👏🎵Keeping our schools in tune and on tempo. We appreciate our music directors today! Thank you for all that you do! 👏🎵
Important Reminders for the Week of March 16-20, 2026:
Track Tryouts are Coming: Save the Date:
March 24- Girls tryouts from 2:45-4:30
March 26- Boys tryouts from 2:45-4:30
Soccer Tryouts are Coming: Save the Date:
March 24- Girls Soccer Tryouts 2:45-4:00; Boys Tryouts 4:00-5:15
March 25- Girls Soccer Tryouts 2:45-4:00; Boys Tryouts 4:00-5:15
Report Cards for Quarter 3:
Every child should have brought home their quarter 3 report card on Friday. If for some reason you did not see it you can log into Skyward and access your child’s grades or please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Lane at lynn.lane@psd150.org for another copy.
Attendance Matters:
Thank you to all our families we are seeing improvements in reducing out chronic absenteeism rate. Sterling is currently at 20.95%. Our goal is to get below 20% and maintain that by the end of the year. Remember attendance matters! We need our kids here on time every day to be set up for success and to be their best. I believe in our Jaguars and families, and I know that we can meet our goal.
IAR and ISA Science Testing:
We had a full week of testing and are starting to wrap up the IAR testing. We will be finishing 5th grade testing this week and getting all IAR make up tests completed if a student missed one of their testing sessions. We will also start our ISA state science testing for 5th and 8th grade. We know this is a lot for our kids, but they are working so hard and really trying. We are proud of them and how hard they are working. We can’t wait to be done so we can celebrate their hard work with some nachos, hot chips, and sweet treats!
Track Tryouts are Coming: Save the Date:
March 24- Girls tryouts from 2:45-4:30
March 26- Boys tryouts from 2:45-4:30
Soccer Tryouts are Coming: Save the Date:
March 24- Girls Soccer Tryouts 2:45-4:00; Boys Tryouts 4:00-5:15
March 25- Girls Soccer Tryouts 2:45-4:00; Boys Tryouts 4:00-5:15
Report Cards for Quarter 3:
Every child should have brought home their quarter 3 report card on Friday. If for some reason you did not see it you can log into Skyward and access your child’s grades or please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Lane at lynn.lane@psd150.org for another copy.
Attendance Matters:
Thank you to all our families we are seeing improvements in reducing out chronic absenteeism rate. Sterling is currently at 20.95%. Our goal is to get below 20% and maintain that by the end of the year. Remember attendance matters! We need our kids here on time every day to be set up for success and to be their best. I believe in our Jaguars and families, and I know that we can meet our goal.
IAR and ISA Science Testing:
We had a full week of testing and are starting to wrap up the IAR testing. We will be finishing 5th grade testing this week and getting all IAR make up tests completed if a student missed one of their testing sessions. We will also start our ISA state science testing for 5th and 8th grade. We know this is a lot for our kids, but they are working so hard and really trying. We are proud of them and how hard they are working. We can’t wait to be done so we can celebrate their hard work with some nachos, hot chips, and sweet treats!
Weekly Information for the Week of March 9-13, 2026:
Daylight Savings Time:
Don't forget to set your clock ahead 1 hour. We need to SPING forward.
IAR Testing:
I am so proud of our students that have started the IAR testing this past week. Students have been getting to school on time, staying focused, and continuing to persevere even during challenging times. We know so many tests can be overwhelming and hard for ou7r kids, but we believe in our students and are proud of their effort. This upcoming week we will be wrapping up the 6th and 8th grade testing and 5th, and 7th graders will start testing throughout this week.
Cognia Parent Survey:
Thank you to those that completed the parent survey. The Cognia parent survey is still open, and I challenge our parents if you have not completed the survey to do so and strive to beat our goal and reach a 30% participation rate. We need your input to help make improvements to our school. Your feedback from this survey is critical to helping us with the plan for next year and continuing to make improvements. Please click on the newsletter link for the link to the Cognia parent survey. We appreciate your help and support.
Cartwheel is available through Peoria Public Schools:
If your child is struggling with anxiety, having a hard time staying focused, or could benefit from extra support, Cartwheel is here to help. Many families reach out to ask questions or get advice before a challenge becomes bigger. We are proud to partner with Cartwheel to provide access to mental health support for the students and families in our community via virtual therapy and family guidance with licensed clinicians.
Attention all 8th grade parents…. Log onto School Links and approve your child’s course planner for high school:
We still need quite a few of our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and approve your 8th graders course plan for high school. Please make sure you click on the newsletter link and follow the directions for School Links listed in the newsletter. We need our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and look at the course planner and approve your child’s high school schedule. If you have questions, please reach out to our counselor Mrs. Ahmad at casey.ahmad@psd150.org.
School Board Recognition:
We are so excited that our Boys’ Varsity Basketball team will be recognized Monday night at 6:30 at the school board meeting for being the City Champs! Shout out to Coach T and our Varsity Boys’ team for a great season and BIG win to end the basketball season.
Girls Volleyball Practice and Games this week:
Tuesday- There will be an AWAY game at Annie Jo. The JV game starts at 4:00 and the varsity game will follow.
Thursday- There will be a HOME game vs Lincoln. The JV game starts at 3:45. The 8th grade girls will be recognized after the JV game and before the Varsity game begins.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Thursday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week March 9-13, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-volume-27-march-9-13-2026
Daylight Savings Time:
Don't forget to set your clock ahead 1 hour. We need to SPING forward.
IAR Testing:
I am so proud of our students that have started the IAR testing this past week. Students have been getting to school on time, staying focused, and continuing to persevere even during challenging times. We know so many tests can be overwhelming and hard for ou7r kids, but we believe in our students and are proud of their effort. This upcoming week we will be wrapping up the 6th and 8th grade testing and 5th, and 7th graders will start testing throughout this week.
Cognia Parent Survey:
Thank you to those that completed the parent survey. The Cognia parent survey is still open, and I challenge our parents if you have not completed the survey to do so and strive to beat our goal and reach a 30% participation rate. We need your input to help make improvements to our school. Your feedback from this survey is critical to helping us with the plan for next year and continuing to make improvements. Please click on the newsletter link for the link to the Cognia parent survey. We appreciate your help and support.
Cartwheel is available through Peoria Public Schools:
If your child is struggling with anxiety, having a hard time staying focused, or could benefit from extra support, Cartwheel is here to help. Many families reach out to ask questions or get advice before a challenge becomes bigger. We are proud to partner with Cartwheel to provide access to mental health support for the students and families in our community via virtual therapy and family guidance with licensed clinicians.
Attention all 8th grade parents…. Log onto School Links and approve your child’s course planner for high school:
We still need quite a few of our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and approve your 8th graders course plan for high school. Please make sure you click on the newsletter link and follow the directions for School Links listed in the newsletter. We need our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and look at the course planner and approve your child’s high school schedule. If you have questions, please reach out to our counselor Mrs. Ahmad at casey.ahmad@psd150.org.
School Board Recognition:
We are so excited that our Boys’ Varsity Basketball team will be recognized Monday night at 6:30 at the school board meeting for being the City Champs! Shout out to Coach T and our Varsity Boys’ team for a great season and BIG win to end the basketball season.
Girls Volleyball Practice and Games this week:
Tuesday- There will be an AWAY game at Annie Jo. The JV game starts at 4:00 and the varsity game will follow.
Thursday- There will be a HOME game vs Lincoln. The JV game starts at 3:45. The 8th grade girls will be recognized after the JV game and before the Varsity game begins.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Thursday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week March 9-13, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-volume-27-march-9-13-2026
Our schools run smoothly thanks to the hard work and dedication of our amazing maintenance team! 🛠️ Thank you for all that you do!
Last week to register for Intercession!
Registration fees for the first week are paid by Peoria Public Schools if registration is completed by 3/12/2026. Transportation, breakfast, and lunch will be provided for those who register by March 12th. See what is available here: https://www.peoriapublicschools.org/page/intercession-programs
🍀 Spring into action and check out the March edition of The Remarkable Times!
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/pps/newsletters/03-2026-remarkable-times
💙 This week, we celebrate the remarkable school social workers of Peoria Public Schools who support our students’ academic success, emotional well-being, and overall growth every single day!
Join us in saying THANK YOU and write a word of encouragement in the comments!
Join us in saying THANK YOU and write a word of encouragement in the comments!
March 2-6 Updates for this Week:
IAR Testing:
The time has come we will be kicking off IAR testing across all grade levels this week. It is important that your child is here on time every day! We know that these state tests can be frustrating and overwhelming, but we will be taking brain breaks between testing sessions so that our students can relax and reset their minds to be in the right mindset for the test. It is important that students eat breakfast before they test so they are charged and ready to be focused. We know our students can reach proficiency and beyond, and we cannot wait to see how they perform. Please make sure your child is getting a good night’s sleep so they are rested and ready to be their best.
Cognia Parent Survey:
Thank you to those that completed the parent survey. Thank you, thank you! We reached our 20% goal. I challenge our parents if you have not completed the survey to do so and let’s see if we can reach a 30% participation rate. We need your input to help make improvements to our school. Your feedback from this survey is critical to helping us with the plan for next year and continuing to make improvements. Students have received their OUT of UNIFORM DAY on MONDAY, MARCH 2nd because of your parent support helping us reach our goal! Students will be able to wear a hoodie on Monday, Pajamas, or whatever their favorite style is. Help us strive to reach a goal of 30% and take the survey today.
PARENT 2026 SURVEY link:
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org%2Fsurveys%2F%23%2Faction%2F299851%2Fp692&data=05%7C02%7CLYNN.LANE%40PSD150.ORG%7C35ad6a800c964faa9f3c08de6494d511%7C90592b52d760466fbb253098a7cf80e0%7C0%7C0%7C639058787561120164%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eBBn5E7oI%2FXHzPRbJbyd%2FXEOuXFBTzFHQtQ5OdonvSo%3D&reserved=0
Out of Uniform Day- Monday, March 2:
We reached our Parent Cognia survey goal so students can be out of uniforms non Monday, March 2nd. Students will be allowed to wear hoodies if they choose.
Attention all 8th grade parents…. Log onto School Links and approve your child’s course planner for high school:
Please make sure you click on the newsletter link and follow the directions for School Links listed in the newsletter. We need our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and look at the course planner and approve your child’s high school schedule. If you have questions, please reach out to our counselor Mrs. Ahmad at casey.ahmad@psd150.org.
Girls Volleyball Practice and Games this week:
Monday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Tuesday- There will be a home game vs Rolling Acres. The JV game starts at 3:45 and the varsity game will follow.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Thursday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week February 23-27, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-volume-26-march-2-6-2026
IAR Testing:
The time has come we will be kicking off IAR testing across all grade levels this week. It is important that your child is here on time every day! We know that these state tests can be frustrating and overwhelming, but we will be taking brain breaks between testing sessions so that our students can relax and reset their minds to be in the right mindset for the test. It is important that students eat breakfast before they test so they are charged and ready to be focused. We know our students can reach proficiency and beyond, and we cannot wait to see how they perform. Please make sure your child is getting a good night’s sleep so they are rested and ready to be their best.
Cognia Parent Survey:
Thank you to those that completed the parent survey. Thank you, thank you! We reached our 20% goal. I challenge our parents if you have not completed the survey to do so and let’s see if we can reach a 30% participation rate. We need your input to help make improvements to our school. Your feedback from this survey is critical to helping us with the plan for next year and continuing to make improvements. Students have received their OUT of UNIFORM DAY on MONDAY, MARCH 2nd because of your parent support helping us reach our goal! Students will be able to wear a hoodie on Monday, Pajamas, or whatever their favorite style is. Help us strive to reach a goal of 30% and take the survey today.
PARENT 2026 SURVEY link:
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org%2Fsurveys%2F%23%2Faction%2F299851%2Fp692&data=05%7C02%7CLYNN.LANE%40PSD150.ORG%7C35ad6a800c964faa9f3c08de6494d511%7C90592b52d760466fbb253098a7cf80e0%7C0%7C0%7C639058787561120164%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eBBn5E7oI%2FXHzPRbJbyd%2FXEOuXFBTzFHQtQ5OdonvSo%3D&reserved=0
Out of Uniform Day- Monday, March 2:
We reached our Parent Cognia survey goal so students can be out of uniforms non Monday, March 2nd. Students will be allowed to wear hoodies if they choose.
Attention all 8th grade parents…. Log onto School Links and approve your child’s course planner for high school:
Please make sure you click on the newsletter link and follow the directions for School Links listed in the newsletter. We need our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and look at the course planner and approve your child’s high school schedule. If you have questions, please reach out to our counselor Mrs. Ahmad at casey.ahmad@psd150.org.
Girls Volleyball Practice and Games this week:
Monday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Tuesday- There will be a home game vs Rolling Acres. The JV game starts at 3:45 and the varsity game will follow.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Thursday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week February 23-27, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-volume-26-march-2-6-2026
Mark your calendars…Friday, February 27 will be HOUSE colors day. Students may be out of uniform and dress in their house colors.
This week we focused on IAR practice tests. Students went to the testing labs and took the practice test for IAR for ELA and Math. We do realize that sometimes big tests like this create test anxiety and are difficult for our students. We are hoping that by creating the practice test sessions will help eliminate some of the “unknowns” for our students and help them to be more relaxed when completing the “real” IAR test for the state. This helped us to determine some skill strands that we need to review before the upcoming test to make sure our students have the tools and are prepared to do their best. This year we are focusing on reaching for proficiency and beyond!
Cognia Parent Survey:
Thank you to those that completed the parent survey. We are making progress, but we are still working to meet our 20% goal. We need your input to help make improvements for our school. Your feedback from this survey is critical to helping us with the plan for next year and continuing to make improvements. If we reach our 20% parent survey goal, we will have an out of uniform day to celebrate parental involvement. Students will be able to wear a hoodie that day, pjs or whatever their favorite style is. Help us reach our goal and take the survey today.
Attention all 8th grade parents…. Log onto School Links and approve your child’s course planner for high school:
Please make sure you click on the newsletter link and follow the directions for School Links listed in the newsletter. We need our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and look at the course planner and approve your child’s high school schedule. If you have questions, please reach out to our counselor Mrs. Ahmad at casey.ahmad@psd150.org.
Girls Volleyball Practice and Games this week:
Tuesday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Wednesday- AWAY game at Reservoir Gifted- JV game starts at 3:45 and the Varsity game will follow.
Thursday- AWAY game at Harold B Dawson- this is a change in the original schedule. The JV game will start at 3:45 and the Varsity game will follow.
Friday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Thursday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week February 23-27, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-volume-25-february-23-27-2026
This week we focused on IAR practice tests. Students went to the testing labs and took the practice test for IAR for ELA and Math. We do realize that sometimes big tests like this create test anxiety and are difficult for our students. We are hoping that by creating the practice test sessions will help eliminate some of the “unknowns” for our students and help them to be more relaxed when completing the “real” IAR test for the state. This helped us to determine some skill strands that we need to review before the upcoming test to make sure our students have the tools and are prepared to do their best. This year we are focusing on reaching for proficiency and beyond!
Cognia Parent Survey:
Thank you to those that completed the parent survey. We are making progress, but we are still working to meet our 20% goal. We need your input to help make improvements for our school. Your feedback from this survey is critical to helping us with the plan for next year and continuing to make improvements. If we reach our 20% parent survey goal, we will have an out of uniform day to celebrate parental involvement. Students will be able to wear a hoodie that day, pjs or whatever their favorite style is. Help us reach our goal and take the survey today.
Attention all 8th grade parents…. Log onto School Links and approve your child’s course planner for high school:
Please make sure you click on the newsletter link and follow the directions for School Links listed in the newsletter. We need our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and look at the course planner and approve your child’s high school schedule. If you have questions, please reach out to our counselor Mrs. Ahmad at casey.ahmad@psd150.org.
Girls Volleyball Practice and Games this week:
Tuesday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Wednesday- AWAY game at Reservoir Gifted- JV game starts at 3:45 and the Varsity game will follow.
Thursday- AWAY game at Harold B Dawson- this is a change in the original schedule. The JV game will start at 3:45 and the Varsity game will follow.
Friday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Thursday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week February 23-27, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-volume-25-february-23-27-2026
Last Call for the Peoria County Chess Championship !!!
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Hosted by Mark W. Bills Middle School
Sponsored by Peoria County Regional Office of Education & Greater Peoria Chess
***Students must attend a Peoria County Public or Private school***
https://www.kingregistration.com/event/PeoriaCounty26
$5 Entry at the door (PPS playsFree)
Doors Open 8am
Registration Open until 8:45am
First Round 9:30am
All other rounds ASAP
6 Sections - Swiss System
K-3 - 5 Rounds - G30/5d
4-5 - 5 Rounds - G30/5d
Junior High 6, 7, & 8 - 4 Rounds - G30/5d
High School 9-12 - 4 Rounds - G30/5d
Awards top 10 in each division (K-3, 4-5, 6, 7, & 😎 Top 5 HS. Biggest upset in each division. Top 3 teams in each division K-3, 4-5, 6-8, HS)
Rememebr there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, February 16 due to Presidents' Day.
Cognia Parent Survey:
Thank you to those that completed the parent survey. We are currently at 10%. Our goal is to get 20% for parent feedback. We need your input to help make improvements for our school. Your feedback from this survey is critical to helping us with the plan for next year and continuing to make improvements. If we reach our 20% parent survey goal, we will have an out of uniform day to celebrate parental involvement. Students will be able to wear a hoodie that day, pjs or whatever their favorite style is. Help us reach our goal and take the survey today. PARENT SURVEY link: 2026 PARENT SURVEY
Congratulations to Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team:
Congratulations to Coach T and our Varsity Boys’ Basketball team for winning the Championship game. We are excited for Sterling to be the City Champs.
Attention all 8th grade parents…. Log onto School Links and approve your child’s course planner for high school:
Please make sure you click on the newsletter link and follow the directions for School Links listed in the newsletter. We need our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and look at the course planner and approve your child’s high school schedule. If you have questions, please reach out to our counselor Mrs. Ahmad at casey.ahmad@psd150.org.
Girls Volleyball Practice and Games this week:
Tuesday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Wednesday- AWAY game at Liberty- JV game starts at 3:45 and the Varsity game will follow.
Friday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Saturday- Girls Volleyball Jamboree at Manual- more information and game times will be shared this week.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Thursday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week February 16-20, 2026:
Cognia Parent Survey:
It is that time of year again for the Parent Cognia survey. We need your input to help make improvements and grow our school. Your feedback from this survey is critical to helping us with the plan for next year and continuing to make improvements. If we reach our 20% parent survey goal, we will have an out of uniform day to celebrate parental involvement. Students will be able to wear a hoodie that day, PJs or whatever their favorite style is. Help us reach our goal and take the survey today. PARENT SURVEY link: 2026 PARENT SURVEY
Parent University Family Night at Sterling:
Please come out and join us for a fun night this Thursday, February 12 from 4:30-6:30. Our parent university family night will be featuring black history month exhibits, a living museum by our 6th graders, testing information and tips, guest readers, basket giveaways, and much more. We can’t wait to share all the positives that have been happening and provide a fun night for the whole family. Please scan the QR code to RSVP today.
Congratulations to our 5th-8th graders that represented Sterling at the Science Convention on Thursday at Woodruff:
Boys’ Varsity Basketball Tournament Schedule:
Monday- The Varsity team will play at 5:10 at Woodruff.
Wednesday- The game time will depend on the outcome of the game on Monday. We will either play for 3rd/4th place at 4:00 or for 1st/2nd place at 5:15 PM at Woodruff.
Girls Volleyball Practice this week:
Tuesday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Wednesday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Friday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Thursday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week February 9-13, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-newsletter-volume-23-february-9-13-2026
It is that time of year again for the Parent Cognia survey. We need your input to help make improvements and grow our school. Your feedback from this survey is critical to helping us with the plan for next year and continuing to make improvements. If we reach our 20% parent survey goal, we will have an out of uniform day to celebrate parental involvement. Students will be able to wear a hoodie that day, PJs or whatever their favorite style is. Help us reach our goal and take the survey today. PARENT SURVEY link: 2026 PARENT SURVEY
Parent University Family Night at Sterling:
Please come out and join us for a fun night this Thursday, February 12 from 4:30-6:30. Our parent university family night will be featuring black history month exhibits, a living museum by our 6th graders, testing information and tips, guest readers, basket giveaways, and much more. We can’t wait to share all the positives that have been happening and provide a fun night for the whole family. Please scan the QR code to RSVP today.
Congratulations to our 5th-8th graders that represented Sterling at the Science Convention on Thursday at Woodruff:
Boys’ Varsity Basketball Tournament Schedule:
Monday- The Varsity team will play at 5:10 at Woodruff.
Wednesday- The game time will depend on the outcome of the game on Monday. We will either play for 3rd/4th place at 4:00 or for 1st/2nd place at 5:15 PM at Woodruff.
Girls Volleyball Practice this week:
Tuesday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Wednesday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Friday- JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Thursday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week February 9-13, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-newsletter-volume-23-february-9-13-2026
🚸🦺Thank you to our PPS crossing guards for protecting our students and making safety a priority every single day!
This weekend is going to be big!
Three tournements in one location! Thank you to the Lincoln K8 School for being such a gracious host.
PFT/PPS Championship
***PPS Students ONLY***
https://www.kingregistration.com/event/PFTPPS26
This is a K-12 Tournament!!!
Come and be named the top PPS player.
Doors open at 8am
First Round at 9:30am
Greater Peoria Chess Peoria Federation of Teachers Local 780 Peoria Public Schools District 150
Cold day? WCTC Culinary students got you covered ❄️➡️🔥 Chili mac & cheese, cornbread, potato skins, and a delicious brookie (brownie + cookie!) are being served at the award-winning Warrior Way Café this Thursday!
Check out the February issue of The Remarkable Times, where we celebrate student achievements, highlight inspiring stories, and share important updates from across our school district!
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/pps/newsletters/02-2026-remarkable-times
Attention all 8th grade parents…. Please make sure you click on the newsletter link and follow the directions for School Links listed in the newsletter. We need our 8th grade parents to log into School Links and look at the course planner and approve your child’s high school schedule. If you have questions, please reach out to our counselor Mrs. Ahmad at casey.ahmad@psd150.org.
Friday is COLLEGE COLORS DAY! Students can be out of uniform IF they are wearing a college shirt or sweatshirt or college colors. Students WILL NOT be allowed to wear hoodies during the instructional school day in their classrooms.
Last call for dental sealants. This Thursday, February 5th, we will have a team here from Dental Sealants & More to follow up with dental prevention for our students. If you want your child to participate in this opportunity, they MUST have a completed form returned to school. The form is included in the newsletter link.
We are excited to celebrate Mrs. Ahmad this week for Counselor Appreciation Week. We appreciate all that she does for our students, our school community, and families. Let’s shower her in love and thank her for all of her hard work.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week February 1-6, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-volume-22-february-2-6-2026
Friday is COLLEGE COLORS DAY! Students can be out of uniform IF they are wearing a college shirt or sweatshirt or college colors. Students WILL NOT be allowed to wear hoodies during the instructional school day in their classrooms.
Last call for dental sealants. This Thursday, February 5th, we will have a team here from Dental Sealants & More to follow up with dental prevention for our students. If you want your child to participate in this opportunity, they MUST have a completed form returned to school. The form is included in the newsletter link.
We are excited to celebrate Mrs. Ahmad this week for Counselor Appreciation Week. We appreciate all that she does for our students, our school community, and families. Let’s shower her in love and thank her for all of her hard work.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week February 1-6, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-volume-22-february-2-6-2026
Come a little early, give the gift of blood, and then join us for the school board meeting afterwards.
Just a reminder that all students can access IXL at home. This is a great opportunity for students to continue to focus and build their math and ELA skills at home. These lessons also connect to IAR standards that students will need to be able to demonstrate their knowledge of on the IAR state test in March. The IXL goal is for students to reach a Smart Score of 80 to demonstrate proficiency in that skill area.
On Friday, January 30th we will be having a Battle of the Houses. Students may be out of uniform and representing their house colors. We have fun activities planned and can't wait to see which House will lead! Will it be Amistad, Isibindi, Reveur, or Altruismo? We can't wait to find out.
Basketball Games this week:
Tuesday- our boys’ basketball team will have an AWAY game at Liberty. The JV game will start at 3:45.
Thursday- our boys’ basketball team will be playing at HOME at Sterling vs Mark Bills. The JV game will start at 3:45. This will be our last home game of the season.
Saturday- will be the Shootout at Woodruff. The schedule is posted in the newsletter link. If the schedule is adjusted or changed, we will be sure to communicate with our families and players.
Girls Volleyball Practice this week:
There will be volleyball practice this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Cheer Games or Practices for this week:
Monday- JV and Varsity cheer practice 2:45-4:45
Tuesday- cheerleaders will be cheering at the AWAY game at Liberty. JV game starts at 3:45, Varsity will follow.
Thursday- cheerleaders will be cheering at the HOME game vs Mark Bills. JV game starts at 3:45, Varsity will follow.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Friday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week January 26-31, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-newsletter-volume-21-january-26-31-2026
On Friday, January 30th we will be having a Battle of the Houses. Students may be out of uniform and representing their house colors. We have fun activities planned and can't wait to see which House will lead! Will it be Amistad, Isibindi, Reveur, or Altruismo? We can't wait to find out.
Basketball Games this week:
Tuesday- our boys’ basketball team will have an AWAY game at Liberty. The JV game will start at 3:45.
Thursday- our boys’ basketball team will be playing at HOME at Sterling vs Mark Bills. The JV game will start at 3:45. This will be our last home game of the season.
Saturday- will be the Shootout at Woodruff. The schedule is posted in the newsletter link. If the schedule is adjusted or changed, we will be sure to communicate with our families and players.
Girls Volleyball Practice this week:
There will be volleyball practice this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. JV practice will be from 2:45-4:15. Varsity practice is from 4:15-5:30.
Cheer Games or Practices for this week:
Monday- JV and Varsity cheer practice 2:45-4:45
Tuesday- cheerleaders will be cheering at the AWAY game at Liberty. JV game starts at 3:45, Varsity will follow.
Thursday- cheerleaders will be cheering at the HOME game vs Mark Bills. JV game starts at 3:45, Varsity will follow.
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Friday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:30-4:00. Students that participate in this club will need to make sure they have transportation arranged to be picked up at 4:00.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week January 26-31, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-newsletter-volume-21-january-26-31-2026
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