ISSUE 466/ August 26, 2021 |
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Greetings from the Executive Director |
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Liebe TCGIS Familien! / Dear TCGIS families,
The buzz of activity continues this week, and we cannot wait to see our classrooms filled with the young German speakers and learners that make up this community.
My message this week is simply to urge you to take full advantage of the variety of options in place for Back-to-School Night tonight. If you have a kindergartener or 5th grader or a student who would just like a little extra reassurance, we hope to welcome you in person, if you are comfortable. Even if your student has been here for many years, hop on Zoom to meet your teachers, if you can. Check out the videos from various members of our team, click links or stop by the table in person to find out about busing, lunches, etc. We hope you will find many resources that will answer questions, ease anxieties, and help you look forward with us to Monday.
mit freundlichen Grüßen / kind regards,
Kirsten Christensen
Executive Director
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Incident Response Team (IRT) |
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Please Test Before the Start of School |
TCGIS strongly encourages all students to test for Covid-19 before returning to school next week. You can access more information about Covid-19 testing here.
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COVID-12 Vaccines for 12-15 year olds |
Right now, only one-third of Minnesotans 12-15 years old are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalization, and death; it also helps reduce the spread of the virus in communities. Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Please get your kids (age 12 and older) vaccinated now. This is also the perfect opportunity to ensure your child is caught up on other vaccinations they need to stay safe in school.
How youth and families can get their free shot:
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Use the state’s Vaccine Locator Map to find a local vaccine.
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Check for vaccine appointments using the Vaccine Finder. Parents can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
- Parents can contact their primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
Vaccine Incentives:
Minnesotans can now submit their requests for the $100 vaccination rewards program here. Minnesotans 12 years of age and older who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since July 30 can submit a request for a $100 Visa gift card. The form will remain open for submissions for Minnesotans who get their first dose until August 15.
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Back-to-School Preparations |
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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 see the full email. Danke!
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Tonight: Hybrid Back-to-School Night! |
We look forward to seeing you this evening, whether in person or in Zoom! The Back-to-School Night webpages are updated and ready for you to explore. You can click to them easily from our homepage where you'll see this new image.
Schedule
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5:30 - 6:30 p.m.: in person for Kindergarten, New Students, 5th Graders
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7:00 - 8:00 p.m.: in Zoom for grades 1,2,3,4,6,7,8
In-Person Attendees
We ask that each student come with just one adult, if possible, to help keep the number of people gathered in classrooms and in the building as low as possible (due to concerns about the Delta variant of Covid-19).
Middle Schoolers: please enter on Como Ave through the street-level doors and pick up schedules in the Sporthalle/gym.
Safety Reminders for In-person Attendance:
- Masks are required for all individuals over 2 years old in our building. (Documented exemptions apply.)
- Maintain 6 feet of distance between your family unit and teachers or other families.
- Please stay home if you are sick.
Zoom Attendees
Even More Back-to-School Info on these Webpages
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Class Rosters Emailed this Morning |
Earlier this morning we emailed parents class rosters for their student(s) by class section or homeroom. If you did not receive this email, please contact the Front Office and we can re-send it: info@tcgis.org.
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Did you complete your busing registration? |
Please remember that your student is NOT registered for the bus until we have received both the Busing Registration AND the Bus Behavior Agreement.
**You can also make a bus donation through your Boonli account**
If you did not register for busing, but find that you need to sign your student(s) up, please email Nicole Sveen: nsveen@tcgis.org.
Student bus postcards were emailed to families on Wednesday, Aug 25 from CSTMN, our transportation company. If you have not received yours, please email nsveen@tcgis.org.
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All Kindergarteners will receive a Schultüte!
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A Schultüte is a German tradition where parents give their child on their first day of school a giant cone filled with school supplies and treats. Students usually take the Schultüte to school on the first day but only unwrap it at home after their first day.
Thanks to a generous donation, kindergarteners will be making their own Schultüte with their class on the first day of school!
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Ready for the First Day of School |
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PikMyKid Dismissal Procedures for Grades K-4 |
Time to dig out your PikMyKid app and designate your dismissal! This year we will use the PikMyKid dismissal app for elementary school students only: grades K-4. These families will need to use PikMyKid (PMK) to set up a daily dismissal mode for their student(s).
If you have a 5-8th grade middle school student, you will NOT need to use PMK for them. Be sure to communicate daily dismissal plans with your student(s) so that they know where to go at dismissal each day.
Grades K-4th ONLY: Please update PikMyKid by Friday, Aug. 27
Please set your child(ren)’s Default Pickup Mode to the mode you will use most often: Van Slyke Car Pickup, Walking Pickup, Bus, etc. The window to change the Default Pickup Mode will close on September 3, after which you will need to contact info@tcgis.org to change your child(ren)’s default. Everyone’s default mode has been reset to "Van Slyke Car Pickup," so it is very important to change it if this is not your preferred mode.
You can also delegate recurring changes when you will use a pickup mode that is different from your default. Remember to indicate on the calendar how long the change should recur for. Delegating these recurring changes will be imperative for accurate dismissal procedures and we appreciate your help!
If you are a new parent and have not yet registered for PikMyKid, please find the instructions here. PikMyKid allows parents, teachers, and office staff to view a child's dismissal mode at the end of the day, whether it's bus, car pickup, Kinderclub, etc. Please download the app for iOS or Android, register your account, and set up your child's dismissal mode.
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Arrival & Dismissal Procedures for All Grades |
Morning Arrival
Sidewalk supervision for morning arrival on Van Slyke Ave and Como Ave is provided daily between 7:50am - 8:10am. Students arriving after 8:10 a.m. must enter through the building’s Main Entrance (located on the WEST side of the building by the staff parking lot) and sign in at the Front Office (see Attendance Policy for more information on tardy procedures).
Dismissal
Students are dismissed from school at 3:15pm. Students remaining at school after 3:30pm without adult supervision, and/or with no dismissal plan indicated in PikMyKid will be directed to the Front Office. All student dismissal plans must be managed through the PikMyKid app.
Late Pick-Ups
Students are expected to be picked up no later than 3:30pm (or 1:00pm on Early Release days). If, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to pick your student(s) up on time, contact the Front Office (651-492-7106) as far in advance as possible.
Any student who is not picked up by 3:45pm will be sent to Kinderclub to ensure appropriate supervision. Students using Kinderclub due to late pick ups are subject to regular Kinderclub fees, and families will be billed retroactively through our online ordering system, Boonli, as needed. COVID-19 Impact: KinderClub may not be able to accommodate students who are not picked up on time due to staffing and limited spacing with COVID guidelines. The front office closes at 4pm and all students MUST be picked up by 4pm.
If students are habitually picked up later than 3:30pm, the School may require families to set up a standing plan for after-school care with Kinderclub.
Tips for Drop off & Pick up
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To ensure student safety and a smooth traffic flow, please follow the school's drop-off/pick-up rules and traffic flow maps. Thank you for your collaboration!
Van Slyke Ave: Please do not block alleys, driveways, or public bus stops.
Como Ave: Pedestrians must use the marked crosswalks when walking across Como Avenue to enter or exit the school building.
Walking Pick-up: Please meet your child on the playground by the East Entrance. A staff member will bring your child(ren) out to meet you after dismissal.
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Carpool and Transit Tools for TCGIS Families |
There are now 35 families who have opted into using this Google form to participate in the 2021 Carpooling Map.
to/from school, please fill out this Google form. Your address and limited contact information will be used to populate a Google map similar to the one on this page.
From now until the first week in September we will share the link to the unlisted Google map with those who have opted in (through the form) and are interested in setting up a carpool with nearby families. Once families have this info, it's up to them to contact possible matches and arrange the carpool.
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Send Us Your Student’s Updated Health Concerns |
In advance of the full transition to Infinite Campus, which should take effect in the week of August 23, please help keep our health office up-to-date! If there have been any changes to the health concerns of your returning TCGIS student(s), email Monika Avery and Mariah Schoonover with the new information.
Please only email if there are new changes to your student(s)’ health concerns since the last school year.
This will help us be proactive so that each student’s health information is ready to go by August 30. Thank you for helping us start the school year safely!
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Health Office Updates for the 2021/22 School Year |
If your child will need medication during the school day in the 2021-22 school year, please be sure you:
- Review the Medication information on page 22 of the Family Handbook and Policy 516 - Student.
- Sign the Medical Authorization Form. In order to administer medication to a student during the school day, it is required that this is signed by both the health care provider and the parent/guardian.
- Have all medication in its original package with a valid expiration date and labeled with the student's name.
- Drop off your medication. Our Health Office Associate, Monika Avery, and Mariah Schoonover (consultant nurse) will be available to receive your child(ren)'s medication together with the completed authorization form at our Back to School Night on Thursday, August 26 from 5:15-7:00 pm.
For questions or alternative drop off options please email Monika Avery, Health Service Associate. |
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School Supply Lists for Elementary and Middle School |
It's that time of year! Supply lists for Elementary and Middle School can be found below. Reductions have been made due to things we have in abundance and our Zero Waste initiative. Please feel free to reuse old items instead of purchasing new ones.
School Supplies Drop-Off
To reduce traffic on Back to School Night and the first day of school, please drop off shared supplies in the TCGIS lobby (near the cafeteria) during one of these times:
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August 26th & 27th: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Please bring the shared classroom supplies only:
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Grades K-4: please label with your student's teacher.
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Grades 5-8: please label with your student's grade.
Please use the West entrance (by the parking lot) and use the doorbell on the post located a few feet away from the door to be let in. Thank you for working with us to start the school year smoothly! Please send any questions to info@tcgis.org. |
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2022 Capstone Family Meeting |
Save the Date! We are hosting a Capstone meeting for all 8th graders and their parents on Wednesday, September 29th at 7:00 on Zoom. We will discuss details, answer questions, and debrief families about where we are in the process of getting ready for the 8th graders' Capstone trip and year. Join here. |
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Tonight: TCGIS Band Open House |
Curious about joining band this year? Join Frau Johnson at tonight's Band Open Haus! Tune in at 6pm on Zoom. Meeting Passcode: lesson
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Register for TCGIS Soccer! |
TCGIS Soccer is back this fall! We are offering soccer to 5th-8th graders. The 5th & 6th grade team will practice after school on Mondays and have games on Wednesdays, and the 7th & 8th grade team will practice on Tuesdays and have games on Fridays. Registration on Popsicle is open from now until Friday, August 27, at 11:59 PM. For details, please check out our website!
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Parent Council: Election Nominations are Open |
Have you been tapping your chin and wondering about how you’d like to volunteer at TCGIS this year? Do you find yourself wanting to connect with parents of other grades to find out what middle school will be like, or what’s going on in elementary school now that your kids are older? Consider joining the Parent Council to connect with other parents and the school. Learn about how the school works and help represent the family perspective to the administration, School Board, Staff Council and Student Council. For more details click here.
To nominate yourself (or someone else with their permission), please fill in your information in the appropriate class document here. Nominations will be collected until September 10th.
Curious about what it's like to serve on the Parent Council? Watch our Welcome Video or email parent-council@tcgis.org to be connected with a Parent Council representative to answer your questions. |
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August/September Kinderclub Registration Now Closed
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Kinderclub registration is now closed. If you missed to book your days, please reach out to Michaela Bromenschenkel at mbromenschenkel@tcgis.org to see if last-minute spots are available. |
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School Board Announcements |
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Wednesday, September 1: School Board Meeting |
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The TCGIS Board of Directors will convene in Room 100 on Wed. Sept. 1 at 6:30 pm. Members of the public are invited to monitor the meeting via Zoom. Public comment can be provided with an email to board@tcgis.org or during the open public comment time during the meeting via Zoom. Emails to the board are included in the public board packet when received before 3PM on the Friday before the Board Meeting. The board will consider a resolution supporting the TCGIS safe return to in-person learning plan. Click here to see the agenda.
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Kaffee & Kuchen with Kirsten: September 11
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The Board of Directors is hosting Kaffee & Kuchen with Kirsten as an opportunity for families to meet our new Executive Director and gather as a community.
Please RSVP to help us plan the treats and mark your calendars for Saturday Sept. 11th, 3:30-6:30 pm at the Como Picnic Shelter near the playground.
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Upcoming Board & Committee Meetings |
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Board meetings will be held in-person at TCGIS Room 100 with the opportunity for non-board members to attend via Zoom. The public is also welcome to attend in-person as the room capacity allows within public health guidelines. Committee meetings will continue via Zoom to make them easier to attend. Zoom information for each committee can be found on the public school calendar and are linked below. All are welcome to join committee meetings! You can find links to the committee charters here. The charters will be updated by each committee for the 21-22 school year.
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TCGIS Community - We missed you! We know it's still going to be a different start to the year, but everyone is excited to be back - safe and awesome! Watch our Back to School video here! And don't miss our first meeting on Thursday September 9th at 6:30pm. |
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TCGIS Is Seeking A Part-Time Food Service Associate |
Are you or someone you know looking for a flexible, part-time job (that includes a free lunch!)? TCGIS is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Food Service Associate for the 2021-22 school year. A full job description for this position is available here.
Anyone interested in applying for this position should send a letter of interest and a current resume to Ashley Weston-Miller.
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Kinderclub is Seeking Lead Activity Leaders for Fall Session
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Enrichment activities are back! The fall session starts Monday, October 4th and ends December 17th. We are looking for instructors who are interested in leading an activity!
Enrichment activities meet once a week for an hour after school (3:30-4:30). Activities can be anything from arts and crafts, playing a sport, dancing, etc. The possibilities are endless! If you are interested in leading an activity, please fill out this form and submit it no later than September 8th at 12:00 pm.
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Kinderclub, our before and after school care program, is hiring for the 2021-22 school year. Alumni students (High School Seniors) are welcome to apply! Please read our job description for more info. |
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Kindergarten Meet-Up in St. Paul |
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Families with incoming kindergarteners are welcome to meet for one last get-to-know-you play time before the school year starts. We'd love to have you join us on Saturday, August 28th from 10 am until noon at the Randolph Heights Elementary School playground (corner of Jefferson Ave and Syndicate St S.) in St. Paul. Questions? Please email Anna Lindquist. Hope to see you there! |
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GAI: Introducing Kinderstube German@home
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Kinderstube German@home is an online, self-paced German language program that offers fun enrichment activities for kids and caregivers to do together at home.
Parents or caregivers will receive weekly content updates with four activities that they can do throughout the week or on the weekend with their children. Each activity has been designed to take 15 minutes to complete. Students and caregivers have the opportunity to meet virtually with their instructor once a month for a check-in.
Tuition is $320 a semester or $600 for the full school year. For more information, visit our website, email kinderstubeathome@gaimn.org, or call our office at (651) 222-7027. |
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Vienna Community Arts Fall Music Lessons begin August 30. Registration begins August 1 for new and continuing students.
Contact VCA Office - Herbert and Nancy at 651-304-6205
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German Tutors for TCGIS Students |
TCGIS has built a list of local university/college students interested in virtual private tutoring in German for TCGIS students. We update this Google spreadsheet of tutors regularly. Learn more here. |
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August 26: NAMI Back to School Anxiety Presentation
August 26: Back to School Night at TCGIS
August 26-27 (12-4pm): Shared Supplies Drop-Off
August 28: Kindergarten meet-up at Randolph Heights Playground (St. Paul)
August 30: First day of school (1st grade and up)
September 1: First day of School for Kindergarten
September 10: Parent Council Nominations Due
September 11: Kaffee & Kuchen with Kirsten
September 29: Capstone Family Meeting
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