Inside the Pride Upper Elementary School News - Volume 272

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

Published August 3, 2025

Volume 272

 

Adam Vinson - Upper Elementary School Principal

 

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

Our faculty and staff have been working extremely hard this week to make all of the final preparations to welcome your students back to campus! Psalm 90:12 is an appeal to God for help in “numbering our days”. The idea is that we want to exercise wisdom in all that we do so we maximize the time the LORD gives to us. That is certainly our prayer as a staff this year. We have 180 days with your children, and we want to use every single one to point them to Jesus. So, LORD, please help us to number our days so that God is glorified in all our lessons, all of our activities and all of our conversations.

AUGUST BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS

Mark your calendars for these special days to kickoff the new year. More details to come!

  • Monday, August 4 = MEET MY TEACHER DAY - an opportunity to walk through schedules, meet teachers, etc.

    • Families with last name A-L = 9:30-11:30am (drop-in time slot)

    • Families with last name M-Z = 1:30-3:30pm (drop-in time slot)

  • Tuesday, August 5 = FIRST DAY OF CLASSES = the 25-26 school year begins!

  • Friday, August 22 = WELCOME TO THE ROAR - a block party style event for all of our new and returning TCS families

MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND BELOW!

MEET THE TEACHER: SHOULD I COME?

Meet the Teacher Day is important because it is more than just a chance to meet your child’s teachers! Check out the checklist below regarding all you need to accomplish on this day prior to classes beginning.

***Dress Code - Normal school day attire expected***

MEET THE TEACHER CHECKLIST (Click to view)

  • Families with last name beginning with A-L = 9:30-11:30am (drop-in time slot)

  • Families with last name beginning with M-Z = 1:30-3:30pm (drop-in time slot)

LUNCH BEVERAGE OPTION UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our survey over the past couple of weeks regarding preferred drink options for lunch each day. The survey results revealed that over 60% of parents prefer sweet tea, lemonade and water options for 4th and 5th grade. In response, we plan to keep our offerings the same as previous years to align with the majority. Thank you again for your feedback in helping us make a decision that will serve our student body best.

CARLINE REMINDER: IT WILL GET BETTER

It’s the beginning of the year which means drop-off and pick-up lines will take longer than usual as everyone gets back into the routine. Please be patient these first couple of weeks as we are working hard to get your children to you as safely and as quickly as possible.

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.

SAFEDISMISSAL INFORMATION

Parents, We have partnered with the company safeDISMISSAL.COM to facilitate our dismissal process for our Early Learning campus (PreK-3 through Kinder) and our Main Campus (1st - 8th grades). One of the many wonderful features of this dismissal process is that your children will remain comfortably and safely in their classroom until the moment they meet you in the "car loading zone". 

Here are a few tips to follow during our dismissal process: 

  • Please make sure to have your ‘pick-up’ card displayed in your front window when entering the dismissal line. Please keep your card displayed until your child has been loaded into your car. 

  • Please stay in-line (no passing) during dismissal as the children will be instructed to walk to specific spots for loading. 

  • To reduce your wait time, please keep up with the car in front of you.  Stay attentive and focused on the car line.

  • If your student does not arrive at the loading spot before you do, you may be instructed to move to a "waiting" area where your child will be notified again. We ask you to move to this area so that we do not hold up the remaining dismissal line.  

  • Please note:  Your child is assigned to be picked up at a particular spot according to the order of cars in line each day.  Please follow the car in front of you until the line stops, regardless of where you might or might not see your child.  Stopping before the line has filled will cause the sequence to be thrown off and delay the line.  We will get your child to the proper spot should they have gone to the wrong place.

Finally, we ask for your patience the first couple of weeks of school as everyone gets accustomed to the process.  It will get faster/better each day!

The administrators and teachers are committed to making this process beneficial to all parties. Please visit www.safeDISMISSAL.com for more information.  Below are a couple of helpful resources to further explain the process.

SafeDismissal Parent INTRO Video

SafeDismissal Parents Info Sheet

DRESS CODE AND NEW SPIRIT WEAR OPTIONS

As you shop this summer, make sure the items you purchase align with our approved dress code for next year. 

Check out our DRESS CODE OVERVIEW to refresh yourself on the guidelines.
*New Upper Elementary Spirit Wear* - Our spiritual theme for the 2025-2026 school year will be “Bold as a Lion”. To help reinforce this theme, we will be selling both t-shirts and sweatshirts with the design below. Purchase your very own “Bold as a Lion” shirt here.

SCHEDULES ARE NOW POSTED

Please be sure to print your child’s schedule in anticipation of Meet the Teacher Day and the 1st day of school. If changes are needed/desired for your child, please reference Mrs. Peavy’s email for instructions on how to submit those requests.

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

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 1st period teacher. 

If your child has to miss class this year due to sickness, check out our process below for getting your child caught up on missing work and assignments. Please also notify the nursing team to make them aware of surgeries or long-term illnesses at nurses@tcslions.org.

  • 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.

IMPORTANT BACK-TO-SCHOOL DATES:

Check out our SCHOOL CALENDAR 

  • Monday, Aug 4:  Meet the Teacher Day

  • Tuesday, Aug 5:  1st Day of Classes

  • Tuesday, Aug 12: Scoop Night

  • Sunday, Aug 3:  Welcome to the Roar

  • Aug 29: Remote Learning Day

  • Sept 1: Labor Day (No School)

“SCOOP NIGHT” FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY:

Tuesday, August 12

Come “get the scoop” on 4th and 5th grades with a special presentation by our Upper Elementary teachers regarding procedures, curriculum, etc. Join us for a special ice cream social right after! Our 4th grade presentation will begin at 5:30 pm (ice cream to follow), and our 5th grade presentation will begin at 6:15 pm (ice cream to follow).

UPPER ELEMENTARY RESOURCES

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CHECK OUT THE HELPFUL TOOLS BELOW REGARDING

THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR

UNIFORM POLICY - Note the minor changes/adjustments for this year. 


NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION PACKET - Helpful for rising 4th graders and all new 5th graders, but also a good refresher for all returning students too.

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE

This is an optional program for students to maintain and improve their reading skills. Students who choose to complete the challenge will receive a mystery prize in August.

It is important to stay sharp academically over the summer. Check out the suggested ways below to help make sure your child is ready for the transition to upper elementary.  

Read 20 minutes daily for fun and discuss what was read together. Rising 4th graders should be reading independently for 30 minutes. Use How to Help Your Reader at Home for extra help.

SUMMER MATH CHALLENGE

Work on multiplication facts — Mastery is considered 3 seconds per problem. Rising 4th graders should have math facts through 9’s mastered. Use math-aids.com for worksheets to practice over the summer for both speed and accuracy. In addition,check out this letterfrom our math department head regarding other math resources this summer.

SUPPLY LISTS FOR 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR

Looking to get a jump on next year, as you see deals throughout the summer? Check out our grade-level supply lists. These lists are subject to additions at the beginning of July. No items will be removed, but some additional items may be added. 

UPPER ELEMENTARY SUMMER CONTACT LIST

OUR TEAM IS HERE TO HELP!