Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening at the Middle School

Published November 19, 2023

Volume 196

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

I hope that each of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving week! May you and your family find countless reasons to enter the courts of the LORD with praise and thanksgiving towards Him.

HOW ARE WE DOING?

Let me know how our team is doing in keeping you informed about your child’s education this year. If you are lacking communication regarding one of your child’s classes, please let me know so I can help! adam.vinson@tcslions.org

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: UPCOMING MIDDLE SCHOOL DATES

• Nov 27 - Math Progress Learning Testing

• Nov 29 - Discipleship Day

• Nov 30 - English Progress Learning Testing

• Dec 4 - House Color and Competition Day

• Dec 4 - Recorders/Orchestra Concert

• Dec 5 - Band Concert

• Dec 7 - Chorus Concert

• Dec 15 - Remote Learning Day

LAST WEEK IN CHAPEL

Mr. Tipton, former 8th grade Bible teacher turned 12th grade Bible teacher, returned to middle school chapel last week to teach our students from II Kings 5. Using the story of Naaman’s leprosy, Mr. Tipton challenged our students that when God says to do something, our obedience to His call is non-negotiable. He also challenged our students regarding the concept of “self-importance”...the idea that sometimes we feel we are so important, we are exempt from listening or doing what we ought to do.

LIONS OF THE WEEK

• Students who have been recognized by their teachers for setting a good example and making right choices during the school day. 

• 6th Grade - Ava Malthaner 

• 7th Grade - Maya Thomas

• 8th Grade - Mia Moreno

THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: 

As you may notice, our 4th-8th graders memorize the same verses each year. These memory verses are selected intentionally based on the promises and truths they contain that are so relevant for our students as they learn to follow Jesus. Our hope is that these 20 verses will be remembered for years to come after being memorized for multiple years in Upper Elementary and Middle School. 

Psalm 100:4-5

v. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! v. 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Bible Distinction Opportunity: Middle School Students ONLY

Middle School Students who wish to earn the honor of distinction at our end of the year program in May may complete the following extra assignments/expectations for their memory verse. Students who choose these standards will be uniquely honored for going above and beyond in their spiritual walk.

• 6th Grade Students - Memorize v. 1-3 as well

• 7th Grade Students - Memorize v. 1-3 and be prepared to take your quiz with no blanks provided

• 8th Grade Students - Memorize v. 1-3and be prepared to take your quiz with no blanks provided and write an application paragraph for the verses

DISTINCTION EXTRA VERSE

Psalm 100:1-3 – Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

NOVEMBER HABITUDES MOMENT: 

Below you will find the monthly habitude for each grade level highlighting important leadership principles to implement in their own lives. Learn more about our Habitudes curriculum here. 

• 6th Monthly Habitude: Fun House Mirror

• Principle: Our level of integrity reflects who we are.

• Lesson Summary: Carnivals often have mirrors that distort how we really look. Poor leaders do this, pretending or posing to be better than they really are. Our level of integrity is the true reflection of who we are. 

• 7th Monthly Habitude: The Gardener’s Job

• Principle:  Healthy environments are key to developing others.

• Lesson Summary: A gardener’s primary job is to nurture the development of his plants. Likewise, good leaders center their agendas on growing their team members. Leaders are to be good mentors and invest their lives in others. Their key job is not doing programs or distributing products, but developing people.

• 8th Monthly Habitude: Pass on the Left

• Principle: Healthy endings to relationships 

• Lesson Summary: In life, you will notice that the people you once hung around may not continue with you on your journey. That’s OK. When you grow in new directions, be sure to pass others appropriately, making sure you burn no bridges along the way.

DECEMBER DRESS DOWN (WITH A FEW DAYS IN NOVEMBER)

Students can pay $25 to wear sweatpants/pajama pants and/or Crocs for the first 2 weeks we are back from Thanksgiving Break (Nov 27-Dec 8). Students are required to wear TCS approved dress code shirts/spiritwear. Use the form sent by Mrs. McBurnett to purchase this dress down option. All money raised will be used to offset the cost of our middle school overnight experiences.

PROGRESS LEARNING MID-YEAR TESTING

When we return from Thanksgiving Break, our students will engage in their mid-year Progress Learning testing. These tests (Math and English) are designed to measure your child’s learning growth from the beginning of the school year. These same tests will be administered at the end of the year as well to provide additional learning data for your child’s overall performance. Please encourage your child to do their very best on these upcoming tests. Our Math Progress Learning tests will begin on Monday, November 27 (our first day back from break) and our English Progress Learning tests will begin on Thursday, November 30.

MID-COURSE ASSESSMENTS

As we come to the end of Semester 1, it’s time for us to wrap up each of our classes with our final assessments for the calendar year. Check out our plans for mid-course assessments below as we finish out Semester 1. As you will notice, we are spreading out the assessments all month long to help reduce any added stress due to the busy schedules that typically come with the month of December. Our goal is to finish out the semester strong without piling the work on at the end. 

*Note: Each class will not necessarily need the full allotment of days for their assessments.

Your child will only have assessments in the listed subject areas on these days. The exception is that our students will continue to have memory verse quizzes on Wednesdays.

• December 1 = Final Bible Assessments (except memory verses quizzes which will continue on Wednesdays)

• December 4-5 = Final English Assessments

• December 6-7 = Final History Assessments

• December 8, 11 = Final Science Assessments

• December 12-13 = Final Math Assessments

• December 14 = Class Christmas parties and additional fun activities 

• December 15 = Remote Learning Day (student surveys only)

DISCIPLESHIP DAY REMINDERS

Don’t forget, when we return from Thanksgiving Break, our middle school students will be participating in Discipleship Day on Wednesday, November 29. Check out the details below.

• Drop-Off: Please drop your child off at NCG THEATER beginning at 7:30 am. Students who are necessarily dropped off prior to 7:30 am at main campus will have a shuttle provided to get them over to NCG at 7:30 am. 

• Schedule for the Day: Students will have breakout sessions at NCG theater in the morning and then will be transported back to main campus for lunch, afternoon chapel and additional activities. 

• Pick-Up: Students should be picked up at main campus like normal at the end of the day.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

As we look towards the month of December, here is a quick preview of some of our annual middle school traditions for Christmas that will be coming very soon!

• “12 Days until Christmas Break” - Each year, Mr. Vinson surprises our middle schoolers with special treats and privileges that correspond to the number of days remaining until Christmas Break. 

• Dress Down December - To help raise funds for our various middle school overnight experiences, we offer our middle schoolers the opportunity to wear Crocs and/or pajama pants/sweatpants for the month of December. More details to come on how to participate!

COMMUNITY SERVICE REMINDER

Don’t forget your child’s Community Service Form will be due May 2024. Please email your child’s Bible teacher regarding any questions about community service. Remember, each student is required to complete 10 hours of community service. 

23/24 Community Service Form

BLACKBAUD CLASSROOM INFORMATION

Be sure to check Blackbaud regularly to stay informed about your child’s progress this year!

• LESSON PLANS: Need to know what your child is learning in the classroom? Check the “Topics” section for each of your child’s classes. 

• HOMEWORK: Need to know what assignments your child should be completing at home? Check the “Topics” section for each of your child’s classes. 

• GRADES/PROGRESS: Need to know how your child did on their last assessment? Check the “Grade Detail” section for each of your child’s classes.

MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCES

HOUSE SYSTEM COMPETITION

Check out who is leading the competition at www.tcshouses.weebly.com. 

23/24 SCHOOL CALENDAR: Stay in the know about upcoming breaks and holidays.

IT HELP DESK LINK - if your child has an issue with their Chromebook, submit a ticket.

DRESS CODE OVERVIEW - check out this year’s guidelines.

PRE-ABSENCE FORM - submit pre-planned absences 5 days ahead of time for approval.

MS COMMUNITY SERVICE FORM - 10 service hours are due by May 2024. 

THRIVAL GUIDE: Learn more about how to not just survive, but “thrive” during middle school at TCS with thoughts and tips from our team.

GENERAL REMINDERS

REMINDER: ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

The following steps should be taken for reporting absences for 4th - 8th grade:

• Send excuses for absences, including doctor’s notes to attendance@tcslions.org.

• Send PRE-ABSENCE REQUESTS (family trips, etc.) to Kasey Hanson (kasey.hanson@tcslions.org) via your child’s 1st period teacher. 

If your child has to miss class this year due to sickness or quarantine, check out our process below for getting your child caught up on missing work and assignments. Please also notify the nursing team to make them aware of surgeries or long-term illnesses at nurses@tcslions.org

• WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ABSENT 1-5 DAYS? - Have your child connect with their teachers upon their return to the classroom. We will not send makeup work home for sick absences of this length through our Return to Academics program. 

• WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ABSENT 5+ DAYS? - Reach out to Kasey Hanson (Return to Academics Coordinator) so we can best determine a makeup plan for your child. Mrs. Hanson will help collect makeup work for you to simplify the process. 

• NOTE: If your child is sick, we want your child to focus on resting and healing before worrying about missing assignments. Please know our teachers will work diligently to help your child catch up once they are feeling well enough to complete assignments.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMIN TEAM: WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

• 6th Grade Academic Coordinator - Melissa Lanier (melissa.lanier@tcslions.org)

• Mrs. Lanier can assist you with any academic-related needs for 6th grade.

• 7th and 8th Grade Academic Coordinator - Emily Walter (emily.walter@tcslions.org)

• Miss Walter can assist you with any academic-related needs for 7th/8th grade. 

• Director of Student Life - Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org)

• Mrs. McBurnett oversees our special events and field trips while also handling our middle school counseling duties. 

• Director of Student Development - Dylan Higgins (dylan.higgins@tcslions.org)

• Mr. Higgins oversees the spiritual development of our student body while also assisting with discipline issues. 

• Middle School RTA Coordinator - Kasey Hanson (kasey.hanson@tcslions.org) 

• Mrs. Hanson can assist you with makeup work due to any extended absences.