Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening at the Middle School
Published April 27, 2025
Volume 263
Adam Vinson - Middle School Principal
A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON
This Thursday, our middle schoolers will have the opportunity to participate in our school-wide National Day of Prayer assembly during the 7th period. This will be a special ceremony at the stadium with a time of worship, scripture reading, and prayer. We look forward to gathering with the rest of our school community for this special time together as we lift our voices to God who rules and reigns forevermore!
MAY CELEBRATION EVENTS:
8th Grade Dance - May 1
Orchestra Concert - May 5
Band Concert - May 6
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
April 28 - Family Night
May 1 - National Day of Prayer
May 5 - Community Service Forms due
May 5 - House Color Day
NEWS and NOtes From THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
PROGRESS LEARNING BENCHMARK TESTING
Progress Learning Benchmark Assessments are coming up! Remember these tests are meant to show growth and progress throughout the year. No studying is needed at home, but please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest before and eats a nutritious breakfast the morning of.
Monday, April 28 = ELA Testing
Monday, May 5 = Math Testing
6TH GRADE TRIP TO CHATTANOOGA
Our 6th graders had an awesome time in Chattanooga last week for their overnight experience. Highlights included a trip to Ruby Falls, Rock City, the Tennessee Aquarium and a Chattanooga Lookouts baseball game!
UPCOMING MARKET DAY
In our Business Finance Class, we have focused on the importance of saving. In order to help students begin a savings account under your supervision, Ms. Chadee will be hosting a Market Day on campus in the TCS Middle School Gym on:
Monday, April 28th - 6th grade will be given an opportunity to shop
Friday, May 9th - 7th and 8th grades will be given opportunity to shop
*** Time: 2:15-2:45 pm each day.
Students will be selling specially made pastries, healthy snacks, drinks, bracelets, and other handmade items. Be sure to bring cash for the three days of the Market Day.
Prices will be ranging from $1-$20.00
MIDDLE SCHOOL DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT
Our dodgeball tournament is getting underway this week! Make sure your child has signed up with a team if he or she wants to participate. All students were sent emails last Thursday, and forms became available Friday. We are looking forward to crowning this year’s “Dodgeball Champion”.
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.
8TH GRADE DANCE:
DRESS UP YOUR DENIM
Our 8th grade dance is coming on Thursday, May 1 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
Megan Almon, a Christian Apologist, provided the students with a Christian worldview understanding of what it means to be human. Against the worldly notions of “follow your heart”, Megan challenged the students to find fulfillment in who God created them to be. This was an introduction to Apologetics Day, where students would be challenged to think deeper about the faith and to defend what Christians believe from the Bible.
LIONS OF THE WEEK
6th Grade - Chattanooga Trip
7th Grade - Chandler Haning
8th Grade - Caden Blackwood
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.
Psalm 18:28, 30
v. 28 For it is You who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
v. 30 This God – His way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.
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.