ISSUE 505 / August 4, 2022 |
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Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft! / Dear TCGIS community,
I hope you will enjoy this first Rundbrief of the 2022-23 academic year, which is filled with information to help prepare you and your students for success.
As you prepare for school, I want to remind you of several features that are central to TCGIS’s identity:
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Public. TCGIS is tuition free and open to all students in the state of Minnesota, with a duty to provide equitable educational opportunities and to promote diversity and inclusion within the framework of public-school choice. See Minnesota’s Chartered Public Schools: Welcoming All.
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Charter. We are a public charter school with the opportunity and mandate to carry out our unique mission of German immersion. As a charter, we do not benefit from property taxes and thus also have unique fundraising needs.
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Independent. We are an independent district. In other words, we are both a school and a district. This allows us a nimbleness to develop programs and initiatives without wading through a large district bureaucracy. It also means that our administrators fulfill both school- and district-level responsibilities.
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Non-profit. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The money we make supports the work of the school.
These features make us special, strong, and, as the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools expresses it, able to provide “education unleashed from convention.”
Sommerliche Grüße / Wishing you an enjoyable rest of summer,
Kirsten
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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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It's time to get ready for the new school year! Elementary and Middle School Supply lists are located on our TCGIS website. TCGIS practices sustainable supply practices and encourages students to reuse old supplies. |
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Save the Date for Back to School Night |
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Back to School night for the 22-23 school year is the evening of August 25th. Elementary families are invited from 5:30-6:30PM, and Middle School 6:30-7:30PM. Middle school families will run through their students schedule. Supplies can be dropped off, but can also be brought the first day of school. |
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Busing registration is now open! We are excited to partner with CSTMN again this school year and will have our regular 4 bus routes running.
To Register for Busing for the 22-23 School Year:
The following registration must be completed and the Bus Behavior Agreement must be sent into Nicole Sveen (nsveen@tcgis.org) in order to be considered registered for busing:
Optional Forms:
The deadline to register for busing is Wednesday, August 10 at 4pm.
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Application for Educational Benefits Program SY 22/23 |
Please find the information and instruction letter and the application form for the Educational Benefits program for the 2022-2023 school year. TCGIS is back to operating under the regular National School Lunch Program. All USDA pandemic waivers have expired and therefore last year’s Seamless Summer Option (SSO) is no longer available as a meal program during the school year.
However, your child(ren) may qualify for Educational Benefits (such as free/reduced lunches as well as reduced fees at school programs like Kinderclub and Afterschool Activities). We encourage our families to fill out an application. At public schools like TCGIS, your application also helps the school qualify for education funds and discounts.
Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year, however in order to receive these benefits for the first day of school, please submit your completed application form no later than August 11th, 2022. Forms may be emailed to Alex Weeding or dropped off at the front office.
If you have any questions or need help with your application, please don't hesitate to email Alex Weeding or call the front office: 651- 492-7106.
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Health Office: Medication for the 22/23 School Year |
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We want to make sure your student is receiving proper health care at school. If your child will need medication during the school day in the 2022-23 school year, please be sure to:
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Review the Medication information on page 22 of the Family Handbook and Policy 516 - Student
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In order to administer medication to a student during the school day, we require the Medical Authorization Form, signed by both the health care provider and the parent/guardian.
- All medication must be in its original package with a valid expiration date and labeled with the student's name
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Medication drop off: 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.
- To be able to discuss your child's needed support during the school day we are offering appointments for drop off of medication and paperwork:
- You are also welcome to bring medication including completed paperwork to
Back to School nite, Thursday, August 25th from 5:15 - 7:00 pm.
For questions or alternative drop off options please email Monika Avery, Health Service Associate (mavery@tcgis.org)
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Create your Infinite Campus Account |
If you haven’t done so already, create your Infinite Campus account using the activation key you received after completing your student’s Online Registration! To activate your account:
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Go to the Parent Portal (you will want to bookmark this link for future reference) and click on the “New User?” link at the bottom.
- Enter your activation key
- Follow the steps for setting up your username and password.
Setting up your Infinite Campus account is crucial to receive notices from your child(ren)’s teachers, fill out permission forms for field trips, and much more. Contact info@tcgis.org if you have questions or can’t locate your activation key.
Did you know you can adjust your communication preferences from the school in the Infinite Campus parent portal? Log in to your account here and follow these instructions.
You can also access the parent portal via mobile app on both iOS and Android.
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Extracurricular Opportunities |
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Register for 7th/8th Grade Soccer! |
We have reopened registration for the 7th/8th grade soccer team from now until August 15 on Popsicle. We are looking for a few more incoming 7th/8th grade soccer players to complete our team coached by Kevin Eberhard (team calendar).
Our 5th/6th grade team already has a waitlist, and 5th/6th registration will not reopen.
Payment required at time of registration per sport per athlete: $200*
*Finances should not be a factor in deciding to participate in TCGIS athletic teams. If finances are a concern, please contact Athletic Coordinator Tabisz BEFORE registering because payment is required at the time of registration.
With questions, please contact Athletic Coordinator Chris Tabisz.
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Information for Current & New Band Students |
Current band students, if you haven't been playing your instrument this summer, get to it! Dig out some old music and PLAY!
New students: Frau Johnson will be sending out an email on Friday, Aug. 5. If you don't receive it, let her know at monk2miles@gmail.com.
If your child (gr.5-8) is interested in band and you still need to connect with Frau Johnson, please send her an email. |
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Find your Voice in our new "Liederkranz" Children/Youth Choir at TCGIS! |
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Led by Herbert Engelmayer of Vienna Community Arts, TCGIS students will explore traditional and contemporary song repertoire in German. Students in grades 3-8 are welcome to join.
Practice will start in September, and will be once a week on Thursdays from 3:30-4:30PM. Please contact Herbert at infoviennarts@gmail.com or at 612-505-2892 if interested. |
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One more Summer Library Check-out |
Our TCGIS library has its last summer check-out before the start of the school year. If you'd like to check out books one last time, visit the library on Monday, August 8th between 9AM-12PM. Students MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian. |
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Health Office Update for 12-Year-Old students or 7th graders: Current Vaccination Records Needed |
If your child is 12 years old and/or entering 7th grade next school year, Minnesota State Statute 121A.15 requires your student to have a dose of the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccine to return to school.
If you choose to opt out you may file a medical exemption signed by a health care provider or a non-medical exemption signed by a parent/guardian, and notarized (vaccine needs to be specified).
Please return completed immunization documentation to TCGIS once available, latest by August 15th via:
- email: info@tcgis.org
- mail to the school:
- Twin Cities German Immersion School ATTN: Monika Avery
1031 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103
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School Board Announcements |
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Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings |
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Regular meetings of the Board of Directors will be held in Room 100 at TCGIS. School community members and the public are welcome to attend Board meetings in-person. Committee meetings will be organized by the committee chair. All are welcome to join board committees and collaborate on strategic initiatives! Learn more about board committees here.
Cmte of the Whole (Public): Room 100, Thur., Aug. 18, 6:30 PM; board@tcgis.org
August Board Meeting (Public): Room 100, Wed., Aug. 31, 6:30 PM; board@tcgis.org
Diversity & Belonging; TBD; Contact Chair Eberhard
Fundraising; TBD; Contact Chair Reich
Communication & Outreach; TBD; Contact Chair Moeller
Executive Cmte; TBD; Contact Director Alkatout
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GACC Annual Picnic, Sat. Aug. 13th |
Families and friends of TCGIS are invited to attend the German American Chamber of Commerce Annual ""Picknick"" on Sat., August 13, 1-5 p.m. at Boom Island. The ticket price includes: lunch Buffet, raffle, fun, games and networking. Tickets and more info here. |
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Sip and sample some opera out on the GAI lawn! |
Saturday August 20 | 6–8 PM
$20 members/$24 non-members
Ticket includes two beverages (beer, wine or N/A)
Buy tickets here or at the event
Join Opera on Tap Twin Cities on the GAI lawn for a sampling of German opera arias and art songs on Saturday, August 20. Opera on Tap is a non-profit organization whose mission is to break down the stereotypes about opera and expose new audiences to opera and classical music by performing in non-traditional settings. If you're not sure you like opera, give us a try, and if you love opera, we have a treat in store for you!
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Music Lessons with Vienna Arts |
Welcoming new and continuing students! Vienna Community Arts offers private studio instruction in piano, violin/viola, ukulele, and classical guitar, after school hours on-site at TCGIS. Fall session begins September 6. Contact Herbert or Nancy at infoviennarts@gmail.com. |
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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 8: Last summer library check-out
August 10: Busing registration due
August13: GACC Annual Picnic
August 25: Back to School Night for all families
August 29: 1st Day of School for Grades 1-8
August 31: 1st Day of School for Kindergarten
September 5: Labor Day (No School)
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