Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening at the Middle School
Published January 5, 2025
Volume 247
Adam Vinson - Middle School Principal
A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON
2 Thessalonians 1:11–12
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome back and happy 2025! As we kick off the new calendar year, along with Semester 2 of the 2024/2025 school year, we are praying that God will do an incredible work in the lives of our students. The new year is a time for “resolutions,” and we are praying specifically as a staff that the LORD would fulfill every resolution He has to work good in the hearts and minds of each of our students. May these next 5 months be an amazing season of growth as our students continue to deepen their understanding of who God is and what He desires for each of them.
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
UPCOMING MIDDLE SCHOOL DATES
Jan 6 - Return from Christmas Break
Jan 7 - House Color/Competition Day
Jan 17 - Remote Learning Day
NEWS and NOtes From THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
SPIKE BALL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
The last 2 weeks of December we had an intense spike ball tournament that was made available to all of our middle schoolers. After several days of matches, Miller Moore and Noah Osterman (pictured to the left) narrowly defeated Cooper Boone and Channing Phillips (pictured above). Congratulations to both teams!
HOUSE COLOR DAY TUESDAY
Don’t forget to wear ORANGE (Nee House - 4th) or BLACK (Wycliffe House - 5th) this Tuesday as we kick off Semester 2 with a House Color Day!
REMOTE LEARNING DAY REMINDER
Don’t forget that we will have a remote learning day on Friday, January 17. This remote learning day allows us to facilitate our elementary Grandparents’ Day on campus. Middle schoolers will be given a remote assignment in their history class.
YOUTH PASTOR LUNCHES
Did you know that Mr. Vinson schedules quarterly lunches with youth pastors in the area who have students represented at Trinity? Is your youth pastor on the invite list? We would love to make sure that we are connecting with every youth pastor who is ministering to our Trinity students. Please take time to reach out to your pastor and have him or her email Mr. Vinson at adam.vinson@tcslions.org if he or she would like to be included in the next email invite.
What’s the purpose of these lunches? - We use these times to collaborate together on how we can best love and serve our shared students. We also seek to encourage our youth pastors in the area because Trinity is fully committed to partnering with local churches in the development of your child. We also use our time together to pray specifically for our students and their ongoing spiritual growth.
Weekly Updates and Information
THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL
Returning next week
LIONS OF THE WEEK
Returning next week
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 Goodness. 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.
Week of January 6 - No Memory Verse Assessment
JANUARY 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: The Starving Baker
Principle: Leaders feed themselves for personal growth.
Lesson Summary: This is a common hazard for leaders. We’re like the baker who spends so much time baking bread for others, we forget to eat ourselves. Leaders must feed themselves for personal growth.
7th Monthly Habitude: The Velvet Covered Brick
Principle: Leaders are relational, but firm in their beliefs.
Lesson Summary: Good leaders possess both strength and sensitivity. They are tough and tender. They are soft on the outside (relational), but firm as a brick on the inside (principle-centered). Because they are emotionally secure, they're able to handle confrontation and conflict in a healthy way.
8th Monthly Habitude: Windshields and Rear View Mirrors
Principle: Everyone focuses on something - the past or the future. Where does your energy come from? When our dreams are bigger than our memories, we gain energy from the hope that lies ahead. Often we must let go of the comfort from our past to make progress.
Lesson Summary: This Habitude is not simply about letting go of the past. It is important to sustain friendships we've made along the way. We should be grateful for fun memories and good times. Our past will always help shape our future. But sometimes, the past can hold us back. If our memories are more important than our dreams, we are in trouble. If we prefer to look in the rearview mirror instead of the windshield, we'll get stuck and maybe wreck. Holding onto the comfort of our past can keep us from grabbing the adventure that lies in our future.
HOUSE SYSTEM COMPETITION
Check out who is leading the competition at www.tcshouses.weebly.com.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM:
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
Principal:
Adam Vinson (adam.vinson@tcslions.org)
Director of Academics and Student Development:
Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org) - Mrs. McBurnett helps oversee our academic program while also handling discipline.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Kristn Peavy (kristan.peavy@tcslions.org) - Mrs. Peavy provides direction and guidance related to each grade level’s curriculum.
Academic Coordinator
Melissa Lanier (melissa.lanier@tcslions.org) - Mrs. Lanier oversees our class placement and return-to-academics process for students who have been absent.
Director of Spiritual Development
Wesley Lassiter (wesley.lassiter@tcslions.org) - Mr. Lassister oversees the spiritual development of our student body.
MIDDLE SCHOOL HELPFUL LINKS AND REMINDERS
24/25 SCHOOL CALENDAR - Stay in the know about upcoming breaks and holidays.
PRE-ABSENCE FORM - Submit pre-planned absences 5 days ahead of time for approval.
COMMUNITY SERVICE FORM - 10 service hours are due by May 2024.
DRESS CODE OVERVIEW - Check out this year’s guidelines.
IT HELP DESK LINK - If your child has an issue with their Chromebook, submit a ticket.
THRIVAL GUIDE - Learn more about how to not just survive, but “thrive” during middle school at TCS with thoughts and tips from our team.
RIDING HOME WITH A FRIEND?
If your student will be going home with another student during dismissal, please send an email to receptionist@tcslions.org OR tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org.
IS YOUR CHILD SICK OR ABSENT?
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 Melissa Lanier (melissa.lanier@tcslions.org) via your child’s 1st period teacher.
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 Melissa Lanier (Return to Academics Coordinator) so we can best determine a makeup plan for your child. Mrs. Lanier 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.
NEED TO ACCESS 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.