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

Published February 23, 2025

Volume 254

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

Welcome back from Winter Break! We are looking forward to an exciting Spring with lots of events and activities on the horizon. Be sure to check out all the upcoming details below.

UPCOMING UPPER ELEMENTARY DATES:

Feb 27 - Family Night
- (no homework or assessments)
Feb 28 - STEAM DAY
Mar 10 - Spring Picture Day
- (wear Spring attire - details to come)

NEWS AND NOTES IN THE UPPER ELEMENTARY

STEAM DAY 2025

We are excited about our upcoming 4th and 5th grade STEAM Day on Friday, February 28. Students will participate in a variety of exciting activities involving hands-on experiences and experiments. This day promises to be unforgettable!

READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK DRESS DOWN DAYS

Check out our upcoming dress-down schedule for our annual Read Across America Week March 3-7!

Mar 3: Crazy Hat Day – Favorite hat
Mar 4: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish – Red & blue
Mar 5: Wacky Wednesday – Mismatch clothing
Mar 6: Thing 1 and Thing 2 Day – Match outfits with a friend
Mar 7: Crazy Sock Day – Your wildest, craziest socks!

Spring Picture Day

Dear Trinity Families,

In preparation for Spring Picture Day on Monday, March 10th, here are answers to some commonly asked questions to help you and your students prepare.

What to wear?

Attire Guidelines

Spring attire within dress code guidelines may be worn or uniforms/spiritwear
Skirts and dresses must be dress code length
No crop tops, no spaghetti straps
Tops must have at least a 3-finger width size strap.
The following should NOT be worn: flip flops, tank tops, strapless or low cut tops.
No leggings
Jeans are fine, no rips, holes, or tears

Upper Elementary School Attire

Only Dress code pants, skirts or shorts are approved
Shirts must be free from large graphics that would be considered as inappropriate

Will there be make-up pictures?

No. There will not be make-up pictures for Spring pictures.

Will there be class pictures taken?

No. Class pictures are taken in the Fall only.

How do we order Spring photos?

Ordering instructions:

A Lifetouch picture order form was sent home with your student. Parents do not have to pre-order pictures. If you place an order before picture day, use the following code, which can also be found on the form: EVT8TV9NV. Shipping is free for orders placed prior to picture day.

JUST READ QUARTER 3

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 Q3 (third 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!

Just Read Form Q3

Weekly Updates and Information

THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL

Returning Next Week

LIONS OF THE WEEK

Returning Next Week

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 Corinthians 10:31

v. 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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.

Inside the Pride Upper Elementary School News - Volume 254