Griffins Connect
Week of September 12th #ReImagine #WholeChild
Building a STEAM Garden
Congratulations to Ms. Jaclyn Lecaroz (Middle School) on the award of a recent STEAM grant she received from Public Education Partners (PEP). These funds will be used to establish a garden that will be developed by our middle school students. Each grade level will contribute to the garden and apply skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to this real-life endeavor. Specifically in science, students will sprout their own seeds, change scientific variables, and test soil quality.
With this fun interactive project, students can see the effects of practical science and incorporate what they learn to the outside world. With an emphasis on sustainability, students will learn how to compost. It is hoped that with each passing year, students will assume different responsibilites for the garden and will further inspire collaboration throughout our school, giving every student a sense of ownership and belonging. #ReImagaine #WholeChild
What's Ahead...
September 14: MAP testing for First Grade (Reading); GCSVP will test their own students
September 15: MAP testing for First Grade (Math); GCSVP will test their own students
September 15: Mentor Upstate Training; 10:00-10:30am (Register HERE!)
September 17: Fall/Yearbook Pictures
- THIS LINK will allow parents to sign up to receive updates via email regarding their child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, parents should be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.
September 20th-24th: Virtual Open House (More Info to Come From Your Child's HR Teacher)
September 21: PTA Meet & Mingle; 7:45-8:45am (drop-in)
September 24: Readers Arrrgh Leaders Day (Dress Like a Pirate)September 25: PTA Butterfly & Asian Garden Workday; 9:00-12:00pm
Our Students Need YOU! Mentor Training this Wed. @ 10:00
This year, we are excited to continue our partnership with Mentor Upstate. As a partner, this organization supports our school’s commitment to the #WholeChild. If you or someone you know can give 30 minutes a week, our students need you!
WHAT IS MENTOR UPSTATE?
Mentor Upstate recruits & trains people from our community to be mentors for students that need extra encouragement and support. Mentors commit to visiting a student during lunch or breakfast at school once each week during the school year. And that’s it!! This important relationship often results in improvements in the students' behavior, grades and attendance.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Mentor Upstate recruits & trains all mentors (including what is required to be a Level 2 Volunteer). Once trained, our school will match you with a student. Ready to get started?
Simply fill out this survey (CLICK HERE!) and attend the scheduled Zoom training on September 15 at 10:00.
Middle School CTC Lunch & Learn
- *Tuesday, September 28th: 12:00-12:45 PM High School Credit Courses and GPA, Oh My! Recommended: 7th grade parents
- *Wednesday, September 29th: 12:00-12:45 PM Preparing For High School Recommended: 8th grade parents
- *Wednesday, October 27th: 12:00-12:45 PM Managing Middle School during the Pandemic Recommended: 6th grade parents
Attractions Book Fundraiser Ends Friday!
WHO: All students in K4 - 8th Grade
WHAT: Every Attractions Book contains $6,500 worth of LOCAL savings with coupons that won't expire until the end of 2022! Each book sells for $20, so you can easily earn your money back.
WHEN: Now through Friday, September 17th!
WHY: We need your support more than ever to help fund school improvements and activities!
HOW: To place orders, go to attractionsbook.com/pay and enter our school's EZPay code Sterling21.
- Top 3 Sellers in Elementary: $50/25/10 gift cards!
- Top 3 Sellers in Middle School: $50/25/10 gift cards!
- Top selling Elementary and Middle classes get a popsicle party and items from the teacher's Amazon Wish list!
- Bonus: Buy 5 books and get 1 FREE! Keep the extra book, or sell it and keep the $20!!
Upcoming Butterfly & Asian Garden Workday
It's time to show our Sterling Gardens a little TLC! We will meet on Saturday, September 25 from 9:00am - 12:00pm to do some maintenance in the Butterfly and Asian Gardens. Come at 9:00am and stay as long as you can, or feel free to drop-in anytime during the work day time frame. *We will gather rain (within reason) or shine!
Students and siblings are welcome to join their parents! This is a GREAT opportunity to earn Beta hours. Bring your own gardening gloves and your own rake, hand trowel, etc. if you would like - we will also have gloves and tools available.
Not able to volunteer in person but still want to help? The Outdoor Education & Beautification (OEB) Committee is looking for volunteers in additional areas of:
- Grant writing - to receive funds for garden upkeep & expansion
- Contacts/connections with local irrigation & mulch providers - to maintain gardens
- Donations for work-day snacks - keep the volunteers fed & hydrated
SIGN UP HERE to volunteer or provide snacks.
Please reach out to April Boyer (aprilcboyer@gmail.com) or Caroline Huddleston (carolineculp@yahoo.com) to help in other valuable ways.
2021-2022 School Improvement Council
It’s time to nominate for this year’s school improvement council. We are seeking all nominations by Tuesday, September 21st by 4:00pm. A ballot will be prepared and voting will occur September 27th-31st. CLICK HERE for nomination form!
If you have any questions, you are encouraged to contact Dr. Patterson. Thank you, in advance, for your willingness to serve our students, parents, and school community.
2021-2022 Sterling School Clubs
CLICK HERE for more information!
Readers Arrrgh Leaders!
Aye Mateys! It's almost that time again! Are you ready to walk the reading plank?
Sunday, September 19 is National Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Sterling School will celebrate this special day during the week of September 20-24. Students will be treated to guest readers both online & in-person, book recordings by middle school students, dressing like a pirate (Friday, Sept. 24) and other activities. Feel free to Shiver Our Timbers by volunteering to read. Please contact your child’s teacher or Kim Marchbanks at krmarchbanks@greenville.k12.sc.us.
Community Advisors Needed: 7th grade Project
The 7th grade Social Studies and ELA teachers are preparing to work on the Activism Project with their students. They are looking for community members to come in and work with students to provide outside perspective and support to students as they work through their individual projects. This advisor time would be once a month either on Mondays from 7:45-8:30am or on Fridays from 9:30-11:00.
If you are interested, please reply using the following link, which is a Google Form interest survey: 2021-2022 7th Grade Activism Advisor Form. There is information at the top of the survey that can answer any questions a mentor might have about the nature of the project.
For further information, contact Linda Reynolds at lreynold@greenville.k12.sc.us
#SubsForSterling: Parents, We Need YOU!
Parents, YOU might be able to help keep our students in school AND get paid while doing it. We need SUBS! When teachers have to be out for long periods of time for quarantine or in more rare cases positive test results, we do not have enough substitutes to keep all classes covered. Often times the teacher is either teaching remotely or will prepare student materials via Google Classroom, but we still need an adult to supervise classes and make sure all safety protocols are being followed.
If you are able to help serve as a substitute for Greenville County Schools, please follow this link to get started and be sure to let us know (email Dr. Patterson!). We will be happy to help facilitate the process. You may choose to work at any school or you can select Sterling exclusively. Work only on the days that fit your schedule. We appreciate your consideration to help the school by serving as a substitute!
DonorsChoose
CLICK HERE to check out our school's classroom projects! We currently have TWO projects to fund.
Supporting a DonorsChoose project is super easy...
1) Find a classroom project that inspires you and give as little as $1. We're a public charity, so your donation is tax-deductible.
2) When a project is fully funded, DonorsChoose will purchase all the requested items and ship them directly to the school.
3) When funded, every donor gets a thank-you letter from the teacher, photos from the classroom, and a report of how each dollar was spent.
The mission of DonorsChoose is simple...to help students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
We Need YOU! Volunteer Training
Thinking of chaperoning a field trip, becoming a room parents, or mentoring a student? Parents at Sterling School may now participate in volunteer training either in person or online.
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 via email or (864) 355-4480.
#ReadersAreLeaders: Summer Reading Celebration
Free Strengthening Families Program Starts September 13th: Register Today!
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