Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening at the Upper Elementary School
Published March 9, 2025
Volume 256
Adam Vinson - Upper Elementary School Principal
A MESSAGE FROM MR. VINSON
Spring has sprung (or at least March has arrived) and that means it’s time for SPRING PICTURES. Please review the information below in preparation for tomorrow’s photo session.
Monday, March 10 will be our annual Spring Picture Day. Students may wear appropriate spring attire for these pictures. Remember, there will be no retakes!
What to wear?
Attire Guidelines:
Spring attire within dress code guidelines may be worn or uniforms/spirit wear
Skirts and dresses must be dress code length
No crop tops, no spaghetti straps
Tops must have at least a 3-finger width size strap
The following should NOT be worn: flip flops, tank tops, strapless or low cut tops
No leggings
Jeans are fine, no rips or tears
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 UPPER ELEMENTARY DATES:
Mar 10 - Spring Picture Day
(wear spring attire - details to come)
Mar 13 - House Color Day
Mar 14 - End of Q3
Mar 17 - St Patrick’s Day Dress Down
(wear green with dress code pants/shorts)
Mar 21 - Remote Learning Day
Mar 27-28 - Standardized Testing Days
NEWS AND NOTES IN THE UPPER ELEMENTARY
STEAM DAY 2025
Check out the pictures below from our exciting day!
ENROLLMENT FOR 2025-2026
We are quickly filling up in several grades for next year, and we don’t want any great, potential families to miss out. If you have friends or family who may be interested in TCS for the 2025-2026 school year, please encourage them to APPLY NOW! The LORD has great things in store for next year, and we believe the best additions to our student body are often the ones connected to YOU.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
Mark your calendars now for our upcoming Stanford 10 standardized testing on March 27-28. Students will take this norm-referenced test to show growth and mastery of skills and content in comparison to a national standard. There will not be any makeup testing so please plan to have your child present on these days.
JUST READ QUARTER 3
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 Q3 (third 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!
Weekly Updates and Information
THIS WEEK IN CHAPEL
Mrs. Peters shared from Psalm 1 about the two roads in life. She challenged the students to ask if the road they are traveling on is leading to destruction or godliness. Students were encouraged to understand the reality of sin in our lives and to leave it behind. Instead of living in sin, the students were reminded that Jesus provided a way for us to follow the path of the Lord, delight in the Word of God, and meditate on the truths from God’s Word.
LIONS OF THE WEEK
4th Grade - Hazel McNeely
5th Grade - Brody Johnston
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 119:9-11
v. 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
v. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
v. 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
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.
