Griffins Connect
Week of September 10th #Together #WholeChild
GRIFFIN BUBBLE RUN FUNdraiser 🏃 🏃🏽 🏃🏿
We are bubbling over with excitement about our first ever GRIFFIN BUBBLE RUN FUNdraiser!
Sterling PTA’s BIGGEST fundraising event, the Griffin Bubble Run, builds community, supports the school, and enables students, staff, and parents alike to have fun! We’ve set our school fundraising goal at $20,000. Lofty? Perhaps, but our PTA loves to say YES! We love to say yes to Teacher Grants, 5th Grade Day, Middle School Parties, Family Fun Nights, Fall Festival, Teacher Appreciation, April Arts, and so much more! This year, the funds will also be used to complete some desperately needed playground updates. Our goal is to raise enough money to install a disc golf course, pickleball courts, and steel nets on all of the basketball goals!
When you give to our PTA, 100% of the money stays at Sterling/CTC and is spent on your child in the current school year. Please scan the QR code on the information sheet or click here to find your student(s) by first name and homeroom teacher, then share their page by email and social media to ask your family, friends, and neighbors for a donation! Donations are accepted online or by cash/check (made payable to Sterling School PTA.) Please be sure to include your student's name and homeroom teacher when sending in cash or check. As a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations are tax-deductible!
The Bubble Run takes place on Friday, September 22nd, during the school day, allowing all students the opportunity to participate. Prior to the event, students are encouraged to seek donations from friends and family. On the day of the run, each class participates in the Bubble Run, followed by a bubble party, foam cannon for middle school, music and popsicles!
The Griffin Bubble Run features fun prizes, classroom incentives and a festive and supportive atmosphere for all members of the school community. We’d love for you to join us as a volunteer or spectator. Thank you for supporting our amazing school!
📆 What's Ahead...
September 11: Settling in to 6th Grade; 9:00-10:00am, Vegas Room
September 12: PTA Spirit Night at Marble Slab from 3-8pm, featuring Celebrity Scoopers; 3-7pm
- Address: 651 S. Main Street; Downtown Greenville
September 13: 8th Grade: High School Transition; 12:00-12:45pm: RSVP Here
September 14: PTA Coffee & Conversations with Dr. P.; 7:45-9:00am
September 14: Elementary Jr. Beta Club Induction, 4:00-5:00pm
September 15: DOT Day & Schoolwide Community Read Aloud (Circles All Around Us)
September 15: Nominations Due for School Improvement Council (info below): CLICK HERE!
September 16: All Hands Garden Workday; 9:00-12:30am (info below)
September 18-22: Circle Week: Community Read Aloud/Griffin Fun Run Celebration #Together
September 20: Deadline to register for CogAT Aptitude Assessment (info below): CLICK HERE!
September 22: Griffin Bubble Run
September 26: 7th Grade: High School Credit Courses & GPA; 12:00-12:45pm: RSVP Here
September 27: 6th Grade: Managing Middle School; 12:00-12:45pm: RSVP Here
🍎 From the Sterling School/Charles Townes Center PTA 📚
🍦 PTA Spirit Night @ Marble Slab!
I Scream - You Scream - We All Scream for MARBLE SLAB! One of our school's most-loved Spirit Nights returns this TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th from 3:00-8:00PM at Marble Slab's West End location, 651 S Main Street in downtown Greenville. Celebritries will be available from 4:00-7:00pm to scoop your favorite flavors!
Join the fun and be sure to mention Sterling/CTC & tip your Celebrity Scooper! 20% of all orders + gratuities will be donated back to our school!
☕ Coffee & Conversations
Please join us for a PTA General Membership Meeting on Thursday, September 14th between 7:45-9:00am!
Learn more about volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, and a question/answer session with Dr. Patterson. Not a member yet? Join today or at the meeting. We can't wait to have Coffee & Conversations with new FRIENDS!
🌿 All Hands Garden Workday
After some hot, sunny months, it's time to show our Sterling Gardens a little extra love! Join us for an "All Hands" Garden Workday on Saturday, September 16th from 9am-11:30am. Come at 9am and stay as long as you can, or feel free to drop-in anytime during the work day time frame. *We will gather rain (within reason) or shine!
Signup for the "All Hands" Garden Workday by clicking on THIS LINK.
Students and siblings are welcome to join their parents. Bring your own gardening gloves and your own rake, pruners, hand trowel, etc. if able - we will have some extra gloves and tools available.
Thank you and we can't wait to see you there!
P.S. Not able to volunteer in person but still want to help? Sign up for snack and drink donations here as well!
WYFF's Golden Apple Award
Ingles and WYFF News 4 wants to reward teachers who are going above and beyond. Each week, an area teacher will be selected to receive the Golden Apple Award and profiled Thursdays on WYFF News 4. These weekly winners will be chosen by a panel of judges. At the end of the school year, a Teacher of the Year will be selected from the weekly winners.
To nominate an educator for the Golden Apple Award, pick up an official nomination form from an area Ingles store or CLICK HERE, then complete and mail to:
WYFF News 4
Golden Apple Award
505 Rutherford Street
Greenville, SC 29609
For submission details, CLICK HERE.
New for our Primary Grades... Zones of Regulation
Zones is used to teach self-regulation by labeling all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four zones. The Zones curriculum provides strategies to teach students to become more aware of their emotions, improve controlling their emotions and impulses, managing their sensory needs, and improving their ability to problem solve conflicts.
- The Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness, such as when one feels sad, tired, sick, or bored.
- The Green Zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. Being in the Green Zone will help students be successful in the classroom.
- The Yellow Zone is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions; however, one has some control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone.
- The Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, explosive behavior, devastation, or terror when in the Red Zone. A person may be described as “out of control.”
Please Note: No zone is good or bad, by identifying the zone students are in, they will better be able to verbalize what they *need* to be successful!
You can learn more here: https://zonesofregulation.com/
Settling in to 6th Grade
Sixth grade parents are invited to attend "Settling in to 6th Grade" to learn more about the classes your child is taking and the transition to middle school academics.
This session will be hosted by our 6th grade teacher team on Monday, September 11th from 9:00-10:00am in Vegas room. Come learn more about what to expect from 6th grade academic classes. #Together #WholeChild
✏️ 2023-24 Student Clubs & Information 📷
Members of Middle School Jr. Beta Club will meet during recess this week by grade level groups:
- 8th grade on Monday, September 11th
- 7th grade on Tuesday, September 12th
- 6th grade on Wednesday, September 13th
NEW CLUB INFORMATION...
- Math Olympiad: The Math Olympiad Club will be starting up soon! This afterschool club is for 4th-6th graders who wish to foster mathematical creativity and develop strategies for problem solving by completing contests from the Math Olympiad organization. Meetings are in Mrs. Nyvall's classroom from 2:30-3:30 on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month starting in October. Students should see Mrs. Nyvall for an application.
- Running Club: Running Club is starting on Monday, September 25th from 2:30 - 3:25. Students must register in advance. Forms are available in the front office or outside of Ms. Foulkes office. There is a $15 fee for Running Club which can be paid by cash or check made out to Sterling School. Payment through My School Bucks will be available later in the week.
- Board Game Club: Will begin the week of September 25th. Students in grades 3-8 are invited to apply. There is no fee for Game club. Applications will be available in the front office and outside Ms. Foulkes office beginning Tuesday.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
- Chorus: Currently taking applications from students in grades 3-5. Auditions will be held during related arts classes this week (9/5-9/8).
- Sterling Performing Arts Club (SPAC): Gives students in grades 4 and 5 an opportunity to learn expression and creativity through a variety of performing art genres: poetry, singing, acting, dance, etc. This club will meet on Mondays from 2:30 - 3:20pm.
- CTC Jr. Beta Club: This is the last week to register for CTC Junior Beta Club. If your student intends to join CTC Jr. Beta Club or Renew from last year, please help ensure that they have completed the Google Form on their grade level HR Classroom. Grade level groups will meet during recess on Monday, 9/11 - Gr. 8, Tuesday 9/12 -Gr. 9 and Wednesday, 9/13- Grade 6. If you have any questions, please direct them to Deborah Foulkes, Program Coordinator dfoulkes@greenville.k12.sc.us
- Math Counts: The deadline to submit applications for Math Counts Team has passed. Mr. Whittaker will administer a Qualifying Test to all applicants on Thursday, September 14th from 2:30 - 3:30. Students who wish to proceed with consideration for the Math Counts Club need to make plans to stay after school that day to take the test. Students who are in the Sterling After School Program will be released to them. All other students will need to be picked up in the carline at 3:30.
Club Updates
- Flying Saucers Club is currently taking applications from 5th - 8th graders. They will have fun with frisbee sports every 3rd Tuesday of the month, beginning Sept. 19th from 2:45 - 3:45.
2023-24 School Improvement Council News
The (SIC) is an advisory council to the principal that is focused on school improvement issues. It is made up of representatives of parents, teachers, and community members. The principal serves as an ex-officio member. The SIC meets approximately once a month during the school year (meetings this year are planned for the 1st Thursday of the month, alternating between 8:30AM and 1:00PM to accommodate different schedules).
We have two open seats on the Sterling/CTC SIC for parent representatives, one for the Sterling Program in Grades K4-2nd, and one for the Sterling Program in Grades 3rd-5th. We welcome nominations until September 15 using this link.
Upcoming Administration of CogAT Aptitude Assessment
Greenville County Schools will administer the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) on Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 9:00-11:30 a.m. at the Charles Townes Center @ Sterling School.
The CogAT is a multiple-choice K-12 assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions. The CogAT is a group-administered, paper-based aptitude test given as one criteria for entrance into South Carolina's gifted programs.
CogAT scores are valid and reliable for five years. Students who have taken the assessment within the five-year validity period will not be considered for a retest.
Students are eligible to take the CogAT with Greenville County Schools if they meet the following requirements:
- They require an initial aptitude assessment for gifted evaluation.
- They are in Grades 2-8, have not taken the CogAT in last five years, and will not be provided an opportunity to take the CogAT assessment in their current school location.
Interested families must pre-register via the Student Registration for CogAT Aptitude Assessment by Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. There will be no walk-ups or late registrations.
🌱 Garden Adoption Program
Is your student looking for more ways to earn volunteer hours during the school year?
In addition to our regular "All Hands" garden work days, we are offering more opportunities to earn volunteer hours by taking part in our Garden Adoption Program.
Just follow these easy steps:
- Sign-up (via Sign-Up Genius) for at least one date to visit the Garden. You can choose between the Asian or Butterfly Garden spaces.
- You will be assigned a small section of your chosen 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 (approx. time commitment = 1-2 hours)
- Confirm your hours by emailing your arrival & departure times along with a photo of your completed garden section (before & after pics are great!).
Follow the Signup Genius link for more details or contact April Boyer - aprilcboyer@gmail.com with any questions.
Can You Serve As A Substitute?
At Sterling School, we have amazing substitute teachers. These dedicated individuals help ensure that our school operates smoothly when a classroom teacher is absent. However, our list of active subs is short.
If you are able to help serve as a substitute for Sterling School and Greenville County Schools, please follow this link to get started and be sure to let us know (email Dr. Patterson!). We will be happy to help facilitate the process or connect you with current substitutes who can answer any of your questions. You may choose to work at any school or you can select Sterling exclusively. Work only on the days that fit your schedule. We appreciate your consideration to help the school by serving as a substitute!
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).
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.
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