES program each year! A student must be nominated by a parent, teacher or him or herself. Students will be scheduled for an audition in the spring.
For more details, please visit the ARMES website HERE.
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.
2019 Sterling School Black History Celebration
Additionally, Thursday's event showcased a Black Migration presentation, and a special performance of "Change the World" by 4th grade Honors Chorus, Sterling Dancers, NCC, Reggie Rocc, Jada Redmond, Kristen Stephens, and songwriter Alphaeus Anderson. The pre-show performance included a Harlem Renaissance Art Show and Negro Spirituals performed by the Sterling School Chorus. Many thanks to all who attended and a special thanks to this year's event organizers. #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild #BlackHistoryIsOurHistory
MathCounts State Competition
The Sterling School MathCounts team won first place at the state MathCounts competition held in Aiken, SC on Saturday, March 3. The winning team consists of Emma Bao, Emily Zhang, Noah Brooks and Aedan Honohan. Atharva Shah also competed and earned a 17th place out of 94 total contestants. Emma earned a 5th place finish and 4th place in the Countdown Round competition. Emily was 9th place overall and participated in the Countdown Round. Noah was in the top 16 as well and participated in the Countdown Round. With the win at the state competition, Ms. Gordon has been named the coach for the SC state team at the national competition to be held in Orlando, Florida in May. #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
All of our contestants did an awesome job! Go Griffins!
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