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

Published September 26, 2021

Volume 99

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

We are quickly coming to the end of Quarter 1 with only 1 ½ weeks left. Keep encouraging your child to do their best and finish strong as we look towards our first report cards of the year. This is a great opportunity to reach out to teachers and connect about any questions or issues you are experiencing. Our teachers are ready and willing to help by providing additional insight and guidance about what they are seeing in the classroom with your child. Don’t hesitate to send an email if you would like further insight into how your child is progressing.

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.

LAST WEEK IN CHAPEL

Mr. Vinson reinforced the desire we have to build a culture of purity here at TCS within our student body. Using Ephesians 5:3-6, Mr. Vinson spoke specifically on the purity God desires when it comes not only to actions but our speech as well. Too often we are tempted to use excuses like “I was only joking” or “I was just trying to be funny” to justify our missteps. The Bible is clear about the proper and improper ways for our humor to be expressed. Our hope is to create an expectation here at TCS that our middle schoolers uphold a standard of purity when it comes to their conversations at the lunch table, in the hallways, in the locker rooms, etc.

LIONS OF THE WEEK

Students who were recognized this week by their teachers for their exceptional example set in their recent performance, attitude or action.

• 6th Grade = Mia Pettersson

• 7th Grade = Chase Porter

• 8th Grade = Anna Grace Moore

SEPTEMBER MEMORY VERSES: Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV)

Help your child learn their memory verses over the course of this month. 

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

SEPTEMBER HABITUDES MOMENT

Check out the leadership principles our students are learning this month! Learn more about our Habitudes curriculum here. 

• 6th Grade = The Starving Baker - Leaders feed themselves for personal growth.

• 7th = The Talking Stick - Listen and empathize before you lead.

• 8th = A Compass or a GPS - We need ethics to guide us in new situations.

FALL PICTURE DAY

Our Fall pictures for middle school are scheduled for Wednesday, October 6. Students are required to wear normal dress code attire for these pictures as they will be used for the yearbook.

REMOTE LEARNING DAYS IN OCTOBER

In anticipation of our Remote Learning Days (Oct 7-8) and Fall Break (Oct 11-12), please note the following structure regarding learning activities for those days.

• Remote learning work will be distributed by Wednesday Oct 6 and is to be completed over break. All work will be due upon our return to classes on Oct 13. 

• No virtual classes will be required.

6TH/7TH GRADE RETREAT TO CAMP ROCKRIDGE

We had an awesome day off campus with our 6th and 7th grade students. It was a great time of enjoying God’s creation outdoors while strengthening friendships and relationships with each other. We introduced our Form Groups for this year with small group discussions during the middle of the day and then Mr. Carr capped the day off on top of the mountain with a challenging message from the book of Psalms. Check out pictures in next week’s Inside the Pride edition.

8TH GRADE PSAT INFORMATION

Our 8th grade students will be given the opportunity to take the PSAT on Wednesday, October 13 on our very own TCS campus. This assessment will give our 8th graders great experience for taking the SAT later in high school. This is an optional opportunity with those who choose not to take the test being given an excused absence. Be sure to email Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org) if your child will not be participating. 

Please note these important details:

• This will be a half day dismissal for our 8th grade students ONLY

• 8am to Noon - 8th Grade Students report to the gym by 7:45 AM SHARP 

• Students who are late will not be permitted to test once testing begins. 

• Students will be walked over to the High School to take the test.

• All students are registered for the PSAT and will need to pay the $10 in the shopping cart on your  SMART TUITION account. 

• Please email tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org only if you want to OPT OUT. 

• Students should come with a calculator, bottle of water, snack and in dresscode. Dismissal will be at Noon in the regular Middle School car line line area.

REMINDER: SICK ABSENCES AND MAKEUP WORK PROCESS

If your child has to miss class this year due to sickness or quarantine, check out our process below for getting your child caught up on missing work and assignments. 

• WHO WILL HELP ORGANIZE MY CHILD’S MAKEUP WORK? - Kasey Hanson is our RTA (Return to Academics) Coordinator and will help oversee connecting you and your child with a list of missing assignments to complete. Be on the lookout for her emails to help you stay connected. 

• WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ABSENT 1-2 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. 

• WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ABSENT 3+ DAYS? - Mrs. Hanson will be emailing you a Google Sheet with all of the assignments your child will need to complete for each class. 

• 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.

ADDITIONAL Reminders

• Blackbaud Questions - Email Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org) 

• Pre-Absence Requests - Be sure to email Kasey Hanson (kasey.hanson@tcslions.org) 

• Sick Absences - Be sure to email our nurses (nurses@tcslions.org) and our attendance office (attendance@tcslions.org) - You can also include Kasey Hanson as well (kasey.hanson@tcslions.org) 

• House Competition - Follow along all year www.tcshouses.weebly.com

IMPORTANT LINKS

• New Pre-Absence Form - Use when anticipating upcoming absences

• Dress Code Overview - No changes from last year, just reminders

• Community Service Form - 10 hours due by May 2022

• Thrival Guide - Don’t just survive middle school, THRIVE during these years

MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACTS

6th Grade Academic Coordinator - Melissa Lanier (melissa.lanier@tcslions.org)

• Mrs. Lanier will be assisting you with any academic-related needs for 6th grade.

7th and 8th Grade Academic Coordinator - Emily Walter (emily.walter@tcslions.org)

• Miss Walter will be assisting you with any academic-related needs for 7th and 8th grade. 

Middle School RTA Coordinator - Kasey Hanson (kasey.hanson@tcslions.org) 

• Mrs. Hanson will be assisting you with makeup work related to any extended absences your child may have this year. 

Director of Student Life - Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org)

• Mrs. McBurnett will continue to oversee our special events and field trips while also handling our middle school counseling duties. 

Director of Student Development - Dylan Higgins (dylan.higgins@tcslions.org)

• Mr. Higgins will continue to oversee the spiritual development of our student body while also assisting with academic needs your child may have. 

Director of Skills Development - Jenn Opsahl (jennifer.opsahl@tcslions.org) 

• Mrs. Opsahl will continue to oversee our Skills Development Program. 

Dean of Students - Ryan Tipton (ryan.tipton@tcslions.org)

• Mr. Tipton will continue to address any disciplinary issues throughout the year.