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

Published February 11, 2024

Volume 207

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

If you haven’t completed the re-enrollment process, please don’t delay. We are filling up quickly and will be opening up our enrollment process to new families very soon. Have questions about next year? I’m happy to meet and discuss if there are ways we can serve your family better. Our hope is that your family will join us for all that the LORD has in store for 2024-2025.

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

• February 14 = Valentine’s Day Dress Down - wear red or pink with uniform bottoms

• March 5 = Creative Writing Workshop

LAST WEEK IN CHAPEL

Pastor Genaro Lawhorn, Family Ministries Director at Passion City Church, encouraged our students to see that our lives are defined by a series of moments. The moment we are introduced to Jesus has the ability to change everything. Using John 5:2-9 and the story of the lame man, he helped our students see that moment with Jesus changed everything for that man. It was a great reminder for our students, and we are super thankful that Pastor Genaro was willing to come share.

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 - Colton Gallaway

• 5th Grade - Ronan Holsenback

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. 

Hebrews 3:12-13

v. 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. v. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

This past week we continued our Black History Month study with upper elementary students learning about Thurgood Marshall, Louis Armstrong, Madam CJ Walker, Langston Hughes, Mae Jemison and more! We also had an exciting Kahoot game during our Den Time on Wednesday and another game of Black History Bingo at lunch on Friday! Check out who our students will be learning about this upcoming week. 

• Jackie Robinson

• Mary McLeod Bethune

• Ella FItzgerald

• Jesse Owens

• George Washington Carver

UPCOMING VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION

Valentine’s Day is this week, and we want to give our 4th and 5th graders the opportunity to celebrate if they would like to! If your student would like to participate, they are welcome to bring in Valentines for their entire homeroom class OR all of the students of the same gender in their homeroom. Teachers will provide a list of all students in their homeroom. Feel free to bring a festive Valentine box/bag from home, but this is not required!Students are also welcome to wear their pink and red shirts with uniform bottoms on Valentine’s Day too!

ELEMENTARY TALENT SHOW

Please join us on Thursday, February 15th for our annual Talent Show!  These 1st through 5th graders always put on quite a show - you will be glad you came!

UPCOMING WRITER WORKSHOP FOR 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS

We are excited to announce that Christian author Jenny L. Cote will be coming to Trinity on March 5 to lead a creative writing workshop for all of our Upper Elementary students. We have a special day planned and will be sharing more details as we get closer. One thing we wanted to make you aware of now is an opportunity to pre-order books for her special author signing session. Check out this link to learn more about her available options.

READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK

We are excited to celebrate Read Across America the week of March 4-8. This will be a fun filled week in which we will celebrate reading while highlighting some of our favorite authors like Dr Seuss. We are looking forward to this fun week together! 

Specific Dress Down Days:

• Monday: Crazy Hat Day (Wear your favorite/crazy hat along with a regular uniform).

• Tuesday: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (Wear red and blue). If your child participates, they do not need to wear a regular uniform.

• Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday (Wear mismatched/backwards clothes). If your child participates, they do not need to wear a regular uniform.

• Thursday: Thing 1 and Thing 2 Day (Dress like Thing 1 and Thing 2 OR dress identical to a friend). If your child participates, they do not need to wear a regular uniform.

• Friday:  Crazy Sock Day (Wear your craziest socks along with a TCS spirit wear shirt and uniform bottoms or jeans).

JUST READ

Don’t forget to have your child participate in our Quarter 3 Just Read Program. 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.