Elternbrief
Issue: 285                            
April 20, 2017 
In This Issue

Quick Links
TCGIS Online Calendar


Upcoming Dates

April 8-23: PTO Strudel Sale

April 27: School Board Meeting

May 9: PTO Meeting

May 17: Early Release Wednesday
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Administrative Information
We'd Love Your Help 
with the TCGIS Butterfly and Vegetable Gardens


We're looking for ten volunteers who would like to help for an hour or two with the second grade "horticultural engineers" and other interested K-6 students plan and plant new garden beds. Please  click here to read more and to sign up! 

We'd also love to have your  packing "peanuts" (styrofoam) that we can put in the bottom of the our large outdoor flowerpots.  VIELEN DANK!
Congratulations to our Mausmünzen   Winners!

Wir gratulieren this week's Mausmünzen winners! Congratulations to Lara Burress in 2b for putting a safety cone on a slippery surface, Altay Ustun 3a for cleaning up the cafeteria, and to Maya Edmonds in 8a for walking safely in the hallway! Keep up the good work, TCGIS!

Announcing the Second Annual TCGIS Field Day

We need your help to make it happen!

Field Day: Friday, May 19
Rain date: Thursday, May 25
Location: The park to the east of the school between Como Ave and Nagasaki Road
Who: TCGIS K - 4 grades

Each class will be divided into two groups. We need volunteers to run the stations, do set up and clean up, and be with the group that the teacher is not with. Teachers will be responsible for their classes. We also need a person with a truck or van to help transport the materials. Sign up here to help!
Street Parking Around TCGIS

We are aware that it can sometimes be difficult to find street parking around TCGIS and we are also aware that when it comes to parking, it's not always easy for our neighbors. With this in mind, we would greatly appreciate if parkers can leave some empty spaces in front of the houses on the Van Slyke side of the building. It means some extra steps to the building, but this small act would go a long way in fostering a positive relationship with our neighbors. Vielen Dank for your understanding! 
Guppy Adoption

Looking for ways to teach your kids about the birds and the bees without the hassle of owning birds and bees? Start a guppy aquarium! This opportunity is provided free of charge by the TCGIS Science Dept. Call (612-719-7015) or email ( [email protected]Heidi Scholtz now for your free sample of beautiful baby guppies. Click here to read some fun facts about guppies!
Strudel Sale ends April 23

Just in time for Mother's Day! Strudel is a type of layered filo pastry with a filling that is usually sweet, but savory is also common. They make great hostess gifts and easy dinners! There are ten delicious flavors to choose from, either savory (including two vegetarian options) or sweet. All strudel is made locally by Ruhland's Strudel Haus. The types available are listed on the auction website. The website will be open for ordering strudel from April 8 at 10am to April 23 at 9:00pm. The TCGIS PTO receives 30% of each strudel sale. You can access the auction website here .

Strudel pick up will be at TCGIS in the Lobby on Wednesday, May 10, 3:00 to 6:00 pm.
Reminder: May & June Order Window Closes Friday, April 21

Don't forget to place your last Bus, Kinderclub and Lunch/Milk order for the 2016-17 school year. R emember to select your needs on the May AND June  calendar page. Here is the link to our online store.  All orders are due by midnight on Friday, 4/21 .

New this month:
  • Intern Program Donations can now be made via our online store. Please select the TCGIS ADMIN Tab to add a donation to your shopping cart. Thank you for supporting our Intern Program!
  • Pre-Order your copy of the 2016-17 TCGIS Yearbook. Orders are accepted until April 30th. Please select the TCGIS ADMIN Tab to add your order to your shopping cart. Multiple copies can be ordered.
If you need assistance with your Account Log-In information, please email us at [email protected] .
Playground Equipment After School

Teachers are trying their best to deliver consistent and clear rules about the end-of-day routine for pick-up.  We are looking for you help in ensuring we have an efficient and smooth process.  We are communicating the following expectations to students this week:

Be Safe - wait in designated area 
Be Responsible - let an adult know when your ride has arrived, keep belongings with you
Be Respectful - say goodbye

Here is the complete PBIS behavior Matrix   for this process. Students are learning this information in their morning circle this week.

This means all Middle School students are expected to wait on the aula steps for their ride to arrive from  3:15 - 3:30(15 minutes). It makes it difficult for staff to know which students are doing what when they are playing on the playground during dismissal. 

Thanks so much for your support!  We hope these efforts will help expedite the pick-up process!

Kind Regards,
Frau Morrissey & Frau Simon, Middle School Coordinators  on behalf of all Middle School Teachers
Mark Your Calendars for June 8!

Our last day of school is coming up fast! Mark your calendars for June 8 to celebrate our End of the Year Picnic! The picnic will be held at the Como Park Pavilions and will be from 11:30am-2:00pm. Are you interested in helping make this event a success? Keep your eyes out for information in future Elternbriefe!
 
GAI Survey for TCGIS Parents

During recent meetings & discussions with TCGIS staff and parents, GAI staff have heard that some of you may be interested in Summer Classes to help your children maintain their German skills during summer break. The GAI can certainly offer a program, but we need your input & suggestions to ensure we meet your needs and can accommodate schedules. 

Please take a couple of minutes to respond to our short survey and stay tuned for further information & updates. Danke!
GAI
GAI Announcements
 
Musik im Mai: Klezmerica 
Friday, May 19 at 7pm
Tickets: $25 online or at the door
Concert runs 1 hour 30 min with a 15 min intermission.

Join us for the rare opportunity to hear the premier Klezmer band in the USA, Klezmerica, in the GAI Haus. This up close and personal concert celebrates Klezmer music and its history in Europe and in the USA. Klezmer is a lively music tradition which comes from the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe, including Germany, Poland, and Russia.  With waves of Jewish European immigrants coming to the USA from the late 1800's through the 1950's, traditional Klezmer blended with early jazz rhythms to create a new American sound.

Sommerschule  for Teens
One-week Intensives, June 19-23 or August 21-25
Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm
 
For the first time the  GAI will be offering  Sommerschule  for Teens. This intensive week-long  program is for students who have completed junior high/high school German III (or equivalent) and who want to sharpen and improve their German skills over the summer. The course will focus on grammar, vocabulary and speaking skills - topics will include 'Sport & Spass' (Sports & Fun); 'Feiern & Ferien' (Celebrations & Vacations); 'Familie & Geschwister'  (Family & Siblings) and more. Click here to register!

PTO
PTO Announcements

Click here to find out more about these upcoming events:
  • Strudel sale, April 8-23
  • PTO meeting, May 11, featuring a presentation by TCGIS librarian Sarah Dye on German literature for kids
How can you help the PTO next year? Please fill out this short survey  to let us know your interests.