Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening at the Middle School
Published April 13, 2025
Volume 261
Adam Vinson - Middle School Principal
A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON
Welcome back! We hope each of our families had a wonderful break last week for Spring Break. Don’t forget, we have a 4-day week this week as we prepare to celebrate Easter Sunday with our Good Friday holiday at the end of this week.
MAY CELEBRATION EVENTS:
8th Grade Dance - May 1
Orchestra Concert - May 5
Band Concert - May 6
MS Talent Show - May 7
Chorus Concert - May 8
8th Grade Promotion Night - May 20
6th and 7th Awards Day - May 21
6th Grade Skating Party - May 23
7th Grade Bowling Party - May 23
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
Apr 7-11 - Spring Break
Apr 17 - Apologetics Day
Apr 18 - Good Friday holiday
Apr 22-23 - 6th Grade Chattanooga Trip
April 28 - Family Night
May 1 - National Day of Prayer
May 5 - Community Service Forms due
NEWS and NOtes From THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
7TH GRADE OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCE
Our 7th-grade class had an amazing time last week in Kentucky visiting the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum.
COMMUNITY SERVICE FORM REMINDER:
Don’t forget all middle school community service forms are due on Monday, May 5. Forms should be submitted to your child’s Bible teacher. Remember, 10 hours should be completed to receive full credit for this grade. You can access this year’s form here.
MIDDLE SCHOOL DEVOTIONAL STUDY
We are continuing with our Easter devotional study and would love for you to help encourage your child to stay up with their reading over these 40 days. Check out the schedule below for this week to help encourage your child’s participation.
Sunday, April 13 - DAY 33
Monday, April 14 - DAY 34
Tuesday, April 15 - DAY 35
Wednesday, April 16 - DAY 36
Thursday, April 17 - DAY 37
Friday, April 18 - DAY 38 - GOOD FRIDAY
Saturday, April 19 - DAY 39
Sunday, April 20 - DAY 40 – EASTER SUNDAY
APOLOGETICS DAY: APRIL 17
Apologetics Day is almost here! We can’t wait to see all that the Lord has in store for this special day of spiritual development. Check out some of the exciting topics we will be looking at in more detail over the course of the day!
What is a worldview?
Is Jesus the only way to heaven?
How do we know the resurrection really happened?
What happens when Jesus comes back?
Did the Ice Age happen and how does that fit into the book of Genesis?
Can we know if God truly exists?
Please mark your calendars now and do all you can to have your child present for this day!
8TH GRADE DANCE:
DRESS UP YOUR DENIM
Our 8th grade dance is coming Thursday, May 2 from 6:00-8:30 pm at The Gathering Place and outside patio. This event is designed to be an “end of year” party, a last rodeo for our TCS 8th graders. Please note that dates/guests are not permitted. Instead, we encourage our students to come and enjoy a night of country-themed fun as a group social. More details to come, but mark your calendars now.
DRESS CODE: Students are encouraged to come in their “dressed up” country attire. Denim is appropriate. Dresses are allowed.
FOOD: We will have drinks and snacks. (Parents will be encouraged to sign up to help provide.)
COST: $15 - sign up/payment form coming to Blackbaud soon!
8TH GRADE PROMOTION:
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Each year we conclude our 8th grade promotion ceremony with special prayers by those closest to our 8th graders. Our students will be seated during this time and those special individuals chosen to pray will stand behind their specific student. Those chosen individuals will have the chance to pray quietly or silently over the student with Mr. Vinson leading a corporate prayer to close out our time.
Please have your child choose a parent, older sibling, pastor, youth pastor, coach, etc. who they would like to pray over them. Complete this form to indicate who your child has chosen. We want every student to have someone standing with them during this time!
Other Details:
Date: Tuesday, May 20
Location: TCS Gymnasium
Time: 6:00-7:00 pm
SUMMARY: We will be celebrating the end of middle school for our 8th graders with an evening of awards and recognitions while also offering a special time of prayer before their promotion to 9th grade. Parents and special guests are invited to attend but seating will be limited due to the gymnasium capacity.
DRESS CODE: Students are encouraged to wear normal dress code attire or their Sunday best. No shorts, please.
QUESTIONS: Contact Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org)
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.
I Thessalonians 4:14, 17-18
v. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. v. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. v. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
APRIL 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: Opportunity Statue
Principle: We can spend, invest, or waste each day we have.
Lesson Summary: Leaders manage opportunities. Everyone has 86,400 seconds each day to use or abuse. Opportunity is a statue with hair in front but bald in the back—you can’t grab it once it is gone.
7th Monthly Habitude: Pyrrhic Victory
Principle: Good leaders don't fight every battle.
Lesson Summary: Sometimes the cost of winning is so great that we lose more than we gain. Good leaders do not fight every battle. Good leaders carefully consider what's at stake in each encounter with others and then act accordingly. They never allow the situation to become more important than the relationship.
8th Monthly Habitude: Windshields and Rearview 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.