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

Published March 30, 2025

Volume 259

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

We are down to 34 days left in this school year! Can you believe it? These final weeks are going to fly by, but there is still much to do. As we start looking to the month of May, go ahead and mark your calendars now for all of the end-of-year celebrations that will be coming up.

MAY CELEBRATION EVENTS:

Recorders Concert - Apr 28
Orchestra Concert - May 5
Band Concert - May 6
Chorus Concert - May 8
UE Awards Day - May 21
4th Grade Party - May 23
5th Grade Walk and Party - May 23

UPCOMING UPPER ELEMENTARY DATES:

Apr 4 - House Color Day
Apr 7-11 - Spring Break
Apr 18 - Good Friday Holiday
Apr 21 - Writers’ Workshop Day
Apr 25 - 5th Six Flags Field Trip
Apr 28 - Family Night
May 1 - National Day of Prayer
May 7 - 4th Aquarium Field Trip

NEWS AND NOTES IN THE UPPER ELEMENTARY

THANK A TEACHER:

With just over 2 months of school remaining, let me encourage you to reach out to our teachers with notes of encouragement over these final few weeks. We have an unbelievable staff here at TCS, and our teachers specifically have worked so hard this school year to love and nurture your children. This time of year is a great opportunity to affirm them for all they do! Send a quick email to praise them for their efforts and to let them know you are praying for them as we prepare for all the craziness that comes at the end of the year! Words of praise will help sustain each of them as we look to finish strong together.

STANFORD 10 UPDATE

We are so proud of our students and their efforts last week on our standardized testing. The SAT10 scores will be posted on Blackbaud on June 2 along with your child’s final report grades as we head into summer break.

5TH GRADE PARENT VS STUDENT KICKBALL GAME

As part of our end-of-the-year celebration for 5th graders as they wrap up their elementary years, we invite our parents to join in on our annual, epic parent vs. student kickball game! Shhh…we try to keep this a secret from the students for as long as possible.

EVENT DETAILS::

Friday, May 23 around 8;45am

(after the 5th grade walk)

DRESS UP IN YOUR BEST PARENT SPIRIT - we encourage crazy outfits, wigs, and your best, competitive accessories to complete your attire!
Students can be checked out after the game.

JUST READ QUARTER 4

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 Q4 (fourth 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 Q4

Weekly Updates and Information

THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL

Mrs. Peters shared from Ephesians 6 on the Armor of God. We live for Jesus by preparing ourselves for battle against sin and temptation. The Lord provides all the tools necessary to protect from the enemy and to battle against the enemy in living for Jesus. Students were challenged to equip themselves with what God has given them to prepare for the spiritual battle in front of us and realize we are fighting in the power of the Lord.

LIONS OF THE WEEK

4th Grade - Mason Thomas
5th Grade - Lola Lopez

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.

Matthew 28:19-20

v. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, v. 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

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 259