Inside the Pride Upper Elementary School News - Volume 231
Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening at the Upper Elementary School
Published September 1, 2024
Volume 231
Adam Vinson - Upper Elementary School Principal
A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON
REMOTE LEARNING WORK REMINDER
I hope each of you is having a wonderful Labor Day extended holiday weekend! As a reminder, all remote learning work is due when we return to school on Tuesday. Please take time to make sure your child has completed their math work as this should be the only required remote learning for this weekend. Work that is not returned on Tuesday may be subject to late penalties, so be sure to get it complete and submitted when we are back on campus together.
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
UPCOMING UPPER ELEMENTARY DATES:
Sept 2 - Labor Day Holiday
Sept 9-13 - Homecoming Week (Parade - Sept 9)
Sept 11 - 4th Grade Field Trip (Stripers Game)
Sept 19 - Family Night (No Homework/Studying)
Sept 24 - House Color Day
NEWS AND NOTES IN THE UPPER ELEMENTARY
4TH GRADE GWINNETT STRIPERS FIELD TRIP
Our 4th graders will be headed to the Education Day game at Cool Ray Field on Wednesday, September 11. Students should be dropped off like normal, with a plan for us to leave TCS by 9 am. Our plan is to return to school by 4 pm. WE WILL DO PICKUP AT NCG THEATRE unless your child wants to ride home with you from the game. Lunch is provided, but you may send souvenir money with your child, too.
Chaperoning: If you are joining us for the game, please plan to meet us at the stadium. We will have your tickets at the stadium
Dress Code: Students are encouraged to wear Braves attire, Stripers attire, or TCS Spirit Wear. Hats are allowed. Normal dress code pants, shorts, or jeans may be worn too.
NEW UPPER ELEMENTARY SPIRIT WEAR AVAILABLE
Check out this year’s spirit wear options designed by our middle school team. You can order t-shirts and hoodies through the link below.
NEED A HOUSE COLOR SHIRT TOO?
We have you covered with a link to shirts for Elliot, Lewis, Nee, Robinson, and Wycliffe as well. This includes our newly rebranded orange Nee house shirt!
Homecoming Parade
Interested in being a part of the parade? Visit the webpage below to learn how.
HOMECOMING SPIRIT WEEK DRESS CODE GUIDELINES
As you start planning your homecoming week outfits, please use the guidelines below to ensure your creativity is appropriate for the school day.
As a reminder for this week, in conjunction with our student handbook, we are asking for male and female students to refrain from dressing as the opposite gender as part of the homecoming week activities. Thank you so much for your help and compliance.
THEME DAYS:
Monday - ‘Merica Day - Note: Politically charged costumes will NOT be allowed (no items supporting a candidate, no costumes to depict a candidate, etc)
Tuesday - City vs. Country
Wednesday - Night In vs. Night Out
Thursday - Disney Day
Friday - Spirit Day
Specific Guidelines:
Shorts can be worn but must meet the dress code guidelines of mid-thigh.
Skirts can be worn but must meet dress code requirements..
Leggings may be worn ONLY with a top that meets the length requirement for shorts. (and fits the theme for the day)
Holes/rips/tears in jeans should not be above the knee.
Spaghetti straps or tank tops are not allowed.
Mesh or see-thru tops are not allowed.
Crop tops are not allowed. All shirts should at least touch the top of the pants, shorts, skirts, etc…
Any low cut or low v-neck cut shirts must have modest camisole underneath.
Open toe/back shoes/sandals are permitted for this week only.
Hats may be worn all week.
Full spandex bodysuits are not permitted.
If your student chooses to not participate in dressing up for spirit week, they need to be in regular dress code attire.
GENERAL RULE: If you have concerns about your outfit..it may be best to pick out something else to wear.
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!
HOUSE FOCUS: THE NEE 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 NEE HOUSE.
Character Trait to Remember :
DO WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN WHEN IT IS COSTLY
Who was Watchman Nee? Watchman Nee, or Nee Shu-tsu, was an extremely intelligent, influential Christian leader and teacher in China. He was arrested for the sake of the gospel, falsely sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment, and ultimately died in prison.
Learn more about Watchman Nee by watching the video we showed in chapel this week
THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL
Mrs. Peters emphasized the spiritual theme for the year of “Jesus is Lord”. The students were reminded of the importance of knowing Jesus as who He has revealed Himself to be in the Bible. In this revelation, the students saw that Jesus is eternal. Students were pointed to Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, 17:24, and 1 Peter 1:18-20 to show that Jesus existed before the creation of the world, and He has no beginning and no end.
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 = Lilly Judd
5th Grade = Brooklyn Cobb
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 John 1:5-6
v. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
HOUSE SYSTEM COMPETITION
Check out who is leading the competition at www.tcshouses.weebly.com.
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.
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.