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

Published January 7, 2024

Volume 202

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

We are excited about our upcoming Grandparents and Special Friends’ Day this Friday, and can’t wait to welcome your special family members and friends to our campus. While this is a Remote Learning Day for the school, our 4th and 5th graders will not have any required work that day in order to encourage their participation. We hope you will make plans for your family to enjoy this exciting day with us!

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

• January 12 - Grandparents/Special Friends Day

• January 15 - MLK Holiday - No School

• January 18 - 100 Days of School = 100 Days Brighter (wear neon)

• January 19 - 101 Days of School = Dress like a dalmatian/wear black and white

LAST WEEK IN CHAPEL

Mr. Vinson kicked off the 2024 year by challenging our students to see the importance of school, particularly in the hard months of January and February when we often see our students’ motivation to do their best decrease. There is something about these long winter months that always make Quarter 3 hard. Using the story of David and Goliath from I Samuel 17, Mr. Vinson showed our students that David’s diligence to do his best as a shepherd (killing lions and bears to protect the sheep) prepared him to face the greater giants that came later in life. While school isn’t always fun, these ordinary days do provide our students with important lessons and opportunities to hone skills that will carry them for the rest of their lives. Mr. Vinson tied the chapel lesson together with this week’s memory verse (I Cor. 10:31), reminding our students that whether they eat or drink or go to school…they ought to do it for the glory of God.

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. 

• Returning new 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 Corinthians 10:31

v. 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God

REPORT CARDS

All grades will be updated and report cards will be posted on Monday, January 8 at 4pm.

PRIDE PERFORMERS

Congratulations to the following students who were recognized by their teachers for their hard work and consistent effort to do their very best over these past 9 weeks. 

• 4th Grade

• ELA - Emma Diaz

• Math - Levi Williams

• History - Benjamin Wallace

• Reading - Adelaide Moss

• 5th Grade

• ELA - Greyson Johnston

• Math - Abigail Davis

• History - Kylie McAdams

• Reading - Maddy Smith-Moultrie

JUST READ

We will be celebrating our Just Read Quarter 2 students shortly after our return from break, but we wanted to go ahead and encourage all of our 4th and 5th graders to get started with Q3’s Just Read opportunity. Please use this form to record your reading for this upcoming quarter!

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.

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.