The Weekly Griffin
Week of December 2, 2018 - #BuildingABetterGriffin
Congratulations, Miss Lunsford!
Selected by her peers, Miss Samantha Lunsford will represent Sterling School as the 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year. Miss Lunsford grew up in an Air Force family but calls the Atlanta area home. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2013 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She recently obtained a Master's degree in Literacy from Furman University in 2017. Currently in her sixth year of teaching, Miss Lunsford has taught first grade at Sterling for three years.
Miss Lunsford enjoys discovering everything Greenville has to offer- restaurants, outdoor activities, coffee shops, and more! Her golden retriever, June, accompanies her on many of those adventures. Miss Lunsford also loves to travel, as well as participate and serve in ministries at Grace Church.
At the age of five, she declared her intention to become a teacher and hasn't looked back since! Miss Lunsford's favorite thing about teaching young children are the meaningful relationships that are established with students by the end of the year and beyond. She seeks to create a loving classroom community that celebrates and encourages each child as they are. #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
What's Ahead...
Dec. 3 thru Dec. 7 - Book Fair (an adult should accompany the student after school)
Dec. 4 thru Dec. 7 - Kindergarten & 1st Grade Registration
Dec. 3 thru Dec. 7 - Spirit Week
December 3 - Dress like a creature from an enchanted forest (book fair kickoff)
December 4 - Decades Day (60's, 70's, or 80's...you pick!)
December 4 - After School Movie Party, 3:00-4:00pm ($3)
December 5 - End of Choice Lottery Window (Special Permission)
December 5 - Blackout/Whiteout Day
December 6 - MAP Testing (Reading) - Grades 5 and 8
December 6 - Squad Day (find your squad; dress up in the same outfit)
December 6 - Dodgeball Game, 3:00-4:30pm ($3)
December 7 - MAP Testing (Math) - Grades 5 and 8
December 7 - Frozen Friday (dress as a Frozen character or holiday/snow-inspired)
December 7 - Sprit Week Bake Sale During Lunch (3rd-8th grade)
December 11 - Band/Strings Winter Concert; 6:30pm
December 13 - Chorus Winter Concert; 6:30pm
December 19 - Families for Lunch
December 21 - Half Day; Elementary Dismisses @ 12:00; Middle @ 12:15
Sterling School Christmas Tree
Sterling School Spirit Week
We are so excited to work with Lucky Pup Rescue SC as our charity for Spirit Week 2018! All money raised during Spirit Week will benefit Lucky Pup Rescue SC, a non-profit, foster-based dog rescue organization. CLICK HERE for Spirit Week flyer.
Dress Up Days:
- Monday: Enchanted Forest Book Fair Kickoff: Dress like a creature from an enchanted forest - a fairy, gnome, elf, princess, wizard, tree, forest animal, etc.
- Tuesday: Decades Day: 60s, 70s, 80s - Pick your decade and dress to impress!
- Wednesday: Blackout/Whiteout Day: Wear all black or all white.
- Thursday: Squad Day: Find your squad and dress up in the same outfit.
- Friday: Frozen Friday: Dress as a Frozen character, or wear something holiday or snow-inspired.
Activities:
- Tuesday: Lip Sync Battle, 2nd Period (Middle School Only). Pay $3.00 and get out of class! Sign up to perform (ELA Google Classroom) or support the cause by attending!
- Tuesday: After School Movie Party, 3:00-4:00pm. Come and watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Cost: $3.00. Popcorn and water combo available for an additional $1.00.
- Thursday: Dodgeball, 3:00-4:30pm. Come to the dodgeball game! You can join a team or cheer from the stands! Cost: $3.00.
- Friday: Bake Sale, 3rd-8th grade lunch. Yummy treats and hot chocolate will be on sale during lunch.
It's BOOK FAIR Time!
Parents, put our PTA Book Fair Elves to work for you! If you would like to keep your online purchases a secret from your student, please send the purchaser’s name, the child’s name, the complete order, and a contact phone number or email address to molly@wbwrx.com. We will bundle your order up and leave it at the front office for you to pick up. You will receive a text or email when it's ready.
Students may shop before school (7:30-7:50am Mon-Fri) or after school (Mon-Thurs only). During the school day, students must have a pass from their teacher. Parents can shop anytime during the book fair hours:
-Tue: 7:30am-6:00pm
-Fri: 7:30am-12:00pm
Kindergarten/1st Grade Registration
Greenville County Schools encourages parents to register for kindergarten and first grade for the 2019-2020 school year beginning December 4-7, 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! (CLICK HERE to see flyer!)
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.
5th Grade Sterling Program
To parents of our 5th grade Sterling Program students:
Some important information came home last week in your child's folder concerning upcoming deadlines for those interested in a change of assignment from their middle school 's home-based school and for magnet schools.
If you are planning on having your child attend his/her home-based middle school, no action is required. However, if you or your child is interested in applying for a change in assignment from your home-based middle school (neighborhood school) or wish to apply for a magnet school, please fill out the necessary applications and return them to that desired middle school by noon, December 4th for magnet schools or noon, December 5th for a change in school assignment for next school year.
If you are unsure of your home-based school, go to https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us, and in the left hand column, under schools, click on find your school and then fill in the required info. Your middle school and high school will pop up.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child's school counselor, Jan Moretti.
Gamecock Reading Program
Participate with your child in this winter’s statewide Read with the Gamecocks reading program!
- Eligible Participants: Elementary school students grades K-8
- Program Specifics: Participating students are able to attend one men’s basketball (Men’s Basketball vs. Missouri on Saturday, January 12, 2019 @ 1pm) and one women’s basketball game (Women’s Basketball vs. Vanderbilt on Monday, January 28, 2019 @ 7pm).
- Rules: Initial the number of pages your child records that he/she reads during the contest on the Reading Log sheets, total the number of pages has read on the Reading Log sheet, and maintain the integrity of the program by ensuring that your child is reading age appropriate material.
- Two Week Reading Segment: Monday, December 3 – Friday, December 14, 2018. ALL completed and signed Reading Logs MUST be submitted to Kim Marchbanks NO LATER THAN Friday, December 14, 2018!
Click here for more information: 1) Parent Letter 2) Reading Log
Big News for the Sterling Butterfly Garden
Our parent, student and faculty volunteers have been AMAZING throughout this project! PTA is looking for parents who would like to work alongside Heather and learn the ropes! If you enjoy gardening or working with your hands, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the Butterfly Garden to see if you'd like to step into a leadership role next year! Please email hwjec@yahoo.com or sterlingctcpta@gmail.com for more details about getting involved!
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
As part of the Sterling School community, we are working to conserve energy and protect our environment. Sterling School families can request a FREE Energy Kit to save energy in their homes. 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?
Winter Break Half-Day (Dec. 21st)
Friday, December 21, the last school day prior to the winter break, is a half-day. Since this has not typically been the norm in recent GCS calendars, we are asking all parents to make any necessary pick-up arrangements beforehand. 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
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.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
CTC Spotlight: 6th Grade Potato Harvest Festival
In 6th grade, we have been reading The Martian, an amazing sci-fi novel by Andy Weir. During this novel study, we focus on the literary terms of science-fiction, dramatic irony, and sarcasm. In the story, the protagonist, Mark Watney, is stranded on Mars. Being a resourceful astronaut and botanist, he manages to harvest potatoes grown from his own feces. Because of this, the entire 6th grade team planned an amazing, cross-curricular Potato Planting Festival which featured the following fun activities:
- Ms. Porterfield's math classes learned about mathematics in cooking. Many students participated by cooking recipes featuring potatoes and bringing in a variety of potato dishes for students to sample during the day. During the last week, students used the Engineering Design Process to construct a prototype of an air-tight habitat, similar to the one Mark Watney built in The Martian.
- Ms. Gordon’s science classes designed solar ovens and space suits and tested them for space use. They also planted potatoes which will be harvested later in the school year.
- Ms. Bohnenberger's social studies classes created stop-motion videos with potatoes as the actors based on the characters in The Martin or based on historical figures they studied from the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, or China.
- Ms. Johnston's ELA classes created and recited potato odes and took some fun potato photographs.
- Ms. VanDommelen's Spanish classes created potato stamps and used them to create artwork for different Spanish space words.
Potato fun was had by all! Thank you so much to all of our parents for donating the supplies that helped make this day possible! We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and ate lots of potatoes! #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
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