Buy TCGIS Spiritwear from our
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 TCGIS Online Calendar
Upcoming Events:
August 27: Board Meeting
August 31: Medication drop-off
Sept. 1: Boonli Order Window
Closes
Sept. 3: Virtual Back to School Night
Chromebook pickup/dropoff
Medication drop-off
Sept. 8: First Day of School
Sept. 17: PTO Meeting
Sept. 19,20: GAI Oktoberfest Lite
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Back to School Preparations
Class Cohort Communication: Hybrid and Distance Learning
Yesterday we emailed all parents the cohort assignments by grade level. If you did not receive this email yesterday, please email [email protected]. We can send it to you and make sure we have the correct contact information for you in PowerSchool.
In summary: There are 3 cohorts in each grade level: two hybrid- and one distance-learning-only cohorts. We will identify them as follows:
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Gelb (yellow)
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Hybrid-learning; in school Mondays and Tuesdays
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Grün (green)
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Hybrid-learning; in school Thursdays and Fridays
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Blau (blue)
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Distance Learning Only
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In order to abide by physical distancing guidelines for in-person cohorts, the Gelb and Grün cohorts will be split in half, and each half will be identified as A or B when teacher assignments are finalized. The lists sent yesterday do not identify classroom sections or teacher assignments; those details will be communicated next week in time for Back to School Night.
Virtual Back to School Night: Thursday, Sept. 3
Mark your calendars and make yourself at home: we'll be hosting a virtual Back to School night next Thursday, Sept. 3, from 6:30-8:00 pm. More details will follow soon.
FAQs
We did not add any answers to the Fall Planning 2020 FAQs document this week. Q uestions related to the daily schedule for both learning models cannot be answered until our educators have had time to collaborate and prepare for this new school year. In addition, we are unable to answer questions that are related to human resources. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Please continue to email your questions, concerns, and feedback about the new school year to [email protected]. We will update the FAQs as we are able to answer more questions.
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German Tutors for TCGIS Students
The Covid pandemic has thrust all schools into a difficult position as it pertains to distance learning. Distance and hybrid learning are hard enough in English, but as a language immersion school, TCGIS has an additional challenge because we teach our children in German.
Many parents have asked the school about private tutoring resources to provide supplemental German help to their children to ensure their German skills remain strong. TCGIS has reached out to the many colleges and universities we have contacts with to see if any of the German students would be interested in virtual private tutoring. The colleges we have reached out to include Carleton College, St Olaf College, Macalaster College and the University of Minnesota.
There has been an outpouring of interest on the part of these German majors and minors to help TCGIS parents and students. We have compiled a Google spreadsheet with the names of those students interested in tutoring.
Please Note:
- TCGIS is simply compiling this list of tutoring resources for the benefit of TCGIS families and is not involved in any of the negotiations between parents and tutors.
- Parents reach out directly to the tutor
- Parents negotiate the schedule and pay with the tutor, based on their interest and child's needs.
- TCGIS will keep this list 'live' and add/remove names on an ongoing basis
- The intent is for this to be virtual tutoring, using video platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, Facetime etc. However, parents are free to make other arrangements if mutually agreed upon.
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Practicing COVID-19 Prevention Protocols
If your child(ren) will attend school in-person, please begin to prepare your family and your child(ren) for these new additions to the school-day routine.
Temperature and Symptom Check
All TCGIS students must have their temperature taken at home every day before coming to school. If their temperature is 100.4 they should not come to school.
Similarly if your child has any COVID-19 symptoms, they should also stay home. This symptom guide from MDH may be helpful.
Wearing Masks and Hand Washing
Students should be practicing wearing their mask for long periods of time. Please help them understand what safe and hygenic mask-wearing looks like. Here are some tips to help. Here is a video for kids about why and how to wear a mask.
Physical Distance
Talk with your child about distancing and how it helps keep everyone more healthy adn safe. Please help them understand what 6 feet distance looks and feels like.
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School Supplies Lists
Elementary School: supply lists have been modified for individual rather than communal supplies, and include a container in which to keep the their supplies; students can bring in their supplies on the first day of school if they are attending "Connection Weeks."
Middle School: supply lists have been updated and
do include a reduced number of shared supplies. Please bear in mind that we are collecting supplies for the entire school year. The shared supplies are items the teachers use with students during the school day. Middle school students should bring shared school supplies in a grocery bag on their first day of school.
Parents who chose a 100% distance-only model are not asked to purchase shared materials or bring them to school. However, please note that some teachers may ask students to use these items at home.
Click here for the updated supply lists. There is also a button on our homepage. |
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Reminder: September Order Window for Lunches/Milk now open until September 1st
Remeber to place your order for September! Please log on to our online store website, Boonli, to place your child/ren's School Lunch/ Milk and Take Home meal kits order. Please make sure to check out your cart to successfully place an order.
All orders must be submitted by 6:00 pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.
For any questions regarding our online store website (e.g. forgotten username or password, payment questions, etc.), please contact us at [email protected].
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Application for Free and Reduced Lunch Program
Please find the information and instruction letter and the application form for the Free and Reduced Lunch program for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year, however in order to receive free/reduced school lunches for the first day of school, please submit your application form no later than August 28, 2020. Forms may be emailed to Alex Weeding [email protected] or dropped off at the front office. If you have any questions or need help, please don't hesitate to email Alex Weeding at [email protected] or call the front office: 651- 492-7106.
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Kinderclub Update
Currently we are working through all Tier 1 family Kinderclub registrations. If we have remaining spaces for non-Tier 1 families, on Monday we will email the registration link to all families who have inquired about Kinderclub for this year and are not Tier-1 employees.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please email Kinderclub Director Michaela Bromenschenkel at [email protected].
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Middle School: Technology Update
Some of our middle school students are getting replacement chromebooks. In an effort to get these into our students' hands before school starts, we are going to hold a drive-up chromebook distribution on Thursday, Sept. 3rd, 9am-12pm.
IF your student has a black Lenovo brand chromebook (with the moveable camera on the top of the screen), OR doesn't have any computer at all (especially 5th grade), we have a replacement computer for your student. Any HP brand chromebooks will remain with your students for this academic year. Further details for pickup/dropoff will be sent early next week. If you can't tell what kind of computer you have please contact Jesse Whitney at [email protected].
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Middle School: Electives Survey
As we are finalizing middle school schedules and specialist choices, we want to offer up the opportunity for a last-minute chance to do the elective survey We are having to change Robotics, due to distance learning, to a more general tech class. All others remain as stated. Students who did not self-elect, will be placed at teacher and admin discretion.
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Health Office Updates
Authorization to Provide Medication to Students
If your child will need medication during the school day in the 2020-21 school year, please be sure to:
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In order to administer medication to a student during the school day, we require the Medical Authorization Form, signed by both the health care provider and the parent/guardian.
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All medication must be in its original package with a valid expiration date and labeled with the student's name.
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Medication drop off: Our Health Office Associate, Monika Avery, will be available to receive your child(ren)'s medication together with the completed authorization form:
Monday, August 31st from 8 - 10 am
Thursday, September 3rd from 5 - 7 pm.
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Please come to the Van Slyke Entrance of the school
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If there is a line, please keep a safe distance of 6 feet. We would appreciate if you would let us know which date would work for you ([email protected])
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If at all possible, please leave your children at home.
- If you have questions or need to make alternate arrangements to drop off completed Forms and/or medication, please contact our Health Service Associate, Monika Avery at [email protected].
Vaccination Records for 12-year-olds are due
In the past Elternbrief we incorrectly stated that vaccination records for 11-yr olds were due. If your child is 12 years old and/or entering 7th grade next school year, Minnesota State Statute 121A.15 requires your student to have a dose of the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccine to return to school. If you choose to opt-out you may file a medical exemption signed by a health care provider or a non-medical exemption signed by a parent/guardian, and notarized (vaccine needs to be specified).
Because of the current public health situation, we know it can be difficult to get an appointment with your health care provider. If your child is unable to see their health care provider for updated vaccinations at this time, please use the exemption part of this Immunization Form until you are able to send the updated immunization record.
Please return completed immunization documentation to TCGIS via:
- email to [email protected]
- mail to school: 1031 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103; ATTN: Monika Avery
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Annual Registration for Returning Students
If you haven't already done so, please log in to your children's PowerSchool accounts and fill out annual student registration forms by August 20th. We have revised several of the forms so even if there is no new information, we need you to review the form and, most importantly, even if you change nothing, you must hit the submit button on each form for the information to update in their account. Please review and update the following forms:
B - Student Demographics - review & submit C - Student Health Information - review & submit D - Media/Directory Release - update & submit E - Neighborhood Walk Permission - update & submit F - Emergency Treatment Authorization - fill out & submit T - Student Contacts - update & submit
Please also use this opportunity to fill out any forms your child is missing except the S - Change of Address form. Only fill out this form if you have moved.
Thank you so much! |
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Immediate Job Openings: Food Service and Kinderclub
We are still seeking new staff for positions in Food Service and in Kinderclub. Please spread the word within your networks!
Part-time Food Service Associate
We are seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Food Service Associate for the 2020-21 school year. All Food Service team members are Tier 1 Essential Workers and eligible for free Kinderclub Care.
A full job description for this position is available here. Anyone interested in applying for this position should send a letter of interest and a current resume to Ashley Weston-Miller ([email protected]).
Childcare Staff for Kinderclub
We are currently seeking candidates that could fill a full-time OR part-time Kinderclub program staff position. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain experience working with children in a German-speaking environment for those interested the field of Education!
View the full job description here. Interested candidates should submit cover letter, resume (including two references), and copies of transcripts to Michaele Bromenschenkel ([email protected]).
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 Attention All Band Students!
An email was sent out to everyone, incoming grades 5-8, to update your contact info on my list! This is how I confirm registration, so please find that email, double check everything, and sign off on it, OR email me if you didn't get it!
Incoming grade 5 students can still participate. Click here for more info.
Krista Johnson, Band teacher
Two optional Band Zoom Open Houses for ALL band students!
We will talk about schedules and how to make this work!!!
Time: Aug 28, 2020 05:30 PM
Meeting ID: 435 613 0434
Passcode: lesson
Time: Aug 31, 2020 07:00 PM Meeting ID: 435 613 0434 Passcode: lesson
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Music Lessons at TCGIS with Vienna Community Arts
We offer Music Instruction for our continuing and new students at TCGIS in Piano, Violin, Classical Guitar, Ukulele and Voice.
There are three options :
- In Person at Student's homes
- On- Line Instruction
- At School Building for Kinderclub Attendees.
All Grades and Skill Levels are welcome.
Please contact us for more info: Herbert & Nancy Engelmayer
651 340 6205 (Landline Office) | 612 505 2892 (Mobile Herbert)
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Join us for our first meeting of the year!
Join the PTO for our first meeting of the year! It will be via Zoom, on Thursday September 17 at 6:30pm. Stop in to say hi, meet the new team, and hear about what we have planned in the year ahead of us.
Fall Plant Sale
Keep an eye out for the Fall Plant Sale opening up soon!
Box Tops for Education
TCGIS will be participating in the Box Tops for Education program again this year. Last year we raised over $500! Please download the app at www.btfe.com and click here for more information! |
School Board Announcements
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Upcoming Committee and Board Meetings
Here are the scheduled upcoming committee meetings. Please email the committee chair listed below for meeting login details.
Schoolwide Culture & Innovative Education Committee: Wed, Sept 2, 3:45pm, contact [email protected]
Communication & Outreach Committee: Tue, Sept 15, 8:15am, [email protected]
(moved from originally scheduled date due to first day of school)
Governance & Leadership Development Committee: Mon, Sept 14, 3:45pm, contact [email protected]
September School Board Meeting: Wed Sept 23, 6:30pm, details TBD
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Support the GAI and celebrate Oktoberfest Lite: a safer celebration
Oktoberfest Lite will take place at the GAI the weekend of September 19 and 20. Pick up an Oktoberfest kit on Saturday for a party at home, or reserve a kit and a spot at a table on the GAI lawn for one of two seatings on Sunday.
More information and tickets gai-mn.org/OktoberfestLite.
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Opportunities at the Germanic-American Institute (GAI)
Samstagsschule (Saturday School) for kids and teens
Saturday School classes for ages four through high school return for fall!
The program is built around natural acquisition of language in an interactive, fun environment. Beginning to advance levels offered for all age groups. Samstagsschule begins Saturday, September 26. Register at gai-mn.org/children
Climate Workshop for Teens - ATTENTION TCCIS Alumni Parents!
Saturdays, September 19-December 5 | 10:30 AM-12:30 PM
Conceived in collaboration with TCGIS, this is an interactive climate and culture workshop leading to a Klimagipfel (Climate Summit) in December. The course is designed for young people, ages 12-16, with basic knowledge of German (Level 2/A2 or higher). Register at gai-mn.org/German-and-Science-Workshops
Adult-learners Fall classes at the GAI Haus or Online Our German language fall classes for adults include START 1-2-3 for beginners and a range of options for intermediate and advanced students. These classes will follow social distancing protocols while offering invaluable in-person interactions with your instructor and classmates. Classes begin the week of September 14. |
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German-American Chambers of Commerce (GACC)
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