The Weekly Griffin
Week of March 25, 2018
CTC Spotlight: Curiosity Project
As any parent of a preschool—or elementary school-age—child can attest, children are born with a natural sense of curiosity. It is this innate sense of wonder that will lead and support our students' lifelong journeys of discovery and learning. At the Sterling School, we not only allow for our students' inquisitiveness, but also foster and support this powerful, often untapped potential. One of the most effective strategies for promoting inquiry and student engagement in Third Grade is Curiosity Project.
During Curiosity Project, students are invited to choose a topic of great, personal interest. As they explore their topic, questions generated about the topic furthers their learning. After time is given to research, students take what they have learned and present their finding in a creative display or format.
When students are given ownership of their learning through investigation and discovery, they not only guide their own learning but also become the expert within their own unique community of learners. At its core, Curiosity Project, does not lead students to become passive consumers; rather, this unique instructional approach should encourage students to become passionate generators of information and knowledge. #GriffinPride #WholeChild
What's Ahead...
- March 26 - Last day for Readcycle Book Swap drop-off
- March 26-30 - Spirit Week Calendar (CLICK HERE!)
- March 28-30 - Readcycle shop open in Media Center
- April 2-6 - Spring Break
Relay for Life Spirit Week: March 26-30
Please join us in supporting the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life during Spirit Week.
Dress up days:
- Monday 3/26: Support the Relay theme "May the Cure be With You" - dress as a character from Star Wars
- Tuesday 3/27: Twinning Tuesday - find a friend (or a group) and dress identical
- Wednesday 3/28: Awareness Wednesday - wear purple for Relay or another color to support your friends and family
- Thursday 3/29: Team Spirit Day - Support your favorite team - dodgeball or other
- Friday 3/30 : Tacky Tourist Day - Kick off Spring Break and dress like a tacky tourist
Activities:
- Tuesday 3/27: Middle School Lip Sync Battle
- 3pm -5pm - Wonder movie showing in the gym (forms & money due back by 3/26; contact Ms. Henry if you have any questions)
- Thursday 3/29: 3pm- 4pmish -Dodgeball Tournament Admission $3.00
- Friday 3/30: 7:15am- until we run out - Chick-Fil-A Biscuit Sale $3.00ea
Lunch & Learn: Current Issues & Trends in Gifted Education
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Time: 12:30pm - 1:15pm
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.
TD Bank Reedy River Run: Fit Cool School Challenge
The 41st annual Reedy River Run is on April 21st, 2018. The event offers a 10K, 5K, and Youth Mile run through scenic downtown Greenville. The race is offering a Fit Cool School Challenge, and we want Sterling to take home the prize!
The Fit's Cool School Challenge offers a way for two schools to win money. The elementary and middle school with the most points accumulated by running in the TD Bank Reedy River 10K, 5K or Youth Mile will each receive a donation of $500.
Each student will earn 10 points for running and finishing in one of our three events (We are under the middle school section: Sterling School). Each non-student (parent or family friend) will earn 2 points for the school they select during registration for either the Youth Mile ($10.00), 5K ($20.00), or 10K ($25.00) (at regular entry fee). All entry registrations for students and adults should be via the FIT'S COOL School Challenge page @ http://www.tdbankreedyriverrun.com/registration.html.
The easiest way for you to help our school is to encourage your friends and family to select your school when they register online @ Go Green Events for one of these three TD Bank Reedy River Run events, using the dropdown menu of participating schools. (Sterling School is registered under the middle school section)
Please register at: http://www.tdbankreedyriverrun.com/registration.html
Registration closes at 8:00 PM on April 20th, 2018. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns! We look forward to race day!!
Cory Welch cjwelch@greenville.k12.sc.us
Hands on Greenville (HOG) Day - Sat., May 5th
Team Leaders needed!!! The United Way will send us lots of volunteers, but we need parents to welcome them and show them what to do! If we don't have enough parents/adults to lead small groups of volunteers, we'll have to scale back our plans. Please sign up soon! (CLICK HERE!)
Middle School Families - DownTOWNES May 2-4, 2018
Information will be emailed home this week about our annual DownTOWNES event. Parents may look over the selections with their child. Students will vote in homeroom on Friday. Contact Ms. Linda Reynolds if you have any questions.
My Energy Kit Update
So far, Sterling School has reached 87 Energy Kits and has saved 10,800 kWh of energy. 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?
Save the Date - March 27th
Spirit Week 2018 is set for March 26th-30th. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and our school's Relay for Life team. While more details of the week will come in next week's Griffin, we wanted to share a "Save the Date" for a particularly special event.
On Tuesday, March 27nd from 2:55-5:00 in our gym, our school will have a special viewing of the movie, Wonder. If you've not yet seen the film, they're in for a treat. Admission is $3.00 and will go toward the week's fundraising efforts. Please see the flyer for more details. (CLICK HERE!) Because the movie is rated PG, participating students must have a parent permission form. (CLICK HERE!)
Application Window is Open for ARMES at the Fine Arts Center!
The nomination window is open now until April 12th, and auditions will be held in mid-May. For more details and to access the nomination form, please visit the ARMES website at http://www.armesprogram.com/.
Readcycle Book Swap
You’ll receive one ticket for each book you trade in, up to five books. You’re more than welcome to bring in additional books as donations!!!
Come back to the Media Center on Wednesday, March 28th through Friday, March 30th to pick out some new books! Students can "shop" at the book swap during lunch or with a pass from a teacher. Have fun, and enjoy your new reads! Look for more details in next week’s Newsflash, because a special treat is in the works!
April Arts is Coming
We are so excited to invite you to April Arts 2018! Save the date for Friday, April 20th from 5:30-7:30. Our theme this year is SC Folk Art and we have so many fun activities planned for the night! If you are new to our school, April Arts is a school wide art show with artwork on display by every student. Not only is it an art show, but it is a celebration of the arts with many art making activities for students and their families to participate in as well as music and dance performances! Some activities we have planned include Mini-Face Jugs, Indigo Tie Dye, and Felted SC Landscapes. We hope everyone will join us for this exciting night!
If you are interested in volunteering we could really use your help, especially the night of the event! There will be a Sign Up Genius coming soon. If you are interested in donating supplies to help keep our costs down, here is a list of things we are looking for:
- Rectangular Scraps of wood (approximately the size of a piece of copy paper or slightly smaller)
- White Sheets
- Chipped or Broken Dishes
Thank you for your help!
Grace SmithArt Teacher
Sterling School
Sterling Shoutout: Summer Festival 2018
While all are invited, Summer Fest 2018 is specifically intended for all Sterling Program families. The event provides an opportunity for parents and students to meet rising grade level teachers, learn how to prepare for the upcoming school year, and have some fun!
Ways to Get Involved & Serve!
Mentor Upstate
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." This year, the Sterling School is partnering with Mentor Upstate, a nonprofit organization that seeks to support children with one-on-one positive relationships. As we launch this exciting program, 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. If you are ready to dive in, you may begin by completing the mentor application (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 .
DonorsChoose
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.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
Charles Townes Center: Vision in Action
The purpose for the work we do, our "WHY," is best captured not only in words but in the actions of our students' inquiry. As our program continues to evolve, it is our hope to effectively communicate our current vision to our school's existing and prospective families. Last Friday, we took a step forward in our efforts to effectively articulating our program's goals. In the coming weeks and months, be on the lookout for more. #VisionInAction #GriffinPride #WholeChild
Congratulations, Shwetha!
Congratulations to Sterling School/CTC 8th grade student Shwetha Rajmohan! Shwetha came in 1st place in the Middle School division of the South Carolina Regional Science Fair, sponsored by Southern Wesleyan University. Shwetha's topic was "Testing Coliforms in Water." #GriffinPride #WholeChild
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