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

Published January 12, 2025

Volume 248

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

Happy long weekend! We hope you have enjoyed the extended time at home and that you remained safe and warm throughout the storm on Friday. As a quick reminder, due to the cancellation of school on Friday, work or assessments that were originally due on Friday will now be due on Monday unless otherwise communicated by the teacher. Please make sure your child is ready to submit any work and is prepared for any assessments as we return to campus this week.

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 17 - Remote Learning Day

• Jan 20 - MLK Holiday (No School)

• Jan 28 - 8th Grade Coweta Works Day

• Feb 7 - Super Bowl Dress Down Day 

  •  (wear your favorite team jersey)

• Feb 10 - House Color Day

NEWS and NOtes From THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

QUARTER 2 PRIDE PERFORMERS

Congratulations to the following students who are being acknowledged by their teachers for their hard work and outstanding effort during Quarter 2. These students were identified as individuals who sought to do their very best by “filling it to the brim” in the classroom. Great job middle schoolers!

• 6th Grade Bible - David Selleck, Jude Hayes

• 6th Grade English - Gracie Gantt, Warren Bugden

• 6th Grade History - Abigail Davis

• 6th Grade Math - Aspen Bell, Brayden Coggin

• 6th Grade Science - Maddox Roth

• 7th Grade Bible - Weldon Dockery

• 7th Grade English - Avery Hopper, Eli Henard

• 7th Grade History - Nathan King

• 7th Grade Math - Pierce Ziobro, Brody Johnson

• 7th Grade Science - Noah Osterman, Ashton Baldwin

• 8th Grade Bible - Emma Fabean, Emmy Roth

• 8th Grade English - Adeline New, Maya Thomas

• 8th Grade History - Audrey Jennings

• 8th Grade Math - Brayden Kish

• 8th Grade Algebra 1 - Hamilton Houston, Lucy Armstrong

• 8th Grade Science - Phoebe Hobson, Maddie Akey

YOU’RE INVITED:  COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL

We are excited to host our 3rd “Coffee with the Principal” for this school year! Our next gathering is scheduled for Thursday, February 13 at 8:15am. Mark your calendars and plan to join if you are able. Topics of discussion will include:

• Semester 2 Events - What special activities and trips are planned for the Spring Semester?

• Clubs - What challenges have we faced with clubs and how might we overcome those challenges in order to offer more clubs next school year?

• 2025-2026 Ideas - Speaking of next school year, as we think through adjustments and improvements for next year, what would you like to see added or emphasized in anticipation of 2025-2026?

Want to join us for this time of fellowship and discussion? SIGN UP HERE

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.

COWETA WORKS DAY

On Tuesday, January 28th the 8th graders will attend Cowate Works at the CEC. Coweta Works is a high-energy, hands-on, interactive expo with activities across nine career worlds.  The expo will showcase careers to eighth graders through engaging activities.  As a result, students will receive information about many technical education pathways to become workforce-ready graduates.

The students will be bussed over after their lunch. The 8th-grade teachers and representatives of Coweta Works will escort students to the various career exhibits. The students will then travel back to the TCS campus in time for normal dismissal.

Weekly Updates and Information

THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL

Mr. Vinson began the second semester looking to Psalm 119:68 about God’s goodness. He shared with the students that because God is good and because God does good, it is good for me to do all that he tells me to do. The students were challenged to take the truth of who God is and to follow in obedience for joy and satisfaction.

LIONS OF THE WEEK

• 6th Grade - Olivia Goode

• 7th Grade - Elizabeth Brown

• 8th Grade - Emma Fabean

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. 

Galatians 6:7-8

v. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 

v. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

For Middle School Only: 

Distinction Requirements: 

Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  

• 6th Grade - Memorize v. 9

• 7th Grade - Memorize v. 9 and quiz with no blanks

• 8th Grade - Memorize v. 9, quiz with no blanks and write application paragraph

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.