Griffins Connect
Week of January 17th #ReImagine #WholeChild
Students Selected for Region Band
Congratulations to the following students who made it into the Greenville All County Band:
1st Chair Oboe: Charlotte Metcalf
1st Chair Bassoon: Adam Weeks
1st Chair Clarinet: Nicholas Hu
8th Chair Clarinet: Aditya Harikumar
16th Chair Clarinet: Kevin Antani
22nd Chair Clarinet: Alex Abrams
11th Chair Trumpet: Jeremiah Campbell
They will be participating in a clinic on February 10th-11th and performing a concert on February 11th at Riverside High School.
All-State Orchestra Selects Students
1st Violin: Hannah Choi
2nd Violin: Shohom Saha
Viola: Agastya Gupta, 1st Chair
Cello: Benjamin Webb
They will be performing at Spartanburg High School on February 27th.
What's Ahead...
January 20: 2nd Quarter Report Cards
Looking Ahead...
January 28: Pancakes with the Principal (Winter Reading Challenge eligible students)
Sterling School Jr. Beta Participates in Virtual Convention
The Sterling School Jr. Beta Clubs participated in the Jr. Beta South Carolina State Convention. We hosted an in-school convention in December for our virtual participants to create a convention experience! We are so proud of all of our Jr. Betas who competed, and we would like to congratulate the following students who placed at the state level:
Elementary:
- Book Battle Team: 4th Place [Aadi Agnihotri, Charlie Blacklock, William Barrett (grade 5)]
- Creative Writing: 2nd Place [Olivia Barham (grade 5)]
- Language Arts: 2nd Place [Sanvi Somanchi (grade 5)]
- Math: 3rd Place [Graden Miller (grade 5)]
- Poetry: 1st Place [Selah Carlson (grade 5)]
- Science: 1st Place [Logan Poor (grade 5)]
- Social Studies: 3rd Place [Kanishk Gupta (grade 5)]
Middle School:
- Creative Writing: 4th Place [Grace Dredge (grade 7)]
- Language Arts: 4th Place [Prathiksha Raguram (grade 8)]
- Math: 2nd Place [Brandon Xu (grade 8)]
- Poetry: 2nd Place [Darby Burdette (grade 7)]
- Science: 3rd Place [Ryan Alioua (grade 8)]
- Social Studies: 4th Place [Anthony Manavalan (grade 7)]
Sterling School to Host Read-A-Thon!
- WHY: Read-a-thons actually get your reader excited about reading and it gives friends and family the opportunity to encourage your child to read even more.
- WHEN: Read-a-thon will start Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
- GETTING STARTED: About one week before our Read-A-Thon starts, a flyer will go home with instructions on how to activate your reader's personal page. This is where you will be able to view and record their progress. To activate your reader’s account today CLICK HERE and follow the simple instructions.
We've chosen Read-A-Thon because without taking much of your time, your child now has one more reason to read and a program to support and strengthen their reading development.
We hope EVERYONE participates.
Swamp Rabbits Celebrate Report Card Day; Sun., Jan. 30th @ 3:00pm
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits would like to congratulate students for their hard work this school year! Students in grades 2-12 can bring their report card with one or more “A" in any subject to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena Box Office between now and game day to receive a FREE ticket to the 3 PM game on Sunday, January 30! Kindergarten and first grade students who receive a “P” or higher on their report card will receive a free ticket. Students may also show their Report Card on a phone or digital device to receive the complimentary ticket. The theme for this game is “Pirate and Princess Day.” Students are encouraged to dress up as their favorite pirate or princess and there will be famous pirates and princesses roaming the concourse during pregame. For questions, please contact Scott Hull at 864-250-4953.
GCS 4K Application Window Opens for 2022-2023 School Year
In order for our Griffins to start their education on the right foot, we encourage participation in our high quality, full day 4K program! 4K Pre-Registration began January 10, 2022. If you know of anyone in our community with a four-year-old or soon to be four-year-old, spread the word! #ReImagine #WholeChild
How to Apply:
Dates: January 10-March 11, 2022.
- The online application is posted here on the GCS website.
- A child’s primary custodial parent/legal guardian can submit the online application.
- For parents who do not have internet access, they can call 864-452-0437 to apply.
- Completing the application does not guarantee that the child will be enrolled. Notification of acceptance will be sent to parents via email by April 1, 2021.
About the At-Risk 4K Program:
The GCS 4K program provides high quality, rigorous instruction in early reading, early math, and social-emotional skills using the SC Early Learning Standards. Students attend 7:45-2:15. The GCS Virtual Program is not available to 4K students. Children must be four years old on or before September 1, 2022 to be considered for this free program, beginning August 2022.
For more information, please email 4K@greenville.k12.sc.us or call 864-452-0437.
3rd-5th Grade: Girls on the Run Registration Now Open!
Registration is now open for all 3rd-5th grade students! The season will begin on February 15th and practice will be held after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30p.m. - 4:00p.m.
On April 23rd, we will hold an end-of-season 5K at Furman University! Our end-of-season 5K is a non-competitive community event that celebrates the hard work and dedication of our girls during the 8-week season.
Through our program, girls explore valuable lessons such as:
- Standing up for themselves and others
- Being a standbyer instead of a bystander
- Practicing empathy, inclusion and acceptance
There is one thing you can count on: Girls on the Run is here for her! By signing her up for our program, you are giving her the opportunity to connect with other girls in our community in an inclusive and empowering space.
Over 8-weeks, your girl will meet with her peers 2 times per week (Tues & Thurs) to review our research-based lessons that incorporate physical activity in a fun and engaging way. She will connect with girls, build healthy habits and stay physically active! Take-home journals will also allow for every girl to connect to the lessons, explore her thoughts and exercise her mind. Trained coaches use a research-based curriculum to help girls develop critical life skills that they can use at school, at home or with friends. GOTR encourages girls to set goals for themselves and work toward them during each practice! This program is an excellent example of supporting the #WholeChild!
Connection and teamwork build confident and resilient girls. By registering her for the upcoming Spring season, you are giving her the opportunity to thrive, grow and flourish.
Support a Griffin! Sign-Up to Mentor a Student!
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month? #WholeChild
Join Sterling School's ongoing 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. 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! Mrs. Berry, Sterling School counselor, will soon follow-up with training information and other pertinent details.
ACE Awards Accepting Nominations
If you would like to nominate a Greenville County 8th or 12th grader, please submit a nomination - CLICK HERE!
All nominations must be submitted by January 31, 2022. An ACE Awards Advisory Committee at each school will choose finalists from among those nominated. 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 a live stream ACE Awards ceremony in the spring.
To Learn More visit: Coaches For Character Video
Congratulations, Mr. Murphy!
Last week, Upstate Parent Magazine announced this year's 10 Educators Who Make a Difference. Mr. Jeremy Murphy, one of our principals at Sterling School, was selected to receive this notable honor. From serving as lead administrator of our Charles Townes Center program, special education program, school safety oversight, and much more, Mr. Murphy oversees much of our school operations. We are grateful for him and are blessed to have him as part of our Sterling School family. Congratulations, Mr. Murphy, on the well-deserved honor! #WholeChild
New DHEC COVID-19 Guideline for Isolations/Quarantines
Greenville County Schools is required by law to follow DHEC’s direction on quarantine and isolations, and we are updating our processes to reflect the changes outlined below. These updates will further reduce the time that students and employees are excluded from school and work while still keeping everyone’s safety and health a top priority. Please familiarize yourself with the following updates, which go into effect immediately.
Isolations:
The isolation period for employees or students who test positive for COVID-19 has been reduced from 10 days to 5 days, if there are no symptoms or symptoms have improved*.
If you test positive for Covid-19:
- Isolate for 5 days after symptoms started (if asymptomatic, isolate for 5 days after test date)
- Wear a mask days 6-10.
- If you have no symptoms after Day 5 or symptoms have improved*, you may return to school/work but must wear a mask days 6-10.
- DHEC requires that students must provide a parent note that symptoms have improved* and no fever in the past 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication. Students must bring the parent note to the school’s front office for approval before returning to class.
*Improved symptoms is defined as symptoms are significantly improving AND there has been no fever in the past 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.
Quarantines:
All close-contact exposures must wear a mask through the 10th day after exposure.
For those who are not vaccinated**, the minimum quarantine period has been reduced to 5 days after a close-contact exposure.
If you have a close-contact exposure to someone with COVID-19:
- If you are vaccinated**, you do not have to quarantine.
- If you are not vaccinated**, you must quarantine for a minimum of 5 days.
- Quarantine can end after Day 5 if a viral test is negative AND if no symptoms were present during the quarantine period. The viral test (PCR or antigen; home tests will not be accepted) must be collected no sooner than Day 4, and quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than completion of Day 5.
- DHEC requires anyone who has had a close-contact exposure to someone positive with COVID-19 to wear a mask through Day 10 and recommends you get tested on Day 5, regardless of vaccination status.
**To avoid quarantine, DHEC requires that the person exposed has received all of the vaccine doses for which they are eligible:
- Individuals ages 16 and up who are 14 days after the last dose of the initial vaccine series are considered vaccinated; however, if 6 months have elapsed since receiving the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or 2 months have elapsed after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a booster dose is required to avoid quarantine.
- Individuals ages 15 and younger are not eligible for boosters at this time, and are considered vaccinated 14 days following the final dose of the two-dose initial series.
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