The Weekly Griffin
Week of February 17, 2019 - #BuildingABetterGriffin
What's Ahead...
February 19 thru February 22 - Box Tops Collection
February 19 - United Way Instagram Takeover
February 19 - Last Day for Readcycle Book Swap
February 20 - Families for Lunch
February 20 - Middle School Fundraiser Celebration
February 28 - 2nd Annual Black History Month Program, 6:00pm
*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!"
Save the Date: 2nd Annual Black History Month Celebration Feb. 28th @ 6:00pm
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
United Way Instagram Takeover is THIS TUESDAY
Our school will be a host site for Hands on Greenville (HOG) Day again this year! For the last 24 years, United Way HOG Day has been an opportunity for the people of Greenville County to impact our community through volunteerism. On the first Saturday in May each year, well over 100 projects are completed by individuals, families and corporate teams in our community. If you're interested in participating, please save the date for May 4th and we will share more details soon!
Our PTA won the opportunity to take over the United Way of Greenville's Instagram stories for a whole day. This Tuesday, February 19th, we would love for you to join us as we tell everyone why we think Sterling School / Charles Townes Center is the BEST!
Please follow the United Way of Greenville on Instagram and support our school!
Deadline Extended to this Friday, Feb. 22nd!
Check your cereal boxes, toaster strudel boxes and tissues because our Box Tops Collection has been extended another week!
Help your homeroom class earn a spot as one of our school's 3 winners! One class will be chosen from each of the following categories: K4-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, and 6th-8th grade.
As you collect Box Tops, check their expiration date and place them in an envelope or baggie with your homeroom teacher's name. Drop your Box Tops in the large collection at the front entrance, bring them to the front office, or give them to your homeroom teacher by this Friday!
Attn: Current 6th & 7th Grade Students:
We are also looking for rising 8th graders who may be interested in taking Art 1 Honors (high school credit) next year as a year-long class. Please email Mrs. Spitler unless you already filled out a form at Curriculum Night. We are awaiting GCS board approval of the honors offering, but want to have a list of interested students in preparation for course scheduling.
The CTC Newspaper: Valentine's Edition
Lunch Menu
From the Sterling School SIC
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.
Sterling School Spelling Bee
The Sterling School Spelling Bee will take place on Wednesday, March 6th from 3:00-4:00pm. The Spelling Bee for grades 3-5 will be in the Media Center. The Spelling Bee for grades 6-8 will be in Vegas.
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.
Thursday, March 7th, 11:30-12:00pm
Topic: Compacting & Acceleration(What does math look like at CTC?)
Cara Nyvall, Meg Porterfield & Casey Noble
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!
April Arts 2019 is Coming!
Be sure to join us for April Arts on Friday, April 5th, from 5:30-7:30pm! April Arts is Sterling School's huge, annual arts night! This night brings together our school community of parents, students, neighbors, and friends to celebrate all forms of the arts. Last year we had over 800 people come through our school during April Arts.
Student artwork from the entire school year is displayed in the hallways, students perform at different times during the evening, and we offer hands-on art making 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 influence in art and architecture. We welcome families, artists, and community members who would like to collaborate with us in sharing the arts with our community!
Email Niki Peters to get involved!
MyEnergyKit.org
Join the other 89 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?
Readcycle
Tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 19th is the last day to drop off gently loved books bundled with student’s name, grade and home room teacher’s and receive tickets for up to 5 books to choose new-to-you books during the Swap. Tickets will be handed out in homeroom.
Students have one last opportunity to turn in books and earn tickets to shop at the Book Swap! Since Tuesday is the last day of Readcycle, bring your “drop off” books with you when you come to the library to shop. Otherwise, your book donations may not get processed in time. Students will receive one ticket for each book donation, up to a maximum of 5 tickets. Donations of additional books are always welcome! If you dropped off books last week, don’t forget to spend your tickets THIS TUESDAY!
4K Pre-Registration: Deadline is Mar. 12!
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.
Sterling School has Strong Showing at MathCounts
On Saturday, the Sterling School MathCounts participants competed in the Piedmont Chapter Competition at Fisher Middle School. The school team of Emma Bao, Emily Zhang, Noah Brooks & Aedan Honohan placed 2nd. Atharva Shah placed 3rd in the written competition and 2nd in the countdown round. Emma Bao placed 7th in the written competition and 4th in the countdown round. Jonathon Clanton also placed in the top ten competitors with an 8th place finish in the written round.
The other students competing in this year's team included Tarika Desai, Sohini Kulkarni, Stephanie Hu & David Ropp.
The team and Atharva have qualified to represent Sterling School at the state competition to be held in Aiken, SC on March 2. Congratulations to all of them! #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
Black History Bowl Champions
Did you know Dingle Gadson was one of nine students to desegregate the College of Charleston in 1966 or that Edward Sawyer Cooper was the former president of the American Heart Association?
Congratulations to Sterling School for winning this year's Black History Quiz Bowl. This is the second year in a row our school has won. The competition is sponsored by Long Branch Baptist Church. Student participants of this year's team included Will Howard, Gabriel Wood, Kamille Brooks & Alana Maldonado. We also thank Mrs. Nye for coaching this year's team. #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