Griffins Connect
January 8th #CreatingConnections #WholeChild
Support the Sterling School Read-A-Thon!
Our Read-A-Thon fundraiser is fast approaching. As part of our Read-A-Thon, we have an exciting opportunity for local businesses. If you own, know, or manage a business, consider sponsoring our Read-A-Thon. Thousands of people will know you’re supporting literacy at our school. Bring traffic to your site through both digital and optional printed content while supporting the school and local community. There are a limited number of digital and printed spots available, including one Literacy Champion sponsorship.
CLICK HERE to reserve your sponsorship spot today. This year's Read-A-Thon will occur February 6-17. More information will come home with students on January 30. This year's proceeds will go toward the purchase of a book vending machine.
And as always, thank you for supporting our school community.
Mrs. Jen Matthews ~ Sterling School Media Specialist
What's Ahead...
January 9: 4K Application Window Opens (Info below)
January 11: Jessica Khoury Author Visit (for grades 5th-8th)
January 11: 5th & 6th Jr. Beta Field Trip
January 12: End of Quarter 2
January 12: 7th & 8th Jr. Beta Field Trip
January 13: Teacher Workday (No school for students)
January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No school)
January 17: Start of 3rd Quarter (and new elective classes for middle school students)
January 19: Report Cards go home
January 21: Community Health Fair: Hosted by Phillis Wheatley Community Center (Info below)
February 6: Read-A-Thon Begins (ends February 17)
February 8: Spelling Bee
Sexual Health & Responsibility Education for Middle School Students
In accordance with the South Carolina Comprehensive Health Education Act (SC Code of Laws 59-32-5), Greenville County Schools provides an age appropriate, abstinence-based sexual health & responsibility education curriculum. This year, our middle school students will be receiving this instruction from January 23rd through February 3rd. Complete details of the curriculum, including the slide presentation and supplemental videos, are located at the school in a Parent Preview Box. Please contact Mr. Murphy to schedule time to view the parent preview box.
If you do not want your child to participate in the sexual health & responsibility education unit or a specific portion of the unit, you must bring this signed exemption form to the school in person. Students are not permitted to submit the exemption forms to their teacher. By School Board Policy and SC Comprehensive Health Education Law, students who exempt sexual health & responsibility education will be required to complete other health-related self-study lessons. Additional information may be found at the GCS PE/Health Website.
Community Health Fair @ PWCC
All are invited to the Community Health Fair on January 21st at the Phillis Wheatley Community Center. Check out the many health and wellness vendors! The Phoenix Center will be on hand with the ECHO Stimulation Trailer and representatives from 9Rounds will provide live 15min workout session. No doubt kids and adults alike will have lots of fun! Hope to see you there!
4K Application Window for 2023-24 Year
In order for our Griffins to start their education on the right foot, we encourage participation in our high quality, full day 4K program! 4K Pre-Registration began January 9, 2023. If you know of anyone in our community who will be four years old on or before September 1, 2023, spread the word! #CreatingConnections #WholeChild
How to Apply:
Dates: January 9-March 10, 2023.
There are two ways parents can complete the application for their child. You can visit the Parent section of this website and set up a Backpack account. Once it’s set up, open the Backpack account, look for “Enroll A Student,” and follow the instructions.
For families that do not have internet access, the application can be completed at each school. Parents are urged to bring all the required documents when they visit the school. Children do not have to live in the school attendance area to apply at that location.
About the At-Risk 4K Program:
The GCS 4K program provides high quality, rigorous instruction in early reading, early math, and social-emotional skills using the SC Early Learning Standards. Students attend 7:45-2:15. The GCS Virtual Program is not available to 4K students. Children must be four years old on or before September 1, 2023 to be considered for this free program, beginning August 2023.
For more information, please email 4K@greenville.k12.sc.us or call 864-452-0437.
January is National Mentoring Month
Support a Griffin & Become a Mentor! Sterling School has a partnership 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 are willing to volunteer 30 minutes of your time weekly, we need you!
If you are interested in serving as a mentor, please complete the interest survey found HERE! We will follow-up with training information and other pertinent details. For any questions, email Mrs. Lindsay Berry (school counselor).
Can You Serve as a Substitute?
At Sterling School, we have amazing substitute teachers. These dedicated individuals help ensure that our school operates smoothly when a classroom teacher is absent. However, as a result of the pandemic, like most schools our list of active subs is short.
If you are able to help serve as a substitute for Sterling School and 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 or connect you with current substitutes who can answer any of your questions. 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!
We Need YOU! Volunteer Training
Thinking of chaperoning a field trip, becoming a room parent, 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.
Girls on the Run: 3rd-5th Grade Program
Registration for Girls on the Run (3rd-5th Grade Program) opened January 2nd. If any parent or community member is willing and interested to serve as a coach with Dr. Rucker during one of the two programs, please email Dr. Kylee Rucker.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW (For more information, CLICK HERE!)
- The Spring 2023 season registration will be open until February 14, 2023.
- The season will begin the week of February 6.
- Our standard schedule is to practice 2x a week for 10 weeks, but schedules will vary by site
- A season-culminating 5K event is scheduled for April 22, 2023 at Clemson University's ICAR Campus, 5 Research Drive in Greenville, SC 29607
GCS Flu/Covid Drive-through Testing Sites
Starting Monday, November 28, there will be free, drive-through testing for both Flu and Covid-19 provided at three locations. GCS students, employees, and their household contacts can get tested. Results will be provided in approximately 1 hour. An important change from last year: parents and employees are responsible for reporting any positive results directly to the school or their supervisor. DHEC has again contracted Mako Medical to administer the testing, and the three sites are the same as last year: Fountain Inn High School, MT Anderson Support Center, and Northside Park. All of the information has been updated on the GCS website, which includes flyers in both English and Spanish.
There are some notable changes from the process last year:
- They will test for both Flu and Covid-19: one swab, two tests.
- In addition to GCS students and employees, household contacts of both students and employees can get tested at these sites for free.
- Results will be provided in approximately 1 hour.
- It is the parent’s responsibility to report positive results to the school, and employees must report positive results to their supervisor. GCS will not be automatically alerted to the results.
- Pre-registering will help expedite the testing process.
- Be sure to check the flyer before going to a site. The flyer will reflect the latest information and reflect any updates such as changes in hours, location closures, etc.
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