Griffins Connect

This Friday, November 8th, Sterling School will honor those who have fought for the many freedoms we, as American citizens, have today. We will have two programs; everyone from our school community is invited to attend.

Our K-3rd grade program will begin at 8:30am and the 4th-8th grade program will begin at 9:30am. Veterans, their guests, and student(s) are invited to attend a reception in Vegas immediately following each program. Everyone is encouraged to wear red, white, and blue! We look forward to this exciting day, as we pay tribute to those who have served our country.

The PTA is hosting a reception for our veterans and their families following each of our Veterans Day programs and need volunteers to send in food, set up, greet guests and clean up.

Tuesday, Nov. 5th: Election Day (No School) #VotePublicEducation

Wednesday, Nov. 6th: LEO Toy Drive Begins (Ends Tues., Dec. 3rd); info below

Thursday, Nov. 7th: SIC Meeting (all invited); 8:30-9:30 AM in Vegas Room

Friday, Nov. 8th: Veterans Day Program; K-3rd @ 8:30am, 4th-8th @ 9:30am (info below)

Tuesday, Nov. 12th: High School Fair; 9:00-10:00 AM (8th grade students & 7th/8th grade parents)

Wednesday, Nov. 13th: PTA School Spirit Night at Rollersports; 6:00-8:00 PM (info below)

Monday, Nov. 18th-Friday, Nov. 22nd: Book Fair at M.Judson; 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM (info below)

Tuesday, Nov. 19th: Thanksgiving Families for Lunch for Grades 1st, 5th, & 6th Only

• 1st grade @ 10:30 AM, 5th grade @ 11:05 AM, & 6th grade @ 12:22 PM

Wednesday, Nov. 20th: Thanksgiving Families for Lunch for Grades 3rd, 2nd, 5K, & 7th

• 3rd grade @ 10:35 AM, 2nd @ 11:00 AM, 5K @ 11:30 AM, & 7th @ 12:22 PM

Wednesday, Nov. 20th: Lunch n' Learn for CTC Grades 3rd-5th @ 12:00 PM, RSVP HERE (info below)

Thursday, Nov. 21st: GCS School Choice Lottery Window Opens (Closes Fri., Dec. 6); info below

Thursday, Nov. 21st: Thanksgiving Families for Lunch for Grades 4th, 4K, & 8th

• 4th grade @ 11:30 AM, 4K @ 12:00 PM, & 8th @ 12:22 PM

Thursday, Nov. 21st: Make-Up Fall/Yearbook Picture Day

Tuesday’s election is an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate the importance of civic engagement to our students. If you haven’t already participated in early voting, consider taking your child with you to the polls. Observing the voting process firsthand can inspire them to embrace the responsibility of voting when they reach adulthood.

We also encourage you to check out the Greenville Candidate Lookup, a helpful resource provided by Greater Good Greenville, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing voter turnout and ensuring access to voting resources for our community.

Thank you for supporting public education and modeling civic responsibility for the next generation!

Join us this Thursday, Nov 7 @ 8:30am in the Vegas room for our monthly conversation dedicated to school improvement, bridging gaps, and supporting initiatives that benefit students, teachers, and parents. Your voice matters—let’s make a difference together!

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 every 1st Thursday of the month, from 8:30-9:30 am.

We are excited to be able to offer a special Thanksgiving lunch for our students and families again this year. This event will require ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE. Order envelopes were sent home on Thursday, 10/31 and all orders are due by Nov. 8th. The schedule is listed below:

• Tuesday, November 19th: 1st grade (10:30) 5th grade (11:05) 6th grade (12:22)
• Wednesday, November 20th: 3rd grade (10:35) 2nd grade (11:00) 5K (11:30) 7th grade (12:22)
• Thursday, November 21st: 4th grade (11:30) 4K (12:00) 8th grade (12:22)

Please use the order envelope to send in payment in cash (exact payment) or check made payable to Sterling School. Please note: any overpayment of cash will be considered a donation. NO Change will be returned.

Cost: 1 person = $5.27, 2 people= $10.54, 3 people=$15.81, 4 people= $21.08

The 2024–2025 National PTA Reflections program is here, and this year's theme is "Accepting Imperfection." This powerful theme invites students to explore and express their thoughts, emotions, and ideas through the arts. Whether your student is passionate about dance choreography, film production, music composition, photography, literature, or visual art, this is their chance to showcase their creativity and share their unique perspective.

"Accepting Imperfection" will inspire students across the nation and in U.S. schools abroad to embrace the beauty found in imperfections and create original works that reflect their personal journeys and experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of something special. We can't wait to see what our students create!

Submission Deadline: December 15, 2024

Submit your entry using the link below: Reflections Entry

Did you know... Sterling School is Greenville County's only total choice school? This means every single family who attends Sterling School is here by choice. While students of our Charles Townes Center Program are here by invitation, many people do not realize that students of our Sterling Program are also here by choice. So, if you've enjoyed your experience at our school, share the good news (and this digital newsletter) and invite them to join our family! Prospective families interested in joining the Sterling School community are invited to register for a tour HERE.

Why Attend Sterling School?

• We are a National Blue Ribbon School (Blue Ribbon Announcement)
• We have a longstanding reputation as a Top Performing School (Pep Rally Celebration)
• Unique Learning Experiences! (Such as Painting a Collaborative Mural)
• We Believe in Educating the WHOLE CHILD! (and are Award-Winning)
• We have a strong community partnerships (National PTA School of Excellence)
• And MUCH, MUCH more!

Greenville County Schools Change in Assignment School Choice Lottery Window for the 2025-26 school year will be Thursday, November 21, 2024 through Friday, December 6, 2024. All parents wishing to submit a CIA choice request should submit at their first choice school during this window. 2025-26 Change in Assignment Choice Lottery request forms will be distributed via courier on November 15. Magnet applications should be submitted via Backpack. Contact for CIA Requests: Planning and Demographics office, 355-7266 or 355-7263.

On behalf of our very own Officer Mitchell... Staff, students, and families are warmly invited to participate in this year's Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Santa Toy Drive. Please drop new, unwrapped toys for children ages newborn to 12 in the collection boxes at the front of the school. These toys will be distributed to needy families throughout Greenville during an LEO Santa gift-giving parade of emergency vehicles in December.

We're excited to announce that our upcoming event with Melissa Cline, Director of Admissions at Furman University, is now open to all middle school families! Originally offered for 8th-grade families, we’ve expanded this in-person session to ensure that all middle school parents and students can take advantage of this unique opportunity. Melissa will provide valuable insights into the college admissions process and answer any questions you may have about planning for your student's future.

Feel free to bring your lunch and join us for this informative event!

Click the image or CLICK HERE to sign-up!

We look forward to seeing you there!

We are excited to announce this year's Annual High School Fair! This event provides a valuable opportunity for our 8th grade students, as well as 7th and 8th grade parents, to explore the various high school options available throughout Greenville County Schools. It’s a great chance to learn more about the programs, academic paths, and extracurricular opportunities each school offers.

Make-up Fall/Yearbook pictures will be taken on Thursday, November 21st. To view pricing, CLICK HERE!

Buy online to get personalization and/or a digital download for free in select packages. Go to www.strawbridge.net. Click “Order Pictures” and enter the following code: FM452274.

THIS LINK will allow parents to sign up to receive updates via email regarding their child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, parents should be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.

Middle school students, have you ever heard of HAM Radios? They are an amateur radio that allows you to communicate with others near by, across town, or across the world without the internet or cell service. They are often used in emergencies when other forms of communication are not available. In the HAM Radio club you will learn the physics behind how radios work, how to use a radio properly, and how to earn your license. This club will meet on Wednesdays, from 2:30 - 3:30 beginning on November 13th. Register using this LINK.

Dungeons and dragons is a fun roleplaying Game where you fight monsters, solve mysteries, look for treasure, create many different characters and personalities, and have the most fun possible! Grades 4-6 are invited to register HERE. This club will meet on Thursdays from 2:30 - 4:00. The first meeting will be Thursday, November 14th. There is a $5 materials fee.

MathCounts meets on Thursdays, from 2:30-3:45. Families will need to pick up from the front at 3:45 unless their student is part of the After School Program. FULL

If you were unable to register for running club this fall, you can email Ms. Foulkes and request to be placed on the waitlist. There will be another opportunity in the spring.

MIDLLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY on Mondays after school from 2:30 - 3:45. FULL

Board Game Club is for students in grade 3-8 and meets on Mondays from 2:30 - 3:30. Full

Griffin Glee Club is for Grades 3-5 and meets on Tuesdays from 2:15 - 3:00.

Art Honor Society - Grades 6-8

See Mrs. Harrington or Mrs. Spitler if you have any questions.

Is your child interested in getting a club started at Sterling? Are you willing to sponsor a club or help to coordinate parent volunteers for a club? If so, please complete this Club Proposal Form. Ms. Foulkes will reach out to you to coordinate plans if we can make it work.

Dear Sterling School Families -

As we celebrate the close of our first quarter, I want to share a moment of reflection. Last Friday, my family and I toured a college campus with my high school senior, and it struck me just how quickly these school years pass. Watching her prepare for this next chapter filled me with gratitude for the many teachers, coaches, and mentors who’ve poured into her growth along the way. Here at Sterling, our commitment to this same journey with your children—to shape and prepare them for life beyond our walls—is one we cherish and take seriously.

Our first quarter has been filled with tremendous strides, all made possible by the partnership we share with you. Whether through attending parent/teacher conferences, engaging in SIC/PTA meetings, volunteering as a mentor, chaperoning a field trip, or reading and responding to the communication that comes home (thank YOU for reading! 😀)—each connection strengthens our Sterling School community.

As we move forward, thank you for your continued support, involvement, and trust. We are excited for the growth ahead and grateful to walk this journey with you!

Learning together,

Dr. P

The Sterling School AstroNerds Astronomy Club, in collaboration with Roper Mountain astronomers, is excited to offer CTC middle schoolers and their families an opportunity to explore the night sky!

• What: Stargazing party for CTC middle schoolers and their families
• Who: AstroNerds Astronomy Club in partnership with Roper Mountain Science Center
• Where: Roper Mountain Science Center
• When: November 8th, 2024, at 6:00 PM EST (weather permitting)

To participate, visitors will need to purchase tickets for the Starry Night show, hosted by Roper Mountain Science Center, from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM. Following the show, the stargazing event will take place at the Roper Mountain Observatory. Roper Mountain astronomers have graciously volunteered their time to guide students in their stargazing journey. Participants will also have the chance to see different telescopes in action!

Order your Elementary yearbook before September 13th for $25 (that's a $5 savings).

Mission: Sterling School seeks to create an environment where students receive a personalized educational experience that allows them to explore their world, be enriched, & excel both academically & emotionally as they prepare for challenges today & tomorrow.

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