Griffins Connect Summer 2023
Whole Child: Safe, Supported, Challenged, Healthy, & Engaged
Happy Summer, Sterling School!
Learning TOGETHER,
Josh Patterson, PhD
What's Ahead...
July 25: Fast Pass Student Registration; 8:00-12:00pm
July 26: Fast Pass Student Registration; 12:00-4:00pm
August 2: CTC Program Meet the Teacher; 4:00-6:00pm
August 3: Sterling Program Meet the Teacher; 4:00-6:00pm
August 7: Meet the Teacher Make-Up; 8:30-10:00am
August 8: First Day of School (Parents may walk students into school - this day only!)
August 8: PTA Sip, Sob, or Shout!; Media Center; 7:45-8:30am (all parents invited!)
August 26: iMAGINE Upstate; 11:00-5:00pm, Downtown G'ville (Rescheduled from 4/1)
September 1: Nat'l College Colors Day (wear the colors of your favorite college/university)
September 4: Labor Day Holiday (No School)
September 14: PTA Coffee & Conversations with Dr. P.; 7:45-9:00am
Meet the Teacher 2023
Meet the Teacher for Charles Townes Center Program students is Wednesday, August 2nd from 4:00-6:00pm. Meet the Teacher for Sterling Program students is Thursday, August 3rd from 4:00-6:00pm.
If you are unable to attend the August 2nd/3rd event, a make-up day for both programs is scheduled for Monday, August 7th from 8:30-10:00am.
It is essential that you make arrangements to pick up your child's dismissal number and other important information from our school's main office before the first day of school.
Meet the Teacher Fast Pass
If you would like to “advance forward” at this year’s Meet the Teacher, you are invited to stop by our front office on July 25th (from 8:00-12:00pm) or July 26th (from 12:00-4:00pm) to complete all required paperwork.
Prior to Coming to School please complete the following:
- Log into your parent backpack account to add/update any information (including pick up contact).
- If you do not currently have a Parent Backpack, you are asked to initiate this process at home.
- Bring a photo ID for verification.
- Please complete the 23-24 Community Directory (Google Form). More information on this can be found below.
All who complete the necessary paperwork for a Fast Pass will also receive their child's classroom placement! Middle school students will receive schedules and ID badges. Those who do not complete Fast Pass registration will receive classroom placement at “Meet The Teacher."
Introducing the Newest Members of the Sterling School Family
Tara Adams: 5K Teacher
Hello! My name is Tara Adams, and I am excited to join the Sterling community this year as a kindergarten teacher. I have a combined nine years of teaching experience at the elementary level in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Greenville County Public Schools prior to becoming a Stay-at-Home Parent in 2017. After teaching part-time for the past two years in a local preschool, I am excited to return to Greenville County Public Schools. I have a son and daughter who have attended Sterling / Charles Townes Center for the past two years, and my youngest son will be attending kindergarten this coming year. The Sterling community has been such a blessing to my family, and I am excited to teach alongside this amazing group of faculty and staff.
My passion for teaching transpired from my own passion for learning. I believe that we should never cease to learn and be amazed by the wonders around us. I hope to model that for all my students.
Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our three children, and our dog. I love to travel, cook, read, and be involved in my children’s after school activities.
Dr. Cindy Carroll: Resource/SPED
Hello! My name is Cindy Carroll and I am so excited to be joining the teaching team at Sterling and Westcliffe Schools. I moved to Greenville this summer from Lexington, South Carolina where I taught a 6th, 7th and 8th grade self-contained class for students with special needs. Prior to this, I taught ELA Resource to students in Kindergarten through 5th grade in North Carolina. I have also worked as a school psychologist and counselor. I attended the University of South Carolina for my undergraduate degree, Radford University for my Ed.S. and M.S. and Virginia Tech for my Ph.D. I love learning new things and sharing this enthusiasm with others!
I am married and have four sons. As of April, I have three granddaughters under the age of three. I also have three dogs who are all very spoiled. I have many hobbies that keep me busy. I love to exercise and have practiced and taught Yoga and Pilates for many years. When not spending time with our boys and their families, my husband and I love to travel, listen to live music and try new restaurants.
I am thrilled to be starting this new journey and building relationships with everyone. I know 2023-2024 will be a terrific year.
Jessica Duncan: 6th Grade Spanish
Hello! My name is Jessica Duncan, and I am honored and thrilled to be teaching 6th grade Spanish at Sterling. My family and I moved to Greenville in 2020, and we have loved living in South Carolina!
Born to a Colombian dad and an American mom, Spanish has always been a big part of my life. I love language and culture, and I particularly love teaching Spanish. I completed my undergrad in Spanish Teaching at Eastern Kentucky University and taught high school Spanish until pausing to stay home with my children. During that time, I completed my Master of Arts in Education, with endorsements in Teacher Leadership and English as a Second Language.
For the last two years, I have been subbing at Sterling School and have loved getting to know the school culture, the students, and the rest of the Sterling family. I am excited to be joining our school in a more permanent way.
Outside of school, I love reading, baking, going to concerts, deep conversation, and adventuring with my husband Josh and our three boys, all of whom attend Sterling School/CTC.
I look forward to continuing to get to know the students and families of our school!
Hannah Gresham: 8th Grade ELA
Hi everyone! My name is Hannah Gresham and I am ecstatic to join the Sterling Family as the 8th grade English teacher. I grew up right here in Simpsonville, South Carolina, where I graduated from Hillcrest High School. It's great to be back in Greenville county! After high school, I got my Bachelor’s in English from the University of South Carolina and I loved the school so much, I decided to go one more year and get my Master’s in Secondary Education: English. While I did love Columbia and everything it had to offer, I missed being in the Greenville area and came back once I graduated.
I have been teaching English since 2021 and it has been both an incredible and interesting experience throughout my journey. I will say that I have had a tremendous amount of character growth along the way. I have truly loved sharing my passion for literature with students as well as bonding and making those connections with them. Those moments have meant so much to me and I am so excited and eager to make new ones.
In my spare time, I love to draw and paint. I sometimes sell my art at markets and conventions! Other times you can find me curling up to take a nap with my cat, playing video games, or reading manga.
I am very excited to be at Sterling/CTC, and look forward to a great school year!
Lauren Heppeard: 3rd Grade CTC
Hi! I’m Lauren Heppeard, and I’m thrilled to be joining The Sterling School/Charles Townes Center as a 3rd grade teacher. I can hardly believe this will be my 17th year with Greenville County Schools. I received my undergraduate degree in elementary education, and very soon after I continued on to get my Masters in Education from Southern Wesleyan University. I have experience teaching 3rd grade, 4th grade, and reading intervention. I have also taught in the virtual setting for 2 years. I love to learn and try new things!
I have lived in the Upstate most of my life, and I can't imagine living anywhere else. When I’m not teaching, I am spending time with my husband, Kyle, and our three children. We keep busy with sports and many other activities. We love to read together and spend time outside.
My passion for education came from both of my parents who are retired educators. My favorite part of teaching is making connections with my students. I love hearing all about their home, interests, and goals, and then growing closer to form our own classroom family. I can’t wait to have fun while learning this year!
Morgan Herrera: 7th/8th Grade Social Studies
Hi! My name is Morgan Herrera, and I am so excited to be joining the Sterling School as a Social Studies teacher this upcoming school year.
I am a Clearwater, Florida native who recently moved with my husband to Greenville after graduating from the University of Tampa. My degree is in International Studies, and I have been fortunate enough to travel to 15 countries! This passion for global cultures has encouraged me to never stop learning about the history, languages, and people that make our world so beautiful and interesting. I want to share the desire to dig deeper with the students I teach and give them the tools to explore their own interests.
Working with students has been a passion of mine since before college. I love distilling information for those who learn in different ways or at different speeds. Since my degree is in a specialized subject, I am pursuing certification for teaching through the GATE Program with Greenville County. I am excited to work alongside mentors at the Sterling School as they train and develop me into a great teacher!
Outside of my interests in Social Studies, I love to spend time outside watering the plants in my garden, reading a ridiculously long epic fantasy novel, or playing violin. I also enjoy cooking and challenge myself to recreate my favorite dishes from places I've visited around the world. I'm excited to get to know more of you soon!
Jen Knox: Front Office Clerk
Hi everyone - I’m Jen Knox, and I am excited to be joining the staff at Sterling/CTC. I’ll be working as the front office clerk and I am eager to get to know everyone in the coming months!
I’ve worked for GCS for the past nine years at the district office, most of those in HR and then more recently for the School Counseling & Sirrine Scholarship programs. I love supporting the mission of public education, and I look forward to welcoming and assisting Sterling staff, students, and their families.
My spouse, Brian, runs his own photography business and is an Upstate native. I grew up on a farm in the Upper Midwest (fun fact: I raised sheep!) and landed here in SC after college. After getting married we spent close to a decade back in the Midwest; now, we’ve been back in Greenville about equally as long. We have two great kids: Georgia (14) who is a talented visual artist and Lydia (11), who keeps life lively and loves doing all things theater at school.
As for me: I enjoy great coffee and local coffee shops, reading (memoirs especially), libraries and bookstores, brunching or otherwise dining out with friends and loved ones, and learning in order to understand the world around me better. I can’t wait to meet you all soon!
Alyssa Likens: Literacy Specialist
Hi! My name is Alyssa Likens and I am so excited to be joining the Sterling/CTC family as the Literacy Specialist. I grew up in Augusta, GA with the best parents and moved to Greenville to attend Furman University. At Furman, I earned my bachelor’s degree in elementary education and my master’s degree in Literacy. With almost a decade of experience in education, I have had the privilege of teaching students in 4th, 5th and 6th grades.
Literacy is my passion. I am a strong believer that words, books and kids are three of the most powerful things in this world and that school is a place where we grow as both people and students. I am thrilled to partner with you to honor, uplift and value the voices of our readers/writers/thinkers as we grow together.
Beyond the school day, you can find me spending time with my wonderful husband Chris and our extraordinarily fluffy cat Milo, training for a running race and of course, reading a book!
Stories are at the core of both literacy instruction and humanity. I am looking forward to learning your stories and coming alongside you as we, together, write a story we are proud of this year!
Alyson Sweeney: 1st Grade
Hello! My name is Alyson Sweeney and I am so excited to join the Sterling family this year as a 1st grade teacher. I recently graduated from Millersville University with my bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. I was born in Columbia, SC, but have lived in Nevada, Florida, and most recently Pennsylvania. I am looking forward to learning more about Greenville and everything it has to offer.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family and going on walks with my dog. I also enjoy shopping, going to the beach, and finding the perfect book to curl up and read.
I cannot wait for this upcoming school year and the new adventures here at Sterling. I am looking forward to getting to know the students and supporting them throughout the school year to be the best they can be!
From the Sterling School/Charles Townes Center PTA
Sip, Sob, or Shout!
PTA Membership: TOGETHER WE SOAR!
PTA Membership plays an important role in our school's success, we can't do it without you! Sterling/CTC PTA works to provide essential resources, speak up on important issues, and build a welcoming school community. We invite ALL parents, caregivers, teachers, staff, grandparents, and other caring individuals to JOIN TODAY!
The sky's the limit for the great things we hope to accomplish this year. Membership co-chairs, Tiffany Walsh and Dana Johnston, look forward to welcoming you and answering any questions. Together We Soar!
Better TOGETHER!
We are fortunate to have an administration and staff that welcome and encourage family involvement. We also recognize that families need options on how they can best support our school. Volunteering in the PTA is one of the BEST ways to help your student succeed!
Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours, your contribution to your child's educational experience is invaluable. It is truly a combination of time and talents that make our school such a wonderful place.
Simply fill out the Volunteer Interest Form and we'll email you when a need arises. Please never feel obligated to assist with all requests; we just want our interested volunteers to know all of the opportunities that are available. You have the flexibility to choose what works for you at any given time!
We have a place for you in our PTA! Please contact Melissa Hucks or Diane Hall for more information.
Readers Are Leaders! #FightTheSummerSlide
Studies indicate that a typical elementary student's academic achievement declines approximately two months over the summer. Additionally, summer learning loss is cumulative and over time can contribute to a student's potential success. We encourage ALL Griffins, 5K to rising 8th grade, to join us in our fight against the "Summer Slide." #WholeChild
Here, you will find K-8th Sweet Summer Reading Journal information. The Sweet Summer Reading Program began at dismissal on Friday, June 2nd. With this summer learning experience, students will have the opportunity to win exciting prizes and participate in a start-of-year celebration! To learn more information, see the following flyer: CLICK HERE!
Support a Griffin & Become a Mentor!
The Sterling School has a 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 for the year. 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! Near the start of the 2023-2024 school year, we will follow-up with training information and other pertinent details. For any questions, email Mrs. Lindsay Berry (school counselor).
2023-2024 Community Directory
[CLICK HERE for COMMUNITY DIRECTORY]
Families, please complete the Community Directory Survey linked above prior to applying for your Meet the Teacher FAST PASS. If you do not plan to apply for a fast pass, please try to complete the survey (Google Form) before the first day of school.
To further our school's #WholeChild mission, the faculty at Sterling School & Charles Townes Center seeks to provide students with relevant, real-world experiences. Therefore, we need various experts with professional experiences to engage our students. As a district, our Graduation Plus emphasis strives to ensure that all students are career and college ready. Exposing our students to various careers and professions within the context of meaningful, hands-on learning will strengthen our school's instructional program. As a school, we will utilize the database when seeking experts to support career days and various curriculum units.
We look forward to partnering with you! #WholeChild
Grade Level Supply Lists
School Supply Drive
The Sterling School Counseling Department will graciously accept donations of any item on the Back to School lists. The items below are especially needed. Please consider donating gently used (or new!!) books bags, as these are regularly in need. Just drop any items off in the front office. Below is a list of needed supplies:
- Pencils
- Cap erasers/pink erasers
- Composition notebooks
- Washable markers
- Pencil boxes & pouches
- Crayons
- 2 pocket folders
- Binders
- Elmer's glue
- Colored pencils
- Pens
- Small safety scissors
- Spiral bound note books
- Highlighters
- Tissues
Free School Meals in 2023-24
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a school meal funding option from USDA that enables a school to provide free meals to all students, without the necessity of completing applications for individual eligibility.
This year, CEP in South Carolina has expanded to include students who receive Medicaid benefits. The expansion of the CEP program means that ALL students in our school will receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2023-24 school year. You do not need to take any action to qualify for the free meals.
Our school is eligible to remain in the program through at least the 2026-27 school year.
We Need YOU! Volunteer Training
Thinking of chaperoning a field trip, becoming a room parents, or mentoring a student? Parents at Sterling School may now participate in volunteer training either in person or online.
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.
To apply to be a Level II volunteer, please CLICK HERE! Follow "Level II" process and select "Field Trip Chaperone" as one of your functions/roles (even if you never want to go on a field trip). This needs to be selected to pull the background check. You may select as many other roles or all that you may be interested in. This does not commit you to anything.
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.
Register for Extended Day Program
Open registration is now closed for the after school program. Please email Maxi Henry, starting August 9th, if you would like to register. Some grades still have open spots, but you will need to contact her to obtain the registration form. Please email Mrs. Henry with any questions.
PTA Carpool List
Are you interested in carpooling next year? CLICK HERE to join PTA’s 2023-2024 Carpool List! The spreadsheet will be updated each week as new families join through the summer and fall.
Health Room Info
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or special information that you need to discuss about your child, please visit our nurse, Heather Garrison, or call the health room at 355-4687.
Attention Rising 7th Grade Students
In accordance with SC State regulations, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive a TDAP vaccination. Parents/guardians must provide their child's school with one of the following prior to the first day of school (08/8/23). Students who do not have this record on file at their school will not be allowed to attend classes and we will not release their fall schedule.
Acceptable documentation includes:
· Certificate of Immunization listing TDAP
· Religious Exemption
· Medical Exemption
If your student has already received the TDAP vaccine, and you have not previously submitted documentation, please do so as soon as possible. You may fax records to 864-355-4490 or email Nurse Heather Garrison at hgarrison@greenville.k12.sc.us. Please contact our front office 864-355-4480 if you have any questions.
Back to School / Family Resources
GCS Operations Job Fair
2023 Upstate Community & Family Day Back to School Bash
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
Principal - Sterling School & Charles Townes Center; Greenville County Schools, South Carolina.