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, working diligently to provide opportunities that enable our students to achieve their fullest potential in collaboration with supportive families and community members.
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.
Many of our students received notable recognitions this year. With regards to scholastic/academic achievements: three students won the Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation Essay Contest; three students placed in the top five (#1, #3, & #4) of this year’s South Carolina Scholastic Chess Championship. Five students represented our school at this year’s state MathCounts competition; one student placed first and participated at the national competition. Twelve of our students were named state champions at this year’s State Jr. Beta Convention. Our middle school received National Beta School of Merit Award. Finally, one student was named the Grand Winner of the Middle and Elementary School Academy of Science Contest.
Many of our students, individually and collectively, also found success in the visual and performing arts. Sixteen students were named to the SC Music Education Association Honor Region 2 Orchestra and eight students were named to All State Orchestra. Eleven students were named to All County Band, eight students were named to Region Band, and two students were named to All State Band. Three students received the district Award of Excellence in this year’s PTA Reflections Program; one student earned the state Award of Excellence. One student earned a Scholastic Art Award and one student placed first in the Youth Art Month SCAEA Visual Art Show (Southeast Division). Two students were named Rising Stars at this year’s Piccolo Spoleto Festival.
Several members of our faculty and staff also received recognition over the 2020-2021 school year. Art teacher, Mollye Spitler, was named our school’s Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Spitler was also recognized as the South Carolina Art Educators Association Art Educator of the Year. Second grade teacher, Kamaria Downs, was selected for Public Education Partners Teaching Fellows inaugural cohort. Middle school ELA teacher, Dhara Baiden, was published in SAGE Journal’s Gifted Child Today. Additionally, middle school social studies teacher, Sara Newell, and fifth grade teacher, Cara Nyvall, co-authored an article with seven students in the National Association of Gifted Children’s Teaching for High Potential.
In our ongoing efforts to support our school’s Whole Child mission, we received a $5,000 Mullins Grant from Public Education Partners to support our faculty’s ongoing training of social-emotional learning. These funds provided teachers with the opportunity to select greater training in either Conscious Discipline or Mindful Schools. Additionally, counselors Chameka Duncan and Casey Noble, gained certification as Mental Health First Aid Instructors and Nicole Benvenuto gained certification as a Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Practitioner. Our school’s PTA was one of only three local PTAs selected to pilot a new mental health program that provides families with resources to support their students’ mental health and emotional well-being.
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...#WholeChild, #WholeSchool, #WholeCommunity! On behalf of the Sterling School faculty and staff, we are grateful to our families and community members for your continued commitment to our school.
Dr. Josh Patterson, Principal
Lindsay Metcalf, SIC Chair
