Griffins Connect

Last spring, 40 of our students scored PERFECT on at least one section of the SC Ready (ELA or Math, and/or Science. This accomplishment deserves to be celebrated and is a tremendous honor. CONGRATULATIONS!

*Note: Grade level noted indicates previous year.

**While the state recognizes perfect scores that include the writing/TDA portion, we plan to also celebrate students who achieved an ELA max score for their corresponding grade level.

L to R: Charlotte Taylor, Navya Khosla, Vilis Kukainis, Wyatt Heppeard, Takami Ikemoto, Swara Gore, Carolyn Endres, Krisha Chomal, Anna Bumgarner, Levi Duncan, Geoffrey Erwin, Emmalyn Jones, Fallon Jones, Stone Robinson, & Ned Jones (not pictured)

L to R: Isabella Payne, Devika Padmakumar, Garrisyn Murphy, Preston Lancaster, Audrey Frick, Amita Barik, Felix Arnold, Andrew Chen, Holden Clark, Aaron Ding, Logan Perumal, Nate Rahn, Jonathan Zhang, & George Yu

Thursday, August 29th: Mentor Kick-off Breakfast; 8:30 am (email Mrs. Berry for info)

Thursday, August 29th: Jr. Beta Club Induction; 4:00 pm

Friday, August 30th: Nat'l College Colors Day (wear the colors of your favorite college/university)

Monday, September 2nd: Labor Day; No School

Tuesday, September 10th: Settling into 6th Grade; 9-10:00 am, Vegas Room

This Friday, August 30th, Sterling School proudly celebrates College Colors Day, a spirited annual tradition that brings the excitement of the college experience to our campus. College Colors Day is dedicated to promoting the tradition, pride, and school spirit that embody the college journey—a journey we hope to inspire in all of our "Griffins."

To foster a college-going culture and encourage our students to dream big, we're inviting everyone to join in the fun by wearing their favorite college or university apparel. Whether it’s the alma mater of a family member, a future dream school, or simply a team you love to cheer for, this is your chance to show off those colors with pride! #WholeChild #SoaringHigher

My name is Gayle Howard, and I am thrilled to be joining Sterling/CTC as a Resource teacher. Sterling is a special place to me- my old middle school stood in the same location where Sterling is now!, my oldest son attended CTC, and I taught Math Intervention at Sterling in the spring of 2021. I have my BA from Furman University and Masters in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. I started my teaching career in Nashville where I taught middle and high school math, then did private math tutoring for years in Greenville and for the last three years, I taught a self-contained middle school class in Greenville County.

My husband and I have three boys (16, 13, and 9) and a dog that has more energy than all of them combined! I enjoy running, reading, the lake and the beach and traveling to new places with my family.

I love working with students and helping them achieve more than they thought possible. I look forward to jumping right in and working with the staff, students and community at Sterling!

Sixth-grade parents are invited to join us for "Settling into 6th Grade," an informative session designed to give you insights into your child's classes and the transition to middle school academics. Hosted by our dedicated 6th-grade team, this session will provide an overview of what to expect from the academic experience and how we support your child’s success. #WholeChild #SoaringHigher

Students and families, it is time to join or renew your interest in continuing to be a part of the Middle School Junior Beta Club. Typically, students are invited to join Jr. Beta Club in 5th grade and participate in a special Induction Ceremony. If your child meets the qualifications, they are encouraged to continue their service in the Middle School Jr. Beta Club. National Beta is the largest, independent, educational youth organization in America. The four pillars that drive our work and opportunities are: Academic Achievement, Character, Leadership and Service.

What are next steps:

1. You and your student should review the Jr. Beta Club Qualifications.
2. Your student should confirm he/she has joined the M.S. Junior Beta Club Google Classroom. Current 6th grade Beta students will ALL need to join. Students who are currently in 7th and 8th grade may have joined the Google Classroom last year. The link can be found in their Grade Level Google Classroom.
3. Annual dues are $10 and should be paid over the next week in one of the following ways: *Pay through MSB (My School Bucks) * Check made payable to Sterling School *Cash
4. If paying by check or cash, please label payment with your student's name, grade and HR teacher
5. Payment should be delivered to Ms. Foulkes in the front office FIRST THING IN THE MORNING to be receipted.

Griffin Glee Club is here, where every note is a new adventure! Whether you sing alone at home or you are a stage star, this is the place to let your voice shine. We will be singing and having a blast while learning new songs and singing familiar songs as well. No experience is needed-just bring your love for music and a positive attitude. Come make new friends, learn cool songs, and be part of something truly awesome.

This club will be holding auditions on September 16 and 17. Please turn in your audition form to Mrs. Johnston and/or Mrs. Ledford by September 11. Griffin Glee Club Audition Form

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.

Some of the clubs we have had in the past are: Running Club, Chess Club, Board Game Club, Girls on the Run, Jr. Beta Club, etc.

Want to make a difference in our school community? By purchasing a PTA membership, you’re not just getting involved—you’re helping to create an amazing environment for our kids to learn and grow.

Here’s why you should consider purchasing a membership:

1. Support Our School: Your membership helps fund exciting programs, events, and resources that enhance our students' educational experience.

2. Be a Voice: Get a say in the decisions that shape our school’s future. Your input matters, and as a PTA member, you’ll have a platform to make it count.

3. Connect and Collaborate: Meet other passionate parents, students, and staff. Together, we can build a stronger, more connected school community.

Ready to make a difference? Click here to purchase your PTA membership today! Let’s work together to make this year the best one yet for our whole school! If you have any questions or need more info, feel free to reach out to Christi Wagner.

Thank you for your support! 💪📚🎒

The National PTA Reflections program supports student success and serves as a valuable tool for encouraging students to explore the arts for fun and recognition. Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade students are encouraged to submit original works of art in one or more of the categories. More information to come in early September.

Greenville County Schools, including Sterling School, will not be able to host an in-person book fair this school year like we have in the past. We hope to be able to host them again in the future, and below is an explanation of why book fairs are being paused at this time.

Greenville County Schools and our school recognize the value in school-sponsored book fairs as a way to promote reading with students while also engaging parents and the community in support of literacy. Additionally, book fairs provide a fundraising opportunity for schools that have a positive impact on students and the community.

Effective August 1, 2024, South Carolina’s State Board of Education passed SC Regulation 43-170, which outlines new requirements for how instructional materials provided by schools or made available to students in school are selected. As a result, Greenville County Schools finds it necessary to pause all book fairs for this school year while it works with vendors to find a solution that ensures compliance and avoids a circumstance that may place employees in jeopardy of violating provisions of the regulation. The logistics of book fairs involve large containers of books and other material being delivered to schools, set out, packed up, picked up, restocked, and sent to the next school on a short turnaround time. It is not possible for school personnel to vet all book fair content after it arrives, nor can vendors provide accurate content information far enough in advance for it to be vetted through the District prior to the start of fall book fairs.

The District’s Academics team is actively working with schools and individual book fair vendors to explore ways to continue offering book fairs in the future. During the time needed to ensure full compliance with the new regulation, there are alternatives, such as book clubs and online book fairs, for schools to consider. We will share more information once we have evaluated those other options for this year.

Greenville County Schools and our school understand the importance of book fairs as a way to promote reading while also raising funds for the schools. Please know that the District is committed to finding alternative solutions in the future that comply with Regulation 43-170 and allow us to continue engaging parents and the community in support of literacy within our schools and at home.

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

Thank you for your patience in this first full week of school! Every year we face challenges in the first week or two of school as many of our families are learning the procedures for morning drop off and pick up in the afternoon.

Morning drop off will move quickly as students learn to be ready and unload all along the entire covered awning. Please do not wait to unload students at the front entrance. We have staff members on duty to ensure that they get safely in the building. Do NOT drop students prior to 7:10 as there are no adults on duty until that time.

The dismissal process will continue to improve as families become familiar with the dismissal process, what lanes to be in and when to arrive. As students learn the routines of watching for their cars and loading quickly, we will continue to see the carline move more efficiently. Please remind your child to be attentive during the pick-up process. We are confident you will see big improvements this week.

Last Friday, Sterling/CTC elementary teachers enjoyed a special shopping experience at our Pop-Up Morning Meeting Shop, thoughtfully organized by our Instructional Coach, Mrs. Doyle. Teachers had the opportunity to browse and select a variety of read-alouds, activities, and resources to enhance their Morning Meetings.

For those unfamiliar, a Morning Meeting is a daily classroom gathering where students and teachers come together to start the day on a positive note. It typically includes greetings, sharing, group activities, and a morning message. This practice fosters a sense of community, strengthens social-emotional learning, and sets a welcoming tone for the day, ensuring that our students are ready to learn. We’re excited to see how these new resources will support our commitment to the #WholeChild approach, helping each student feel connected, valued, and ready to #SoarHigher!

We love celebrating our students' special days! As part of our commitment to nurturing the #WholeChild, we strive to ensure that all our students are safe, healthy, and thriving in every aspect of their school experience. To support the well-being of all children, especially those with allergies, we kindly ask that no edible items be sent to celebrate a student's birthday.

Instead, consider sending small, non-edible tokens like pencils, erasers, or silly putty—simple gestures that align with our healthy and inclusive approach. Of course, participation is entirely optional, and we’ll be sure to make every child feel celebrated in a meaningful way! Thank you for your understanding and support in keeping our school a safe and healthy environment for everyone.

Please note that our front office staff has been instructed not to accept food items to pass along to classroom teachers. We ask for your understanding and kindness if this situation arises, as they are following school guidelines designed to protect all students.

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