The Weekly Griffin
January 20th - #BuildingABetterGriffin #LevelUP
Sterling School/CTC Jr. Betas Shine @ State Convention
We are so proud of our Jr. Betas who traveled last week to the State Convention to compete with other schools across our state. Collectively, our students received 14 awards! They had a wonderful time and exemplified #GriffinPRIDE!
Junior Awards (Middle School):
- Black & White Photography -1st, Nahvia Spadafora
- Jewelry - 3rd, Natalia Lopez
- Math - 1st, Aedan Honohan
- Language Arts - 1st, Ellie Bryant
- Apparel Design - 1st, Megan Gillen, Olivia Lu, Julia Pascoe, Emma Turgeon & Elaine Wang
- Technology - 1st, Kathryn Carlson & Lily Sommer
Elementary:
- Science - 1st, Jeremiah Eller
- Jewelry - 1st, Grace Dredge
- Language Arts - 3rd, Coco Shum
- Color Photography - 2nd, Griffin Lesher
- Recycled Art - 4th, Grace Dredge
- Quiz Bowl - 2nd, Nicky Arzt, Antony Manavalan, Anna Claire Tuten & Darby Burdette (Coached by Chris Arzt)
- Book Battle - 3rd, Eli Wagner, Spencer Page & Sara Middleton
- Fiber Arts - 2nd, Coco Shum
Many thanks to our faculty sponsors and parent chaperones for making this opportunity possible! #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
What's Ahead...
- January 22 - Pancakes with the Principals***
- January 22 - 4K Registration Opens (thru March 20th)
- January 24 - Q2 Report Cards Go Home
- January 24 - SIC Meeting (Open To All), 8:30am
- January 25 - All-State Band Auditions
- January 29 - Parent Information Series Session: (Re: Math, See Info Below); 12:15-12:45
- January 30 - 4th & 5th Career Day; 8:15-10:20am: Able to Volunteer?
- January 31 - Families for Lunch
- January 31 - Last Day to Nominate 8th Grade Student for ACE Award: More Info?
- February 3 - After School PTA Painting Event; 3:30-5:00pm: Register Here
- February 27 - SAVE THE DATE: Black History Celebration; 6:30-7:30pm
***Pancakes with Principals Reminder: Students who participated in Sterling School’s Winter Reading Challenge were given tickets to our Pancakes with Principals Breakfast this week. Please remind your child to bring his/her ticket and NOT to eat a regular school breakfast that morning. We look forward to celebrating Winter Reading!
Students Receive High Marks in Math Competition
In November, some of our 4th through 8th grade students participated in the American Mathematics Competition. The results have just been released and our school had great scores! Brandon Xu and Eric Shi had the highest scores for the school and in the state with 21 correct questions! Atharva Shah earned a 19 and the combined score of Brandon, Eric and Atharva earned the school a Merit Roll honor for having a combined score in the top 5% of schools taking the test. Other outstanding scorers were Stephanie Hu with an 18 and Grace Qin with a 17. #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild #LevelUP
Planning for DownTOWNES
The CTC DownTOWNES program for grades 6-8 will take place on April 29, 30 and May 1 2020. DownTOWNES is a three-day learning experience where we use Greenville as our classroom so that our middle school students can make connections by discovering and exploring the real-world environments around them.
Since many of the activities are off-campus, we ask that there are no late-arrivals or early dismissals during DownTOWNES. Please take this into consideration as you are making doctor appointments.
In order for this event to happen, parent help will be needed! Keep an eye out for volunteer requests from the middle school team.
We're also looking for help in other ways:
- Do you have an interesting career that you'd love to talk about with our students? We're looking for speakers who can share information and ideally have a hands-on activity.
- Our 8th graders will be going out into the community to volunteer on Friday, May 1st. Do you know of an organization that could use the help of some 13-14-years olds for a few hours?
If you have any questions or can help with DownTOWNES, please contact Linda Reynolds at lreynold@greenville.k12.sc.us
4K Pre-Registration: Begins January 22nd!
In order for our Griffins to start their education on the right foot, we encourage participation in our high quality, full day 4K program! To be considered, children must turn four-years-old on or before September 1, 2020. Parents may pre-register at any district elementary school or child development center UNTIL MARCH 20, 2020. Pre-registration will NOT be accepted after March 20th. Children do not have to live in the school attendance area to pre-register at that location. Pre-registration does not guarantee enrollment in a GCS 4K program. Notification of 4K acceptance will be mailed to parents late March 2018. PLEASE NOTE: 4K screening will be held for pre-registered children April 1-3, 2020.
Parent Information Series
Session Description: Have you ever felt frustrated when trying to help your child complete his/her math homework? What are these new math strategies and why are we using them? This session hopes to alleviate some of your stress related to “new age” math concepts. Session will apply mostly to parents of 3rd-5th graders, but is open to everyone.
To view upcoming session, CLICK HERE!
MyEnergyKit.org
Join the other 81 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?
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run will start back soon (Feb. 10th). See flyer (CLICK HERE) for details.
New Program for 6th-8th Grade Girls!
This spring, Sterling/CTC is excited to offer Heart and Sole... the middle school version of Girls On the Run!!
Heart and Sole inspires girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Trained coaches lead small teams through the research-based curricula which includes dynamic discussions, activities and running games. Over the course of the ten-week program, girls develop essential skills to help them navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. The program culminates with girls positively impacting their community through a service project and being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K event.
DATES: February 10 - April 25
DAYS: Tuesdays & Thursdays
TIME: 3:00 - 4:30pm
FEE: Sliding scale based on financial need
Register online starting TOMORROW (Mon Jan 13) at www.gotrupstatesc.org.
Questions? Contact Ms. Rucker.
Think Move Chess Academy
It's not too late! Chess Club starts back THIS FRIDAY, Jan. 24th
Get your registration forms in by Wednesday!
Need more information: Call or email Ms. Foulkes
864-355-4477
Save the Date: GSSM Summer Camp Returns to Sterling!
iTeams Xtreme for current 5th-7th grade students
June 15-18, 8:30am - 4:00pm
(Micro)control Your World!
Dive into microcontrollers and their applications through one of two tracks:
Arduino & Robotics
Explore the world of computational thinking and microcontrollers using Arduino technology and robotics. Learn how to program your very own microcontrolled robot and pit it against other students' robots in camp-wide competitions such as Maze Runner and Robot Wars.
Arduino & the Internet of Things
Explore the world of programming with Arduino technology. Increase your programming skills while learning about digital communication, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things.
Applications open Feb. 13th, 2020 for iTeams Xtreme. Join the GSSM mailing list!
CREATEng for current 7th and 8th grade students
June 22-25, 8:30am - 4:00pm
Innovate. Design. Create.
CREATEng is GSSM’s one-of-a-kind engineering and design thinking day camp for rising 8th and 9th graders. Students take on the role of NASA engineers charged with developing a sustainable colony on Mars. Working through project-based, hands-on team challenges, students learn what engineering is and what engineers do. With a focus on civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering students work through a series of mini challenges from building windproof structures and protecting transportation with impenetrable wheels for the Rover, to using Arduino technology for greenhouse automation.
CREATEng students will interact with guest speakers and go on a field trip to a local company to see engineering in action.
Applications open Feb. 13th, 2020 for CREATEng. Join the GSSM mailing list!
'18 ACE Winners
'19 ACE Winners
ACE Awards Nominations Close January 31st!
The ACE Awards (Advocates for Character and Education) is an annual award given to 72 male and female students from each of the 35 Greenville County middle and high schools. This award is designed to honor true “unsung heroes” who all too often are not recognized for their accomplishments. The selection process, established by Greenville County school counselors, focuses on identifying and selecting students who often go unnoticed for one reason or another, but have accomplished great things in their community, church or school.
If you would like to nominate a Greenville County 8th or 12th grader, please or go online to coaches4character.com and click the nominate button at the top of the page. All nominations must be submitted by January 31, 2019. An ACE Awards Advisory Committee at each school will choose finalists from among those nominated to complete an application for the ACE Award. One male and one female will be chosen from each middle and high school in Greenville County. All ACE award recipients will be recognized at the ACE Awards ceremony in the spring.
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. And if you're ready to jump in, you can sign up for an upcoming training session! (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 via email or (864) 355-4480.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
Students Selected for All-State Orchestra
Violin: Jaimie Park,
Violas: Kai Tucker, Johnny Buck
Cellos: Sierra Kremenliev, Griffin Jones, Leran Fu
Bass: Mark Beraho
The performance will be on Sunday, February 23 at Wade Hampton High School. #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild #LevelUP
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