Griffins Connect
August 12th #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
Back-to-School 2020-2021: Some Points to Clarify
As we enter Back-to-School season, there are several important points that we want to clarify. Please be sure to check out our school-specific protocols and procedures. CLICK HERE! This information is also found in a section below. Based on conflicting information from the Governor, the State Department, or just due to life and COVID-19, it's easy to get confused or overwhelmed with all the information. 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 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!
- If needed, the sooner parents sign up for bus transportation the better.
- 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.
- 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.
What's Ahead...
August 17-21: Meet the Teacher (Info Below)
August 24: Students' First Day of School
*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.
L.E.A.P. Week and Back-to-School Paperwork, Car Tags, & Chromebooks
Any student not participating in L.E.A.P. Week, must pick up their materials, including Chromebook, on one of the following days:
5K-3rd Grade: Thursday, Aug. 20th; 8:30-10:00am or 12:30-2:00pm
4th-8th Grade: Friday, Aug. 21st; 8:30-10:00am or 12:30-2:00pm
These materials will be needed to start the year on August 24th.
Additional Reminders:
- All students in grades 2nd-8th are required to have a mask.
- All students should bring a backpack to carry Chromebook, textbooks, and other school issued supplies.
- If families purchased back-to-school supplies, these may be brought for the days they attend face-to-face.
- First graders are asked to bring earbuds for testing purposes.
- Students may bring a water bottle (water fountains are unavailable due to COVID-19).
L.E.A.P. (Learn, Evaluate, Analyze, Prepare) Week for Students Who Have Registered
The South Carolina General Assembly has approved funding for additional days before the start of the new school year for students. These additional days are identified as LEAP (Learn, Evaluate, Analyze, and Prepare) Days. The LEAP Days for Greenville County Elementary Schools will be August 17-21, 2020. Schools are required to offer the LEAP days, but students are not required to attend.
We will use this time to assess the needs of our students to prepare for their learning in the coming year. We also want to help your child become familiar with our new learning environment, including wearing masks in 2nd through 8th grades. Session 1 students will receive breakfast and a bagged lunch to take home. Session 2 students will receive lunch. Chromebooks will also be provided to students 3rd-8th grade and for 4 year old kindergarten through 2nd grade students as they become available.
There will be two sessions on each day of our LEAP week. Session 1 (7:45-10:15) will be for students who have chosen face to face instruction per the Roadmap to In-Person School (Non-Virtual Academy Students). Session 2 (12:00-2:30) will be for CTC Virtual Academy and/or GCS Virtual Academy Students. Students are asked to attend one day that week according to their assigned color track with make-ups scheduled for Friday.
All appropriate safety measures will be followed to maintain social distancing, to the extent possible, and all safety precautions will be followed to help protect our students, faculty, staff, and community. Transportation will be provided to those who completed their transportation forms by July 15 and requested bus service. Parents should visit the GCS website or call 355-3100 to learn how to enroll their children if they were not in GCS last year or for information on requesting bus transportation.
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.
A Word From Mrs. Ledford: Welcome to Band!
Getting an instrument is super easy through Pecknel or Musical Innovations. If you already let Mrs. Ledford know the results of your mouthpiece testing and are looking to purchase or rent an instrument, Pecknel is doing this all online. Below you will find a link to look at new and used instruments. Once you have placed your order, the instruments will be delivered to Sterling on the first day of school.
Everyone will need an instrument by Thursday, August 27. Please email Mrs. Ledford so she knows what you will be playing, but most importantly have email addresses for a parent.
2020 United Way School Tools Event
United Way of Greenville County understands the needs of students, schools and teachers are changing in the age of COVID-19. We want to do our part to ensure that each student has the tools they require to be successful in school. We have reimaged our traditional School Tools event and are taking the program virtual! There are three ways that the community can support School Tools this year:
1. Make an online donation to help fund Wi-Fi hotspots for students, offset teachers’ out-of-pocket classroom expenses and support United Way education initiatives.
2. Purchase much needed school supplies for students and classrooms from the comfort of your own home or office through our Amazon & Walmart wishlists.
3. Collect supplies and drop them off at on Wednesday, August 12, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. or Wednesday, August 19, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the United Way office (105 Edinburgh Ct, Greenville, SC 29607). Please wear a face covering and help us stay safe by practicing social distancing.
Please note that unlike in year’s past, we will not have a community distribution day. We will distribute student school supplies to Title I schools with the highest needs) and will also provide supplies for Center for Community Services and Foothills Family Resources based on the number of supplies we receive. Any extra supplies will be donated to the district social workers.
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.
Welcome to the 20-21 School Year!
I hope you've had a great summer! I also hope you and your family are healthy and well. I am excited to welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year!
As we begin, it's important to recognize that many things this year will look different. While much is uncertain, there are few things that will not change: Our students will continue to learn content and skills they need to be successful. Our teachers will continue to provide high quality instruction and learning opportunities. Our cafeteria staff will continue to provide delicious meals, including Taco Tuesday and Rib & Wing Friday. And our custodial staff will continue to keep our building clean and safe for all who enter.
Despite the challenges we face, our school's deep focus to the Whole Child will continue to be of utmost importance. TOGETHER...our students, our families, and our staff are ready to soar to new heights! #GriffinPRIDE
I look forward to a wonderful year! Though it will be different, I have no doubt that it's going to be an amazing year! As always, if we can be of support to you or your family, please let us know.
Dr. P
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