Elternbrief
Issue: 315                          
February 8, 2018 
In This Issue

Quick Links
TCGIS Online Calendar

Upcoming Events

Feb. 14: Early Release Wednesday

Feb. 16: Professional Learning Day - NO SCHOOL

Feb. 19: Presidents' Day - NO SCHOOL

Mar. 5: Professional Learning Day - NO SCHOOL

Mar. 12-16: No After School Activities

Mar. 15-16: Parent Teacher Conferences 

Mar. 16: Parent Teacher Conferences - NO SCHOOL

Mar. 21: Registration Opens for Session 3 of After School Activities

Mar. 28: School Board Meeting

Mar. 29: Winter After School Activities End

Mar. 30 - April 6: Spring Break - No School
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Administrative Information
Early Release Wednesday Next Week

This is a reminder that next Wednesday, February 14, is Early Release Wednesday. School is over at 12:45pm and there are no after school activities. 
2018-2019 Calendar Input: Feedback Requested!

We are working to get the calendar for next school year finalized. Last week we sent out a survey asking for your feedback and you have four more days to fill it out! If you would like to have some input into this process, please take this survey. The survey will close on Monday morning at 8 a.m. Students and staff have been asked to provide feedback as well. 

Please note: the start date for the 2018-2019 school year will be Monday, August 27. 
Be a Sponsor for the End of the Year Picnic!

New this year, TCGIS is looking for sponsors for our annual end-of-school year picnic. We have a variety of levels of sponsorship available. If you or your company or someone you know are interested, please contact Dianne Bell (
[email protected]) for more information.
Order Window for School Lunches/Milk, Bus and Kinderclub Open Friday, February 9!

Please log on to our online store website  Boonli  starting  Friday, 2/9 , to place your child(ren)'s Bus, Kinderclub and School Lunch/Milk  order  for  March All orders must be submitted by midnight on Monday, February 19.
Carnival of Cultures!

Carnival of Cultures is coming up on Thursday, February 22nd , and we are looking forward to seeing many of you and celebrating the students' hard work. We have put together a series of logistical information for parents below. For those who are new to the TCGIS community, Carnival of Cultures is our annual school-wide performing arts celebration. All families are welcome to attend one or both parts of the program, which brings together mixtures of performance cultures from around the world and across time.

4:45 (K-3)
Please bring your child to his/her homeroom classroom and drop off your child with his/her teacher. There will not be enough room in the classroom for all students and their parents, so your are welcome to take a seat in the Aula. K-3 program will run until approximately 6:00.

After 4:55 (and 6:25), the indoor entrance to the Aula will be for students only.  Audience members are encouraged to use the south doors that go directly into the Aula (at the top of the outside stairs), but after 4:55 (and 6:25), ALL audience members must enter through those doors.

When the performance is over, please remain in your seat.  Elementary students will be dismissed class by class, and parents will be subsequently asked to stand to meet their student.  This should be a very smooth process if everyone remains in his/her spot.  If your student is going home with someone other than you, please make sure to inform your student AND your student's teacher.

*Reminder that you are responsible for your students except for the time period when they are with their classes in the classroom before the performance, and during the performance.  TCGIS is not providing any childcare.  For everyone's safety, please know where your children are at all times and insure that they are exhibiting appropriate behavior.

6:00 (4-8) - All students should go directly to the Aula.  Program will run until approximately 7:30.

Any K-3 questions should be directed to Frau Hall ( [email protected] ), and any 4-8 questions should be directed to Frau Van Koolwijk ([email protected]).
Parent Powerschool Report Card Instructions

We are now officially in the second semester of the 2017-18 school year! To see the written progress of your student, please click on this link to find information on how to view/print your child's report card.
Save the Date: Minnesota United FC vs Chicago Fire

Join us on March 17 for our second TCGIS soccer community event when Minnesota United meets Chicago Fire for their season home opener. This is a great chance to see Germany's National team player, Bastian Schweinsteiger, live in action at TCF Bank Stadium. Ticket sales will start next week. 

The Middle School is Going Skifoan!!!

We are one week away from our skiing field trip. The kids are excited and so are we!  If your info sheet got lost somewhere on the way home, you can review all information  in this document.   Please make sure to send all necessary forms back with your student as soon as possible. The staff at Afton Alps needs the information for their staffing!

Speaking of grown-ups and chaperones: if you would like to join us on our field trip, please read the following document and  sign up here.

If your child is unable to attend the field trip, please get in touch with Herrn Liesner via email.
Last Week for Volleyball Registration!

Volleyball Season is starting soon! We are looking for players for our co-ed 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade teams. Practices will be from 4:30-6:30pm - players will be able to stay with their coach in a classroom after school from 3:30-4:30pm.  Please click on  this link  for more information, including a link to the registration page. If you have questions, please contact Coach Kulhanek at   [email protected] The deadline for Volleyball registration is Friday, February 9th, at 5pm.
Listening Sessions Hosted by TCGIS Board & Admin

The School Board and the Administration will host TWO listening sessions for the TCGIS Community on 2/27 and 3/6. These sessions will take place at 3:45pm and 6:30pm on both days. Each session will include a presentation on the current status of the Board's and the Administration's efforts regarding the respective topic as well as time afterward reserved for engagement with the Board and Administration on that topic. We encourage all interested community members to attend!
Save the Date! Family Ski Day at Trollhaugen
Monday, March 5

Don't miss out! This year's TCGIS Family Ski Day will be  Monday, March 5 at  Trollhaugen. It's a great chance to hit the slopes with family and friends! Click HERE for complete details and registration information.

Cost:
Age 6 & up -- $15 lift ticket
Age 5 & under -- FREE lift ticket
Ski/snowboard rental -- $15 (includes helmet)

Special packages available:
Grades 5 & 6 -- $18 lift ticket/rental/lesson
Grades K-4 -- $28 lift ticket/rental/lesson

Please email  Kelly Huxmann or  Manuela Thames with any questions. Click HERE to register!
It's Girl Scout Cookie Time

TCGIS Troop #57317 - 85 girls in grades K-7 - are currently selling Girl Scout cookies. There will be a booth in the Atrium on  Tuesday, February 13, from  3:45-5:00

If you are looking for cookies and want to support our troop but can't make it in to a booth, please contact Cindy Miller at  [email protected] to place an order and arrange for delivery. Thank you!
Information Regarding Screening

This week we would like to inform our TCGIS community about our system of student supports, with a particular focus on the screening and decision-making processes we follow. We have worked long and hard establishing this exceptional program over the past three years, and we hope this in-depth information clarifies and explains our work. Should you have any questions feel free to email me: [email protected] .

Please follow this link for more information.
Keep Up with German at Waldsee This Summer!

Spending a week or two at Waldsee, a German immersion summer camp in Bemidji, is a great way to practice German during the summer. Applications for need-based scholarships through the Concordia Language Villages Passport Fund for 2018 summer youth residential immersion programs must be submitted by Wednesday, February 21 for consideration. 

How Do I Apply?
  • Step 1: You must be registered for a session to apply for a scholarship! Select and  register for a youth residential session online. You will need to pay the minimum deposit to enroll.* A reduced deposit is available for one- and two-week sessions. Please contact our summer registration department at 800-222-4750 (ext. 1) for assistance.
  • Step 2: Complete the online scholarship form in the Forms and Documents section of your MyVillage account. 

For more information, watch this short video or email us at [email protected] 

Board Announcements
Facility Committee News:
The Facility Committee typically meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month.  This month's meeting is on February 13 at 6:00 PM in Room 99.  All meetings are open to the public.

This month's agenda will be devoted to discussing details related to designing a new gym, cafeteria and additional classroom spaces. Questions? Contact Nic Ludwig
, Chair of the Facility Committee, [email protected].
PTO Announcements
PTO Meeting - Feb 13  
6:45-7:00  social meet & greet. Bring in your shoe donations! 
7:00-8:00   PTO Business  Meeting
Topics: planning for next school year, volunteers needed, and PTO actions from staff survey results
8:00-8:30  Subcommittee meetings. We meet in the cafeteria, childcare in the Aula.  RSVP here 

Look for the  PTO February Newsletter  and complete the 3 question survey!
GAI Announcements
KINDER IN DER KÜCHE - Join us for Osterzopf baking for Kids on Saturday, Feb. 24.
Braided yeast sweet bread is an Easter tradition in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. This class lets kids get their hands in the flour and they get to take home the delicious results 
Ages 5 to 12 (class for children only)

SUMMER LANGUAGE CAMP 2018 - Registration now open! 
Summer Camp runs from June 18 to August 17 - Camps offered for KG - 3 grade (2018/2019 school year); Topics include Arts & Crafts, German Fairy Tales, Science, Magic, Baking & Cooking, and Experiments

Register NOW for Spring German Classes
Click HERE for Adult Class Registration.