Griffins Connect
First Week Edition #CreatingConnections #WholeChild
Here We Go! #CreatingConnections
Last week, the Sterling School faculty and staff returned to the building, preparing their rooms and readying for the coming year. It was good to see each other, revisit our school's mission and goals, and plan for the days ahead. Here are a few things that occurred:
- We spent time with our new, incoming 3rd grade students and their families at Roper Mountain Science Center
- We enjoyed a delicious “Welcome Back Breakfast,” hosted by our wonderful PTA (Thank you!)
- We took part in a variety of instructional planning meetings to prepare for the coming year.
- We celebrated Dr. Kylee Rucker (Sterling’s 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year) at the district’s annual Teacher of the Year Breakfast
- We welcomed our families back to the building for two Meet-the-Teacher events
It was a great week! As we head into week one, we cannot wait to have our students back! Together, we will #CreateConnections and more #WholeChild experiences that will ensure that every child reaches his or her full potential. If we can ever be of support to you and your family, please reach out to us. And to the 2022-2023 school year, the Sterling School community is coming for you!
Learning Together,
Dr. Josh Patterson
What's Ahead...
August 15: First Day of School (Parents may walk students into school - this day only)
August 15: PTA Sip, Sob, & Shout; Media Center, 7:30-8:30am (for all parents!)
August 23: Summer Reading Logs Due
September 2: Nat'l College Colors Day (wear the colors of your favorite college/university)
September 5: Labor Day Holiday (No School)
Meet Officer Mitchell
Hey everyone -
I am Officer Mitchell with the City of Greenville Police Department. I will be joining Sterling as the first assigned School Resource Officer! I bring with me ten years of Law Enforcement experience. I am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to Sterling School. I hope to become an asset for all students, parents, and staff within the school. I look forward to meeting everyone this upcoming school year!
Sterling School In The News!
Middle School Yearbook Information
Middle School Yearbook
It's yearbook time! The middle school yearbook is on sale now, and is currently discounted at $35. If parents order by 9/16 and buy the $7 personalization, then they can get 4 FREE icons. Click the image or LINK to order. Contact Ms. Baiden with questions: dbaiden@greenville.k12.sc.us
8TH GRADE ADS
8th grade parents: honor your 8th grader with a personalized ad in the middle school yearbook! Ads are due by 12/15, but it's never too early to start thinking about what you want to write and what pictures you want to use. Click the imagine or LINK for pricing options. Contact Ms. Baiden with questions: dbaiden@greenville.k12.sc.us
8TH GRADE BABY PICTURES
8th grade parents, please send in a baby picture of your 8th grader for the portrait page of the yearbook. Email a digital image of the baby picture such as a JPG or GIF; the image will be of the student's face/head, so close-ups are best. Baby pictures are due by 10/28. Email pictures to Ms. Baiden: dbaiden@greenville.k12.sc.us
NEW 3RD GRADE A.R.M.E.S. MUSIC PROGRAM
The A.R.M.E.S PROGRAM (Arts Reaching Middle and Elementary Schools) is a
tuition-free, rigorous artistically gifted and talented program.
A.R.M.E.S is expanding by establishing a new music pathway that will provide students in grades 3-5 with an in-depth study of developing aural skills, sight singing, ear training, music theory, and other music topics that extend well beyond what is provided in an elementary music class. When these students transition into middle school, they will elect to focus on either orchestra, band, or chorus and will be provided master class-type instruction through the ARMES program.
Since this is a new program and is being built from the ground up, only students who are in the 3rd grade during the 2022-2023 school year may be nominated at this time. We will layer in one grade level at a time until the program is fully
up and running across 3rd-8th grade over the next several years:
Window to nominate a rising third grader to audition for the new music program is August 8 - September 12, 2022
4K Staggered Start
4K students will begin the 2022-23 school year on a staggered schedule. For the week of August 15-19, your child will attend on the day scheduled below. This is to allow for readiness assessments and provide more one-on-one support. Beginning the week of August 22nd, all students will report for the typical five day week. For more information on the 2022-2023 4K calendar, CLICK HERE! If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Forman and/or Tara Mendes.
4K Staggered Start Schedule - LAST NAME:
- A-C - Monday, August 15
- D-J - Tuesday, August 16
- K-P - Wednesday, August 17
- R-T- Thursday, August 18
- U-Z - Friday, August 19
Morning & Afternoon Traffic Procedures
At Sterling School, safety is our first priority. As parents, your help is requested with morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. As a reminder, an extra level of patience is requested during the first couple weeks of school. We promise, things will improve! In an effort to maximize safety while still maintaining a reasonably speedy car line, we ask that you please adhere to the following procedures for morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal:
AM Drop-off:
Model proper safety procedures for your children (wear your seatbelt, do not text while operating your motor vehicle, etc.).
Please move through the morning and afternoon car line with extreme caution.
Do not use your cell phones or other electronic devices while in the car line.
As you arrive to campus, ensure that your child is ready to unload before you reach the awning/sidewalk (i.e. bookbag ready, shoes on, etc.).
Do not let your child unload before school doors open at 7:10am.
In the morning, we ask all car riders to exit the full length of the awning. (Parents who wait to drop off at the front of the school cause the line to back up and result in unnecessary delays.)
Middle school students should be dropped off in the back bus loop (Watch out for buses. They are less maneuverable than cars.)
Elementary students (K4-5th) must drop off in the front car loop. (This includes carpools with both elementary & middle students.)
Any middle school students being dropped off at or after 7:45 must be dropped off in the front car line.
Parents should not use Tanner’s or the Phillis Wheatley parking lots for morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up.
Follow the directions of all Sterling School Staff and/or law enforcement officers while on campus.
Once inside the building, students should report to the cafeteria for breakfast or to the hallway of their respective grade.
PM Pick-up:
Model proper safety procedures for your children (wear your seatbelt, do not text while operating your motor vehicle, etc.).
Please move through the car line with extreme caution.
Elementary pick-up begins at 2:15; middle school pick-up begins at 2:30.
Cars will be expected to load along the full length of the sidewalk/awning.
All cars must turn right as they exit the parking lot/car line.
Elementary pick-up should line up in the right-hand pickup lane upon entry. Middle school pick-up should line up in the left-hand lane upon entry beginning at 2:30.
Elementary students will be called from their classrooms, which means they could take 5-7 minutes to exit the building.
Middle school students will be dismissed at 2:30. Keep in mind they may need to visit their lockers or the restroom, so they may not exit the building for 5-7 minutes.
[Important Note!] Middle school parents, please do not arrive before 2.30. This causes the line to back up to the road and blocks elementary parents from getting through.
Middle school students who carpool (with middle or elementary students) should utilize the back bus loop and enter from Faris Road. All other middle school students should use the front traffic loop.
Follow the directions of all Sterling School Staff and/or law enforcement officers while on campus.
**Administration reserves the right to revise these procedures in the event that they present unforeseen problems or concerns**
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!
After School Program Help Needed!
Creating Connections: 22-23 Theme
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! As we start a new school year, I encourage you to reflect on your personal experience as a K-12 student and think of a favorite teacher, coach, or mentor. You’re likely to think of someone who made a special, meaningful connection, someone who gave of their time or took a vested interest. Perhaps they provided a safe space that allowed you to be yourself or created an environment for you to thrive. Maybe they weren’t the easiest of teachers but set high expectations and designed challenging instruction. Regardless of how the connection was achieved, these individuals inspired and encouraged us to be our best.
If we learned anything over the past 2.5 years, we gained a fresh perspective on the importance of meaningful connections. Our experience during the global pandemic, and the collective loss we shared, underscores the significance of human connections. Furthermore, a strong home-school partnership has been repeatedly proven to have a significant impact on a student’s overall success.
As we work together to build a strong home-school partnerships that supports each student and creates meaningful connections, let’s commit to the following:
Meet the unique needs of all students through collaborative partnerships with educators, peers, parents, and the greater community. #TogetherIsBetter
Create a safe place to take risks with productive, supportive struggle. #GrowthMindset
Acknowledge the strengths AND weaknesses of every student as adult partners work in care, compassion, and authenticity. #OpenAndHonest
In addition to academic skills, place equal emphasis on the non-cognitive skills (aka soft skills) such as communication, team work, conflict resolution, problem solving, and flexibility. #SoftSkillsAreNotSoft
As we head into another year, filled with its own unique experiences and challenges, let us be intentional about the work of creating meaningful connections. Together, we can establish a powerful sense of belonging and unlock the full potential of every child! If we can ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Learning Together,
Dr. P.
Student Planners/Agendas
Planners/Agendas are only required for CTC grades 3-6. Students in 7th and 8th can purchase a planner of your choosing or choice. Ms. Foulkes has a few extras available if you would like to purchase one from the school.
Readers Are Leaders! #FightTheSummerSlide
Here, you will find Sterling School's Summer Reading Challenge information. Reading Logs are due Tuesday, August 23rd.
Sterling in the News: School Safety Update
Now, through a grant provided by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, our students and school community will have the opportunity to form yet one more relationship with a trusted adult. We are grateful for the opportunity to strengthen our commitment to the #WholeChild and specifically to the tenets of Safe and Supported.
Support a Griffin & Become a Mentor!
The 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! Near the start of the 2022-2023 school year, we will follow-up with training information and other pertinent details. For any questions, email Mrs. Lindsay Berry (school counselor).
Grade Level Supply Lists
School Supply Drive
The Sterling School Counseling Department will graciously accept donations of any item on the Back to School lists. The items below are especially needed. Please consider donating gently used (or new!!) books bags, as these are regularly in need. Just drop any items off in the front office. Below is a list of needed supplies:
- Pencils
- Cap erasers/pink erasers
- Composition notebooks
- Washable markers
- Pencil boxes & pouches
- Crayons
- 2 pocket folders
- Binders
- Elmer's glue
- Colored pencils
- Pens
- Small safety scissors
- Spiral bound note books
- Highlighters
- Tissues
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.
Community Partnership Directory
[CLICK HERE for COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP DIRECTORY]
To further our school's #WholeChild mission, the faculty at Sterling School & Charles Townes Center seeks to provide students with relevant, real-world experiences. Therefore, we need various experts with professional experiences to engage our students. As a district, our Graduation Plus emphasis strives to ensure that all students are career and college ready. Exposing our students to various careers and professions within the context of meaningful, hands-on learning will strengthen our school's instructional program.
As we look to next school year, if you are willing to partner with us, we are seeking parents with various expertise. We are looking for representation from all types of careers. As a school, we will utilize the database when seeking experts to support career days and various curriculum units. If you are willing to be added to our expert directory, please complete the following Google Form (CLICK HERE!). #WholeChild
Register for Extended Day Program
Open registration is now closed for the after school program. Please email Maxi Henry, starting August 9th, if you would like to register. Most grades still have open spots, but you will need to contact her to obtain the registration form. Please email Mrs. Henry with any questions.
PTA Carpool List
Are you interested in carpooling next year? CLICK HERE to join PTA’s 2022-2023 Carpool List! The spreadsheet will be updated each week as new families join through the summer and fall.
Health Room Info
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or special information that you need to discuss about your child, please visit our nurse, Heather Garrison, or call the health room at 355-4687.
2022-2023 School Meals & FANS Info
The federal government allowed schools to offer free meals to all students during the pandemic, but Congress did not extend this benefit for next school year. Families that are eligible for free or reduced-price meals must apply to receive them, and all other students must pay full price ($2.50) for their lunches. Breakfast is provided free of charge to all Greenville County students, regardless of their meal status.
The online application process for free and reduced-price meals is now live and can be accessed here http://greenville.schoollunchapp.com.
Hard copies of the meal applications will be available during your back to school event. However, the online application process is the most efficient method to apply for these meal benefits. Apply HERE. If you have filled out an application prior to July 5, 2022 you will need to complete another application for the 2022-2023 school year.
Girls on the Run: Heart & Sole Middle School Program
Heart & Sole considers the whole person: body, brain, heart, spirit and social connection. Heart & Sole offers an inclusive place of belonging, where girls feel supported and inspired to explore their emotions, cultivate empathy and strengthen their physical and emotional health. At the end of the season, all participants complete a 5K.
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