Our talented WCTC culinary students are serving up a bold and flavorful menu featuring:
🥕 Carrot & Ginger Soup
🍗 Korean Fried Chicken
🥥 Coconut Lime Bars
Support our students, enjoy an incredible meal, and see future chefs in action!
We honor his legacy by reflecting on justice, equity, and the power of education to uplift every student in the PPS community.
Just a reminder there is no school tomorrow on Monday, January 19th due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All District offices and schools will be closed. Enjoy the long weekend.
Basketball Games this Week:
Wednesday, January 21st- We will have a home basketball game vs Liberty. The JV game will start at 3:45. We will have our 8th grade BLACKOUT night to recognize our 8th grade boys’ basketball players and 8th grade cheerleaders. We will recognize them after the JV game and before the Varsity game begins.
Cheer Practices for this week:
Tuesday, January 20th- Varsity Cheerleaders ONLY will have practice from 2:45-4:45 pm
Wednesday, January 21st- JV and Varsity Cheerleaders will cheer the JV and Varsity Game
Thursday, January 22nd- JV Cheerleaders ONLY will have practice from 2:45-4:45 pm
Future Teacher Club Meeting:
On Friday, our Future Teacher Club will be meeting with Ms. Mullen after school from 2:45-4:00. 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 19-23, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-newsletter-volume-20-january-19-23-2026
Upcoming Activities for January 12-16, 2026:
Basketball Games this week are all AWAY games:
Monday- our boys’ basketball team will be playing at Harold B. Dawson. The JV game will start at 3:45.
Wednesday- our boys’ basketball team will be playing at Rolling Acres. The JV game will start at 3:45.
Friday- our boys’ basketball team will be playing Reservoir Gifted. The JV game will start at 3:30.
Girls Volleyball Tryouts:
We will be having girls’ volleyball tryouts on Monday, January 12 from 2:45-4:45. Girls interested in playing volleyball can stay after school and must have tennis shoes and knee pads. Please arrange rides to have your daughter picked up promptly at 4:45.
Attention all cheer parents:
This week the cheerleaders will be cheering at the away game on Monday at Harold B. Dawson. Cheerleaders should arrive at Harold B. Dawson at 3:30 pm. Please make sure parents at the game by 6:00 PM to pick up your cheerleader.
Cheer Practices for this week:
Tuesday, January 13th- Varsity Cheerleaders ONLY will have practice from 2:45-4:45 pm
Wednesday, January 14th- JV Cheerleaders ONLY will have practice from 2:45-4:45 pm
PTO Meeting:
We would love parents to come out and join us this Tuesday, January 13 from 2:45-4:00 at Sterling for our monthly PTO meeting. We would love more parents to get involved and help us plan upcoming family events and to help plan for our IAR/ISA testing kickoff in March.
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.
Looking Ahead: No school on Monday, January 19 due to Martin Luther King Jr - all district offices and schools will be closed.
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week January 12-16:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-newsletter-volume-19-january-12-16-2026
Valeska Hinton and KCSS are back in session on January 13th. Get ready for a great semester ahead!
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week January 5-9, 2026:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-volume-17-january-5-9-2026
A Fun Family Opportunity for our 5th or 6th Grade students! Bradley University Men's Basketball is offering opportunities for a Night Out with The Braves! Please see the attached fliers for more information.
If you have additional questions please email Ms. Butler at LYNDSEY.BUTLER@PSD150.ORG
Just a reminder that on Friday, December 19th, dismissal will be at 1:30 PM. If your child is a car rider, please plan accordingly to be here at 1:30 to pick up your child. There will be bus transportation that day.
There will be no school from Monday, December 22-January 5th for students for winter break. School will resume for students on Tuesday, January 6th.
Upcoming activities and important dates to come:
• Monday, December 15-19 NWEA Math and NWEA ELA Testing will continue
• Tuesday, December 16- we have a home game at Sterling vs Liberty. The JV game starts at 3:45 and the Varsity game
will follow. Students must have a parent or guardian present with them at the game if they are coming out to watch the
game.
• Due to NWEA testing and needing our students in the right mindset for NWEA testing we will do winter theme out of
uniform dress out days on Thursday and Friday. Thursday you can wear your holiday gear or your ugly Christmas
sweater and Friday will be PAJAMA Day.
• Thursday, December 18 Rivermen Hockey Game Incentive for those that meet the criteria (see the flyer attached in
the newsletter link for the criteria.)
• Friday, December 19- dismissal will be at 1:30 (1 hour early for winter break)
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week December 15-19, 2025:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-news-newsletter-volume-17-december-15-19-2025
We’re excited to honor these three outstanding scholars who brought confidence and professionalism to the stage:
🏆 1st Place: De'Angela W — 6th grader at Mark Bills Middle School, representing Amistad!
🥈 2nd Place: Armani G — 5th grader at Rolling Acres, representing Isbindi!
🥉 3rd Place: Tyland J — 5th grader at Reservoir Gifted Academy, representing Altruismo!
Fantastic job to all three!
🎉 Congratulations to our 3rd & 4th grade Amazing Shake Champions! 🎉
We’re thrilled to celebrate these three incredible scholars who brought their confidence and professionalism to the spotlight:
🏆 1st Place: Mallorie A. — 4th grader at Northmoor Primary, proudly representing Altruismo!
🥈 2nd Place: Braylee J. — 3rd grader at Northmoor Primary, shining bright for Amistad!
🥉 3rd Place: Amaranth G. — 3rd grader, showcasing the spirit of Reveur!
These students wowed judges with their people skills, way to go!
The PPS Board of Education recognized several schools for major improvements in November!
✨ Attendance Growth
Von Steuben: +5.3%
Trewyn K-8: +3.8%
Richwoods: +3%
📉 Chronic Absenteeism Down
Mark Bills: –11.2 pts
Franklin Primary: –11 pts
Trewyn K-8: –7.4 pts
👏 Amazing work by our schools, staff, and students! Keep it going!
Her positivity, dedication, and heart shine bright! Thank you for all you do for PPS students!
Warm up with French Onion Soup, enjoy Beef Bourguignon over rice pilaf, and finish with a Paris-Brest — a sweet, airy pastry straight from the heart of France!
🍽️ Our WCTC Culinary students cannot wait to serve you!
Now we want to know… Which house are YOU repping?
🖤 Altruismo
💛 Amistad
❤️ Isibindi
💙 Rêveur
Show your house pride in the comments below!
Bumps in the road are challenging and Cartwheel is here to help. Reach out to your school counselor or principal today for a referral to Cartwheel.
The students are excited and offered a lot of insight on what they need to be set up for success for the upcoming tests. They know their data on where they started and where we want them to score. Please make sure that you click on the newsletter link because we have added some test taking strategies to help reduce test anxiety, so our students are calm, relaxed, and focused before the test.
Please make sure your child is at school every day for the next 10 days during testing, so they are ready to go when their testing session starts. It is always easier to test with your class and your teachers than someone else for a make-up session.
Upcoming activities and important dates to come:
Monday, December 8-19 NWEA Math and NWEA ELA Testing
Monday, December 8- we kick off our Boys Basketball season. There will be a home game on Monday at Sterling vs Rolling Acres. The JV game starts at 3:45 and the Varsity game will follow. Students must have a parent or guardian present with them at the game if they are coming out to watch the game.
We want to have fun but still stay focused the last week of school so get ready….out of uniform dress out days are coming the week of Dec. 15-19- watch for upcoming announcements for what each day will be for our winter theme dress out days.
Thursday, December 18 Rivermen Hockey Game Incentive for those that meet the criteria.
Friday, December 19- dismissal will be at 1:30 (1 hour early for winter break)
Please click on the link below for this upcoming week’s newsletter for additional information for the week December 8-12, 2025:
https://peoriapublicschoolsil.edurooms.com/engage/sterling-middle-school/newsletters/parent-spotlight-newsletter-volume-16-december-8-12-2025
🎊Peoria Public Schools is proud to announce that Senior Johnny Thai has been matched with the University of Pennsylvania through the prestigious QuestBridge Scholarship!
Johnny, a dedicated Richwoods IB Program student, will receive a full-ride scholarship to pursue pre-med with a specialization in neuroscience. QuestBridge connects high-achieving high school students with opportunities at some of the nation’s top colleges and universities.🎊
