Griffins Connect
January 3rd #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
Happy New Year, Sterling School! #Welcome2021
We hope everyone had a wonderful winter break. While 2020 brought each of us difficulty and challenge, we look forward to a brighter 2021! Continued good work — just as necessary, important, and difficult — lies ahead for us all as we move into the new year. As always, we are grateful for your constant encouragement and support.
As you are probably aware, South Carolina DHEC continues to report very high number of COVID-19 cases throughout our community. However, comparatively, the number of cases in our schools remain low and are thus safer. As previously stated, it is most likely that individual schools within the district would be moved to eLearning based on each school’s unique situation. While we understand that tomorrow's return of full-time, in-person instruction has generated a variety of concerns, we are asking for everyone's continued support. Here are some ways you can help:
- Please keep your student at home if they display any of the following symptoms: cough or shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing; fever (of 100.4 or higher) or chills; muscle or body aches; vomiting or diarrhea; or, new loss of taste or smell.
- Report any known positive COVID-19 exposures and positive cases immediately to Dr. Patterson.
- If you are able and willing, consider serving as a substitute at our school. (See additional information below.) Without the needed personnel, we cannot operate our school.
- Model and communicate COVID protocols so our students are more likely to follow your example: wear a mask when in public, avoid large gatherings, frequently wash or sanitize hands and high-touch surfaces, stay home and away from others when sick,
Thank you, again, for your continued support of our school.
Dr. P.
What's Ahead...
This Week...
- Friday, January 8th: Winter Break Reading Logs Due to Homeroom Teacher
- Friday, January 8th: School Spirit Day (Wear a Sterling/CTC shirt or school colors)
Looking Ahead...
- Friday, January 15th: End of 2nd Quarter
- Monday, January 18th: MLK Jr. Holiday (No School)
- Thursday, January 21st: 2nd Quarter Report Cards
Sterling Students Shine at Recent Orchestra Event
CONGRATULATIONS to the following 20 Sterling School orchestra students who received a rating of Superior, Excellent, or Good at the recent South Carolina Music Educators Association's Winter Virtual Solo & Ensemble event. Students were required to submit a video to an unlisted YouTube channel to be adjudicated by professional musicians. With the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the SCMEA Orchestra Division decided to have a virtual Solo and Ensemble in the winter and spring. #SterlingSchoolWeGotThis #WholeChild #BuildingABetterGriffin
#WholeChild Leadership: Sterling School Counselors Receive Advanced Training
Nicole Benvenuto is now an accredited Triple P practitioner. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program is one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs in the world. Triple P provides parents with a variety of strategies to help them build strong and healthy relationships with their children while also teaching them skills to confidently manage their children’s behavior. Ms. Benvenuto participated in extensive training over the summer and successfully passed the accreditation required to become a practitioner in September of this year. Triple P is currently used in more than 25 countries and has been shown to work across cultures, socio-economic groups, and in many different kinds of family structures.
Casey Noble is now a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor. This certification puts Mrs. Noble on the frontline of the program, training educators and others in our community in MHFA. MHFA is a course that teaches others how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses. The training gives the skills needed to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis.
Ms. Kamaria Downs Selected as PEP Teaching Fellow
Congratulations to 2nd grade teacher, Kamaria Downs, for her selection as a Public Education Partners (PEP) Teacher Fellows. Ms. Downs states, "I'm excited about diving in and sharing my experience and resources with my colleagues and others."
Teacher Fellows is a half-year (December-June) policy and advocacy fellowship for Greenville County Schools educators. The inaugural cohort is comprised of 12 educators from all over the district. Participants meet to learn from experts, discuss education policy in South Carolina, and develop advocacy skills.
January Lunch Menu
Return of Middle School Students: Plan 5
Following winter break, and assuming it is safe to do so, all middle school students will return to plan 5. Whether you are an in-person student or virtual student, middle school students will no longer be e-learning on Fridays. In-person students will be joining us in the building all 5 days. Virtual students will be following their course schedule on Fridays, just as they have been on Monday-Thursday. If you have any questions, please contact any of the teachers, Ms. Noble, and/or Mr. Murphy.
#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!
CTC Student Newspaper: Latest Edition
Extra, Extra, Read All About It! The tenth edition of the CTC Student Newspaper, our school's student newspaper, is out! (CLICK HERE!)
A student newspaper teaches and reinforces a lot of skills that will benefit students today and tomorrow. Students who participate in a student newspaper learn a lot of workplace skills such as management, meeting deadlines, and communicating with others. School newspapers also enforce a need for teamwork.
Thank you, in advance, for supporting our students by taking a few minutes to read and admire their work! #BuildingABetterGriffin #WholeChild
ACE Awards Accepting Nominations
The Coaches for Character ACE Awards (Advocates for Character and Education) is an annual award given to 74 male and female students from each of the 36 Greenville County middle and high schools. Nominations for ACE Awards will be accepted through February 8, 2021. CLICK HERE to nominate a student. Students can be nominated by faculty and staff, parents, community members, and other students. This year, it will honor one male and one female from each middle and high school in grades 8 and 12 who are considered the true “unsung heroes” in their schools. These are students who might go unnoticed for one reason or another, students who are role models, who work hard and give their best effort, students who are all too often not recognized for their accomplishments, or students who demonstrate unusual commitment to academics despite various obstacles.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
2020 Winter Break Reading Challenge
Join us for our Winter Break Reading Challenge! K4 through 8th Grade Participants who complete our challenge will enjoy PANCAKES WITH THE PRINCIPALS!
- Kindergartners (4K & 5K) are asked to complete the Penguin/Snowball page. (CLICK HERE!)
- Students in Grades 1-8 are asked to complete the Candy Cane page. (CLICK HERE!)
NOTE: For the form to count, it needs to be completed between December 18 & January 3. Just follow the directions including a parent’s signature. All forms are due to homeroom teachers by Friday, January 8, 2020.
We would also love for you to share pictures of your child as he or she participates in this year's Challenge. Use #SterlingReads2020 within your Facebook/Twitter posts and we'll share them on our school's page. You can also send a direct message or simply email Dr. Patterson. Happy Holidays & Happy Reading!
2020 Band & Strings Winter Concert
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