Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening at the Upper Elementary School

Published September 17, 2023

Volume 187

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

Homecoming Week is here, and we are excited to celebrate our TCS Lion spirit all week long! Be sure to check out the themed dress up days for this week along with the guidelines for creating your daily outfits. Also, don’t forget, we have an exciting Homecoming Parade to kick off the week on Monday evening along with our game against North Clayton under the lights on Friday to close out the week. Don’t miss out on these opportunities! Come join us and experience the Trinity family together.

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

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: UPCOMING UPPER ELEMENTARY DATES

• Sept 20 - 4th Grade Gwinnett Stripers Education Baseball Game

• Sept 18-22 - Homecoming Week

• Sept 26 - House Color Day

• Sept 28 - Family Night (No Homework and No Studying!)

• Oct 6 - Remote Learning Day

• Oct 9 - Fall Break

• Oct 13 - Picture Retakes

LAST WEEK IN CHAPEL

Mr. Vinson spoke to our students from Numbers 13-14 about the 12 spies who scouted on Canaan prior to Israel entering the Promised Land. Using the character trait of the Robinson House (Stand Against Culture When It’s Wrong), Mr. Vinson used the example of Joshua and Caleb to remind our students of the importance of standing up and advocating for what is right, even when the majority around you may be doing the wrong thing. Ask your child if they can remember the special song we sung in chapel to help us remember this story!

LIONS OF THE WEEK

Students who have been recognized by their teachers for setting a good example and making right choices during the school day. 

• 4th Grade - Scarlett Wilson

• 5th Grade - Ciel Watson

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 Jesus. 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 John 1:5-6

v. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. v. 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

HOUSE FOCUS: THE ROBINSON HOUSE

Our House System at TCS is designed to introduce our elementary and middle school students to important historical Christian figures who exhibit character qualities that we hope to see exemplified in our own student body as well. This week, we are focusing on the ROBINSON HOUSE. 

Character Trait to Remember : Stand Against Culture When It’s Wrong

Who was he? Jackie Robinson became the first African-American professional baseball player in Major League Baseball when he broke the color barrier in 1947.

Learn more about Jackie Robinson by watching the video we showed in chapel this week

Homecoming Dress Down Guidelines:

• No spaghetti straps, tank tops, or tops with low V neck

• Holes/rips/tears in jeans should not be above the knee  

• Mesh/see-thru tops should not be worn unless there is a full coverage top underneath it.  

• Shirts should touch the top of the pants, shorts, skirt, etc - if you lift your arms and we can see your skin it is too short.

• Shorts must be no more than 5 inches above the knee (about the length of an index card). 

• Skirts must be no more than 2 inches above the knee (unless full leggings are worn underneath). 

• Hats may be worn all week. 

• Boys shirts must stay buttoned. 

• Full spandex body suits are not allowed. 

• Leggings can only be worn Monday - Wednesday with a fingertip length skirt or top over the leggings (as long as students are dressed up according to theme).

• Shoes can be open-toe and open back for this week only.

HOUSE COMPETITION: EARN POINTS

As part of our Homecoming Week, we are offering our elementary grades the chance to earn house points by participating in each day’s dress up theme! Students can earn points EACH DAY by choosing to dress up. The House who earns the most points will be rewarded with a Pajama Day!

FAMILY NIGHT: QUARTER 1

What is “Family Night”? Each quarter this school year we want to offer a night with NO HOMEWORK and NO REQUIRED STUDYING! Our hope is to give your family a night to enjoy together in the midst of a busy semester. Our first Family Night of the year will be Thursday, September 28. This means NO HOMEWORK on Thursday night and NO TESTS OR QUIZZES on Friday! Start planning now for a fun night together!

BLACKBAUD CLASSROOM INFORMATION

Blackbaud is going to be your main source of information this year. Once you login, you will see a drop down arrow in the top left corner to choose which student’s information to look at. When you click on your 4th or 5th grade student, you will see summary information, and then when you scroll down, you will see each of your student’s classes. Each class is clickable. Please click on your student’s homeroom class to see the weekly newsletter for 4th or 5th grade. Once you are in your student’s homeroom class, it will open up the Bulletin Board. Here is where you will find the clickable link for the newsletter that will be added each week. Any important information for the week will be found here. 

To find information on each specific class, you will go back to the main page for your student and click on each individual class. Again, when you click on the desired class, it will open to that class’ Bulletin Board. Here you will find helpful information such as what to do should your student be absent. For information regarding lesson plans that will include the plans for the week, homework assignments, and any upcoming tests, quizzes, or projects, you will need to click on the “Topics” tab.

To recap:

• Weekly newsletter is found on your student’s homeroom Bulletin Board.

• Lesson plans, assignments, etc…are found in the specific classes Topic tab.

JUST READ QUARTER 1 

We want to invite all of our 4th and 5th graders to participate in our voluntary reading program this year called “Just Read”. Appropriately named, we “just want our students reading” outside of class time independently. Students should use the form below to record their reading for Q1 (first 9 weeks of school). Completed forms should be returned to your child’s homeroom teacher at the end of Quarter, with a prize coming from Mr. Vinson to all who complete the challenge!

Quarter 1 Just Read Form

UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RESOURCES

HOUSE SYSTEM COMPETITION

Check out who is leading the competition at www.tcshouses.weebly.com. 

23/24 SCHOOL CALENDAR: Stay in the know about upcoming breaks and holidays.

DRESS CODE OVERVIEW - Check out this year’s guidelines

PRE-ABSENCE FORM - Submit pre-planned absences 5 days ahead of time for approval.

GENERAL REMINDERS

REMINDER: BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS 

Would you like to celebrate your child’s birthday this year? Consider one of the following options as a way to make their day special. 

• Purchase birthday cart treat items from our snack cart for your child’s homeroom class for $25. Email our Director of Student Life, Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org), if you would like to schedule a day. 

• PLEASE GIVE A 2-DAY NOTICE SO PREPARATIONS CAN BE MADE

• Send in prepackaged birthday treats purchased from a store for the homeroom class. 

• Join your child for lunch (beginning in September) in the cafeteria. 

REMINDER: ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

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 Kasey Hanson (kasey.hanson@tcslions.org) via your child’s homeroom teacher. 

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. Please also notify the nursing team to make them aware of surgeries or long-term illnesses at nurses@tcslions.org.

• 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 Kasey Hanson (Return to Academics Coordinator) so we can best determine a makeup plan for your child. Mrs. Hanson 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.

UPPER ELEMENTARY ADMIN TEAM: WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

• 4th Grade Academic Coordinator - Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org)

• Mrs. McBurnett can assist you with any academic-related needs for 4th grade.

• 5th Grade Academic Coordinator - Melissa Lanier (melissa.lanier@tcslions.org) 

• Mrs. Lanier can assist you with any academic-related needs for 5th grade. 

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

• Mrs. McBurnett oversees 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 oversees the spiritual development of our student body while also assisting with discipline issues. 

• Upper Elementary RTA Coordinator - Kasey Hanson (kasey.hanson@tcslions.org) 

• Mrs. Hanson can assist you with makeup work due to any extended absences.