• Welcome to our third-grade class for the 2025-2026 school year!  This year, we are departmentalized, which means your child will be switching classes for ELA/Social Studies and Math/Science. They will start out their day and end their day with their homeroom teacher. We are so excited to meet all of our amazing students and their parents. 

• Hi, my name is Tracy Tsirnikas.  This is my 14th year here at The Villages Charter School and my 22nd year teaching at the elementary level in kindergarten, first, and third grades. I have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  I am so excited to be a part of your child’s education. I will be teaching ELA, integrating Social Studies. The following subjects are in the ELA block: Spelling, Grammar, Reading comprehension, Writing (Narrative, Opinion, & Expository Essays), Cursive Writing.

• Hello, my name is Monica Taylor.  This is my second year teaching at The Villages Charter School, but my 24th year of teaching at the elementary level.  I am thrilled to welcome your child to my class this year.  I’m looking forward to a year ahead filled with exploration, discovery, and learning as I teach them math and science.  

• Third grade is a great year of school to see tremendous growth in our students.  We expect hard work from our students, but in return, we will try to provide the fun and excitement for learning. We believe that the teachers and parents must work together as a team, and we look forward to partnering with you to help your child be successful this year.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time.

• Contact Information

  • Email: @tvcs.org or monica.taylor@tvcs.org 

  • Email: @tvcs.org or tracy.tsirnikas@tvcs.org

  • New Intermediate Center (352) 259-2300

Water and Snack

• Each student should bring a non-disposable water bottle to school labeled with his or her name each day.   Students will be able to refill as needed.  

• Only water should be consumed during class time.  Other drinks may be sent in the lunchbox for lunchtime.

• If you would like to donate bottles of water, it would be greatly appreciated.

• We have a working snack time during the school day, which means that the students can enjoy a snack while participating in a classroom lesson or activity.

• Students may bring ONE healthy (non-messy) snack to enjoy during the school day.  (Other snacks can be brought for lunch.)

  • Examples of Approved Snacks - fruit, veggies, fruit snacks, granola bars, crackers, goldfish, pretzels, cheese sticks, etc.

  • Examples of Non-approved Snacks - candy, sugary snacks such as cookies and cupcakes, messy snacks like Cheetos or Doritos that cause dirty fingers; items that have to be assembled.

Homework

• Homework will be given Monday - Thursday with a recommendation to continue to read on the weekend.

• Typical Homework includes a math homework page, studying math facts and spelling patterns (a weekly letter will be sent home), and reading for 15-20 minutes. 

• It would be helpful to set up a homework station at home with items such as pencils, erasers, crayons, notebook paper, and a ruler.

• Green Homework Folder - Please empty items on the “Keep at Home” side of the homework folder nightly.  Look for homework and items to be signed on the “Return to School” side.

• Agenda - Your child will write down homework, tests, and other important events in the agenda weekly. There will be a stamp/sticker or a note about your child’s behavior for each day.  Please sign or initial every night and return the agenda to school.

• Red Test Folder - A test folder will come home each Tuesday.  This will include graded items and important information.  Remove items on the “Keep at Home” side.  Sign and return items on the “Return to School” side.

Bookbags

• It is important to keep the bookbag light due to the type of classroom storage that we are using this year.

• The items that should always be included in the bookbag are the green homework folder, agenda, and library books.

• If your child brings a lunchbox, keep that in the bookbag as well.  Please make sure that there are no items that leak.

Teacher Connection Page

• Third Grade Connection Page - links to all third grade teachers, important documents for all third grade students, as well as school documents, field trips, link to 3rd-grade newsletters, and weekly study guides. I also have additional items on my page as well.

• To find the Teacher Connection pages, go to www.tvcs.org.  At the bottom in the quick links tab, click on Elementary.  On the right, you will see the Teacher Connection icon.  Choose Third Grade, and then select Tsirnikas or Taylor.