Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft / Dear TCGIS Community, 

We are excited to announce that Phase III of our playground equipment has been ordered. We appreciated the feedback that we received from the community survey. Our Phase III installation will occur in spring after the ground has thawed. This phase will add a parkour section, a somersault bar set, a smaller spinner (we have had such a positive response to the current spinner!) and a pendulum swing. We are targeting proprioceptive movement, strength building and cooperative play with these new additions. We believe this new equipment will be safe for our students to play on and last for many years to come. Thank you to all who have helped to develop this playground for our students.

Elizabeth Zehnpfennig, Executive Director

Hard Lockdown Drill Tuesday, December 17th 

TCGIS will be conducting a hard lockdown drill the morning of December 17th. This drill simulates our reaction to any event in the building that would require limiting movement and access throughout the building. There is an announcement over the PA system that we are doing a lockdown drill, and students remain in their classrooms while all doors are locked and staff conduct a brief sweep of the building. The drill is typically completed in under ten minutes. While this is only a drill, it is important for students to practice these procedures so they are prepared in the unlikely event of an emergency. We will ensure that the drill is conducted in a calm and supportive environment, and that all students are reassured.Teachers will also be going over the drill with students in advance. Any questions can be directed to Assistant Principal Catherine Radecki. 

MS School Spirit Week is Next Week!

Get ready to show your school spirit—join us in celebrating School Spirit Week by dressing up this week!

• Mon: Jersey Day
• Tues: Ugly Sweater Day
• Wed: Teachers Dress as Students/Students Dress as Teachers 
• Thurs: TCGIS Spirit Wear
• Fri: PJ Day

Host Families for Interns Needed

We are still in urgent need of three more host families for our wonderful interns arriving in mid to late January! Hosting is a fantastic opportunity to bring cultural exchange into your home and support our school community. If you’ve been considering it, now is the perfect time to sign up! Get to know them here!

Interested? Please complete the Host Family Application!

Questions? Email Claudia Müller for more info! 

Lost and Found Overfilled: Donation Every End of Month or as Needed

Now is the season when our “lost and found” is overflowing! To keep it organized and easily navigable, we will donate unlabelled items at the end of each month. Our wonderful volunteers are dedicating their time to sort and hang items, and are working hard to return labelled items to students. Please be mindful when looking for your student's belongings—a completely disorganized “lost and found” is very demotivating and will require us to donate items more frequently.

Winter Universal Screening results

This week, we are wrapping up our winter school-wide screening. Students completed assessments specific to their grade level in reading, math, or both of these areas. In the next 2 weeks, please keep a close eye on your email for your child's winter screening assessment scores. If you still have questions or concerns after reviewing the results, we encourage you to review this resource.

Order Your Yearbook & Submit Grad Ads!

• Yearbooks are on sale now—don’t miss out! Order your copy here. 
• 8th-Grade Families: Celebrate your graduate with a personalized grad ad! Create one here!
• If you’d like your child’s name printed differently or prefer their photo not appear in the yearbook, please complete this survey by December 20th. Names will appear as registered if no changes are submitted by the deadline.

Looking for Winter Gear Donations

We are looking for the following items (new or gently used) for TCGIS students in need:

• Men's Winter coat size M/L
• Men's boots size 8/9
• Women's boots size 9.5
• Boys snowpants size 16 youth or adult small

Please email Catherine Radecki if you have something to donate. Thanks in advance!!

Temperatures Are Plunging: Please Send Winter Gear With Your Student

It’s getting cold! As long as temperatures including wind chill permit, we will have outdoor recess. Please send winter gear with your student every day to be able to participate. Students can bring clothes on a daily basis or keep a pair in their locker to make sure they are prepared for cold temperatures or snow. To go outside students need:

• Winter jacket
• Hat
• Gloves
• Snow Pants in Elementary school

Please LABEL every item - sharpie, white pen, sticker work really well. If providing winter gear is a challenge for your family, please see these resources.

Volleyball-Trainer*in gesucht!

TCGIS Athletics is looking for 1-2 volleyball coaches for the spring 2025 season. Check out the description here, and email AD Tabisz with any questions.

Parent Council Update December 2024

The TCGIS Parent Council is an all-volunteer, elected organization that facilitates communication between families and Twin Cities German Immersion staff, teachers, and administration. Parents and care-givers can contact your class representative directly, or email us if you have questions or items you would like the Parent Council to address. Here is a link to the contact information and current openings for Parent Council, as well as an overview of the most recent meeting.

Showing Appreciation

We all love to show appreciation to the incredibly hard working teachers and staff at TCGIS. If you are looking for ideas - we have a resource for you! We’ve compiled a list of “favorite things” for each of them - from treats they enjoy, stores they shop, to classroom supplies they covet. We’ve also have their birthday information! Check out the list 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!

Represent TCGIS at MPLS School Finder Fair

The Comm and Outreach Team is looking for volunteers to go with them and represent TCGIS at the MPLS School Finder Fair at MPLS College. Folks that speak languages such as Spanish and Somali are especially helpful! Jan. 11 from 10-2 Click here to sign up if you can help.

Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings

Governance Committee Meeting: Monday, December 16 at 4:30pm on Meets

Central Teacher Awarded AATG Award

Central High School German Immersion teacher, Chuck Bublitz, was awarded the AATG (American Association of Teachers of German Teachers)Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award. The award recognizes up-and-coming German teachers for excellence in teaching, creativity, and outstanding dedication. We are so honored to partner with and send out amazing students. Go Central!

Dec 16 - Wear Your Jersey Day

Dec 17 - Ugly Sweater Day

Dec 18 - Teachers Dress as Students/Students Dress as Teachers Day

Dec 19 - TCGIS Spirit Wear Day

Dec 20 - PJ Day

Dec 3 - Jan 6 Winter Break



TCGIS Google Calendar