Elternbrief
Issue: 366                         
April 25, 2019 
In This Issue

Quick Links
Buy TCGIS Spiritwear from our new online store!
TCGIS Online Calendar

Upcoming Events
Like us on Facebook

Administrative Information
Board Election Information

Thanks to the three applicants who are running for election to the TCGIS School Board. The following is a list of important dates:

April 27-May 17: Candidate Bio's published in Elternbrief
May 8th, 7:30-8:30 Meet the Candidates, sponsored by the PTO
May 13-17: Board Elections
May 17: (4:45pm) Final Ballot Deadline
Beers, Burgers & (then) Books! Volunteer Opportunities This Weekend and Next Week

Beers & Burgers Fundraiser at Halftime Rec
If you're planning to meet up with friends at Halftime Rec this weekend for the Beers and Burgers fundraiser, consider volunteering for an hour or so! We're looking for 6 volunteers to sell wristbands between 4:00-7:30 pm in 2-person shifts: 4:00-5:15pm, 5:15-6:30pm, and 6:15-7:30pm. Please  email John Steingraeber to sign up for your shift! 

Support the Book Fair
Love books? Then come hang out with all the new Scholastic books and the middle schoolers who serve as cashiers during our Book Fair! We still need one parent for each of the afternoon shifts (3:15-5:30pm) on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday next week. Please sign up here . 
Mark Your Calendars for Important City Council Hearing Dates

Now that the petition for an EAW has been resolved in TCGIS's favor, we are ready to address City Council regarding the school's historic designation and approval of our site plan and variance requests. Please mark your calendars for these important dates. Times are unknown as of yet, but will be communicated as soon as we received them:
-  MAY 15:  Public Hearing regarding Local Designation at City Council
-  JUNE 5:  Site plan and variance appeals at City Council 

If you have not yet sent in a letter AGAINST historic designation and FOR support of our site plan and variances, please do so!  You are still able to make your voice heard.  Here are the emails of city council members by Ward:
Ward 1 Dai Thao  [email protected]
Ward 2 Rebecca Noecker  [email protected]
Ward 3 Chris Tolbert  [email protected]
Ward 4 Mitra Jalali Nelson  [email protected]
Ward 5 Amy Brendmoen  [email protected]
Ward 6 Kassim Busuri  [email protected]
Ward 7 Jane Prince  [email protected]
Bike and Walk to School Day Volunteers Needed!


Your help is needed to make this event a success!  We need volunteers available on Wednesday, May 8 from 7:35am until 8:20am. This is an early release day. Also looking for a few volunteers for afternoon (12:35pm-1pm). If you have any questions, please email Dani Nicholson at [email protected]. Sign up to volunteer here .
4th Grade Band Petting Zoo 


Parents of 4th graders interested in band next year, the instrument "petting zoo" is coming up! Please click here for a letter from our band teacher, Krista Johnson! 
TCGIS Band Concert and Potluck

The TCGIS band has been working all year towards their Spring Concert. Come and listen to some great music on May 1 starting at 5pm in the Aula. All are welcome to join, and to attend a potluck afterwards! Please bring a water bottle, or drink from the fountain. Sign up here if you plan to attend and bring something to share. 
TCGIS Fundraisers

Don't Forget Burgers Und Bier Fundraiser this Saturday at Half Time Rec!
Saturday, April 27th:  4-8 pm. Burgers und Bier Family Fundraiser at  Half Time Rec.  Half Time Rec is located on Front Avenue just a few blocks from school and is happy to support TCGIS. Half Time Rec offers several games, such as indoor bocce ball. Special for TCGIS will be a German game called " Hammerschlagen"! They are offering TCGIS beer at cost.  TCGIS keeps proceeds  from all keg sales (not food) of Hamm's beer.  Buy your $10 wristband at the door good for unlimited beer.  Buy a wristband even if you don't want a beer!  Spread the word!  Friends and neighbors are welcome!  Anyone can buy a $10 wristband from us for the unlimited Hamm's! Consider walking, carpooling, or taking an Uber/Lyft.  Remember to please not drink and drive.

Sunday, May 5th: 6-9 pm. Family Fundraiser at  Urban Forage Winery and Cider House, 3016 East Lake Street in Minneapolis. Owned by TCGIS parents Jeff and Gita Zeitler and featuring a kid-friendly tap room, Urban Forage makes cider, mead and wine on site in small batches from locally sourced fruit, flowers and honey. Urban Forage is generously offering TCGIS  all proceeds from cider sales that evening!  Bring the kids, and bring your friends and neighbors too! Parent Colin Kreuziger will play an acoustic guitar set for entertainment. Please help us support the Zeitlers who are supporting TCGIS!  And please don't drink and drive.
Please Attend Last Kaffeeklatsch of the Year on May 3 with Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL) District: 41B

Rep. Kunesh-Podein is Vice Chair of the Minnesota House Education Policy Committee and was visited by Ted Anderson and parent Sue Burke-Westacott during the Charter School Lobby Day at the Capitol in March. Ted and Sue discussed the charter school funding and other issues with her. We are thrilled that she accepted our invitation to attend our last Kaffeeklatsch of the year. We are excited to showcase our great school to her as an example of a successful and thriving public charter school. This is a great opportunity for all parents to meet a member of the Education Policy Committee and make your voices heard regarding school funding inequity and other issues concerning charter schools.  
GEMs Summer Camp Registration - NOW OPEN!


Missy Morrissey (Middle School) and Kim Kulhanek (Elementary School) are offering a summer MATH camp for girls with support from the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics Student Chapter at the University of Minnesota during the week of August 12th-16th. 

Registration Form  - Please complete for each child registered.

Who: All students entering grades 1-6
What:  GEMs Summer Math camp
Where: University of Minnesota, Vincent Hall
When: August 12th-16th, 2018, from 9am-12pm.
Cost: $150 (daily snack provided)

Contact Missy Morrissey at  [email protected] if you have any questions!
Congratulations to this Week's  Mausmünzen Winners

The selected students have shown exemplary behavior at TCGIS during the school day, and are representing their class and grade level. Meistermäuse have demonstrated to staff one or more of the following praised traits:  Sicherheit (safety),  Verantwortung (responsibility), and  Respekt (respect). 

Congratulations to Simone (6a), Nellie (Kc), Leni (7a), Julia (3a), Fred (1a), and Frau Morrissey!  Keep up the good work!
Board Announcements
Fundraising and Development Committee
April 26, 2019 at 8:15am
Room 308

Next Board Meeting: TUESDAY, April 30 at 6:30pm in Room 100
PTO Announcements
PTO Important Dates
Thursday May 2nd - Plant & Strudel Pickup afterschool! 
Thursday May 2nd - 6:30pm  PTO Meeting at school
Friday May 3rd - 8:30am PTO Sponsored Kaffee Klatsch 
Sunday May 19th - PTO Retreat. Details TBA

We are in search of 2 volunteers to help with Plant and Strudel pickup/distribution. If you can  help, please email [email protected] THANK YOU!!

PTO Opportunities
Secretary: This person will be in charge of setting Meeting Agendas and recording Meeting Minutes. Attendance at each PTO Meeting will be an important part of this job.

In addition, we are looking for interested individuals for  co-chairing specific fundraising events. If you are looking for a smaller time commitment, then this is for you!
Please come to our next PTO Meeting on May 2nd to get your name on the ballot!
GAI Announcements
Saturday, April 27; 10:30am to 1:00pm
Join us at the Haus for kid-friendly activities to celebrate Earth Day! 
Activity stations will include flower seed bombs, compost bags, making a dirt cup and learning about soil, Earth bingo (auf deutsch !), trash sorting like a German, and an outdoor scavenger hunt!   

Weekly camps from June 17 to August 23 on site at the GAI
Most camps are for children 7-9 yrs   
NEW THIS YEAR: Intro to German for 5-9 yrs and German & Science for 10-13 yrs

*Kinderstube German Immersion Preschool is hiring part- and/or full-time Assistant and Lead Teachers at its Minneapolis location, for employment beginning in July/August 2019! If you are interested, please click here for more information.