Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening at the Upper Elementary School
Published July 28, 2024
Volume 226
Adam Vinson - Upper Elementary School Principal
A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON
Teachers are back on campus this week, and we are working hard to make preparations to welcome your children back on campus in a few short days. We can’t wait to see each of you again! Please continue to pray for our planning meetings that God will fill us with wisdom and insight as we step into this new school year. I cannot wait to see all that the LORD has in store for our student body. New teachers, new students, new school year…but we remain committed to the same mission of preparing your children to impact their world for Jesus. We are excited to have you with us on this journey into the 2024-2025 school year.
WELCOME TO THE ROAR AND MEET THE TEACHER
Don’t forget to join us on Sunday, August 4 for our Welcome to the Roar celebration as we kickoff the new year. Also, on Monday, August 5 we will have our Meet the Teacher Day. Check out your family’s time slot schedule below. Hope to see you at both events!
Families with last name beginning with A-L = 9:30-11:30am (drop-in time slot)
Families with last name beginning with M-Z = 1:30-3:30pm (drop-in time slot)
MONDAY, AUGUST 5 - DO I REALLY NEED TO COME?
Meet the Teacher Day is important because it is more than just a chance to meet your child’s teachers! Check out the checklist below regarding all you need to accomplish on this day prior to classes beginning.
*Dress Code - Normal school day attire expected
MEET THE TEACHER CHECKLIST (Click to view)
UPPER ELEMENTARY TEACHING TEAMS FOR 2023-2024
We are excited about the team of teachers we have lined up for each grade level this upcoming school year!
4th Grade Team
Mrs. Angela Anderson (ELA)
Mrs. Tracy Long (Math)
Mrs. Kristi Goss (Science and Social Studies)
Mrs. Christy Stephenson (Reading)
5th Grade Team
Mrs. Gina Smeal (ELA)
Ms. Jennifer Roberts (Math)
Miss MacKenzie Dale (Science and Social Studies)
Mrs. Raegan Barnhill (Reading)
MEET OUR NEW TEACHER: GINA SMEAL (5TH GRADE ENGLISH/LANG ARTS)
Gina Smeal is thrilled to have the opportunity and privilege of teaching the art of writing to this year’s 5th-grade class. Having taught 2nd grade at TCS for the past 3 years, she is excited to see some familiar faces in her classes! Prior to joining the school faculty, Gina was a Trinity parent. Her son, Dominic, has been a Lion since 5th grade and is a senior this year.
Outside of her professional life, Gina is a devoted wife and mother, not only her son, but also 3 rescued dogs and 1 cat. She enjoys reading and traveling all throughout the US. Her most loved destinations are by the water.
Gina is passionate about teaching and views the classroom as the mission field that she has been called to. As a parent and teacher, she is thankful for the community and Christ-centered environment that Trinity provides to all those who call it home. She is looking forward to the new school year with excitement about the learning journey ahead and anticipation of how the Lord will use her to touch the lives of her students. She can’t wait to see the amazing gifts that the Lord has given each student on display, as they grow into the remarkable person that God has created them to be.
MEET OUR NEW TEACHER: BETH ESTABROOKS (4th-6th STEAM, 5th SDP)
Beth Estabrooks is excited to start a new journey at Trinity Christian School this year, teaching STEAM to our fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. Beth is a proud military wife. They have two sons, Jameson (2nd grade) and Jackson (Pre-K). Being an all-boy mom, she is always playing some type of sport, whether it’s baseball, wrestling, hockey, or watching my Oregon Ducks play football. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family. Beth’s husband is currently deployed, so any minute they can FaceTime or share a moment together, is a moment well spent. She also enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with our two pups.
Beth graduated from Thomas University with a bachelor’s in Childhood Education. She plans to obtain her master’s once my husband gets home. God opened her eyes and helped her find her true passion for teaching during my four years at Arbor Springs Elementary. She loves educating kids and connecting with them in a fun and engaging way. Beth previously taught STEM and is thrilled to continue teaching STEAM at Trinity Christian this year. Beth is excited for this upcoming school year, where she can implement engaging and creative lessons while also connecting God’s word to help students understand the amazing things He can and will do for His children. Through prayer and God's guidance, along with a large sweet tea in her hand, Beth anticipates an absolutely amazing school year ahead. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6
MEET OUR NEW TEACHER: HOLLY SAVOY (4th-5th BIBLE)
Holly Savoy has her masters in education from the University of Florida. She taught in Florida and Georgia before taking time off to raise and homeschool her children. She has coached soccer at Trinity for 4 years. Last year she also taught 6th grade girls PE and is thrilled to add teaching 4th & 5th grade Bible this year. Holly loves any chance she has to spend with students and encourage them in their faith, which is why she loves being a part of TCS. Because of her calling to students, she also serves with the youth at Trinity Church and spent the summer chaperoning youth camp and a missions trip to Barbuda. Holly and her husband (Sean) just celebrated 22 wonderful years of marriage. They have 4 children, Josh (graduated TCS '24), Rebecca & Kristen (11th graders at TCS), and Timothy (8th grader at TCS). In her free time Holly loves to run, do anything in God's creation and spend time with her family. She is excited to get to know the students God has placed in her classes this year.
MEET OUR NEW TEACHER: JENNIFER KING (SPANISH)
Jennifer King was born in Miami, FL, but grew up moving frequently due to her father’s job in the US Air Force. After she graduated high school, she served on the Logos Hope with OM for two years. While serving on the ship, she felt God’s call to be a teacher. She returned to the US and studied Elementary Education at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. As she graduated from university, God called her to begin teaching overseas. She taught 1st and 2nd grade at the International Christian School in Caracas, Venezuela for 3 years. During this time she met her now-husband, Gabriel Corona, at church. Then she moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina where she taught 6th grade at Buenos Aires International Christian Academy for 6 years. Jennifer is excited to join the TCS team as the Elementary and Middle School Spanish teacher. She is excited to share language skills and Spanish-speaking cultures with her students. She looks forward to exploring this part of God’s world with her students.
MEET OUR NEW TEACHER: ANGELA ANDERSON (4TH GRADE ENGLISH/LANG ARTS)
Angela Anderson is looking forward to teaching at Trinity this year. Originally from Indiana, Mrs. Anderson graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with a Bachelors in Housing & Environmental Design and a Masters in Teaching. It was at ONU where she first taught as an adjunct professor for 2 years while holding the position of assistant coach for the women’s basketball team. When she moved to the Newnan area in 2007, she decided to stay at home with her young children while building a career as a realtor. Mrs. Anderson and her husband Ben have 3 children, Caden (12th grade), Reese (10th grade), and Sloane (5th grade), who all attend Trinity. She has been involved at TCS as a middle school volleyball and basketball coach. She is excited to get back into the classroom and become a part of the Upper Elementary team where core Christian values are taught alongside classroom curriculum. Mrs. Anderson can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for her and her students during this new season in her life
On Tuesday, July 30, we plan to make daily class schedules viewable to both parents and students. A separate email with instructions for viewing your child’s schedule will be sent at that time. Please plan to review the information related to your child’s schedule so we can make any corrections if needed prior to our Meet the Teacher Day on Monday, August 5.
If you did not submit your child’s class requests by our deadline or were accepted this summer and did not have the opportunity, please reach out to Kristan Peavy (kristan.peavy@tcslions.org) who oversees our scheduling process.
Note the daily schedule for 4th Grade below.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
8:00-8:05 Homeroom
8:1o-8:50 Specials
8:55-9:35 Bible
9:40-10:30 Rotation 1
10:35-11:25 Rotation 2
11:30-12:00 Lunch
12:05-12:55 Rotation 3
1:00-1:50 Rotation 4
1:55-2:45 Rotation 5
2:50-3:30 Dismissal
Wednesday (Chapel Day)
8:00-8:05 Homeroom
8:1o-8:50 Specials
8:55-9:40 Rotation 1
9:45-10:30 Rotation 2
10:35-10:55 Den Time = Catch Up Opportunities in Homeroom
11:00-11:30 Chapel
11:30-12:00 Lunch
12:05-12:50 Rotation 3
12:55-1:40 Rotation 4
1:45-2:30 Rotation 5
2:35-2:50 Den Time = Catch Up Opportunities in Homeroom
2:50-3:30 Dismissal
Note the daily schedule for 5th Grade below.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
8:00-8:05 Homeroom
8:1o-8:50 Bible
8:55-9:35 Specials
9:40-10:30 Rotation 1
10:35-11:25 Rotation 2
11:30-12:00 Lunch
12:05-12:55 Rotation 3
1:00-1:50 Rotation 4
1:55-2:45 Rotation 5
2:50-3:30 Dismissal
Wednesday (Chapel Day)
8:00-8:05 Homeroom
8:1o-8:55 Rotation 1
9:00-9:40 Specials
9:45-10:30 Rotation 2
10:35-10:55 Den Time = Catch Up Opportunities in Homeroom
11:00-11:30 Chapel
11:30-12:00 Lunch
12:05-12:50 Rotation 3
12:55-1:40 Rotation 4
1:45-2:30 Rotation 5
2:35-2:50 Catch Up Opportunities in Homeroom
2:50-3:30 Dismissal
Our “Catch Up Opportunities in Homeroom” or DEN TIME each Wednesday will be a time for our Homeroom Teachers to help our upper elementary lions re-organize at the mid-way point of the week by cleaning out book bags, binders, and desks while also having an opportunity to review key concepts already taught for the week.
4TH GRADE CURRICULUM NIGHT
All of our 4th grade parents are invited to our special Curriculum Night on Tuesday, August 13 when you will get to hear more from our 4th grade team about how to navigate the transition to Upper Elementary. We look forward to sharing with you more about our exciting program. More details to come!
REMINDER: SUMMER READING OPPORTUNITY
There is NO REQUIRED SUMMER READING, but our team has put together a list of suggested books and resources if your child would like to continue reading over the summer. Students who read 3 books from the suggested list will receive an incentive the first week we are back in August. Check out our suggested list here.
SUPPLY LISTS FOR 2024-2025
Check out the most updated supply lists to help prepare your child for the start of the school year.
AUGUST BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS
Mark your calendars for these special days to kickoff the new year. More details to come!
Sunday night, August 4 = WELCOME TO THE ROAR - a block party style event for all of our new and returning TCS families
Monday, August 5 = MEET MY TEACHER DAY - an opportunity to walk through schedules, meet teachers, etc.
Tuesday, August 6 = FIRST DAY OF CLASSES = the new school year begins!
UPPER ELEMENTARY RESOURCES
24/25 SCHOOL CALENDAR: Stay in the know about upcoming breaks and holidays.
UPPER ELEMENTARY ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM:
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
Principal
Adam Vinson (adam.vinson@tcslions.org)
Director of Academics and Student Development
Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org) - Mrs. McBurnett helps oversee our academic program while also handling discipline.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Kristn Peavy (kristan.peavy@tcslions.org) - Mrs. Peavy provides direction and guidance related to each grade level’s curriculum.
Academic Coordinator
Melissa Lanier (melissa.lanier@tcslions.org) - Mrs. Lanier oversees our class placement and return-to-academics process for students who have been absent.
Director of Spiritual Development
Wesley Lassiter (wesley.lassiter@tcslions.org) - Mr. Lassister oversees the spiritual development of our student body.