Message from the Executive Director | | |
Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft / Dear TCGIS Community,
Today marks the start of our Spring Fundraising Campaign for the TCGIS Annual Fund and it is all about KINDNESS! Kindness is one of our five values at TCGIS. In one of our governing documents on our values, TCGIS Board and staff defined kindness as “something we learn and practice” and something “we publicly recognize in others who show kindness.” We are asking that TCGIS students practice kindness to their community in the name of support for our school.
Through our online partner Raise Craze, TCGIS families will have the opportunity to invite friends, relatives and neighbors to support our school with a donation. To pay their generosity forward, TCGIS students will pledge to complete age-appropriate acts of kindness (AOKs) for their community. Please consider participating, as funds raised support the unique needs of our immersion school and illuminate our school’s value of kindness.
KINDly,
Elizabeth Zehnpfennig, Executive Director
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TCGIS is hosting a used book sale on April 17 from 3–5 P.M. in the school atrium. Open to the public, the sale features German and English books of all levels. All items are donation-based (cash or card accepted), with proceeds benefiting the TCGIS library.
Donations of gently used English or German books (published after 2010) are still welcome—please ensure they're free of damage.
| | Coffee with the Principal for 6-8th Grade Families | | |
6-8th grade families are invited to join Coffee with the Director on April 18th from 8-9 am in the TCGIS Foyer! Director Zehnpfennig looks forward to meeting with families of 6rd-8th grade students to hear about your experiences at TCGIS. This is a great opportunity to share your thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about what the coming years will look like for your child.
To help reduce our environmental impact, please bring your own cup. Coffee will be provided. RSVP today!
| | April is Neurodiversity Awareness Month | | |
April is Neurodiversity Awareness month! Within the next two weeks, classes will focus on learning what Neurodiversity is and we have different focus areas for different grade levels.
On Friday, April 18th will be Wear It Proud Day: A day where students and staff wear the colors of neurodiversity (often represented by rainbow-colored infinity symbols). This can help foster a sense of unity and visibility.
| | Strategic Plan Listening Session: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | | This spring, the TCGIS Board of Directors and school leaders will begin work on TCGIS’ next 5-year strategic plan. We want to include as many voices as possible in this planning process, so please mark your calendar and join us on Wednesday, May 7 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. for a listening session led by the Minnesota Association of School Boards (additional details forthcoming). Can’t make it? Surveys will be shared with all families later this spring. Keep an eye out for additional information later this month! | | Summer Camp Registration is Closing on May 1st! | | |
Have you registered your student for summer camps yet? Don't let them miss the fun this summer and register now! Registration is closing on May 1st.
| Tell Grandparents and Loved Ones to Save the Date! | | |
TCGIS grandparents, families and loved ones are invited to TCGIS for their very own Kaffeeklatsch in the morning of Friday, May 2nd! We will be hosting Omas and Opas for coffee, treats, Morgenkreis, tours of our school, and an MS assembly. Keep an eye out for postcards coming home that can be colored in and sent to loved ones! RSVP here!
This event is dedicated to our amazing grandparents and loved ones, but all others are invited to volunteer to help this event run smoothly!
| | Join the Kindness Craze to Support TCGIS! | | |
The TCIGS Spring Fundraising Campaign is underway and it is all about kindness! Through the online platform Raise Craze, TCGIS families will be able invite friends and relatives to support our school by making a donation. In turn, our students will pay it forward by completing Acts of Kindness over the next two weeks. Participating is SO easy and will take less than 10 minutes, so register today! Additional information will be arriving in your inbox and your student’s backpack tomorrow, so be on the lookout.
| | Food Service Survey SY24/25 | | |
We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback with this survey on how we can improve your meal experience at school. We will be sharing your feedback with our caterer Done Right Foods so they can take this into consideration when they prepare for SY 25/26 over the summer. Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Alex Weeding.
| | The MCAs (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments) are administered state-wide each spring in grades 3-12. Assessments begin in March and go through the beginning of May. You can learn more about MCAs by reading this information from the Minnesota Department of Education. To learn more about MCAs at TCGIS click here. | | Urgently Looking for Fall Host Families | | |
We have nine wonderful interns joining us this fall semester Mid August - Mid January and are looking for host families to accommodate them. We have four families that have offered to bring some German culture and welcoming an intern into their home and are in need of five more. Interns support all K-8 classrooms at TCGIS and we need your help to be able to continue offering this program in the future. If you are considering hosting an intern in the fall semester or in the future, please fill out the host family application form or reach out to Claudia Müller or Nina Maslofski if you have further questions.
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We are exploring the opportunity to offer a dance team for the school year 2025-2026. For this to happen, we need your help! We need a coach who knows the dance competition scene and would be willing and able to set up the team. The season including practices and competitions would be organized along with Athletic Director Tabisz. Please read through the job description and Athletics Handbook, and email AD Tabisz with your interest and questions.
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It’s that time of the year when the board is looking for candidates to serve for the next 3 years as TCGIS Board members! We are seeking 3 candidates to join us, beginning this June. Additionally, the The TCGIS Board is accepting applications or nominations for an appointment of a new parent, teacher or community member to serve the remainder of SY24-25 through SY26-27. Feel free to nominate yourself or someone else! Click HERE for more information or feel free to reach out to Emily Albers with questions!
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Our Spring Cookies & Canvas event is coming up this Sunday, April 13th! We'll be snacking and painting in the cafeteria from 2-4pm. The event is suitable for the whole family, just keep in mind that littles under 2nd grade will probably need a little of your help. We hope you join us! Courtney is an amazing guide and will help you customize your piece.
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Staff Appreciation Week is coming up May 5th-9th and we have some really great things planned. We'd love to get some fun baskets put together and staff will be able to enter a drawing for whichever baskets they would like. This is where we need your help! Please check out our Amazon wish list and if you want to or can, buy an item or a few that we can put in the baskets. Have it sent to the school, ATTN: PTO
Or if you would rather just make a monetary donation, you can do that here.
| | Note: If you don't see the calendar at the end of your Rundbrief, the message has been clipped and you must click "View entire message" to read the entire Rundbrief. Danke! | | Help Out at the Grandparents Day Kaffeeklatsch! | | |
Help out at the Grandparents Day Kaffeeklatsch! We need way-finders in the hallways to help folks find their classrooms, volunteers to work elevators, and more! Click here to sign up!
| | Represent TCGIS at GAI Deutsche Tage | | |
TCGIS will be tabling at the GAI Deutsche Tage on June 14 & 15. We are looking for volunteers to represent us at the table! All you need to do is show up and talk about TCGIS. Reach out to Paige Yurczyk, Comm and Outreach Manager with questions.
| | Help us plan TCGIS' 20th Anniversary Celebration! | | |
This fall, TCGIS will proudly celebrate its 20th anniversary, and we’re planning a special celebration for the entire community! If you’re interested in joining the planning task force in any capacity, we’d love to have you. Whether you’re a longtime member or new to TCGIS, all commitment levels and experience are welcome. Fill out this form to get involved!
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School Board (Schulvorstand) Announcements
| | Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings | |
- Committee of the Whole Meeting: Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. in person
- Governance Cmte Meeting: Monday, April 14 at 4:30 p.m. on Meets
- Fundraising Cmte Meeting: Tuesday, April 15 at 12:30 p.m. on Meets
- Mission Alignment Cmte Meeting: Monday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. on Meets
| | German Language Summer Camp - 20% off this week only! | | |
20% OFF this Week Only! Join us at Summer Camp for a week of fun, adventure, and German language immersion at the GAI! Campers will explore art, cooking, games, science, nature, and more—while learning German!
- Ages 5-13
- Beginners to Bilingual Welcome
- Fun Activities & Experienced Staff
- Dates: July 7-August 8
- Location: GAI Haus
Sign up now and get 20% OFF through Sunday, April 13 at 5pm!
| | Looking for a Preschool? Children’s Center Montessori Is Now Enrolling! | |
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April 17 - Used Book Sale
April 18 - 6-8th Grade Family Coffee with the Principal
April 18 - Wear it Proud Day
May 2 - TCGIS Grandparents & Loved ones Kaffeeklatsch
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