Elternbrief
Issue: 275                               
January 26, 2017 
In This Issue

Quick Links
TCGIS Online Calendar


Upcoming Dates

Jan. 27: K-8 Morning Circle & Kaffeeklatsh

Jan. 29: Kinder Karnival

Jan. 31: SEAC Meeting

Feb. 4: Maskenball

Feb. 7: PTO Meeting

Feb. 15: Early Release Wednesday

Feb. 17 - 20: No School

Feb. 17: Enrollment Lottery

Feb. 22: Carnival of Cultures

Feb. 23: School Board Meeting

Mar. 13 - 17: No After School Activities

Mar. 15: Early Release Wednesday

Mar. 16 & 17: Parent Teacher Conferences

Mar. 17: No School

 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
Join Us Tomorrow for K-8 Social Hour and Kaffeeklatsch

Join us tomorrow Friday, January 27, for our combined K-8 Social Hour and PTO Kaffeeklatsch!
  • 7:50-8:15am - parents/guardians gather in classrooms to visit with teachers and interns
  • 8:15-8:30am - adults quietly observe Morning Circle
  • 8:30-9:30am - gather in the Commons for coffee and socializing!
We hope to see you there!  
The TCGIS School Board Needs You and Your Talents!

Meet the board at the PTO Kaffeeklatsch this Friday!  Find out how you can help our school, connect with our community, impact decisions and change by serving on the Field Trip Task Force or the following committees: Finance , Development and Fundraising , Governance , Facilities and Grounds .

Have you considered being a Board member? Ask questions and find out more about upcoming elections.

Learn more at Kaffeeklatsch or contact [email protected] to volunteer!
Meet & Greet Our Interns at Tomorrow's Kaffeeklatsch

Now is the time to apply to become a host family for the next school year. Options are available for short-term hosting, fall semester, spring semester or for full-year arrangements. Hosting a TCGIS intern from Germany, Austria or Switzerland can be a valuable experience for your family and expand the horizons of your children forever! 

Our goal for next year: 30 host families - so far we have 23 host families!

Click here to find out more about our intern program. Have any additional questions? Contact  Tina Haarbusch. Already sold and excited to host? Click here to sign up by  February 1, 2017
Carnival of Cultures

It's that time of the year again! The carnival season is coming and we will celebrate our annual Carnival of Cultures on  Wednesday , February 22. Mark your calendars! The theme this year is "Building Bridges".

A short schedule:
4:30pm The Capstone Café will be open in the cafeteria
5:00pm Part I of the Carnival will start in the Aula (grades K-2)
5:40pm Intermission 
6:00pm Part II will begin (grades 3-8)

Please remember that students are not permitted to be in the building unsupervised before the event, so anyone not signed up for Kinderclub  in advance  should be picked up at the end of the school day. There will be no drop-in option on that day due to space limitations.
Parent Powerschool Report Card Instructions

We are now officially in the second semester of the year! To see the written progress of your children, please click on the  Powerschool Instructions for Parents to read over these topics:
Once you have had a chance to review the information, if you are still experiencing difficulties, please contact the office at  [email protected].  
Bake Sale Next Week

Be sure to stop by TCGIS next week from January 30 - February 4
 from 3-5pm to enjoy a bake sale! All proceeds will go to Party Planning for our Mardi Gras Pride Party. Be sure to bring your appetite!
Mardi-Gras Pride Party

Middle School Party Planning and GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) Club would like to invite the school community and students to the Mardi-Gras Pride Party on  February 28th  from  3:30-5:30pm  in the Cafeteria.  There will be games, music and crafts. All proceeds will be given to the Trevor Project
Last Chance to Buy Maskenball Tickets!  

Maskenball tickets are on sale until January 31 and 120 are already sold.  Don't wait; space is limited. Buy your tickets here: http://tcgis.schoolauction.net/maskenball2017

Special thank you to all the sponsors who donated $2,900 to the PTO! We appreciate your support of the PTO and TCGIS!
Gold Sponsors : German American Chambers of Commerce, Audi St Paul, JW Real Estate Group, & Clifton Larson Allen
Silver Sponsors : Aki's BreadHaus & Central Dental Family Dentistry
Bronze sponsors: Urban Forage Winery and Cider House, German Specialty Imports, Mulberrys Garment Care, & Vienna Community Arts
Volleyball Registration Date Change

Volleyball Registration closes TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7th.  We have to report final team numbers to the league by  February 8th , hence the shorter registration period. 

Please click  here for more information,   here to register a nd email Coach Kim Kulhanek at  [email protected]  if you have questions. If you register your child for volleyball, please make sure to fill out the liability and medical release form as well. 
Special Education Parent Meeting
Tuesday, January 31

Join us for the January Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) meeting  Tuesday, January 31 from  6:30-8:30 in Room 100.  We will discuss our February education event, continue our discussion of "Perceptions of Special Education," and more.
Questions? Send an email to  [email protected].
PBIS Elternbrief Extra

Second Semester has begun and so has our new system from PBIS called Mausmünzen! Mausmünzen are a physical token of our acknowledgement of their great choices here at school honoring our agreement to be safe, respectful, and responsible. One side of the token should come home to you, while the other will be entered into a school-wide drawing which occurs every two weeks.

Students in all grades were introduced to our "Mouse Money" this week by their classroom/homeroom teacher using this presentation. Ask your student(s) about them!
Kinder Karneval!

Find your best costumes and visit a children's Karneval organized by Spielmannszug Minnesota this Sunday January 29, 2017 from 2pm - 5pm at the Klub Haus (1079 Rice St) in St. Paul. More details available here.
 
PTO
PTO Announcements

More than 35 people attended the high school parent panel at the GAI on Jan 17. Nine parents presented their experience. Special thanks to Missy Morrissey for coordinating the presenters and Lisa Linnell for coordinating the treats. We are looking forward to next year. Feedback on the event can be shared here:  https://goo.gl/forms/rOLeEOf7dboc4Iy13

Click here to find out more about these upcoming events:
  • Kaffeeklatsch, Jan. 27, 8:30 AM, hosted by Jessica Gallo and Angie Haeg.
  • PTO meeting featuring a presentation on talking about sex with your kids, Feb. 7.
  • PTO is collecting items for a rummage sale on April 8. Items must be small enough for one person to carry and can be left in the school foyer.
GAI
GAI Announcements 

Kultur in der Küche: Authentic Gulasch
Saturday, February 4, 1pm-4pm
$40 for GAI Members, $50 for Non-members 
For ages 12 and up
Make and taste authentic  Austro-Hungarian style  Gulasch  in our next  Kultur in der Küche  cooking class, in partnership with the Center for Austrian Studies. Unlike American versions of this dish-which resemble baked hot dish or Ratatouille-authentic  Gulasch  is a slow-cooked meat dish with a savory garlic-onion spice sauce. Visit www.gai-mn.org to register and learn more.