Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening at the Middle School
Published March 16, 2025
Volume 257
Adam Vinson - Middle School Principal
A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON
Quarter 3 has officially ended, and we are now entering the final 9 weeks of the 2024-2025 school year! It’s hard to believe how fast this year has flown by. As we look back on Q3, we are very proud of our students’ hard work and effort. Please take a moment to review your child’s Q3 performance by reviewing their report card on Monday, March 24. All report cards will be viewable online via Blackbaud. Students should be celebrated for their accomplishments and growth and also challenged to finish strong over these final weeks! Our hope is that every one of our students will “fill it to the brim” by doing their very best work in anticipation of summer break!
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
Mar 1Mar 17 - St Patrick’s Day Dress Down (wear green with dress code pants/shorts)
Mar 21 - Remote Learning Day
Mar 24 - Q3 Report Cards published
Mar 27-28 - Standardized Testing Days
Apr 1-3 - 7th Grade Ark Trip
Apr 4 - House Color Day
Apr 7-11 - Spring Break
Apr 17 - Apologetics Day
Apr 18 - Good Friday holiday
NEWS and NOtes From THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
ST. PATRICK’S DAY DRESS DOWN
Don’t forget students may wear green tomorrow (Monday, Mar 17) in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day! Students are required to wear normal dress code pants/shorts.
MIDDLE SCHOOL DEVOTIONAL STUDY
We have kicked off our 40-day devotional The Risen King in anticipation of Easter Sunday with all of our middle schoolers starting last week!. From March 12 to April 20 our Bible classes and D-Groups will be highlighting content from the daily readings. Our hope is that our students will come to appreciate even more the implications of the risen Christ in their lives through this special study. Please encourage your child to read the daily devotional each day (including weekends) in anticipation of Easter Sunday!
UPCOMING STANDARDIZED TESTING
Our Stanford 10 standardized testing is coming up in just two weeks! Please make sure to have your child present on March 27-28. Students will take this norm-referenced test to show growth and mastery of skills and content in comparison to a national standard. There will not be any makeup testing. Please make sure to have your child at school ON TIME to help reduce the disruptions of entering the test late. Also, make sure they bring their Chromebook fully charged!
APOLOGETICS DAY: APRIL 17
We are excited about a new initiative this spring we are calling “Apologetics Day”. Similar to Discipleship Day in the fall, we will be setting aside an entire school day for spiritual development. With Apologetics Day, we are focusing on the “why” behind the “what” as we examine the reasons behind the beliefs we hold to as Christians. In anticipation of Easter that weekend, we will be intentionally focusing on the resurrection as part of our special day as well. More details to come, but mark your calendars now and prioritize having your child present for this special day!
8TH GRADE ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT WORKSHOP
In preparation for the upcoming course registration week for the 2025-2026 school year, the high school counseling department will be hosting an informational workshop for all 8th-grade students and parents on Tuesday, March 18th at 6:30 pm in the Student Center of Building 1. At this workshop, our team will discuss best practices for high school course selection, the benefits of Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) coursework, HOPE scholarship information and more. CLICK HERE to sign up for this workshop. Rising TCS 9th grade students will be participating in course registration throughout the week of March 24-28 for next year as well.
REGISTRATION Q&A WITH MRS. HUTCHESON
If you still have questions about registration, please drop by to see Mrs. Hutcheson in the Student Lounge (Building 5) on March 26 or 27. She will be available 8:30 - 9:30 am & 12:30 - 2:30 pm each day.
Weekly Updates and Information
THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL
Pastor Griggs, Heatherwood Baptist Church, shared from Matthew 9:9-13 about Jesus seeking the Lost to give them the hope of the Gospel. He challenged the students to think about how Jesus surrounded himself with people who needed hope to offer them hope. He shared how before we can share Jesus we need to first have a relationship with someone who does not know Jesus. The students were encouraged to think through where they are in their walk with Jesus and to follow Jesus, not treat others as projects, and to recognize Jesus is their greatest need.
LIONS OF THE WEEK
6th Grade - Lillian Adams
7th Grade - John David Griffin
8th Grade - Carter Pilkenton
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.
Hebrews 10:23-24
v. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. v. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.
MARCH 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: Discipline Bridge
Principle: Personal discipline is the bridge to the goal.
Lesson Summary: Leaders don’t build character without crossing the bridge of discipline. Personal discipline is like a bridge that crosses from where you are to where you want to be. It gets you where you want to go.
7th Monthly Habitude: Tightrope Walker
Principle: It is easy to watch a tightrope walker- it's another thing to climb on his back.
Lesson Summary: It's easy to watch a tightrope walker; it's another thing to trust in him enough to climb on his back. Our world is full of people who don't trust others. Good leaders build trust through competence. They recognize the difference between being liked as a friend and being followed as a leader.
8th Monthly Habitude: Baggage Fees
Principle: Most cars have a space to store luggage, but you can only fit so much. Having too much baggage can weigh you down. We must discard our baggage to allow us to move forward.
Lesson Summary: If you carry emotional baggage with you, you are inviting problems. Unresolved conflicts, anger, relationship struggles at home, addictions, lack of forgiveness between you and a friend, insecurities, jealousy... These all count as excess baggage, and you can be sure they will weigh you down. In fact, they’re going to cost you. Like a vacation, or like almost any flight you take, the baggage makes your trip cluttered and costly.
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.