Elternbrief
Issue: 250                                
July 14, 2016 
In This Issue

Quick Links
TCGIS Online Calendar



Upcoming Dates


Aug. 25: Open House

Aug. 29: First Day of School 1-8 Grade

Aug. 31: First Day of School Kindergarten

Sept. 2-5: No School - Labor Day Weekend

Sept. 14: Early Release Wednesday

Oct. 6: Picture Day

Oct. 19: Early Release Wednesday

Oct. 20-21: MEA Weekend
 Volunteer at TCGIS!
Take a look at current volunteer opportunities! If you are not yet a volunteer, but are interested in becoming one - please fill out an application here. Vielen Dank!
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Administrative Information
For Our New Families - What's an Elternbrief?

Willkommen to our new families! We are so excited that you have joined the TCGIS community. This is an Elternbrief -- our weekly communication to parents/guardians. Once the school years start we will send out an Elternbrief every Thursday at 4pm. We encourage all families to read our weekly communication to stay up to date on important administrative information. 
Job Posting Update

TCGIS is currently seeking a .5 FTE (20 hours per week) Lunch Server and multiple German-speaking Paraprofessionals for the 2016-17 school year. If you or someone you know may be interested in one of these positions, please visit the employment page of the TCGIS website for more information! You may also contact Gael Braddock at  [email protected] for more information on these--or any--of the school's current employment opportunities.
Supply Lists and *NEW* Bulk Ordering

Some folks have been looking to get class supply lists already, hoping to take advantage of summertime sales on certain supplies. We will be sending all the class supply lists out  next Thursday, July 21, but we would also like to inform you of an alternative we think you might like! Full details will be included next week, but check out below for a quick overview.

*NEW* this year! In order to save families money and time, and also to save teachers work in organizing and sorting supplies, the  School to Community Committee is launching a  Class Supply Bulk Order this year.

Parents/Guardians will receive an order form next week. You will be asked to choose the classroom supply set(s) needed for students in the 2016-17 school year. The orders will be added to your Order Lunches account after the sign up period has ended. The school will order the supplies, sort them according to the orders that came in, and deliver them to your students' classrooms at the beginning of the school year. Any supplies which will be personal (such as folders) will be given to the teacher to provide your students. Some supplies (backpacks, lunch boxes, shoes, water bottles and snack containers) will NOT be included in this order, but any other supply will.

As always, you can take the list and make purchases yourself, if you prefer, but we hope that this makes the lead up into fall more convenient!
Application for Educational Benefits

Please find the information letter and the  application form for the free and reduced lunch  program for the 2016-2017 school year. Click here for the instructions.  Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year, however to receive free/reduced school lunches for the 1st day of school, we would like to ask you to submit your application form no later than  August 15, 2016 .

If you have any question or need help, don't hesitate to email  [email protected] or call  (651) 492-7106.
Kinderclub 2016-2017 Registration

Any families who have not already done so should fill out the Kinderclub 2016-2017 Commitment Form . This form must be filled out by July 31, 2016.  
 
For families of children who were NOT enrolled in Kinderclub (before and after school care) for the 2015-2016 school year, information will be sent in August 2016.
Board Member Appointee

The board is currently seeking applicants for a one-year board appointment. Ted Johnson is unfortunately stepping down, and the TCGIS By-laws state that a new board director shall be appointed by the board. Ted has been a great contributing member of the TCGIS community, and his financial expertise has been a great boon for the school; he will be missed.

Because of Ted's specific expertise, the board will likely give preference to candidates with training and/or experience in finance, especially in non-profit organizations, but any interested party should feel encouraged to apply. The board would like to make this appointment as soon as possible, hopefully no later than the August board meeting.

Board Minutes for June

Due to technical difficulties during the last board meeting on June 23, the meeting was not recorded. You can, however, review the full meeting notes here.

The next Board meeting will be held July 28, 2016 at 6:30pm, and all are welcome to attend!
Playground Playdate and Library Time

Mark your calendars for the two remaining playdates on the TCGIS playground, and check out some German language books for summer reading! 

Thursday, July 21 4pm-7pm
Monday, Aug. 8 4pm-7pm

Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers who have helped make the summer library possible! We still need about 4 or 5 volunteers to help reshelve all of the books the evening of the school Open House (August 25). If you are interested, please sign up here.
GAI  
GAI Announcement

Familienfest - 
Sunday, August 21, 
2pm-5pm
Join us for kid-friendly activities and family-friendly menus to celebrate the last days of summer and the start of a new school year, complete with a Schulanfang ceremony for incoming kindergartners, honoring the beginning of their school careers. Kids can enjoy a bouncy house and games on the GAI lawn while meeting other young friends in the GAI and TCGIS community. New this year, the GAI will be serving the fun summer dessert,  Spaghettieis. Sample this treat of pressed vanilla ice cream "spaghetti" with strawberry sauce and white chocolate flake topping.
 
German Night with Minnesota United FC - GAI Discount Code!
August 6 home game at NSC Stadium - 
Minnesota United FC vs Miami FC
Minnesota's pro Fußball team, Minnesota United, has a new German goalie and the GAI is celebrating with a block of discount tickets to a game! Enter the code  GAI16 when purchasing through the MN United website and receive a discount on tickets for the August 6th home game against Miami FC.  Visit  www.mnunitedfc.com  to purchase tickets.