Elternbrief
Issue: 283                            
April 6, 2017 
In This Issue

Quick Links
TCGIS Online Calendar


Upcoming Dates

April 8: Rummage Sale

April 8-23: PTO Strudel Sale

April 14: No School

April 19: Early Release Wednesday

April 27: School Board Meeting

May 9: PTO Meeting

May 17: Early Release Wednesday
 Volunteer at TCGIS!
Take a look at current volunteer opportunities! If you are not yet a volunteer, but are interested in becoming one - please email Tina HaarbuschVielen Dank!
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Administrative Information
Bus Expectations

We ask that parents of students who use our bussing service review the following expectations for bus riders as we enter this Spring season. For more information on bussing, please see the 2016-17 Bussing Handbook
 
Rules at the Bus Stop: 
Get to your bus stop five minutes before your scheduled pick up time. The school bus driver will not wait for late students. 
Respect the property of others while waiting at your bus stop. 
Keep your arms, legs, and belongings to yourself. 
Use appropriate language. 
Stay away from the street, road, or highway when waiting for the bus. 
Wait until the bus stops before approaching the bus. 
After getting off the bus, move away from the bus. 
If you must cross the street, always cross in front of the bus where the driver can see you. Wait for the driver to signal to you before crossing the street. 
No fighting, harassment, intimidation, or horseplay. 
No use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.

Rules on the Bus:
Immediately follow the directions of the driver. 
Sit in your seat facing forward.
Talk quietly and use appropriate language. 
Keep all parts of your body inside the bus. 
Keep your arms, legs, and belongings to yourself. 
No fighting, harassment, intimidation, horseplay, or any other inappropriate misconduct. 
Do not throw any object. 
No eating, drinking, or use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. 
Do not bring any weapons or dangerous objects on the school bus.
Do not damage the school bus.
We are looking for
Playground Volunteers!
 
Physical activity has been proven to help improve student focus and learning in the classroom. This is why TCGIS is looking for volunteers to supervise an extra recess before school this spring. We need two volunteers per day. Volunteers would commit to a certain day (Monday, Tuesday...) for the entire month. If April does not work for your schedule please consider helping out in May. Please see the sign-up for additional information.
Congratulations to our Mausmünzen Winners!

Gratuliere to this week's Mausmünzen winners! Congratulations to Luke Robbins in Kindergarten B for picking up napkins, Adam Tyrrell in 3b for sweeping in the cafeteria, and to Caleb McClain in 5a for following directions! Keep up the good work, TCGIS!
Yearbook Pre-Ordering Starting April 14

Our cover page art contest has now come to an end. We received many colorful entries from students this year. Thank you to those who sent in your contributions to Yearbook 16-17! We are now finalizing the publication with the student group. Pre-order TCGIS Yearbook for $15 on Order Lunches starting April 14!
TCGIS PTO Spring Strudel Sale April 8-23! 

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.
Inclusive Education at TCGIS
SEAC Meeting Monday, April 17 6:30-8:30pm Room 100

When many parents went to school, "Special Education" meant that room down the hall where severely disabled students went. That is not Special Education today. Students with many disabilities are an integral part of nearly every classroom at TCGIS.

Join the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)  Monday, April 17  from 6:30-8:30pm in Room 100 to learn more about Special Education in the General Education Classroom, the benefits to all students from inclusive education, and the challenges to meeting all students' needs.  Please RSVP here.
TCGIS Plant Sale Deadline is Tomorrow, April 7!

Don't miss out on this opportunity to order beautiful hanging baskets, patio pots and Gertens plant cards AND support TCGIS Programs at the same time with our  Plant Sale!

We offer 16 different varieties of chemical-free hanging baskets, including two edible baskets, for only $25/each. Our 7 different types of Patio Pots are only $30/each. Don't know what you want yet, or have other 'plant needs' besides hanging baskets and patio pots? We offer $25 plant cards to Gertens where you'll find an enormous variety of plants to enhance your garden this spring and summer.  

The best part? While our prices are lower than other places around town, you are also supporting programs at TCGIS!!! Pick up your plants on May 9 & 10 at TCGIS.

Visit TCGIS's webstore
for convenient online ordering or drop a check off in the office.
PBIS Elternbrief Extra

Congratulations to our hard working PBIS Leadership Team for being awarded a grant!  The grant will be used to make signs for our hallways around our school-wide expectations. If you would like to be involved in this process we are seeking a community member on our leadership team.

Are you interested in helping TCGIS? Do you want to help create a school-wide climate where appropriate behavior is the norm? The PBIS Leadership Team is looking for a community member to join! Please contact the PBIS Leadership Team at [email protected] if you are interested. Meetings are every other Wednesday from 3:30-4:15.
A Message from our 8th Graders

This spring we will be flying to Germany for our Capstone Exchange. During our trip we will meet with teenage Syrian refugees. We want to raise money to help the refugees get supplies for learning German. 

To help raise money for the refugees, we will hold a bake sale in the TCGIS foyer on  Saturday, April 8th during the rummage sale from  8am - 2pm. In addition to our home-baked goods, the Tuebinger Bakery will be bringing bread and  Laugenstangen to sell. Hope to see you there!
Got a Green Thumb? We'd Love Your Help!

We're looking for ten or more volunteers with a green thumb who would like to help 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!
Info Evening for German Citizens

On  May 24 , there will be an information evening for German citizens at the GAI. The head of the legal and consular division of the Consulate General in Chicago will answer legal questions that German citizens may have on a number of issues. The event is directed at German citizens only, that's why the attached flyer is in German only.
PTO Rummage Sale Needs Your Help!

There are hundreds of great items for sale but now we need your help to get it out the door! There are several two-hour shifts Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to help set up, assist customers, and box up unsold items for Goodwill; find the one that works for you! Click here to sign up.

Don't forget to come and shop on April 8 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The sale is open to the public so bring your friends and family. The 8th graders will be running a bake sale, including Ruhland's strudel, to raise money for Syrian refugees in Germany.
Literacy Corner
Reading development involves a range of complex language underpinnings including awareness of speech sounds ( phonology ), spelling patterns ( orthography ), word meaning ( semantics ), grammar ( syntax ) and patterns of word formation ( morphology ), all of which provide a necessary platform for reading fluency and comprehension. Literacy interventions provide support in all areas, wherever it is needed as determined by our German screeners and other other assessments.

Round five of our German Literacy groups starts on  April 10K- 5 will have two weekly interventions 20 minutes each. The group sessions for the Minis, the Mäuschen, the Häschen, the Bärchen, the Löwen plus the fifth graders will end on  May 26 .
GAI
Last Chance to Register for the AP German Prep Class!
Saturdays, April 8, 22, and 29 (no class April 15) - 9am - 12pm

Prepare for the  Advanced Placement German Language and Culture exam this spring! Offered on three Saturdays leading up to the exam in May these classes will focus on the multi-modalities of the test, with about an hour of homework to be completed outside of class each week. This course is designed for students who already have advanced German language skills and are specifically looking to prepare for the AP exam. Instruction will be in German.  Click here to learn more and register.

Sommerschule for Teens
One-week Intensives: June 19-23 or August 21-25 - Monday-Friday9am-12pm
 
For the first time the GAI will be offering Sommerschule for Teens. This intensive week-long program is for students who have completed 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 and learn more!
PTO
PTO Announcements

Click here to find out more about these upcoming events:
  • PTO Rummage Sale, April 8
  • Strudel sale, April 8-23
  • PTO Meeting, April 11
German Community News
$1,000 OHE Stipends for Minnesota Students

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) is once again offering summer enrichment stipends on a  first-come, first-served  basis. These $1,000 stipends completely cover the cost of a one-week session at the Language Villages, or can be applied toward a longer session. 

Who is eligible?
  • You must be a Minnesota resident, and
  • Eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, and
  • Currently in grades 3-11, and
  • If you are in grades 7-11, you must have an overall "C" average, or a C or above in a foreign language class.
Please visit our website  for more information and to apply today.