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

Published May 4, 2025

Volume 264

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

The countdown is on as we hit the 3-week mark until the end of school with only 15 days until summer break! While the end is in sight, we still have much to accomplish and much to celebrate. Continue to refer to the items listed below to ensure you don’t miss anything coming up. We are so excited for all the Lord has done this year, and we are so excited to finish out the year strong!

UPCOMING UPPER ELEMENTARY DATES:

May 5 - House Color Day
May 5 - Orchestra Concert
May 6 - Band Concert
May 7 - 4th Aquarium Field Trip
May 8 - Chorus Concert
May 21 - UE Awards Day
May 23 - 4th Grade Party
May 23 - 5th Grade Walk and Party

NEWS AND NOTES IN THE UPPER ELEMENTARY

PROGRESS LEARNING BENCHMARK TESTING

Progress Learning Benchmark Assessments are coming up! Remember these tests are meant to show growth and progress throughout the year. No studying is needed at home, but please make sure your child gets a good night’s rest before and eats a nutritious breakfast the morning of.

Monday, April 28 = Math Testing
Monday, May 5 = ELA Testing

5TH GRADE ABC COUNTDOWN

Hey fifth-grade families! We are officially in the final stretch of elementary school! As a way to close out the school year, fifth-grade students and teachers will be counting down the last days of school, which began April 23rd, by moving through the alphabet with letter coordinating dress-up days or activities for your student(s). Check out the weekly newsletter on Blackbaud for access to the “ABC Countdown”. We can’t wait for you to join us in the fun as we count down to middle school!

4TH GRADE FIELD TRIP

Our fourth graders will be traveling to the Georgia Aquarium this Wednesday for their final field trip of the year. Remember, students who ride back on the bus will be picked up at NCG around 4pm.

4TH GRADE FIELD DAY

Our fourth graders will celebrate the end of the year with their annual field day activities on Thursday, May 22. Students should bring a water bottle and athletic shoes.

More information to come as we get closer!

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

Coach Settle shared from John 15:12-15 about being a friend of Jesus. He shared with the students that we have no greater friend than Jesus. Students were encouraged to trust and believe in Jesus to have a relationship with him, and what that means for our comfort and joy.

LIONS OF THE WEEK

4th Grade - Liam Kugler
5th Grade - Tinsley Brown

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 18:28, 30

v. 28 For it is You who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.

v. 30 This God – His way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.

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 264