The Weekly Griffin
Week of November 11, 2018 - #BuildingABetterGriffin
Leadership S.C. Visits Sterling School
What's Ahead...
Nov. 14th thru Nov. 16th - Reflections Art Entries Due; 7:30-8:00am (front entryway)
November 14 - Families for Lunch: 5K, 1st, 2nd, & 4th
November 15 - Families for Lunch: 4K, 3rd, 5th, & middle school
November 16 - School Improvement Council Meeting; 8:15-9:30 (open meeting)
Nov. 21 thru Nov. 23 - Thanksgiving Break
November 27 - The Gifted Learner: Parent Information Series; 12:15-12:45
MySchoolBucks.Com
We are pleased to now offer school payments through MySchoolBucks. Parents, you can log onto myschoolbucks.com to pay for field trips, club memberships, lunch, and more!
Go to MySchoolBucks.com and register for a free account. Never worry about sending cash or checks with your student to school again!
- Go to www.myschoolbucks.com and register for an account.
- Add your students using their school name and student ID.
- Make a payment to your students’ accounts with your credit/debit card or electronic check.
A program fee may apply. You will have the opportunity to review any fees and cancel if you choose, before you are charged.
If you have any questions, please visit www.myschoolbucks.com and click Help or call MySchoolBucks Customer Support at 1-855-832-5226. (CLICK HERE!) to see letter with detailed information.
If you have any questions, please contact our bookkeeper, Sherry Raushenberger, at 864-355-4480.
2nd Quarter Reminders...
- Our attendance rate is currently at 98%. Our end-of-year goal is 98%. While this may appear to be satisfactory, we have not yet entered the "cold & flu season." If at all possible, please ensure that your child is at school each and every day. As educators, we cannot adequately prepare your child if they are not with us.
- Our daily tardy list is growing. The tardy bell rings at 8:00am. Our doors open at 7:25am. Often times, students who arrive early use this time to read or work on class assignments. Please ensure that your child is in class by 8:00, ready to learn. For more information on our school's attendance/tardy police, see the handbook.
- Please utilize the full length of the sidewalk during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. In the morning, students should exit the car at any point along the sidewalk; in the afternoon, parents are asked to pull all the way up before students load.
- Do not let your child unload before school doors open at 7:25am. It is unsafe for students to unattended without an adult.
2018 Sterling School Thanksgiving Lunch
Our Annual Thanksgiving Families for Lunch Celebration will be two separate meals again this year:
- Wednesday, Nov. 14 will be K5 at 10:00 AM, 1st at 10:20 AM, 2nd at 10:30 AM, and 4th grade at 11:00 AM.
- Thursday, Nov. 15 will be K4 at 11:15 AM, 3rd at 11:30 AM, 5th at 10:45 AM, and Middle School at 12:30 PM.
Please keep in mind the time may be a little delayed due to the expected large crowd, please be patient.
The school has asked for the PTA's help with a range of needs that day. Here's the link to volunteer (CLICK HERE!)
We look forward to seeing everyone!
PTA Reflections: "Heroes Around Me"
National PTA Reflections is America’s oldest and largest arts education program of its kind. In the past 50 years, the Reflections Arts Program has inspired millions of students to reflect on a specific theme and create original artwork. Each year, students in K4 through 12th Grade are recognized for bringing the theme to life through Film Production, Dance Choreography, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. Members of our local community serve as judges to determine our school winners, who will move on to the district and state contests.
This year's theme is "Heroes Around Me." Entries will be collected at Sterling School on November 14-16.
Click HERE for the complete rules and entry form. Entry forms are also available in the Media Center at school.
Please email GriffinReflections@gmail.com if you have any questions about Reflections.
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?
G/T Best Practices Series 2018-19
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Time: 12:15pm - 12:45pm
Topic: G/T Education: Issues & Trends
Presented By: Jennifer Johnston, Sara Newell, & Linda Reynolds
Core Value Addressed: Explore
Would you like to know more about the world of Gifted Education? Are you curious about how leaders and research impact your child’s classroom experience? This session will include information about nationwide trends in gifted education and how those trends are impacting instruction. We will also include strategies to help you effectively advocate for your gifted child.
Diwali Food Drive at Sterling
Hello! I’m Rishita Tikkala and I’m an 8th grade student at CTC. Last year I started the Greenville Diwali Food Drive with 3 other girls to help feed the hungry in our community during the holiday season. Statistics show that one in five children in SC don’t know where their next meal is coming from. With the intent of helping these families, we started the Greenville Diwali Food Drive. Help us ‘light up a life’ by donating today!
Sterling School friends and families can help by dropping off items such as: canned meats and veggies, peanut butter, dry goods, beans, rice, flour, toiletries and any non-perishable goods, but no glass items please. Bring any items that you would like to donate to the big brown donation box with the Diwali Food Drive Flyer above it, located in the main hallway until November 16. CLICK HERE to learn more!
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
The CTC Newspaper: 1st Edition
Extra, Extra, Read All About It! The first edition of the CTC Newspaper, our school's student newspaper, is out! (CLICK HERE!) A student newspaper teaches and reinforces a lot of skills that will benefit students today and tomorrow. Students who participate in a student newspaper learn a lot of workplace skills such as management, meeting deadlines, and communicating with others. School newspapers also enforce a need for teamwork. As our students continue to learn how to write, edit, and publish a regular newspaper, you will see further developments. Thank you, in advance, for supporting our students by taking a few minutes to read and support their work! #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
Student Spotlight
8th grader Emily Michenfelder represented Woodmont High School at last Saturday’s SC State High School League cross country meet. Emily was the #1 individual qualifier for the state meet with a personal best 5k time of 19:10. She was selected to the high school All Region and All County teams this season, is ranked nationally for her age group, and is ranked in the top 10 in her SC high school division. In the spring, Emily placed 7th in the State Track meet for 5A high schoolers in the 2 mile.
If you have anything to share, please email Linda Reynolds. We will excitedly share good news with our school community. #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild #GriffinPride
First Place in Core Values at First Lego League! Big congratulations to “The Soda Fountain” team members who won first place in Core Values at the First Lego League competition on Saturday! Teammates pictured are Rex, Jack, Parker, Brooke, Tarini and Liam. Thanks, Coaches McCay Fowler and Dev Vaz!
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