Sterling School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, caring, and academically challenging learning environment. Our school’s collective success is the result of a dedicated staff partnered with supportive families and community members, working diligently to provide opportunities that enable our students to achieve their fullest potential and prepare them for tomorrow’s world.
Sterling School seeks to provide a robust academic experience through differentiated, student-centered instruction. We emphasis the 4 C’s (critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication) that includes a personalized approach to teaching and learning. Sterling provides a unique, innovative instructional program that includes guided practice, project based learning, STEM, 1:1 Chromebook initiative, and the integration of the arts. This year, Niche.com named Sterling School the best public elementary school in Greenville County with the best teachers. We agree. The ranking is based on salaries, absenteeism, teacher tenure, teacher-student ration and district's teachers grade.
Many of our students received notable recognitions this year. With regards to scholastic/academic achievements: forty-five students received a perfect score on at least one section of SC Ready, ten received a perfect score on at least one section of SCPASS, ninety-three students were inducted into Elementary Beta Club, fifty-four were inducted into Jr. Beta (Middle) Club, fifty students were named Junior Scholars, two students were recipients of the Scholastic Art & Writing Award, a student placed third at the SC Regional Science Fair (middle school division), a student won the Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation Essay Contest, and a student placed second in the American Mathematics Competition. Several student groups also received recognition as well. Sterling School placed first with SC Math Counts and were first with the American Mathematics Competitions. Sterling was also this year’s Black History Bowl Champion as well as Battle of the Books District Champion.
Many of our students, individually and collectively, also found success in the visual and performing arts: ten students were named to the SC Music Education Association Honor Region 2 Orchestra, two students were named to All State Orchestra, eleven students were named to All County Band (three students were named 1st chair), six students were named to Region Band, two students were named to All State Band, one student participated in the SC State Elementary Honor Choir, and fourteen students were elected to National Jr. Art Honor Society. The Sterling School Band program received the 2019 South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA) Outstanding Performance Award, the highest award given by the SCBDA, which is earned by accumulating points from the SCBDA events throughout the year.
In our ongoing efforts to develop the “Whole Child,” our school was recognized by the Greenville City Police Department for our concerted efforts and dedicated support in building strong communities. The various partnerships Sterling School has established with the Greenville City Police Department: Cops On the Court (host site), G.R.E.A.T (Gang Resistance Education And Training) in the classroom(s), Officer Allen Jacobs Memorial Tree Planting/Sign, Officer Allen Jacobs G.R.E.A.T. Summer Camp (host site), and Staff Training (GRAVITY Gang Reduction And Violence Intervention Targeting Youth).
This year, our school advocated our support for the Whole Child by hosting our first gifted educators’ conference, “Demonstrating Differentiation.” Approximately 80 guests attended, representing more than 10 school districts across our state. Through a keynote, concurrent workshops, and panel sessions, conference participants were provided with strategies and practices to challenge students and enrich curriculum.
Supporting the Whole Child requires an intentional partnership with our families. This year, our teachers provided five parent information sessions on meeting the needs of the gifted learner. These sessions highlighted general trends in gifted education, perfectionism, arts integration, enrichment in Spanish, and acceleration in mathematics. Our school’s PTA also provided two family events. One event focused on the importance of STEM and the other on digital citizenship and Internet safety. Our school also partnered with the Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative to provide Parent Café as well as Communities in Schools to provide the Strengthening Families Program.
At Sterling, we are living out our mission by preparing students for “tomorrow’s world.” We believe everyone must share the educational responsibility of preparing our students. On behalf of the Sterling School faculty and staff, we are grateful to our families and community member for your continued commitment to our school.
Dr. Josh Patterson, Principal
Catherine Schumacher, SIC Chair