Griffins Connect
Week of October 4th #ReImagine #WholeChild
Upcoming Parent/Teacher Conferences
Our mission to support the #WholeChild is a big responsibility. Not only does this require an intentional effort to design and implement a challenging, progressive curriculum that is tailored to our students’ unique needs, it also requires a strong home/school partnership, and a call to development of a growth mindset. Having a growth mindset acknowledges that we are not there...yet. It's mindset that acknowledges that we are a work in progress, but embraces that we will never truly reach the finish line. A mindset that does not see a grade of “A” as the goal but embraces and celebrates the growth that comes with challenge and productive struggle. I must admit, as a parent of four school-aged children, this way of thinking presents its challenges. As an educator, this requires that I allow my students to feel appropriate tension in a space that encourages growth, problem-solving, and resilience. In our culture, this is not always easy. To help our children achieve their full potential, we must fight the temptation to make things easy and to do the task quicker, easier, and without resistance.
Over the next couple of weeks, your child’s teacher will be communicating details of upcoming parent/teacher conferences. This year’s meetings will be virtual (and, if requested, face-to-face) and are scheduled for all elementary students. As always, it is our expectation to have 100% participation for all students. During this time, teachers are encouraged to share strengths and weaknesses, to share the areas of success as well as the areas for growth. Parents, you are encouraged to do the same. Talk to your child’s teacher about ways you can partner with them to help your child grow. Through transparent conversations, goals should be discussed and established. Together, we are your child’s supportive team. It is our hope that these important meetings are not simply to “check a box” but spur our students in a trajectory that furthers every single child in their learning and social-emotional development.
Dr. P.
What's Ahead...
October 11-14: CogAT/IOWA Testing for 2nd Grade (info below)
October 12: Deadline to Register for Testing Event for Potential CTC Enrollment (info below)
October 13: PSAT for 8th Grade (info below)
October 18: Deadline to Nominate for Upstate Parents' Educators Who Make a Difference (info below)
October 18-19: Fall Break for Students (No school)
October 21: Fall/Yearbook Pictures Make-Up
October 22: Middle School Fall Block-Party; 2:45-4:15pm (info below)
21-22 Sterling School SIC
Congratulations to Phillip Bradley & Chloe McGoogin for being selected as elected members of our school's School Improvement Council. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's nomination and election process. We are also appreciative of all of those who took the time to vote.
As a reminder, all parents and stakeholders of our school community are invited to participate in our monthly meetings. Once the newly established committee has convened to determined this year's dates and times, this information will be communicated in our weekly eNewsletter.
Ms. Benvenuto & Dr. T Presents....
Erin's Law: Parent Notification
Middle School Block Party!
Our fall block party for grades 6-8 will be on Friday, October 22 from 2:45-4:15pm (rain date Oct. 29). Students can wear costumes (no Halloween masks, weapons, or inappropriate costumes) and we will have a DJ and large lawn games like giant Jenga, giant Connect 4, etc.
The dance will be held in the back parking lot. Admission is $5 and includes one snack and one drink. Extra snacks and drinks will be $1 each (cash only).
- Admission can be pre-purchased through MemberHub with the link below or students can bring cash to the party: CLICK HERE!
We need volunteers to help staff the block party (supervise games, sell concessions, assist with set up & clean up) and volunteers to send in snacks and games for the dance. Please plan to park in the front parking lot as we will use the back parking lot for the dance and games.
- Please sign up below if you are able to help! CLICK HERE!
You Are Invited to the GOTR 5K! Register Today!
Save the date for the Girls on the Run 5K presented by Cigna: Saturday, November 20th at USC Upstate. This is a celebratory, non-competitive event and we welcome you to participate as a Running Buddy or Community Runner.
- Running Buddy registration is intended for anyone who wants to run with a particular girl or GOTR team.
- Community Runners celebrate all of our participants and programs by moving at their own happy pace through the course. Community Runners are not attached to a specific girl or team.
Register (CLICK HERE!) by October 22nd for registration fee savings!
2nd Grade CogAT & Iowa Testing
Middle School CTC Lunch & Learn
Mrs. Bennett will hold informational sessions for CTC Middle School parents. Session handouts & powerpoint will be e-mailed to participants & posted to the school’s website after each session for those that cannot attend.
To Attend: Sign Up Here // For Flyer: CLICK HERE!
- *Wednesday, October 27th: 12:00-12:45 PM Managing Middle School during the Pandemic Recommended: 6th grade parents
Reimagine Stem Day - October 29th
On Friday, October 29th, we will be celebrating "Reimagine STEM Day!"
Celebrate your favorite scientist, technological innovation, engineering feat, or math fact by dressing up and celebrating STEM - or add your art flair for a bit of STEAM!
8th Grade - PSAT: October 13th
8th Grade students will be taking the PSAT on October 13th. Please remember to have your child get plenty of rest the night before and to eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the 13th. Benefits of taking the PSAT in 8th grade include seeing your child’s strengths and weaknesses in terms of college readiness, practicing SAT skills in a low-stakes environment, and it’s free to all of our 8th grade students (which is great because college readiness tests can get expensive fast when taken multiple times to get the best scores). Questions about testing can be sent to Mr. Murphy or Ms. Bennett.
Testing Event for Potential CTC Students
Registration due by noon on Tuesday, 10/12/2021.
CTC Testing Registration Form: CLICK HERE!
There are many inquiries about how students are chosen to attend the Charles Townes Center for highly gifted students, located within Sterling School. The criteria can be found on our website: (CLICK HERE!)
Many private schools in our area do not administer nationally normed aptitude tests along with an achievement test. For that reason, on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, there will be an opportunity for students who reside in Greenville County and attend home or private schools to take an aptitude test. If your child has already taken an aptitude test within the past two years, or if his/her school administers this testing it is not necessary for your child to participate. You may just submit those test results to Jane Snyder via email.
Upon reviewing data from this testing event, we will determine if other testing or information is necessary for your child. These results may not be available until after Winter Break.
Please print the Registration Form and send it to Jane Snyder via scan/email or fax: jsnyder@greenville.k12.sc.us or 864-355-9042 by noon on Tuesday, October 12th. Please return a form for each child that you wish to have tested. Students and parents should check in at the front of Sterling School by 9:00am. Unfortunately, due to current restrictions related to COVID-19, parents are unable to wait inside the building; therefore, tours of the building will not occur.
Students will be tested in small grade level groups to allow appropriate distancing. Please have each child bring 2 pencils for testing. Allow two and one-half hours for your child’s testing which includes breaks for them. If you feel that your child needs to have a snack for one of the breaks, please send it in an individually wrapped package. Also, students should bring a water bottle.
For further information, you may contact Jane Snyder by email at jsnyder@greenville.k12.sc.us (best way to communicate!) or by phone at 355-4821.
Educators Who Make a Difference
WYFF Golden Apple Award
Ingles and WYFF News 4 wants to reward teachers who are going above and beyond. Each week, an area teacher will be selected to receive the Golden Apple Award and profiled Thursdays on WYFF News 4. These weekly winners will be chosen by a panel of judges. At the end of the school year, a Teacher of the Year will be selected from the weekly winners.
To nominate an educator for the Golden Apple Award, pick up an official nomination form from an area Ingles store or CLICK HERE, then complete and mail to:
WYFF News 4
Golden Apple Award
505 Rutherford Street
Greenville, SC 29609
For submission details, CLICK HERE.
Elementary & Middle School Yearbooks on Sale
Elementary and middle school yearbooks are now on sale!
Elementary Yearbooks
Cost: $20.00 now; $25.00 starting January 1st
Link to purchase: CLICK HERE!
Middle School Yearbooks
Cost: Starting at $35.00
Link to purchase: CLICK HERE!
#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.
Congratulations to Brandon Xu
A Big Round of Applause to 8th Grade Student Brandon Xu for Receiving the 2021 Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship for Gifted Learners! Brandon is our school's fourth recipent.
Brandon is one of 29 gifted students across the nation to receive a four-year high school scholarship to help them meet their unique intellectual and personal needs. Students who apply are required to complete a rigorous portfolio application process, which includes essays, middle school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a work sample. Eligble applicants must also achieve scores at or above the 97th percentile on nationally normed standardized tests.
The Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship is provided by the Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA). The IEA is committed to the development of the whole child through engaging educational experiences that promote optimal challenge, mentorship, exploration of ideas, and recognition of personal potential. #ReImagine #WholeChild
Highlights of 2021 Readers Arrrgh Leaders!!
PTA Attractions Book
Congratulations, Sterling School! We not only met our goal of $10,000, but surpassed it to raise over $11,000 for our school! Many thanks to everyone for your help!
The Elementary top selling class goes to Ms Hefner!
Here are our Elementary top sellers:
1st Place, Ben Davis
2nd Place, Rachel Ortiz
3rd Place, Henry Stephens
The Middle School top selling class goes to Ms Kelley!
Here are our Middle School top sellers:
1st Place, Isabella Agnew
2nd Place, Samuel Gospadarek
3rd Place, Mary Hazel Hinson
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
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