Elternbrief
Issue: 355                          
January 31, 2019 
In This Issue

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Buy TCGIS Spiritwear from our new online store!
Submit Yearbook Photos

Have photos for
the yearbook? Submit them directly to the Josten's Yearbook website! We will be taking photo submissions all year long. If prompted, lease enter the following code for a USER ID: 411163676
TCGIS Online Calendar

Upcoming Events
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Administrative Information
Boonli Credits for Lunch/Kinderclub Orders 1/28-1/31


All lunch and Kinderclub orders have been credited in Boonli for the days school was closed January 28-31 due to the cold weather. The credits will automatically be applied with the next Boonli order and can be viewed by clicking on "Order History". 
No TCGIS Summer Camps this year

Due to the planned construction project, TCGIS Summer Camps will not be offered this summer. If you are looking to sign your child up for some German speaking camps during summer break, please know that the GAI has extended their age range up to 13 years of age to accommodate TCGIS Middle School students. Take a look at their camp offerings  here .
City Attorney Belatedly Rules January 25 Planning Commission Vote Invalid

As previously communicated by Director Anderson in a separate email to all parents and staff, the January 25th Planning Commission vote on our Site Plan and Variances this week was deemed invalid by the St Paul City Attorney's office. The reason given was invalid parliamentary procedure was followed. For more details please visit D10's summary of this issue.
St. Paul Historic Preservation (HPC) Pushes City Council Hearing on Historic Designation Out to March

TCGIS was just informed by the HPC that the city council hearing on historic designation, planned for February 20, has suddenly been pushed back a month to March.  We don't know the rationale for this decision nor the definitive date.  We will keep the TCGIS community posted with details as we learn them.
Please Help Us Pay For Unplanned Expenses in Contesting Historic Designation

The cost to TCGIS in combatting this unwanted historic designation was not expected or planned for in our General Fund budget. As a result, the cost of the legal fees to fight this designation are significant but necessary to ensure that TCGIS has excellent legal counsel in contesting this designation. We are grateful for the financial support we have received from parents friend and supporters in the past, and we ask for your supplemental help here to help cover this unexpected financial burden to our school. The most effective way to donate is via a check that you can drop off at the office, as this involves no fees at all. The next best way is to donate via the school's online Square site where you can use your credit card for a minimal fee, and also choose to cover that fee so that school does not have to.  We are grateful for your support in helping us offset these extra expenses.
Seeking 10-12 more host families for the 2019-2020 Intern Program

We're getting there, but right now we only have enough families to host half the number of Interns we'd like to bring to TCGIS next year. We plan to have about 14 Interns each semester - but we can only invite as many Interns as we have host families! We need to make final decisions about next year's Interns this month, so the time to act is now. We are especially seeking families who could host in the fall semester. 

Ready to sign up? Have questions about hosting? Katharina Schirg can answer questions and connect you with current and past host families who can share their experiences with you, or check out these FAQs about hosting. We hope you'll consider hosting an Intern next school year!
Deadline for Middle School Ski Trip!!!

TOMORROW (Friday) is the deadline for the Afton Alps forms and payment! If you have NOT handed in ALL forms and payment, your child will not be attending the trip. We will have something scheduled at TCGIS for your child. The deadline is pushed back due to the cold weather closings this week
Carnival of Cultures is Coming Soon!

Carnival of Cultures is when our students perform songs, dances, skits, etc. from various different cultures. Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 27th. The program will start at  6:00pm, but performers will need to arrive earlier (more specific instructions on that will follow from your child's drama teacher). Grades K-3 will perform starting at 6:00. After 3rd grade finishes, there will be a 20 minute intermission before the  4th & 5th grade performances start. During the intermission, families with younger children can feel free to leave if they like. Although grades 6-8 have performed at Carnival of Cultures in the past, this year they will be doing a separate performance at a different time and with a different theme - stay tuned for more details! Any questions can be directed to your child's drama teacher (Frau Hall - grades K-3 -  [email protected], Frau Bergman - grades 4 & 5 -  [email protected], Frau Mueller - grades 6-8 -  [email protected])

Register for Volleyball at TCGIS

Click here for the 2019 Volleyball Letter, which includes details about practice and game times. Please read before registering. The registration link can be found  hereRegistration closes Friday, February 1st at 5:00pm. 

If you have further questions after reading the letter, please contact Coach Kulhanek at  [email protected].
TCGIS Track-and-Field: First Official Season!

Registration is now OPEN!
Here is our 2019 Track-and-Field Letter with all the details about our upcoming season.  Register early to guarantee a spot on the team! Registration closes Friday, February 15th, at 5:00 PM!

You can also join your TCGIS Track-and-Field coaches at the  USATF Indoor Track Meet #4 at Bethel University's Sports and Recreation Center on Sunday, February 3, 2019 at 1 PM. Try out some of the events before our spring track season: sprints, hurdles, shot put, long jump, high jump or mid-distance.

Further questions, please contact Coach Tabisz ( [email protected] ).
Three More Judges Needed for History Day

Three more judges needed for our school History Day competition - no previous experience necessary!  Our competition is on February 28. Judging shifts that still need to be covered: 8:15 to 10:20, 8:15 to 3, and 8:15 to 12:40. Please let Catie Jacobs ( [email protected]) know if you are interested and available. 
Vienna Event: String Demo

VCA's new string teacher will give a Demo along with Herbert Engelmayer on February 11 at 3:30 at TCGIS.  Janelle works with the Minnesota Orchestra and will be teaching group and private lessons at TCGIS through  Vienna Community Arts.

Kinderclub students will be invited; other students can attend with parents.  Event is free but sign-up is required.  Call Herbert or Nancy at 651-773-9525 or email [email protected]
4th Grade Art Bots

4th graders created Art Bots earlier this month as a Makerspace project for their electric circuits unit in science. Art Bots included a small motor and a counterweight to make the Bot move around and draw using markers as 'legs' or 'arms'. Students were very excited to try something new during their tech time!

Vielen Dank to the parent volunteers who came and assisted with everything from fixing short circuits, troubleshooting unforeseen problems, hot gluing parts, and helping with clean up! 
Family Ski Day at Trollhaugen
Friday, February 15, 2019

TCGIS Family Ski Day is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for Friday, February 15, and join us at  Trollhaugen in nearby Dresser, WI. Don't miss this chance to hit the slopes with family and friends!

Cost
Age 6 thru adult - $15 lift ticket
Age 5 & under - FREE lift ticket
Equipment rental - $15 (includes helmet)

Special student packages
Grades 5 & 6 - $18 (includes lift ticket/rental/lesson)
Grades K-4 - $28 (includes lift ticket/rental/lesson)

Sign up in person in the school lobby on 1/29, 1/31, 2/6, or 2/8, with times before and after school. Click HERE for full details.  Registration deadline is Friday, February 8. No late registrations will be accepted. Please contact  Manuela Thames or  Kelly Huxmann with questions.
GAI Announcements
German Summer Camps run from June 17 to August 23; Camps are offered for kids and youth 5-13 yrs. Topics include German Language Sessions, Arts & Crafts, Science, Cooking & Baking, German Fairy Tales, Nature & Science, Robotics and STEM (MINT) for the older kids. Half day and full day programs available. 

KARNEVAL TANZPARTY February 16
A night of revelry German Karneval style. 
Featuring the return of Elektra Cute, "The Most Shocking Woman in Burlesque", and Mistress Victoria DeVille. It's the naughtiest night of the year at the GAI Haus. 
PTO Announcements

Maskenball Update:
Save the Date! This year's theme is 90s Prom! Join us on Saturday March 23rd at 6:30pm at the University Club, St. Paul, for a great time!
Tickets will be available soon.

We are looking for sponsors! Do you own a small business? Consider making a financial donation. Learn about sponsorship opportunities here. Contact  annegret_Theis@ultimatesoftware.com  for all the details about the levels and perks of sponsorship! 


PTO Meeting Sunday February 3rd! 
3pm at school. Childcare is available! Sign up here.

Staff Appreciation Update: 
2nd Grade Families: Please Sign up for our Monday, February 11th intern breakfast here: 

1st Grade Families: Please Sign up for the early release lunch on Wednesday February 13th here:  http://signup.com/go/ZhYykUT

You can message the PTO if you have any questions or email  [email protected].