The Weekly Griffin
September 2nd - #BuildingABetterGriffin #LevelUP
What's Ahead...
- September 2 - Labor Day (No School for Students)
- September 5 - Families for Lunch
September 6 - Summer Reading Celebration (for qualifying students)
September 7 - Butterfly Garden Work Day; 9:00-12:00pm (All ages welcome)
September 10 - SIC Nominations Due (by 4:00pm)
September 12 - Attractions Fundraiser Kick-Off (Middle School)
September 12 - CTC Program Night, 5:00-7:30pm
September 13 - Dot Day/Spirit Day
September 13 - SIC, 8:30am
Week 3 Reminders
While our morning and afternoon car line continue to improve, we ask everyone to please adhere to the following routines and procedures. Doing so will ensure the safety of our students and increase the overall efficiency of our car lines.
Morning Drop-Off
- Do not let your child unload before school doors open at 7:25am.
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.)
Upon entering the driveway, make sure that your child's book bag is closed, breakfast items are consumed, and he/she is fully ready to unload.
Follow the directions of all Sterling School Staff and/or law enforcement officers while on campus. Please do not access the school by way of Tanners or the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center.
Afternoon Pick-Up
- We attempt to load the full length of the sidewalk. Please proceed as far as you can and, if necessary, encourage your child to walk down the sidewalk to your car.
- Remember to have your dismissal tags with you, visible on the dashboard until your child has loaded.
- All cars must turn right as they exit the parking lot/car line.
- Follow the directions of all Sterling School Staff and/or law enforcement officers while on campus. Please do not access the school by way of Tanners or the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. Please do not make a u-turn upon your immediate exit from the school (in the Tanners parking lot).
Here are a few other general reminders:
- Our doors will open at 7:25am. The tardy bell rings at 8:00am.
- While breakfast is free to all students, breakfast is not served after 7:50am.
- Students are asked not to bring breakfast from local restaurants into the building.
- No early dismissals after 2:00pm. To ensure a safe, efficient dismissal, we ask that parents sign their child out before 2:00pm.
- For any student who is absent from school, all notes (parent or medical) must be provided within 2 days of the student's return to be excused.
- To be counted "present"... Elementary students must attend at least 3 hours of the instructional day; in middle school, students must attend at least 30 minutes of each class period.
Educators Who Make a Difference
Upstate Parent magazine is seeking nominations for their annual “Educators Who Make a Difference” edition. Nominations must be made using the online form found here. Please submit your nominations by October 18. You may nominate more than one person, but may not nominate the same person more than once. Please share with PTA, SIC, your school website or other newsletters.
Sterling School SIC
Last week, information regarding Sterling School SIC, along with the nomination form, was sent in your child's Thursday Folder. (Or you can access here!) Nominations to serve on this year's council are due by 4:00pm on Tuesday, September 10th. Ballots will be prepared and voting will occur from September 16th until 4:00pm on September 30th.
If you have any questions, you are encouraged to contact Dr. Patterson or SIC Chair, Julie Cain Cwynar. Thank you, in advance, for your willingness to serve our students, parents, and school community.
Curriculum Highlight: 6th Grade SmartARTS
Ms. Johnston's 6th grade English classes are excited to welcome spoken word poet and performance artist Moody Black beginning next week as part of their SmartARTS arts integration unit. For eight class periods during the months of September and October, Mr. Black will be assisting students with writing identity poems and performing poetry in an open mic setting. Students will reflect on who they are as people, as well as their personal strengths, gifts, and talents through this engaging, supportive unit.
2019-2020 Parent Information Series
**Any Sterling School parent, Sterling Program or CTC, is invited and encouraged to attend.**
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Time: 9:45am - 10:15am
Topic: Issues & Trends in G/T Education
Presented By: Jennifer Johnston & Sara Newell
Would you like to know more about the world of Gifted Education? Are you curious about how leaders and research impact your child’s classroom experience? This session will include information about nationwide trends in gifted education and how those trends are impacting instruction. We will also include strategies to help you effectively advocate for your gifted child.
Middle School Yearbook
2019 Sterling School Talent Show
Sterling School's Annual Talent Showcase will be held on Thursday, October 24th at 6:30pm. Students in grade 3-8 who would like to audition may pick up a form between August 28 – September 13 from Ms. Reynolds or the front office. In order to audition for the Talent Show, you MUST complete an audition form. Forms are due back by Sep. 18th. Each act should be no longer than two minutes. Auditions dates are October 1, 3, and 4. 2019. Auditions will be scheduled based on your requested date. All students will remain at school on their audition day until 4:00.
The Talent Show is sponsored by the Jr. Beta Club and is a fundraiser for Jr. Beta activities. Admission is a suggested $3.00 donation.
Attendance Awareness Month
DID YOU KNOW?
Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) increases the chance that your student will not read or master math at the same level as their peers.
Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Set a regular bed time and morning routine.
Prepare for school the night before, finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
Don’t let your student stay home unless they are truly sick. If you question this, feel free to bring them to our school nurse for a second opinion.
Sterling School Club Spotlight
There are several new clubs this year – and more will be added! Keep an eye on the Club Page on our website for updates and information. Some clubs require fees for membership. If you need assistance with the payments, please contact the club sponsor.
This week, we are featuring two new clubs:
The Elementary School Drama Club
We are excited to announce this new drama club for students in grades 3-5. Teaching artists from the Greenville Little Theatre will guide students for through stage and drama and culminate with a performance on the Sterling School stage! No previous dramatic experience is necessary!
This 9-week program is limited to twenty students, and there is an application which includes teacher recommendations. The fee for this program is $60.00.
Applications are available from Ms. Helsel or Ms. Wallace and must be returned by September 5th. Members will be notified of acceptance into the program by September 11th. The first club meeting will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 18th.
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is a non-profit program that works to encourage girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games, culminating in a celebratory 5k run. Over a period of 10 weeks, girls in the 3rd through 5th grade can participate in an after-school program designed to allow every girl to recognize her inner strength. The Girls on the Run lessons encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. Participants explore and discuss their own beliefs around experiences and challenges girls face at this age. They also develop important strategies and skills to help them navigate life experiences. We start with helping the girls get a better understanding of who they are and what’s important to them. Then, we look at the importance of team work and healthy relationships. And, finally, the girls explore how they can positively connect with and shape the world.
Physical activity is woven into our program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and to build habits that lead to a lifetime of health. At the end of the three-month session, the girls participate in a Girls on the Run 5K event (Nov. 23rd). This celebratory, non-competitive event is the culminating experience of the curriculum. Completing the 5K gives the girls a tangible understanding of the confidence that comes through accomplishment as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. Crossing the finish line is a defining moment when the girls realize that even the seemingly impossible IS possible.
Our school sponsor is Ms. Rucker. Membership is open to girls in grades 3-5. Students will be required to fill out an application form online at this site: CLICK HERE!
Support a Sterling Classroom
CLICK HERE to check out our school's classroom projects!
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.
Meal Application
Each year, interested families must reapply for free/reduced lunch. The online application for Free/Reduced Price Lunch opened Thursday, August 1st. CLICK HERE for more information.
Completing the application online is the best method to signing up. If you would prefer to complete a paper version of the application, these will be available this week.
All parents are reminded that this year's carryover period ends October 2nd. At this time, if no qualifying application is on file, all students will default to "full pay." Also, any student owing more than $20.00 to the cafeteria will be given an alternate meal until the bill is paid.
If there are any questions, Mr. Glackin, Sterling School FANS Manager, will be available at Meet the Teacher to help navigate the application process.
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 These #WholeChild Moments!
PBIS: #BuildingABetterGriffin...Building A Better Sterling!
As the end of the first week, elementary students participated in a high-energy pep rally to officially recognize a major component of our school’s social-emotional framework: PBIS or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports! Students rallied together, participated in team building activities,and reviewed the expectations of our school’s five hot spots areas!
The purpose for PBIS is to create and sustain a positive school community where everyone feels respected, understands their responsibilities and experiences success in all school environments. PBIS is a prevention-oriented framework that allows educators to use evidence-based practices to create and sustain positive, effective and culturally-inclusive environments that support academic and social success for all students.
This week, you’ll find more on our home/school partnership regarding PBIS in your child’s Thursday folder. This is just one more example of how we’re working to #BuildABetterGriffin! #WholeChild #LevelUP
#LevelUP: New Honors Course Approved
Did you know? Long time parents of CTC students are likely aware that our middle school offers a variety of high school credit courses at the honors level, including English I, Algebra I, and Geometry. What you may not know is that thanks to a change in policy at the South Carolina Department of Education, the Greenville County School Board of Trustees has now approved us to also offer Spanish II, Orchestra I, Band I, and Art I at the honors level. We are excited about the opportunities this affords our students and we will continue to advocate for these types of options for our students!
2019-2020 Sterling School Club Information
Interested in finding a club? Here are some of the 2019-2020 clubs offered at Sterling School. Information will be up soon on the school website. Students can contact the club sponsor for information. (Some require fees and applications.)
● Art Club (Grades 4-5) This club is for dedicated and engaged students who love ART! Meets: Selected Mondays, once per month Sponsors: Ms. Harrington, Ms. Spitler
● Art Honor Society (Grades 7-8) This Club bridges students who are passionate about ART with the community. See Ms. Harrington or Ms. Spitler for details.
● Battle of the Books (BoB) (Grades 4-5) This is a District-sponsored competition. Interested
students begin reading the ten BoB books once the list is announced district-wide around the start of September. Informational meeting Sep. 4th, 2:30-3:00 in the Media Center. Meets: TBD, Sponsor: Ms. Matthews
● Chess Club (Grades 3-8) Students will work with Think Move Chess Academy to learn chess and enhance their academic and life skills. Meets every Friday from 2:45-4:00. Taking applications now for the fall session. Begins September 20th. Sponsors: Ms. Cooper, Ms. Foulkes
● Sterling Chorus (Grades 3-8) is a club for students who enjoy singing in a group to develop vocal technique and choral expression. Meets: Every Thursday 2:45-3:45. Sponsor: Dr. Robertson
● Creative Writing Club (Grades 5-8) Students have the opportunity to participate in interesting and fun activities that will help to develop their powers of expression in speech and particularly in writing. Application available from Ms. Newell. Meets first and third Tuesday of every month 2:45-3:30. Sponsor: Ms. Newell, Ms. K. Kelley
● Corner of Broadway & Hollywood - Drama/Film Club (Grades 6-8) Broadway & Hollywood is meant to give students the opportunity to participate in interesting and fun activities in all aspects of drama and film making. Meets every Monday 2:45-3:45. Sponsor: Ms. Bohnenberger
● Drama Club (Grades 3-5) - In partnership with the Greenville Little Theatre, students will learn stage craft and drama techniques. Meets every Wednesday Sep-Nov 2:45- 4:00 Sponsors: Ms. Helsel, Ms. Wallace
● Girls on the Run (Girls in Grades 3-5) Over a period of 10 weeks, girls in the 3rd through 5th grade participate in an after-school program to build habits that lead to a lifetime of health. Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays Sep 17 – Nov. 23 (5K on Saturday 2:30-4:15 Sponsor: Ms. Rucker
● Green Team (Jr. Beta members in grades 6-8) Students will help with the recycling needs around the school. Registration form available from Ms. Reynolds. Meets every Monday 2:45-3:15. Sponsors: Ms. Reynolds, Ms. Gordon
● Elementary Beta Club (Grades 4-5) Students who meet the membership requirements will promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, service and leadership. Membership is by invitation (distributed first quarter).
Meets once per quarter TBD. Sponsors: Ms. Dechau, Ms. Merritt, Ms. West
● Jr. Beta Club (Grades 6-8) As part of the National Beta club, members promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, service and leadership. Membership is by invitation (distributed by August 30).
Meets: Grade 6 meets 2nd Thursday of each month 2:45 - 3:45; Grades 7-8 meet 2nd Tuesday of each month 2:45 - 3:45. Sponsors: Ms. Reynolds, Ms. Cooper, and Ms. Newell
● Griffin Girls (Girls in grade 8) The purpose of Griffin Girls is to serve as an 8th grade girls mentorship program. We will encourage self-confidence and kindness in our young ladies, further equipping them to be prepared to take on their futures in such a way where they will be a positive impact on their communities and circles of influence. Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays 2:45-3:45. Sponsors: Ms. Hefner and Ms. Hoover
● Groovy Griffins (Grades 1 & 2) Students in 1st & 2nd grade will read a book one week and discuss and write a review the following week. During the meetings we will talk about the book and have a related hands-on activity. Limited to 10 students. Meets: Every Wednesday 7:30-7:55am
Sponsors: Candace Coffman, Kim Marchbanks, Christy Guth, Joyce Reed
● Lego Clubs (Grades 4-8) Lego clubs form in the Spring semester for the following school year. Lego teams are set for ‘19-’20. Contact: Ms. Emmel
● Library Cadets (Grades 5-8) Library Cadets deliver library materials, check out items, maintain an inviting environment conducive to learning, and promote library services. Must be able to work 1 morning or afternoon each week either from 7:40-7:55, 2:30-2:50 (5th grade) or 2:45-3:00 (middle school). Submit your name to Ms. Henry or Ms. Matthews if interested.
● Math Counts (Grades 5-6) MathCounts for 5th and 6th grade is a math club where students can learn material and techniques to be successful in math competitions. Meets Tuesdays 2:45-3:45. Sponsor: Ms. Gordon
● Math Counts (Grades 7-8) MathCounts for 7th and 8th grade is a math club where students can learn material and techniques to be successful in math competitions. Meets Thursdays 2:45-3:45. Sponsor: Ms. Gordon
● Math Olympiad (Grades 4 - 5) Math Olympiads is a club designed to foster enthusiasm and a love for Mathematics by discovering mathematical solutions. Application available from Ms. Nyvall.
Meets first and third Mondays 2:30 - 3:30. Sponsors: Ms. Nyvall and Ms. Laskowski
● Newspaper Club (Grades 6-8) Students will create a newspaper for CTC Middle school. Application available from Ms. Baiden and Ms. VanDommelen
Meets every Monday 2:45-3:30. Sponsors: Ms. Baiden, Ms. VanDommelen
● Relay for Life Team (Grades 3 - 8) The Relay for Life team raises money for the American Cancer Society. Members will participate in the Greenville Relay for Life event in May.
Meets Spring Semester (date/time TBD). Sponsor: Ms. Henry
● Safety Patrol (Grade 5) Students will open car doors and assist others out of their vehicles and direct them into the school in a safe and orderly fashion. Safety Patrols will be assigned to hallways to assist in keeping students safe by following Sterling Hallway expectations. See Ms. Nifong and Ms. Moretti for information.
● Spanish Club (Grades 6-8) To promote cross-cultural acceptance and understanding in students of Spanish and to encourage service to school and community. Application available from Sra. Goll and Sra. VanDommelen
Meets first Thursday of every month 2:45-3:45. Sponsors: Sra. Goll and Sra. VanDommelen
● Suzuki Strings Club-(Grades3-8) This club is a Suzuki Review club intended to be a review for students who already have string experience. Meets: Wednesdays 7:30am-7:55 am Sponsor:Mrs. Martin
● Youth in Government (grades 6-8) to educate students in the process of law making in SC State Government. YIG is a Model Legislature run by the YMCA. In YIG the students will be creating a bill which they will try and get passed in the House of Representatives and the State Senate at the conference in November. Meets every Tuesday (Sep-Dec) from 2:45-3:45. Sponsors: Ms. Bohnenberger and Ms. Broder
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