Griffins Connect
Week of November 3rd #WholeChild #EveryDaysAnAdventure
The School Choice Lottery window for the 2027–28 school year opens tomorrow, Wednesday, November 4, and runs through Friday, November 20. Families interested in applying should submit their request at their first-choice school during the window.
Sterling School is proud to be Greenville County’s only total choice school. This year’s U.S. News & World Report rankings place Sterling first in Greenville County Schools at both the elementary and middle school levels and #3 among elementary schools and #1 among middle schools in South Carolina.
Our Sterling Program and the Charles Townes Center for Gifted bring two programs together in one Griffin community. As a National Blue Ribbon School, we pair challenging academics with hands-on learning and a Whole Child approach that helps every student be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.
Explore our new Why Sterling School page to see what makes our school special, from the learning experiences that spark curiosity to the community partnerships that help our Griffins thrive.
Know a family who might be interested in joining us? Please share this week’s Griffins Connect with them!
Sterling School is proud to honor the brave men and women who have served our country. Join us on Wednesday, November 11, as we celebrate their courage, dedication, and sacrifice during our special Veterans Day programs. The K–3rd grade program will begin at 8:30 AM, followed by the 4th–8th grade program at 9:30 AM.
📅 RSVP by Monday, November 2
👉 CLICK HERE to complete the Google Form to:
Confirm your veteran’s attendance for the program.
Share a photo and details about your honored guest, including their name, military branch, and relationship to your Sterling/CTC student. Photos in uniform are preferred.
Let us know if you plan to attend the PTA-hosted reception following the program. Veterans and their families, including their Sterling/CTC students, are all welcome to join us.
Following the program, the PTA will host a special reception for our veterans and their families as a small token of our gratitude and appreciation. To help make this gathering extra special for our honored guests, we are looking for volunteers to assist with signing in program attendees, along with donations of specific items for the reception.
👉 CLICK HERE to volunteer or donate. Every helping hand and contribution makes a difference, and we sincerely appreciate your generosity and support.
All students are encouraged to wear RED, WHITE & BLUE on November 11.
Thank you for helping us make this a memorable and meaningful celebration for our veterans and the entire Sterling community. Together, let’s show our heroes how much they mean to us.
Spirit Wear: Order Today!
Ready to show off your Griffin pride? Our Spirit Wear is finally here, featuring brand new designs and something for everyone. CLICK HERE to shop your favorites and show your school spirit.
Membership Drive: Faculty & Staff Raffle
Did you think we were done with the membership drive? Think again! We’re back with another exciting perk just for our Sterling/CTC faculty and staff. Those who have joined the PTA for this school year will be entered into a drawing to win ONE OF FOUR $25 GIFT CARDS! 🎁
📅 Deadline to join: November 13
Not a PTA member yet? There’s still time to join and get in on the fun! 👉 CLICK HERE TO JOIN!
Spirit Night With the Swamp Rabbits 🏒
Mark your calendars and get ready to cheer on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits as they take on the Greensboro Gargoyles on Sunday, November 22! Come join fellow Griffin families for an exciting afternoon of hockey, school spirit, and fun.
Puck drops at 3:05 PM, and tickets are just $15 each. CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets today. Let’s pack the Well and show our Griffin pride!
🎨 Let Your Creativity Shine! National PTA Reflections Program
Calling all creative Griffins! The 2026–2027 National PTA Reflections Program is underway with this year’s inspiring theme, “What My Culture Means to Me”. Students are invited to celebrate their unique backgrounds and express their creativity through original artwork that reflects what their culture means to them.
With six categories to choose from—Dance Choreography, Film Production, Music Composition, Photography, Literature, and Visual Arts—there’s a creative outlet for everyone. We can’t wait to see our Griffins share their talents, tell their stories, and bring their ideas to life.
⏰ Submission Deadline: December 15, 2026
👉 Ready to participate? CLICK HERE to submit your entry!
Help Fuel Our Griffins
We are still in need of nut-free breakfast or granola bars for students who arrive too late for cafeteria breakfast and may not have had a chance to eat at home. Donations can be dropped off at the front office. Please keep in mind that bars should not be overly sweet and must be NUT-FREE to help keep our students with food allergies safe.
⭐ Bonus points: Bars made in a dedicated nut-free facility are especially appreciated!
Unsure if a bar meets the requirements? Please check the ingredient/allergen information before purchasing.
Click HERE to sign up and help us make sure every Griffin starts the day ready to learn. Thank you for supporting our students!
The Thanksgiving Lunch PRE-ORDER envelope was sent home with your child on Thursday, October 22nd. Each student is limited to TWO tickets for Thanksgiving lunch (not including the Sterling student). That also means that each student is limited to 2 guests whether you are eating or not. This limit will be strictly enforced due to space availability. We are only serving Thanksgiving lunch on 2 days so we will have more families coming on each of those days.
PRE-ORDERS are DUE on Thursday, November 5th. (There will NOT be any extensions.)
Thanksgiving Lunch will be offered on two different days . See Schedule below.
Tuesday, November 17th:
1st grade (10:15)
4th grade (10:50)
*3rd grade- (11:20) [*Coffman, Hendon, Heppeard, Schoon]
7th and 8th grade (11:55)
Wednesday, November 18th:
5th grade (10:20)
2nd grade (10:45)
5K (11:15)
*3rd grade (11:20) [*Langley & Santinelli]
4k (11:45)
6th grade (11:55)
You are cordially invited to attend an informational session for parents of students interested in applying to the Fine Arts Center for the 2027-2028 school year. This event is designed specifically for parents to learn more about our programs and gain insight into the opportunities available for students at the Fine Arts Center. We will cover the application and audition process so that families know what to expect.
Date - Thursday, December 10, 2026
Time - 7:00 p.m.
Location - Fine Arts Center; 102 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville
Please note:
Sign up for your spot: CLICK HERE!
- Due to seating limitations, only 2 parents per family can attend.
- If both parents are attending, both must sign up individually for a spot. This will allow us to accurately account for seating.
- This session is for 8th-11th grade parents only. Students should not attend.
- If the session is full, you can watch the program at the following link: CLICK HERE!
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing what makes the Fine Arts Center an exceptional place for young artists to learn and grow.
C-CATS (https://c-cats.org/) has been inspiring South Carolina’s brightest students for nearly a decade! This program is designed for high-achieving middle and high school students and offers an exciting weekend experience at Clemson University. The middle school track focuses on leadership, team building, and an introduction to life at Clemson. This is only offered to current 7th and 8th graders.
Please note: Completing this form verifies that you would like for your student to be nominated for the Clemson C-CATS program. This is not a guarantee of their invitation / acceptance. Mrs. Gallegos will submit the nominations and then the program will respond from that point.
To have Mrs. Gallegos nominate your student and submit your information, please visit the link below. You must submit this form no later than November 17th, 2026.
Clubs coming soon.....
Primary (Grades 1 & 2) Endangered Species Coloring Club - where students will learn about endangered species and enjoy coloring/art around what they learn.
Club information can also be found on our school webpage under the "Students" tab and then "Clubs".
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.
After School Program Now Hiring!
Looking for a part-time job? Sterling School's After School Program is hiring dedicated and enthusiastic workers for the 26-27 school year! If you enjoy working with kids and have a few hours to spare in the afternoons, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
- Hours: 2-5PM or 2-6PM
- Interested? Contact Maxi Henry at mhenry@greenville.k12.sc.us for more information.
Join our team and make a difference in the lives of our students!
Can You Serve As A Substitute?
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!
Every day at school, students gather around the table for breakfast or lunch—full of stories to tell, questions to ask, and smiles to share. You’re invited to be part of their story. Whether you're chatting, playing a game, or simply listening—you can make a real difference! Think of it as adding a warm, meaningful chapter to a child’s day—one meal at a time. Help us build connection and community. Volunteer as a breakfast or lunch mentor today!
If interested in joining us, please complete the following survey: CLICK HERE! If you have any questions, please contact our school’s mentor coordinator, Mrs. Berry (tberry@greenville.k12.sc.us). We look forward to hearing from you!
📌 Cafeteria Team Member
We are also seeking caring, reliable team members to join our cafeteria staff and help us serve students each day.
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Flexible, school-day hours
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Opportunity to make a positive impact on our campus
📩 Contact Mr. Chris Spellman, Coordinator of Food Services Personnel, at cspellman@greenville.k12.sc.us for more information or to express interest.
Sterling School
Email: jpatterson@greenville.k12.sc.us
Website: www.greenville.k12.sc.us/sterling
Location: Sterling School, John McCarroll Way, Greenville, SC
Phone: 864-355-4480
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theSterlingSchool
Twitter: @SterlingSchool