Griffins Connect
Week of May 19th #Together #WholeChild
Celebrating a Remarkable 23-24 Year at Sterling School
As we approach the end of the 2023-2024 school year, I reflect on the incredible journey we've shared. It has been a year filled with accomplishments, growth, and unwavering support from our dedicated community. I am immensely grateful. Working alongside our exceptional educators, who consistently go above and beyond to provide the best for our students, is truly inspiring. Equally, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you, our parents, for your unconditional support and encouragement. Your involvement is what makes our school community thrive.
This year, we've celebrated numerous achievements:
- Sterling School was honored with the prestigious 2023 National Blue Ribbon Award.
- We were recognized as a finalist for the Dick & Tunky Riley Award for SIC Excellence.
- Our PTA was Awarded the South Carolina PTA Local Unit of the Year.
- Both our elementary and middle schools achieved an "Excellent" rating on the State Report Card.
- Our robotics teams excelled on the global stage, with one team receiving the Robot Design Award at the World Festival in Texas, and another team participating in the WPI Open in Massachusetts.
- Our music programs shone bright, with our Band and Strings receiving Outstanding Performance Awards.
I encourage you to explore the highlights and achievements detailed in this year’s School Improvement Council’s Annual Report to Parents.
While we celebrate these successes, our journey continues. Learning and social-emotional development are ongoing processes, and our commitment to a #WholeChild approach remains steadfast. Together, we will nurture every child's potential, ensuring they thrive academically and emotionally.
As we transition into summer, I urge you to keep our Griffins engaged in learning. Participate in our F.A.B.ulous Summer Reading Events (details below) and encourage your child to practice grade-level math skills. Your support in this effort is invaluable and contributes to our community of lifelong learners. We wish you a rejuvenating summer break as we eagerly anticipate our students' return for another exciting academic year this fall. Thank you for your unwavering support, care, and dedication to our mission of nurturing the #WholeChild.
Learning Together,
Dr. P
📆 What's Ahead...
Monday, May 20: 5th Grade Sterling Awards Day; 9:00am in gym
Monday, May 20: 8th Grade Trip
Monday, May 20: Field Day for Grades 6 & 7; 8:30-11:00am
Tuesday, May 21: Half Day; Dismissal @ 11:45am for elementary, 12:00pm for middle
Wednesday, May 22: Half Day; Dismissal @ 11:45am for elementary, 12:00pm for middle
*Note: Since ALL students will leave at the same time, please be patient with dismissal on Tuesday & Wednesday as the carline is expected to take a little longer.
🏫 Families And Books (F.A.B.) Presents... 📚
From the Sterling/CTC PTA
A Message From Our PTA President
It has been my privilege to serve over the last few years on the Executive Board and most recently as President of the Sterling School PTA. In that time, I have repeatedly witnessed what a dedicated community can do to expand their children’s environment for success. Dozens of volunteers devoted hundreds of hours to make our PTA events, programs, and activities a huge success.
On behalf of the PTA Board, I want to thank our leadership team and entire school community for supporting our many programs and events for the students at Sterling School/Charles Townes Center. From basic membership to chairing a program, from volunteering to simply attending an event, your contributions of time, effort, and/or money validate and broaden your child’s educational experience. Further, your support of the PTA expands every child’s opportunity for growth.
As the end of school approaches, please enjoy highlights of our year together. A very special thank you to Christi Wagner and Perry Behrens for their many years of faithful service to our Executive Board. We are also grateful for the contributions of our Griffin families to all of the projects detailed in the highlights. You make our school the very special place that it is. Wishing you all a wonderful summer!
Victoria Gosnell
THANK YOU, Victoria Gosnell, our 23-24 PTA President!
We want to extend our deepest gratitude for everything you have done to make this year truly special and successful. Your dedication, hard work, and unwavering support have made a remarkable difference in our school community. From organizing fantastic events to ensuring that every detail is taken care of, your efforts have not gone unnoticed. You have created memorable experiences for our students, staff, and families, and we are all incredibly grateful for your leadership and commitment. Thank you for your passion and for making this year one to remember. We are so fortunate to have you as our PTA president!
PTA Highlights from 2023-2024:
The PTA introduced a new major fundraiser, the Griffin Bubble Run, where every student was able to participate, receive a prize, and enjoy a school-wide assembly to celebrate! Not only did the Griffin Bubble Run raise a remarkable amount of money which allowed us to cover a significant budget shortfall, it provided the opportunity to make much needed playground improvements with the installation of a disc-golf course, pickleball courts, basketball nets, and four square courts on the upper and lower playgrounds. We are excited to announce additional improvements to the inside of the school with the purchase of a new lighting system for the stage! This pairs with the school’s purchase of a new sound system to expand musical, theater, and other productions on the stage. Installation will happen this summer! Finally, we were able to ramp up our Teacher & Staff Appreciation efforts and award $10,000 in Teacher Grants to meet unmet classroom needs that address the tenets of the Whole Child. As a parting gift from this year’s PTA, the laminator in the Teacher Workroom will be replaced and the adult restrooms will receive a makeover!
The PTA hosted Fall Festival and International Night, large scale events offering free admission, to encourage family fun and community building. We provided financial and/or volunteer support for April Arts, iMAGINE Upstate, Hands on Greenville, and multiple other school events such as the Blue Ribbon Assembly, Veterans Day Reception, 5th Grade Day, 8th Grade Dance, Starbooks Book Fair, Middle School Block Parties, Coffee & Conversations with the Principal, Sip, Sob or Shout, and Popsicles on the Playground.
These are only a few of the many great things we were able to accomplish. In April, our PTA was recognized as SCPTA’s 2023-2024 Outstanding Local Unit of the Year! Our success is due in a large part to your support.
Thank you for volunteering, joining PTA, donating to our school, and attending our PTA events. It was an amazing school year!
5th Grade Day Celebration
Our 5th graders had an absolute blast celebrating the end of elementary school with a silent disco, photo booth, inflatable, exciting gym games, and pizza lunch! We’d like to extend a special thank you to PTA co-chairs, Tiffany Walsh and Caroline Huddelston, as well as our parent volunteers for making this day so special for our students!
KONA ICE TREATS
Last week, all students and staff members enjoyed Kona Ice courtesy of the PTA! It was a beautiful day to cool off with a refreshing treat and celebrate the last few days of the school year.
CHECK LOST AND FOUND!!
As the school year winds down, it's time for a lost and found check! We've accumulated quite a collection of lost items over the last few weeks, and we want to make sure everything gets back to its rightful owner before summer break. Please swing by our lost and found area located outside of the cafeteria to reclaim any missing items. From clothing to water bottles, we've got a variety of items waiting to be reunited with their owners!
Summer Garden Signup
Sterling/CTC's Summer Garden Adoption Program is live for 2024! Can you invest 1 hour of your summer to help maintain the Butterfly Garden at our school? You can help in 3 easy steps:
SIGN UP for at least one date (or more!) to visit the Butterfly Garden.
You will be assigned a small section of the Butterfly Garden that will be your "adopted zone," and will be provided with a guide to the plants in your section.
Arrive on your signed-up date to pull weeds, prune plants, or pick up trash in your adopted section (max time commitment = 1 hour)
Click here to view available dates and sign up to help!
The Charles Townes Center Celebrates 20 Years!
What a wonderful weekend of celebration at the Charles Townes Center! We marked 20 years of incredible programming with joy, gratitude, and excitement for the future. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect, reminisce about cherished memories, and envision the next 20 years filled with strong relationships, innovation, and creativity! A huge round of applause to Ms. Foulkes, Mrs. Reynolds, Mrs. Coffman, Mrs. Johnston, and all the amazing individuals who played a role in making this event a resounding success. Your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated! Here's to many more years of excellence and making a positive impact together!
CTC Alum & Current Students
Dr. Patterson & Mr. Johnstone
Current & Former CTC Faculty/Staff
🎻🏆 Band & Strings Showcase "Superior" Performances! 🎶🎷
Until Next Time...
As we close another school year, several members of our faculty/staff will close the chapter of their journey at Sterling/Charles Townes Center. We thank each of them for their dedication and service to our school and wish them all the best in life’s next chapter. When you see them over the next few days, please thank them for all they have given to our school community:
Danielle Forman (4K); Molly Aughtry (5K aide); Alyson Sweeney (1st grade); Kamaria Downs (2nd grade); Ebony Nye (2nd grade); Emily Hamilton (3rd grade); Sue Broder (middle school ELA); Michelle Treloar (middle school counselor); Dr. Cindy Carroll (resource); Jordan Winters (speech); and Jenn Knox (front office)
Welcoming to the Newest Members of the Sterling/CTC Family!
Dr. David Bernardy, 4th Grade Sterling
I’m David Bernardy, and I’m thrilled to be joining the fourth-grade team at Sterling this year.
While I’m new to the elementary classroom, I’m not new to teaching. In the past twenty years, I’ve taught literature, writing, and art at the University of Minnesota, Furman University, and the Greenville Center for the Creative Arts. While I’ve enjoyed teaching older students, I eventually realized that elementary school kids are really where it’s at.
Long, long ago, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in English at Kennesaw State University in my hometown of Kennesaw, Georgia. I then moved out to Texas, where I earned an MFA and PhD in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Houston. In addition to being a teacher, I’m also an artist. Check out my website at www.davidbernardy.com.
On my off days, I love to hang out with my wife, Joni, and our daughter, Caroline. We love cooking, music, hiking, playing with dogs, and traveling.
I look forward to meeting the students, the parents, and the rest of the Sterling family. I’m sure it is going to be an exciting and adventurous year for all of us.
Nicole Benvenuto, Middle School Counselor
Hello! My name is Nicole Benvenuto and I am excited to be back with Sterling/CTC to serve as the middle school counselor! I started my school counseling career a few years ago as the CTC elementary school counselor from 2019-2022. For the past two years, I have been working as the primary school counselor with the ClemsonLIFE Program at Clemson University. While my time at Clemson has been incredibly rewarding, I am eager and excited to be back at Sterling/CTC. I have missed the Sterling family dearly and am thrilled to be back! Besides the exciting news of returning to Sterling/CTC, later this year I will be moving closer to the Greenville area and getting married!
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, I moved to South Carolina in 2017 to pursue my M.Ed & Ed.S in School Counseling. This will be my 6th year as a school counselor. Through these 6 years, I have gotten to learn a lot about myself and hone in on my counseling skills along the way. Each experience has shaped me and guided me towards the counselor that I aspire to be. As I step into this new role as the middle school counselor, I am eager to apply the lessons learned and experiences gained to support and empower our students every day as we navigate middle school together!
Tracey Deyling, 3K
Hello! My name is Tracey Deyling, and I am excited to be joining the Sterling School family as a 3K Special Education teacher. My family and I are starting a new adventure as we move to Greenville this summer from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
I am a special education teacher with seventeen years of experience working with children of varying disabilities. The last fourteen years I have spent teaching PreK Special Education and have really enjoyed working with our youngest students.
My husband Jonathan and I have four girls McKenna (11), Kaitlyn (13), Emma (20), and Madyson (22). Each of our girls has brought a new level of fun and excitement to our lives. We also have two of the sweetest pups Sugar and Frankie. They enjoy being the neighborhood greeters while the rest of us are at school.
In my free time I love to grab a Dr. Pepper and get a pedicure. I also really enjoy baking and watching all Hallmark movies.
My husband and I are looking forward to new adventures we can share with our girls as we explore all Greenville has to offer.
Matt Giacalone, Middle School Social Studies
Hello! My name is Matt Giacalone and I am excited to join Charles Townes Center and Sterling School as a social studies teacher. This will be my 10th year teaching with Greenville County Schools. I received my undergraduate degree in geography and Masters in environmental sciences before working as a hydrogeologist and environmental scientist. I decided to change careers and earned my Masters degree in education from Clemson. I absolutely loving teaching and empowering students to learn and explore!
I live in Greenville with my wife and we have four wonderful children in our blended family. They range in age from 13 to 24. When I am not teaching I enjoy coaching soccer, playing pickleball, hiking, drinking good coffee, and going to see live music.
I can’t wait to meet and work with everyone and look forward to a great school year.
Ashley Moreira, Middle School ELA
Hello! I’m Ashley Moreira, and I’m thrilled about joining the Sterling family this year! Originally from Canada, I’m a first-generation college student born to Portuguese parents. College soccer brought me to the South, and although you won’t find me on the pitch these days, you’ll occasionally catch me cheering on my favorite team, Chelsea FC!
Currently, I'm delving into research on cognitive and narrative thinking, particularly exploring storytelling within educational settings. I’m eager to bring this knowledge into my classroom and foster creativity and critical thinking among my students, while also looking forward to learning more about the amazing stories of the students I will work alongside this year.
When I’m not in the classroom, I love spending time with my sweet family. My twin daughters are heading into first grade this year, and we’re all excited to start this new chapter together at Sterling this fall!
Cate O'Brien, 1st Grade
Hello! My name is Cate O’Brien and I will be joining the first grade team at Sterling. I am beyond excited for this opportunity and eager to get started! I am looking forward to connecting with the Sterling and CTC community.
I am currently teaching Kindergarten in Fairfax County, Virginia. My husband and I will be moving back home to Greenville at the end of June. Although it will be bittersweet to leave the place I have called home for two years, I am looking forward to moving closer to my childhood home of Greer.
Through my experience in Kindergarten, I have learned a lot from both my students and colleagues. My goal is to create a positive and welcoming environment for all students. One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching my students learn and grow. I have had a passion for teaching from an early age and I can’t wait to see where this next journey leads me!
In my free time you can find me spending time with my family, visiting the beach, walking my dog, or finding new places to run. I am excited for the road ahead! I’m already confident that Sterling is going to feel like home.
Dakota Peltier, 3rd Grade
Hello! I am Dakota Peltier and I am beyond excited to be joining the Sterling family as a new -and first year- 3rd grade teacher! I am a 2024 graduate of the University of South Carolina’s College of Education program, and I am so blessed to have Sterling as my new home.
My passion for teaching started very young. My younger sister would be a true team player and let me pretend to be her teacher, in my childhood bedroom in which I completely transformed into a fake classroom, even if she wasn’t a fan. My passion grew stronger throughout the years, and blossomed when my mom and aunt both decided to switch careers from nursing to teaching. Seeing my family so happy in this career gave me all the support I could need to go through the process of becoming an educator.
For a little background on myself, I was born and raised in Ocala, Florida up until my freshman year of high school. This is when my family moved to Greenville and I attended Riverside High School. I fell in love with Greenville and South Carolina, so I decided to give UofSC a chance. Four years later, I’m graduated and beginning a new journey. I cannot wait to meet every single one of you and welcome my very first group of 3rd grade learners!
Inga Puffer, Challenge
Next year, I will split my time between Sterling and Duncan Chapel. I love project-based learning, so teaching Challenge is a dream job. My favorite part of teaching is fostering the mindsets and social skills that help students build joyful, purpose-filled lives.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Mike, and our two daughters, Edie (9) and Eila (7). We spend most of our time playing games, reading, crafting, and dreaming up our next travel plans. I look forward to getting to know all of you as we work together next year.
đźš— 2024-2025 Carpool Interest Form
Are you interested in carpooling next year? Please fill out the 2024-25 Carpool Form. We’ll have several new incoming CTC 3rd grade families joining the list! The spreadsheet will be shared in March.
2024-25 After School Program Registration
Registration is now open for next school year. CLICK HERE to download the form. All Registration Forms MUST be turned in to the front office or directly to Maxi Henry by Friday, May 17th to be guaranteed a spot. If you wait until the Fall to register, you will be put on a waiting list.
Please email Mrs. Henry with any questions. To learn more about the program, visit the After School website here.
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.