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Griffins Connect
Week of April 7th #Together #WholeChild
Congratulations, Mrs. Ledford!
Congratulations to Mrs. Ashleigh Ledford for being honored as one of Upstate Parent Magazine's 2024 Educators Who Makes a Difference! Music has been Mrs. Ledford's lifelong passion, starting from her early piano lessons in second grade and growing into a journey of musical exploration and education. Her dedication to music is not just about teaching notes; it's about creating a supportive and caring environment where each student feels valued and heard. For 12 years, Mrs. Ledford has nurtured the talents of students at Sterling School and Charles Townes Center, leading the CTC Griffin Band to outstanding achievements. Her commitment to teaching the #WholeChild and building meaningful relationships with her students shines through in every note played and every bond formed. Thank you, Mrs. Ledford, for making a difference in the lives of our students through the power of music!
CTC Band Receives "Superior" Recognition!
The 2024 Charles Townes Center Band, led by Mrs. Ashleigh Ledford, has achieved a SUPERIOR WITH DISTINCTION at the South Carolina Band Directors Association Concert Performance Assessment! This prestigious recognition is the highest honor, and it's their third consecutive year earning this distinction. Congratulations to the talented musicians and their dedicated leader for this outstanding achievement!
📆 What's Ahead...
Monday, April 8: eLearning Day (Solar Eclipse): Read more HERE!
Wednesday, April 10: Middle School April Arts Volunteer Deadline: CLICK HERE to Sign Up!
Thursday, April 11: 5th Grade Human Growth & Development Lesson (info below)
Friday, April 12: 6th Grade DownTownes (info below)
Friday, April 12: April Arts: "Express Yourself" (All Invited!)
Mon, April 15-Thur, April 18: Teacher Appreciation AND Relay for Life Spirit Week! (info below)
- Monday, April 15: Anything But A Backpack (bring books, etc. in anything BUT a backpack)
- Tuesday, April 16: Dress Like A Tourist; Bake Sale at lunch - Everything is $1 each
- Wednesday, April 17: Wacky Wednesday (Wear wacky clothing)
- Thursday, April 18: Dress Like a Rockstar; Dodgeball Game 2:30- 4:25pm ATTENDANCE FORM
Monday, April 15: Deadline to Register for Relay for Life Dodgeball Game (info below)
Tuesday, April 16: 4th/5th Grade Musical, 1:00pm & 6:30pm (info below)
Wednesday, April 17: F.A.B. (Families & Books) Event; 7:10-8:30am in Library (info below)
Thursday, April 18: 8th Grade DownTownes (info below)
Friday, April 19: No School: Student/Teacher Holiday
Saturday, April 20: Hands-On-Greenville (HOG) Day
Thursday, April 25: Performing Arts Club Presents... "A Taste of Broadway," 6:30pm in gym
🏆 Sterling School Named Finalist for SIC Riley Award
We are thrilled to announce that Sterling School has been selected as finalists for the prestigious Dick and Tunky Riley Award for School Improvement Council Excellence! Of the many schools across our state, only five have been chosen as finalists, and we are incredibly proud to be among them. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our School Improvement Council (SIC), who tirelessly support our school community. We extend a special word of thanks to our SIC Chair, Catherine Schumacher, and Vice Chair, Chloe McGoogin!
Since its inception in 2002, the Riley Award has celebrated the invaluable contributions of SIC members to public education, highlighting their role in fostering parent and civic engagement within our schools. This honor reflects not only our SIC's achievements but also the collaborative spirit of our entire Sterling family – parents, educators, and community members alike. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists, including our neighbors at Lake Forest Elementary.
As we eagerly await the announcement of the winner later this month, let us continue to celebrate this achievement and the positive impact we make together for the benefit of our students. Thank you to our SIC members, staff, students, and families for your ongoing support and commitment to excellence. Together, we truly embody the spirit of community and collaboration!
April Arts is THIS FRIDAY! A Word from Mrs. Harrington & Mrs. Spitler
April Arts is almost here!! This FRIDAY, April 12, 4:30-7 is our big event! Please invite friends, family, neighbors or meet up with your classmates at one of our school’s best events for our community! We celebrate the arts and our students' hard work. All 20+ hands on activities are free and food trucks will be on site if you need dinner!
- Adult Volunteers: If you’re still interested in signing up to help, please visit this sign up genius to help us get these slots filled! We can’t do this without our wonderful community.
- Middle School Student Volunteers: If students are volunteering during the first time slot for April Arts (4:15 - 5:30) and they are not able to go home and return to school by that time, you may complete THIS FORM to request that they stay after school with Ms. Foulkes. The form must be completed by Wednesday, April 10th.
- Student Art Auction: We will also have our Art Auction again this year! Students in every art class have worked together to create beautiful artwork that will be for sale the night of April Arts! The funds raised at the auction help us keep April Arts free! Check out this slideshow for a preview of some of the art for sale. If you see some images missing, we’re getting the finishing touches on them this week! The auction tables will also be available to view this week in the front entrance of the school.
We are so excited to see you Friday evening! Thank you to all our amazing PTA members and volunteers for help in getting ready for our event!
From the Sterling/CTC PTA
DESTINATION APPRECIATION, 4/15-18
Get ready for take off as we celebrate our PLANE AWESOME teachers and staff, April 15th-18th! The PTA has several volunteer opportunities for families to contribute their time or by sending in items. We also have an itinerary of daily events with a suggestion of ways your student(s) can contribute to the fun:
4/15 FLY HIGH MONDAY
Pack your books in Anything But A Backpack and give a High Five to teachers & staff when you see them in the hallways!
4/16 TOURIST TUESDAY
Put on your brightest shirt, long shorts, and socks with sandals to Dress Like a Tacky Tourist as we continue our travels to Destination Appreciation!
4/17 SAY GRAZIE
Dress with Pizzazz and say GRAZIE by writing a note or bringing a token of appreciation to your first class teachers & staff! A note writing station will be available in the cafeteria.
4/18 RED EYE FLIGHT
Help your teacher prepare for landing by bringing a favorite drink or snack to provide an energy boost!
The ideas above are all optional ways your student can participate in our daily theme activities. We can’t wait for the fun to begin!
APRIL ARTS - EXPRESS YOURSELF!
Mark your calendars! April Arts Express Yourself is coming up this Friday, April 12th from 4:30-7:00 pm! This FREE event includes a student art show, multiple hands-on art stations, exhibits from our community, a silent auction, and so much more!
This fun-filled evening has something for everyone! You’ll even be able to enjoy dinner, coffee, and dessert! Food will be available for purchase from Anetia’s Catering, The Pound Cake Man, Common Pops, and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck.
We cannot pull off this wonderful event without amazing volunteers like YOU! Please consider SIGNING UP to help. Shifts are short to allow plenty of time for you to enjoy the activities with your family!
iMAGINE Upstate was a Great Success!
Thank you to the volunteers who helped make our Sterling Spy Agency exhibit a huge success at the iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival!
All activities were led by students! They were engaging and patient while they helped visitors learn about thermochromic ink (invisible ink), ciphers, and binary code bracelets. They did an incredible job representing our wonderful school!
We are especially grateful to Mrs. Beard for her guidance and the iMAGINE Upstate co-chairs, Purvi Ajmera and Nadee Attanayake! Please enjoy photos from this wonderful event!
*ATTENTION 5th & 8th GRADE FAMILIES*
Just a friendly reminder that April 19th is the deadline to order yard signs for your 5th Grade or 8th Grade student. This is a fun way to celebrate your student’s achievements! Signs will be delivered free of charge to the school. If you have any ordering issues or questions, please reach out to Tiffany Walsh.
🚗 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 Relay for Life Spirit Week: April 15th-18th
Sterling School supports Relay for Life annually to actively contribute to cancer research, raise awareness about the impact of cancer on individuals and families, and foster a spirit of compassion and community service among students. By participating in Relay for Life, Sterling School demonstrates its commitment to supporting those affected by cancer, promoting health education, and empowering students to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
🦁 Disney's Lion King Kids
Don't miss out on the magical journey to the African savanna in Disney's The Lion King Kids at Sterling School on Tuesday, April 16th at 1:00pm & 6:30pm! Experience iconic songs like “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” and “Hakuna Matata” brought to life by our talented young performers. Join us for an unforgettable adventure from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again. You don't want to miss it!
📚 Our Next F.A.B. Event is April 17th - Check It Out! 📚
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.
💜 Relay for Life Dodgeball Tournament
The Dodgeball Tournament is back! This time we are raising money for the American Cancer Society. The tournament will be on Thursday, April 18th. We have changed how we run a few things for this time around and the admission to the game must be pre-paid to attend unless you are playing. We will start handing out admissions and player forms on Monday. The forms must be turned in filled out with payment by Monday, April 15th. The forms may be picked up in the front office, from the P.E. Teachers, or from Mrs. Henry.
ALL attendees and players must pay in advance this year, including parents. Here is the ATTENDANCE FORM. We are also asking that all attendees and players stay the entire time. There will be no early dismissals. The tournament will end at 4:25pm. We will have an ice cream party for the best themed Elementary and Middle School teams. The cost to play is $5 for all elementary teams and $10 for all middle school teams. We will have a break in the cafeteria for all players and attendees to eat a snack if they bring one before going to the tournament from 2:30-2:45pm. Attendance cost is $3 per person. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Henry at mhenry@greenville.k12.sc.us
5th Grade Human Growth & Development Lesson
On April 11th, our fifth grade students will have the opportunity to take part in a 75-minute lesson regarding human growth and development that will be presented by a district health educator. The lesson content adheres to the district's objectives and policies for sexuality education and, as always, the boys and girls will be taught in separate classrooms. Both the male and female lesson will include instruction on maturation and the physical changes that every adolescent will experience during puberty. Instruction will include personal hygiene, emotional and physical changes of the body, and the importance of communicating with the family. The male lesson will also include instruction on the anatomy of the male reproductive system, while the female lesson will include instruction on the anatomy of the female reproductive system and menstruation. Additional information will be sent home via Thursday folders on April 4th. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Murphy.
2024 Health Careers Night @ Fluor Field
Join the Greenville Drive, in partnership with Prisma Health & Greenville County Schools, on Wednesday April 10th for Health Careers Night at Fluor Field – an annual celebration and workforce development event aimed to educate and inspire our region’s next generation health care workforce.
All K-12 students will receive a COMPLIMENTARY ticket to Health Careers Night. Click here to learn more event information and to secure your tickets today!
This annual Drive event – taking place for the 8th time in 2024 – is one of the most creative, fun, and impactful events hosted each year at Fluor Field where we engage, excite, and educate middle and high school students and their parents about the wide variety of careers available in the rapidly changing health care industry. The scale & impact of Health Careers Night continues to improve every year, and we’re excited for our best event yet in 2024.
2024 Middle School DownTownes
These special field trips for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students are approaching quickly. ALL Forms and money for both 6th and 8th grade DownTownes Field Trips should be turned in at this time. If not, please take care of that by Wed. April 10th. 7th grade information will come out next week.
- 6th grade: DownTownes event is Friday, April 12th. Permission form.
- 8th grade: DownTownes event is Thursday, April 18th. Permission form.
- 7th grade: DownTownes event is Thursday, May 16th. More information to come.
8th Grade News & Reminders...
As we count down the final days of the 8th graders time with us at CTC, remember to submit your cards and letters that you wish to be shared on the day of our Celebrate the Class ceremony. Letters/cards should be in sealed envelopes and can be mailed to the school - attention Deborah Foulkes/child’s name or placed in the 8th grade Mailbox in the front office.
Performing Arts Club: Save the Date
Come check out the Sterling Performing Arts Club's amazing production! Hamilton, Annie, The Wiz, Matilda, and more! Thursday, April 25 @ 6:30. We can't wait to see you there!
CommunITy Fair: Connect through Tech
CommunITy: Connect Through Tech aims to provide hands-on experiences for attendees to learn about cutting-edge technology and cyber security. The event is set to occur at the Nicholtown Community Center on Saturday, May 4th from 11am-1pm. There is no cost to participate and the event is free to anyone interested in attending.
The primary goal of this event is to facilitate face-to-face connections with businesses and organizations offering STEM and technology-related careers and learning opportunities. Check out the following flyer for details.
CTC 20th Anniversary Celebration!
We are excited to invite our CTC community, both past and present, to help us celebrate 20 years of the CTC program. Come visit with staff, students and families who have played a part in making CTC what it is over the past 20 years! Anyone interested in attending, please RSVP as soon as possible for planning purposes.
Please help us spread the word. Feel free to share this invitation on your social media! Even if you can't make the event, we invite you to make a donation to the CTC Legacy Fund. All links, including RSVP can be found on our anniversary website. Just follow the QR Code!
Look forward to a walk down MEMORY LANE!
GCS Middle School District Art Show
Congratulations to this year's Sterling/CTC Middle School District Art Show Winners! Each year hundreds of school students across our district's 22 middle schools participate in this wonderful event. Many thanks to our incredible art teachers, Mrs. Harrington & Mrs. Spitler, for their ongoing support and dedication of our students and our school's visual art program. Great job, everyone! #WholeChild
Skylin Darnell, grade 7
1st place, mixed media
Sam Feldman, grade 8
1st place, painting
Titus Hall, grade 7
1st place, 3Dimensional
Ella Mudge, grade 6
1st place, drawing
Savannah Wilson, grade 6
1st place, mixed media
Aadya Gowdra, grade 6
2nd place, printmaking
Mary Hazel Hinson, Art 1
2nd place, painting
Lauris Kukanis, grade 8
3rd place, printmaking
Lena Alioua, Art 1
Honorable Mention, Drawing
Wade Marshall, grade 7
Honorable Mention, Mixed Media
Butterfly Garden - Sign Up to Help!
The weather is warming and it is officially time to kick off our Butterfly Garden Revitalization Project!
Using the funds awarded to Sterling School by the Greenville Master Gardeners Association's 2024 Community Grant, we will be able to update and expand our current Butterfly Garden area. This is where you and your family can help!
In addition to our large "All Hands" garden work days, this signup includes a list of flexible dates for smaller garden tasks that individual students/families can sign up to complete. Sign up for as few or as many dates as works for you!
Please contact April Boyer with any questions. Thank you for investing your time in our beautiful outdoor learning space. We rely on our school community to make projects like this successful and your support is truly appreciated.
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
Principal - Sterling School & Charles Townes Center; Greenville County Schools, South Carolina.