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

Published August 18, 2024

Volume 229

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

We are two weeks into the school year already, and we are seeing just how blessed we are with an incredible faculty and student body this year. Your children are awesome, and we are already learning to love all the ways that God has made them special. I cannot wait to see all of the growth and development that is in store for them. Hopefully, you are starting to settle into the new year as a parent, too. If not, please reach out to our staff for assistance as we want this to be the best school year yet for your family. Check out our list of administrative faculty below who can help support you with all of your needs throughout this year.

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.

UPCOMING UPPER ELEMENTARY DATES:

Aug 19 - Fall Picture Day (Yearbook Pic)
Aug 23 - House Color Dress Down Day
Aug 29 - College Football Dress Down Day
Aug 30 - Remote Learning Day
Sept 2 - Labor Day Holiday
Sept 9-13 - Homecoming Week (Parade - Sept 9)
Sept 19 - Family Night (No Homework/Studying)

NEWS AND NOTES IN THE UPPER ELEMENTARY

FALL PICTURE DAY: MONDAY, AUGUST 19

Don’t forget tomorrow is our Fall/Yearbook Picture Day. Students are encouraged to wear their purple chapel polo. Make up dates will be announced at a later time for those who are absent.

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

HOUSE COLOR DAY: FRIDAY, AUGUST 23

On Friday our students are encouraged to wear their HOUSE COLOR as we kick off this year’s House Cup competition. Students may wear shirts that correlate with their House color. Normal dress code pants/shorts or jeans should be worn. No hats please.

Note: Your child’s house assignment is connected to their grade level..

4th Grade is Nee House - ORANGE
5th Grade is Wycliffe House - BLACK

HOUSE FOCUS: THE ELLIOT 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 past week, we focused on the ELLIOT HOUSE.

Character Trait to Remember :

BE READY TO FORGIVE AND LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Who was Elisabeth Elliot? She was a missionary with her husband, Jim Elliot, to the Auca Indians in Ecuador. She continued to work with this tribe despite the fact they murdered her husband.

Learn more about Elisabeth Elliot by watching the video we showed in chapel this week.

THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL

Mr. Lassiter shared with the students the spiritual theme for the year. Throughout the year we will be focused on the theme “Jesus is Lord”. We looked at Colossians 1:15-20 which informs us that Jesus is Lord over Creation and Lord over God’s people. The students were challenged this school year to 1. Know Jesus, 2. Live for Jesus, and 3. Share Jesus.

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 = Chloe Storer
5th Grade = Libby Claire Watts

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.

Ephesians 2:8-9

v. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, v. 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

HOUSE SYSTEM COMPETITION

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

UPPER ELEMENTARY HELPFUL LINKS

24/25 SCHOOL CALENDAR - Stay in the know about upcoming breaks and holidays.

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

DRESS CODE OVERVIEW- Check out this year’s guidelines.

RIDING HOME WITH A FRIEND?

If your student will be going home with another student during dismissal, please send an email to receptionist@tcslions.org OR tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org.

WANT TO CELEBRATE YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY?

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.

IS YOUR CHILD SICK OR ABSENT?

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 Melissa Lanier (melissa.lanier@tcslions.org) via your child’s homeroom teacher.

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 Melissa Lanier (Return to Academics Coordinator) so we can best determine a makeup plan for your child. Mrs. Lanier 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.

NEED TO ACCESS 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.

Inside the Pride Upper Elementary School News - Volume 229