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

Published November 17, 2024

Volume 242

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

The holiday season is almost here with Thanksgiving Break, and we are excited about all of the upcoming celebrations as we give thanks to the LORD for His goodness and grace to each of us. Please review all of the important information found in this week’s issue related to events and activities taking place once we return. December will be jam-packed with Christmas fun as we wrap up Semester 1. Let me know if you have any questions!

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:

• Nov 18 - House Color Day

• Nov 20 - Christmas Shoeboxes Due

• Nov 25-29 - Thanksgiving Break

• Dec 3 - Progress Learning (Math)

• Dec 3 - Chorus Concert

• Dec 5 - Coffee with the Principal

• Dec 9 - Progress Learning (English)

• Dec 9 - Orchestra Concert

• Dec  10 - Band Concert

• Dec 19 - Christmas Movie Day at NCG

NEWS AND NOTES IN THE UPPER ELEMENTARY

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOXES

Don’t forget to bring your shoebox to chapel on Wednesday, Dec 20. House points will be awarded to those who bring the most shoeboxes in. Let’s take advantage of a great opportunity to bless others around the world during this Christmas season!

UPPER ELEMENTARY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

As we look towards the month of December, here is a quick preview of some of our annual upper elementary traditions for Christmas that will be coming!

“Holly Jolly Trolly” - Each year Mr. Vinson provides a special snack cart full of holiday treats for our upper elementary students to enjoy. The Holly Jolly Trolly will run from Dec 3-13. Students should bring $1-2 each day if they want to purchase something at lunch.

Dress Down December - To help raise funds for our middle school overnight experiences, we offer our upper elementary students the opportunity to wear Crocs and/or pajama pants/sweatpants for December.

DRESS DOWN DECEMBER

Students can pay $25 to wear sweatpants/pajama pants and/or Crocs for the first 2 weeks we are back from Thanksgiving Break (Dec 2-13). Students are required to wear TCS-approved dress code shirts/spirit wear. Use the form sent by Mrs. McBurnett to purchase this dress-down option. All money raised will be used to offset the cost of our middle school overnight experiences this year.

CHRISTMAS WEEK DRESS-DOWN DAYS

In addition to our dress-down option for the first two weeks of December, we will have special dress-down days for the final week before Christmas Break as well. 

Check out the schedule below:

• Monday, Dec 16 – Rudolph Red or Grinch Green

• Tuesday, Dec 17 - Tacky/Ugly Christmas Sweater 

• Wednesday, Dec 18 - Winter Wonderland (Blue/White)

• Thursday, Dec 19 - Christmas Pajamas

You are invited to our 2nd Coffee with the Principal of the school year on Thursday, Dec 5. Mark your calendars now for this time of fellowship and discussion together. Last time we had a chance to discuss spiritual formation, standardized testing, and artificial intelligence. Check out the topics we plan to discuss at this upcoming meeting: 

• Sage Lunch

• Blackbaud

• Remote Learning

SIGN UP LINK: Sign up here if you would like to participate in this time of fellowship.

PROGRESS LEARNING MID-YEAR TESTING

When we return from Thanksgiving Break, our students will take their mid-year Progress Learning testing. These tests (Math and English) are designed to measure your child’s learning growth from the beginning of the school year. These same tests will be administered at the end of the year as well to provide additional learning data for your child’s overall performance. Please encourage your child to do their very best on these upcoming tests. Our Math Progress Learning tests will begin on Tuesday, December 3 and our English Progress Learning tests will begin on Monday, December 9.

CHRISTMAS PARTY AND MOVIE DAY

On Thursday, December 19 our Upper Elementary students will have their Christmas parties at NCG theater while watching a Christmas movie with their grade level. Students will have the option to purchase popcorn (see Mrs. McBurnett’s email coming after Thanksgiving Break). More details to come but mark your calendars for this special day. Parents are encouraged to join us!

OPTIONAL EARLY DISMISSAL REMINDER

We will be offering optional half-day dismissals starting on Tuesday, Dec 17 through Thurs, Dec 19 at 12:30pm. Students may remain at school if you choose as we will plan to run a second dismissal at 3:00pm. Students who are not picked up after the second dismissal will be sent to after-school like normal. More details will be coming in the next few weeks, but we wanted to go ahead and let you plan accordingly for the option that will serve your family best that last week of school before Christmas Break.

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!

JUST READ QUARTER 2 

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 Q2 (second 9 weeks of school). Completed forms should be returned to your child’s homeroom teacher at the end of the Quarter with a prize coming from Mr. Vinson to all who complete the challenge!

Quarter 2 Just Read Form

Weekly Updates and Information

THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL

Mrs. Peters continued teaching that Jesus is omnipotent. The students looked at each of the miracles in Matthew 8-9 and the power Jesus has over everything in Creation. They were encouraged to think about Jesus’ power over sickness, nature, and many other aspects of Creation. While they learned about the power of Jesus, they were also encouraged to look to Jesus who has the power to save as well.

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 = Axel Chan

• 5th Grade = Evan Rasperger

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 100:4-5

v. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! v. 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

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 AND REMINDERS:

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.