Inside the Pride Upper Elementary School News - Volume 281

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

Published October 5, 2025

Volume 281

 

Adam Vinson - Upper Elementary School Principal

 

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

It’s an exciting upcoming week as we come to the end of Q1 and look forward to an extended Fall Break weekend. Don’t forget, we have a short week on campus with a remote learning day on Friday. In addition, this Thursday is our Fall Family Fest and Elementary Open House. Activities start at 5:30pm! We hope to see you there!

In addition, I wanted to share a quick thought from Daniel 2:21. As we start to feel cooler air and see colorful leaves, it’s a reminder that the seasonal changes are meant to point us to the power and might of our God. The orderliness of creation reminds us that God is in control, but His control extends far further than the weather. He is Lord over every king, every government, every circumstance and every situation. With the upcoming holiday season, may we use this new season to remind ourselves of all that we have to give thanks!

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

IMPORTANT BACK-TO-SCHOOL DATES:

Check out our SCHOOL CALENDAR 

  • Oct 6: Fall Picture *Retakes*

  • Oct 9: Fall Family Fest

  • Oct 10: Remote Learning Day

  • Oct 13: Fall Break

  • Oct 23: National Crocs Day - wear Crocs 

  • Oct 24: 5th Grade Glow Day

  • Oct 30: 5th Grade Stone Mountain Trip

  • Oct 31: House Color Day

FALL FAMILY FEST PLANS FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY

This Thursday is our Fall Family Fest, and we hope you can join us as we celebrate the end of Q1 and kickoff Fall Break!

Open House - 5:30-7pm - classrooms will be open and our 4th/5th teachers will have a special activity for our students to complete 

Festival Activities - 5:30-8pm - blowups and games with concession stand open

Learn more

REMOTE LEARNING WORK: MATH

For Friday, your child will be given an assignment from their Math class to complete. The assignment is designed to be completed independently and will be due when we return to the classroom on Tuesday, October 14. Please feel free to complete the assignment either on Friday or at a time over the weekend that works best for your family’s schedule. To avoid a late penalty, please double check to make sure your child has completed the full assignment.

GIVE TO THE TRINITY FOOD PANTRY

We have an exciting opportunity to serve our community for the holidays! From October 6-17, students are encouraged to bring canned goods to help stock the Trinity Church food pantry.

Not only will this be a great opportunity for students to serve our community, but students can also earn house points for each item they bring! House boxes will be located outside of Mr. Vinson's office.

Requested items:

- Canned veggies

- Canned fruit

- Canned meat

- Canned milk

- Peanut butter

- Spaghetti sauce

UPCOMING 5TH GRADE FIELD TRIP

Our annual 5th grade field trip to Stone Mountain Park is coming up on Thursday, Oct 30, Students will have the opportunity to experience the Native American Festival and Pow Wow along with many other park activities. The cost for the trip will be $20. Be on the lookout for more information and a payment option in Blackbaud.

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. 

Proverbs 3:5-7

v. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.    v. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. v. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL

Mr. Vinson continued our theme of “bold as a lion” by teaching our students what it means to be “bold in speech” based on passages found in the book of Ephesians. Students learned that we can either be boldly brave or boldly bad when it comes to how we use our tongues. We can either allow our speech to be bold in the corrupt or inappropriate ways we talk, or we can be bold in our proclamation of faith and truth.

LIONS OF THE MONTH: SEPTEMBER FOCUS

For the month of SEPTEMBER, we are focusing on SCHOOL SPIRIT and will be honoring our students who go above and beyond to demonstrate their love and appreciation for TCS. This can be shown through their effort and respect in the classroom, their passion for our school during homecoming week and through a general attitude and mindset of working to make our school the best place possible. 

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. 

  • WHAT IF MY CHILD IS SICK AND 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 SICK AND 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.

CELEBRATE YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY AT SCHOOL

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 Assistant Principal, Tiffany McBurnett (tiffany.mcburnett@tcslions.org), if you would like to schedule a day. 

  • PLEASE GIVE A 2-DAY NOTICE 

  • Send in prepackaged birthday treats purchased from a store for the homeroom class. 

  • Join your child for lunch (beginning in September) in the cafeteria.

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:

  • A weekly newsletter is found on your student’s homeroom Bulletin Board.

  • Lesson plans, assignments, etc…are found in the specific classes’ Topic tab.

UPPER ELEMENTARY RESOURCES

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CHECK OUT THE HELPFUL TOOLS BELOW REGARDING

THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR

25-26 SCHOOL CALENDAR - Stay in the know about upcoming breaks and holidays. 

PRE-ABSENCE FORM - Submit pre-planned absences 5 days in advance for approval.

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

UPPER ELEMENTARY SUMMER CONTACT LIST

OUR TEAM IS HERE TO HELP!