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

Published March 10, 2024

Volume 211

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

This is our last week of Quarter 3! Just a reminder, we will end the week with our Remote Learning Day on Friday. Encourage your child to finish out this week strong and to do their very best on all of their assignments. Report cards will be made available the week of March 25 (Monday at 4pm). We are so proud of our students and their hard work over these past couple of months.

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

• March 11 = Spring Pictures

• March 12 = House Color Day

• March 15 = Remote Learning Day

• March 29 = Good Friday Holiday 

• April 1-5 = Spring Break

LAST WEEK IN CHAPEL

Ms. Jetter, one of our upper elementary Bible teachers, spoke to our students on the topic of forgiveness and pointed them to the truth that “since God forgives us, we must also forgive others.” Ms. Jetter used the story of the Unforgiving Servant from Matthew 18 to walk our students through the gospel message and the forgiveness we can enjoy from God. She then guided our students through practical application regarding appropriate ways to both apologize and forgive each other within our friendships.

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 - Joe Gilbert

• 5th Grade - Pax Barnes

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 119:9-11

v. 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 

v. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

v. 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

HOUSE COLOR DAY

Don’t forget our next House Color Day is this Tuesday, March 12. Students are encouraged to wear shirts that correlate with their House Color. No hats please. 

• Nee House = Purple

• Wycliffe House = Black

READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK

This week was filled with a variety of activities, speakers, and door prizes that engaged our students with award-winning Christian authors and leaders from around TCS. Monday, the students turned the pages into a great week by competing in a bookmark design contest. Each bookmark winner received a new book! Tuesday, 4th and 5th graders were visited by award-winning author and speaker Jenny Cote. She combines her love for God, reading, and history to teach our students how to write a creative and detailed story. High school Beta Club students met and read books to the individual classrooms on Wednesday. Ancient Explorers Series author, Christ Denney, and The Emblem and the Lantern Series author, Dylan Higgins, spoke to our Upper Elementary students about how stories are created and how authors gather their inspiration. Our week concluded with 16 leaders in our 7th and 8th grades reading to students in their Bible class. Harry Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” At TCS we equip students with the skills they need to be leaders to impact tomorrow’s world.

JUST READ

All Just Read forms are due by Monday, March 11. 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.