Griffins Connect
August 20th #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
3 Under 3: C-19 Protocols and Procedures
What's Ahead...
August 24: Students' First Day of School
August 31 thru September 4: College Colors Week
September 7: Labor Day (No School for Students)
*Due to current circumstances, parents will not be permitted to walk students in the building on the first days of school this year. We will provide assistance to our younger students who may need this support.
Morning & Afternoon Traffic Procedures
AM Drop-Off:
- ALL students (4K-8th) will drop off at the front car line when on Attendance Plan 1.
Display your car tag in order to ensure the tag color matches the corresponding day.
- Do not let your child unload before school doors open at 7:10am.
- In the morning, we ask all car riders to exit the full length of the awning. (Parents who wait to drop off at the front of the school cause the line to back up and result in unnecessary delays.)
- Follow the directions of all Sterling School staff and/or law enforcement officers while on campus.
- The tardy bell rings and the instructional day begins at 7:45am.
Model proper safety procedures for your children (wear your seatbelt, do not text while operating your motor vehicle, etc.)
- Please move through the morning and afternoon car line with extreme caution.
- Do not use your cell phone or other electronic devices while in the car line.
PM Dismissal:
- ALL students (4K-8th) will be picked up at the front car line when on Attendance Plan 1.
- Elementary pick-up begins at 2:15; Middle school pick-up begins at 2:30.
To ensure social distancing, students will be called from the classroom to the car line once their numbers are entered.
- Cars will be expected to load along the full length of the sidewalk/awning.
- Elementary pick-up should line up in the right-hand pick-up lane upon entry. Middle school pick-up should line up in the left-hand lane upon entry beginning at 2:30.
- All cars must turn right as they exit the parking lot/car line.
- If a student is picked up late, students will sit at the designated area and parents/guardians must come to the front door and display the car tag.
- Model proper safety procedures for your children (wear your seatbelt, do not text while operating your motor vehicle, etc.)
- Please move through the car line with extreme caution.
Congratulations, Ms. Benvenuto!
As part of our nomination, faculty and staff members were invited to provide examples of Ms. B's impact on our school community. Here is what a few of them had to say:
- "Nicole Benvenuto has been a perfect addition to our staff. She is quick to offer help no matter where it is needed. Ms. B is consistently calm, positive, and empathetic. Her efforts translate to trusting relationships with the students she serves."
- Ms. B is an amazing advocate for our students as well as a helpful co-worker. She is a very hard worker and makes sure she's a friendly, familiar face among everyone at Sterling. She is always conscious of others' needs and takes special time to check in on everyone. She has been a wonderful addition to our school and district."
- "Ms. B is always available to help my students who need a moment to check in with someone. She is so patient and kind with teachers and kids!
Back-to-School 2020-2021: Points to Note
Some of the following are reminders. Please take the time to review the following points:
- The School start date is August 24 for all students.
- Every student should know his/her color group and the days of in-person attendance when Attendance Plans 1 or 2 from the Roadmap are in effect. Color groups were assigned based on the first letter of students’ last name (hyphenated last names were alphabetized by the first of the hyphenated names: ex. Jones-Smith would be alphabetized under J). CLICK HERE for more information. If you requested a change and have NOT received notification from the district, please contact Mr. Murphy.
- Under Attendance Plans 1 and 2, students are in-person the stated number of days and attending school virtually the other four or three, respectively. Students will be expected to sign in and complete assignments on eLearning days. Otherwise, they will be counted absent.
- Students need to pick up their Chromebooks before August 24 if at all possible. This allows ALL students to start school on August 24 since we are on Attendance Plan 1 and only ¼ of students are in-person that day.
- Parents will not be allowed to walk their children into the building this year. Our school will be providing extra attention to students in 4K-1st grade Sterling & 3rd grade CTC. 4K-1st grade students will be provided stickers (that will be placed in packets you will receive during LEAP Week) and 4K-1st and 3rd CTC will have the assistance of faculty, staff, and middle school students to escort and guide into and through the building.
- All students are expected to wear a mask to school. Though not required for 4K-1st grade, all students will be encouraged to wear masks.
- Elementary and middle school starts at 7:45 this year!
- Parents should sign up for Backpack using a valid email address they check regularly (see more info below).
- Parents need to screen their students every day for symptoms and keep them home if they are unwell (not give them fever-reducer and send them anyway). Additionally, students who have been directed to quarantine for any reason – including international travel – should not attend school until the quarantine is complete. Quarantine must be completed even if your child receives a negative test result, as testing may not show positive until 7-14 days after the virus is in your system.
- If you would like to provide food for special occasions (i.e. student birthdays) please check with your child’s teacher prior to the event. For safety concerns, we cannot serve or give “homemade” foods, therefore, all food to be shared with other children must be store bought with visible ingredient labels and individually pre-packaged.
School Supply Lists
If your grade level/program supply list is not current, don't worry; all lists will be updated soon! We encourage you to check back again soon!
From Our Health Room
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or special information that you need to discuss about your child, please visit our nurse or call the health room at 355-4687
Student Planners/Agendas & Atlases
Planners/Agendas are a required supply for Sterling 4 and 5th grade students as well as Grades 3-6 CTC.
We hope to have these available for purchase during LEAP week, so please plan ahead for $5 cash or check made to: Sterling School to receive your agenda. The teachers use these with the students to help them learn executive functioning skills, planning, prioritizing and responsibility.
As a reminder, 6th graders will need to purchase an atlas for $17.00.
Meet the Teacher 2020
Sterling School Extended Day Program
Extended Day Program will take place this year on the days of face-to-face instruction!
Enrollment to the EDP will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Space is limited and some grade levels are filled. Please bring registration paperwork and payment when you come the week of L.E.A.P. Please note the 2020-2021 fees.
If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Henry as some grades are full.
Questions? Contact our EDP CoDirector, Maxi Henry at mhenry@greenville.k12.sc.us.
To learn more about the program, visit the After School website HERE!
Take Home Meals for eLearning Days
For example, if a student is scheduled to attend in-person on Wednesday, breakfast and lunch will be available that day at school. At the end of the in-person day, students will have the opportunity to take home 4 days of food (breakfast & lunch) to off-set the days the student is not in attendance.
If interested, a separate form must be completed for each student in your family/care.
MySchoolBucks.Com
This year, parents are encouraged to make online payments into their children’s meal account using their debit or credit card. In a time of social distancing, utilizing this service will minimize hand-to-hand contact and ensure a safer, more convenient transfer of funds.
To sign up to make online payments through mySchoolBucks, parents establish a user ID and password. They select their child’s school from a drop-down list and enter the student birth date or student identification number (available from the student’s school), and provide the debit or credit card information. Payment into an account is usually credited within one hour. Parents can check their child’s account balance and transaction history on the mySchoolBucks website, which is updated every night.
Parents can make one payment for multiple children, designating the amount per child. A single processing fee of $2 is charged for each payment, regardless of the number of student accounts included in the payment. Parents can also choose to make recurring payments on a regular basis.
To Sign Up for Online Payments Into a Student’s Meal Account
- Go to the Online Payment Website.
- Create your user ID and password by following the step-by-step instructions. Online payments can only be made for meals. The service is not provided for any other payments to schools.
Questions: Call Food and Nutrition Services at 355-1249.
Information about mySchoolBucks: CLICK HERE to visit their website.
Free/Reduced Lunch Application
Online Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications are now available for the 2020-2021 school year. CLICK HERE! The online Free and Reduced Price Meal Application process is the quickest and most accurate method to apply for Free and Reduced Price Meals. Please note: interested families must reapply each school year.
If you have any questions about the Free and Reduced Price Meal Application process please contact Bonnie Hogue, Free and Reduced Project Manager at 864-355-1251 or by email at bhogue@greenville.k12.sc.us.
Attention Parents/Guardians of Rising 7th Grade Students
In accordance with SC State regulations, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive a TDAP vaccination. Parents/guardians must provide their child's school with one of the following prior to the first day of school (08/24/20). Students who do not have this record on file at their school will not be allowed to attend classes and we will not release their fall schedule.
Acceptable documentation includes:
· Certificate of Immunization listing TDAP
· Religious Exemption
· Medical Exemption
If your student has already received the TDAP vaccine, and you have not previously submitted documentation, please do so as soon as possible. You may fax records to 864-355-9477 or email Carly Tan at ctan@greenville.k12.sc.us. Please contact our front office 864-355-4480 if you have any questions.
Set Up Parent Backpack - An Amazing App for Parents & Guardians
Parent Backpack is an online application that replaces the PowerSchool Parent Portal. With Parent Backpack, you are able to view your child's grades, school attendance, and any discipline incidents when you are logged into the system. Best of all, Parent Backpack works on any device and is mobile friendly.
To access Parent Backpack, CLICK HERE and create an account. Please access directions by clicking on Creating a Parent Backpack Account.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
Destination: Return to School Parent Resource Guide
REVISED Flexible Attendance Plan For In-Person Class
"Mask Up" Greenville County Schools
There have been many questions about mask/face coverings as part of our health and safety protocols. Here are the district's guidelines. Please take a minute to view.
CANCELLED: Greenville Drive Reading All-Stars Celebration
Sadly, Minor League baseball has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Minor League baseball season across the country. The ongoing concern for the safety of Minor League Baseball communities across America – inclusive of fans, front office staff, game-day staff, players and coaches, led to this decision. Therefore, the August 9 rescheduled celebration event has been cancelled. While we'll have to wait for the return of the Greenville Drive, the 162 students who participated in this year's event won through their commitment to read. #BuildilngABetterGriffin
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