Inside the Pride Upper Elementary School News - Volume 309

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

Published May 10, 2026

Volume 309

 

Adam Vinson - Upper Elementary School Principal

 

A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON

As we look towards next year, we are excited to share that CLASS SELECTION FORMS will be released later this week! That’s right, in anticipation of 5th grade (for our 4th graders) and 6th grade (for our 5th graders), we will be sharing information for how to make class choices and preferences known for our administrative team who will be building your child’s schedule this summer. Be on the lookout for an announcement this week along with instructions for how to submit!

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

Check out our SCHOOL CALENDAR 

  • May 13: 4th Grade Field Trip to Stripers Game

  • May 20: 4th/5th Awards Day

    Parents of students who are being recognized were emailed invitations to the program. 

  • May 21: 4th Grade Field Day

  • May 22: 5th Grade Walk and Parent vs. Student Kickball Game

UPPER ELEMENTARY AWARDS DAY

As we approach the end of the year, we want to celebrate our students’ hard work and accomplishments. This year’s upper elementary awards will be an all-day event with students receiving various awards from their teachers throughout the school day on Wednesday, May 20. Several academic awards will be given out to students who have excelled in specific areas as part of our chapel service on that same day. Parents of those students receiving special recognition have been invited via email. .

4TH GRADE FIELD DAY

Our fourth graders will celebrate the end of the year with their annual field day activities on Thursday, May 21. Students should bring a water bottle and athletic shoes. 

Check your child’s weekly newsletter on Blackbaud for more details as we get closer!

5TH GRADE WALK AND 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 5th Grade Walk followed by our epic Parent vs. Student kickball game! Shhh…we try to keep this a secret from the students for as long as possible.

STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR THEIR BEST HAWAIIAN SHIRT!

5th GRADE WALK DETAILS:

  • Begin lining up around 8:00am after the drop-off line ends. Use the drop off area to form a walkway for the students after they exit the elementary building. 

  • The Walk will begin around 8:15am. 

KICKBALL EVENT DETAILS:

  • Friday, May 23, around 8:45 am (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.

As we look towards summer break and the final week of this school year, we wanted to communicate our plan for our optional half-day dismissals. Please review the information below and let us know if you have any questions.  

  • Optional half-day dismissal days: Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21

  • Required half-day dismissal day (no after school option): Friday, May 22

Check out the specific details below:

Dismissal times will be staggered once again, just like our December half-days. This helped to alleviate traffic overall and allowed us to end our dismissal time earlier. Please review the times below. 

NOTE: The Main Office will close at 11:45am and will not reopen until the dismissal line ends. 

  • 12:00pm - Elementary (1st-5th) will dismiss. Only students in 1st-5th grade will be dismissed at this time. If you have a middle school student to pick up as well, please see information below. 

  • 12:30pm - Middle School (6th-8th) will dismiss. Students in 6th-8th grade along with siblings in 1st-5th grade will be dismissed at this time. If you only have Elementary students to pick up, please plan to do so prior to 12:30pm. 

Note: If you attempt to go through the car line to pick up a middle school student prior to 12:30, you may be required to re-enter the car line as middle school students will not be available for pickup until after 12:30pm. 

For the optional half days on Wednesday and Thursday, students may remain at school free of charge until 3:30pm. After 3:30pm, regular after school rates will apply. If you need to pick up your child after the half-day dismissal ends, you may do so by either:

1. Picking up your child via the Main Office until 3pm. 

2. Picking up your child via the normal Afternoon Dismissal line between 3-3:30pm. 

****GO CHURCH CAMPUS INFORMATION****

EARLY LEARNING AT GO CHURCH INFORMATION FOR May 20 and 21st: The Early Learning students at our Go Church campus will dismiss from 11:30 to 12:00pm. Due to the half day dismissal, we will not offer the Junior Lions dismissal option. Early Learning students will be transported to the main campus for the Agape program at 2:10pm. 

EARLY LEARNING AT GO CHURCH INFORMATION FOR May 22nd: Transportation will NOT be provided to the main campus for Early Learning students.

5TH GRADE “ABC COUNTDOWN” TO MIDDLE SCHOOL

We are continuing our countdown to middle school this week with more coordinating dress up days and activities. Check out the schedule below or check out the weekly newsletter on Blackbaud or our Instagram page at fifthgradelions for access to the “ABC Countdown”! We can’t wait for you to continue the fun as we count down to middle school!

4TH GRADE TRIP TO BASEBALL GAME

Our 4th graders are all set for an unforgettable field trip to close out their first year in Upper Elementary. That’s right, our students are headed to the Gwinnett Stripers educational baseball game at Cool Ray Field.

Be sure to check out the information sent from Mrs. Lanier (melissa.lanier@tcslions.org). If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

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 Thessalonians 5:23-24

v. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

v. 24 He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.

LIONS OF THE MONTH: April

The theme for April is being Salt and Light. Coming from Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 5, we are commanded as Christians to preserve what is good and to show others what God has revealed. These students seek to do what is right and to guide others to do what is right. These students also look for opportunities to point others toward the truth and to show them the way to Jesus.

LAST WEEK IN CHAPEL

Coach Henry shared his story with the students about living purposefully for the Lord so that others may know Him. The students were challenged to analyze where they find joy and where true joy is found. Coach Henry shared how the Lord carried Him through a really difficult time. This event led him to find his satisfaction in Christ and to be purposeful every day, seeking joy in what God has given. The students were encouraged to see all that the Lord has done, to seek the Lord for all joy, and to share this joy with others that they may know Christ.

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

The following steps should be taken for reporting absences for 4th - 8th grade:

  • 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

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. Please give us as much advance notice as possible so we can ensure the dismissal system is updated to reflect the change.

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!