August 2025
Dear Parents,
It’s almost here! Our re-open date is just around the corner, and we are so excited to get back into another school year at TCS! Things are hopping around here as we prepare for your return. We’ve added new classes and new teachers to accommodate our growing numbers, and we praise the Lord for that! But with that comes a great responsibility. At TCS we have offered teacher contracts based on our current enrollment. You may or may not know this, but we accept ZERO government funding for our school. We are accountable to you as parents. You are our investors. Thank you for signing the contracts indicating your commitment to help us fulfill our mission to your family this year. We’re relying on your faithfulness to provide outstanding services to you and your family. You will not be disappointed.
Here are some things you can expect when our doors open on September 2:
Payments
TCS prefers not to accept cash payments. It has nothing to do with creating a “cashless society!” It’s an accountability issue for us and you, as the paper trail will be more accurate. Tuition accounts can also be paid online through FACTS, in the school office (check or credit card), or via check sent in the mail.
FACTS Communication System
Temple Christian School uses the FACTS communications system. For those who are new to Temple, we use this program to send alerts directly to your phone/email, to keep you informed about: sports events that have been canceled, delays/closing due to inclement weather, local emergencies that may impact the school directly (lockdowns, etc.), student behavior (you will know if your child receives a discipline notice), and your child’s grades (homework assignments, quiz/test grades, etc.) Because of that we will not be sending hard copies of report cards home until the end of the school year, since you will be able to see your child’s grades online at any time.
Students in middle/high school will also need to submit their personal emails for a FACTS account. This will allow teachers to contact them directly and vice versa, regarding assignments, homework, etc.
School calendars, athletic info, cafeteria information and menu are all on FACTS.
Any questions/concerns about financial issues must be directed to Mrs. Beth Reno in the Business Office. Please do not ask me, or the school office ladies. We do not have access to your financial information. Mrs. Reno’s number is (434) 846-0024, Ext. 210.
The best way for parents/students to get signed upon FACTS is to submit their email addresses to Mrs. Hogan at: [email protected]. She’ll get you hooked up!
Open House and Orientation
Because our high school principal retired, I will be conducting BOTH orientation meetings, so it’s going to be a little bit chaotic! Stay with me, though! I won’t waste your time! My hope is to be able to answer every question you have, but if I have to shut things down for the elementary orientation to make room for the MSHS, I promise, if you’ll email me or even set up a meeting with me, I’ll take as much time as you need.
Here’s the schedule: ORIENTATION
6:00-7:00 – Elementary orientation in the church sanctuary.
7:15 – MSHS orientation in the church sanctuary. This is a time for us to go over policies
And procedures, explain our TCS philosophy, and to answer any questions you may have. It is NOT a “Come meet your teacher and drop off supplies” night. That will be Thursday night.
OPEN HOUSE
THIS is the time to come meet your child’s (children’s) teacher(s), and drop off supplies. The times are 5:30-8:00. The school office will be open so we can help direct you to your child’s classroom if you are unfamiliar with our school.
We have so many fun things planned to kick off the year! We will offer meal deals for your family, so no need to fix dinner that night!, KONA ICE will be here, we’ll have several bounce houses, and also there will be a volleyball scrimmage in our gym – come check out our girl’s volleyball team! They’re incredible!
We want this to be a time to reconnect if you are a returning family, and to make new friends if you are a brand-new family to Temple Christian School. We’re looking forward to a fun evening!
Parking and Traffic Patterns/Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
Mornings:
If you wish to drop off your children and have them walk in alone, please stay in the “car line.” If you want to walk in with your children, you must park in a designated parking space. You cannot leave your car in the car line to walk in. Not only is this dangerous, as people have to drive around your vehicle, it is inconsiderate, especially since there are adequate parking spots available.
REMINDER: After the first week of school, parents of pre-k and kindergarten may walk their children into the building but may not enter the classroom. After the first week, parents of elementary students may not enter the elementary hallway. Parents of middle/high school students may not enter the MSHS hallway. We’re not doing this to be hateful, or to exclude you. It’s just CROWDED!!! This will help the children settle into the school day much better. If there are tears early on (I’m talking about the children, not the parents!!) have no worries! We will love them like they’re our own. We will make their experience at Temple Christian School the best one possible!
Drop Off: Parents of kindergarten and elementary students (except for Mrs. Harris’ and Miss Urbani’s 5th grade classroom) will drop off students in the front parking lot. The traffic patterns are clearly marked, as is the speed limit. Parents of 5th grade students may drive to the back parking lot and follow the arrows for drop off at the outside gymnasium stairs, OR you may park in a designated space if you have to enter the building. Students in 6th grade who are not already in the gym for early morning care will be dropped off at the 6th grade building BEHIND the gym. Students in 7th and 8th grade will be dropped off at the outside stairs just as you make the curve to the back parking lot. High school students will get dropped off at the school entrance doors. Please be considerate of those around you. Have backpacks, sporting equipment, etc. readily available so that one car isn’t holding everything up while Mom’s writing a check for lunch, etc. We need to keep the lines moving. People need to get to work!
Please drive safely on our campus. It’s always busy, but the first week of school will be especially busy. If you are “in a hurry,” please save those 60 mph speeds until you get out on Rt. 29!! (We’ll let the Amherst Co. Sheriff’s Department take it from there!) On our campus, slow and steady is the order of the day.
THIS ALSO APPLIES TO OUR STUDENT DRIVERS. There are so many children entering the building, so drive cautiously. I don’t want to take your driving privilege away…..but I will…….
I’ll be directing traffic the first few weeks to make sure things are going smoothly. Don’t hit me. And don’t cuss me.
After School:
Kindergarten students who require after school care will remain in their classrooms. As numbers decrease, they will move down the hall and will be combined in classrooms with appropriate numbers and workers for parent pick -up. This will be an ongoing process, but parents will pick their children up in the kindergarten hallway.
Elementary students who require after school care will also be taken back to their classrooms after the drop off process ends at 3:15. They will remain in an elementary classroom (their own classroom, or a combined classroom as numbers decrease). Parents may come into the building and go to the elementary hallway to retrieve their children. Locations after 4:00 may change to accommodate our numbers but we will let you know where your children are so that pick-up can be effortless.
Elementary students who will be picked up at 3:00 will be taken to their assigned pick-up locations. Your child’s teachers will tell you where that is at open house. Let me reinforce that this is pick up time. It’s chaotic, but if everyone follows the guidelines it goes quite smoothly. Please do not get out of your car in the pick-up line. That line is to keep moving. If you want to walk up to where the class is lined up, you will need to park in a designated parking spot. Also, this is not the time to visit with teachers, or discuss your child’s progress. Please make an appointment to do that. Getting children in and out of the right vehicles with the right people is a great responsibility, and our teachers need to keep their focus on your child’s safety. Thanks for your understanding with that.
Middle school students will be dismissed at 3:15. MS students who require after school care will stay in a designated teacher’s classroom. All other middle school students will be dismissed from the middle school entrance. If you arrive before 3:15, please do NOT form a line for pick-up. Arrivals before 3:15 must park in a designated parking spot. Repeat: Do not start forming a middle school pick-up line at 3:00.
HS students will be dismissed at 3:30. HS students who require after-school care will stay in Mr. Bouldin’s classroom. All other high school students will be dismissed from the main school entrance. If you arrive before 3:30, please park in a designated parking spot. This will help with traffic flow.
This will be a work in progress at first, because we never know how many children will be needing after-school care. Please be patient with us, especially during the first couple of weeks. Things should settle into a workable rhythm after that! Make sure you turn in your pick-up form. We need to know who is and who is NOT allowed to pick up your children. We may ask for identification until we get to know you by sight, but if someone comes to pick your child up who is NOT on the pick-up form, we won’t let your child go with that person. You can add names to the list throughout the year by contacting the school office.
Bookstore SEE INSERT FOR BOOKSTORE HOURS
Mrs. Hogan will have the bookstore open for textbook/supply pick-up beginning Wednesday, August 14. Please place your book orders as soon as possible. They must be ordered by noon on Wednesday, August 21, to guarantee availability for the first day of school. All book orders must be paid prior to pick up. We are also asking that you make arrangements to have all book orders picked up by August 29. Any books that haven’t been picked up by that date will not be available until after 3:45 p.m. on the first day of school.
**Parent-Student Handbooks, and MSHS class schedules will be available with book orders
General Reminders
Medication: Students may bring medication from home and ALL medication must be kept in the school office. Permission from parents and instructions for medicine must be included. The school will not provide medication for students. Medical release forms are required and are available in the school office.
Phone calls: Students may not receive personal phone calls during the school day except in case of emergencies. Messages will be taken by office staff and delivered to the students in a timely manner.
Pick-up Authorization Forms: Please complete and return the enclosed Pick-Up Authorization Form by the first dayof school. We must have a record of who will be permitted to pick up your children. Trust me when I tell you, if they’re not on the list, they’re not taking your kids!
Cell Phones: Students may not have/use cell phones/Smart watches during the regular school day. These items must be turned into the classroom /homeroom teacher at the beginning of the day and may be retrieved at the end of the day. Please see the cell phone policy in the parent-student handbook.
Cafeteria: You will receive a hot lunch menu quarterly. Please note the change in fees: PreK-K5: $3.25 per lunch; 1st-12th: $3.75 per lunch; In addition, the snack room will be open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Doors: For the safety of our students, all exterior doors will be locked at 8:30 am and reopened at the end of the school day. The doors of the church should not be used as a school entrance, and while they are unlocked, the doors leading into the sanctuary will be kept locked during the school day. Please use the main school entrance after 8:30 am, and prior to 3:15 pm.
Insurance: All students have student accident insurance coverage through Church Mutual Insurance Company. Please see the parent-student handbook for additional information.
Required Records: Due by September 15 – Your child will not be permitted to return to class after that date unless these records have been received. That’s not OUR decision. The health department requires this paperwork, so we need to adhere to their guidelines.
K3 and K4 students must have copies of immunization records and birth certificates K5 students must have school physical forms (available in the school office) NEW K5 students must provide copies of birth certificates. MS students need DTap booster verification.
Prayer Walk: Our annual prayer walk will be Saturday, September 6, at 9:00, in the church auditorium. We will begin there, then walk through the school to pray for our students, our faculty and staff, our government leaders, etc. We’ll be finished by 9:30-9:45. Students are also invited to this event! There’s power in prayer!
Facebook Communication: If you would like to be a part of our TCS Facebook Announcements Page, you must first request MY friendship on Facebook, and then message me letting me know you have a child at TCS. If I get friend requests/announcement page requests and I don’t know who you are (yet!), I will not approve the request. We want to make sure the safety of our school is protected, so we don’t want any “crazies” to have access to our page!
Thank you for trusting us with the education of your children. We are humbled by that and make a commitment to you that your investment will be well worth it!
Can’t wait to see you soon!
Stephanie Sweat