Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft! / Dear TCGIS community,

Since November, our 6th- to 8th-grade students have been busily working on projects for History Day, a national competition in which students frame research around a common theme. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in HIstory: People, Places, Ideas.” TCGIS students produced incredibly diverse and creative projects on their topics of choice in the following categories: research paper, exhibit, website, documentary, performances. 

In-school competitions took place throughout the day on Thursday, February 9. I was delighted to be part of the judging panel for two categories and offer my thanks to all the parents and staff who shared their time to judge our students’ hard work. At a high-energy, jubilant assembly on Friday, February 10, students learned the names of the 63 participants whose projects will now advance to regionals at the University of Minnesota on March 7. Congratulations to all of our budding historians! Thank you also to their teachers, Rachael Schlee, Ren Melk, and Ginger Sanford for shepherding them through this rigorous and exciting process.

Herzlich

Kirsten 

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!

The Diversity & Belonging Committee has been researching and writing an Indigenous land acknowledgement, the first sentence of which reads: “We recognize and appreciate that the Twin Cities German Immersion School sits on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary homelands of the Waȟpékhute Dakota people.” The committee is hosting two presentations to introduce this important work to our TCGIS community, and to provide a forum for discussion. The second talk by TCGIS teacher, Rachael Schlee, is rescheduled for March 9 at 6:30pm.

Rescheduled to Thursday, March 9, 6:30 pm, Room 100 with Zoom option. TCGIS Land Acknowledgement: Dakota Place Names and Origins, A lesson from 6th grade English class. Rachael Schlee has been teaching 6th grade English at TCGIS since 2017. She has licensure and a Masters degree in K-6 education, and enjoys teaching her students the history of the land they live on.

Learn what you can do to help advocate for charter schools this legislative session. The board is hosting a virtual presentation for the TCGIS community on February 27th at 6:30pm. Our presenter, Joey Cienian, serves as the Public Policy & Advocacy Director for the MN Association of Charter Schools. He will describe the legislative priorities for equitable public charter school funding and help us be effective advocates for change. Join the meeting on Zoom.

Spring Conference Dates:

• Thursday, March 30th, 4pm-7:30pm: all meetings are in-person (Elementary, Middle School, Special Education)
• Friday, March 31st, 8:10am-3:30pm: all meetings are virtual (Elementary, Middle School, Special Education)

We will send a Constant Contact email with sign-up information on Wednesday, March 1 at 8pm CST (when the window opens); sign-up runs through Wednesday, March 15, 8pm CST. Please contact info@tcgis.org with questions.

This is a friendly reminder that students need to come to school properly dressed for the weather. As the calendar reminds us, winter is not over yet and students need to have the following items: winter hat, gloves, scarf/neck warmer, winter boots, snow pants and a winter jacket. Despite the cold weather, we will be going outside at recess, unless there has been a weather advisory stating that we cannot go outside and wearing a proper winter outfit will help keep students dry and warm. Please remember to LABEL EVERYTHING!

Our lost and found will be emptied next Thursday, February 23. If your student is missing something, please check the lost and found before then. It is located at the bottom of the stairs by the West entrance (Parking lot). Please remember to label your student(s)' clothing and lunch items. This helps us return items to their owner.

Kinderclub registration for March is still open and closes tomorrow (2/17) at 6pm.

Maskenball is March 25th - Save the Date and book the sitter! Our theme this year is Hollywood! We can't wait to see how creative you get. Go glam, old school, red carpet, Hollywood punk - whatever you come up with will be amazing! Tickets will be available next week.

Auction Donation forms are here! Please check them out and let us know if you have any questions. You can email the Auction team at auctiontcgispto@gmail.com.

Auction Great Stuff here. Auction Great Gatherings here.

The Diversity & Belonging Committee is planning a Festival of Cultures to celebrate the diversity of our school by sharing our unique cultures through music, art, storytelling, dance, food, and community. The tentative date and time for this event is Saturday, May 20, 2023 11am-2pm.

Please fill out this short Google Form in order for the planning committee to find out what cultures are represented in the TCGIS community and who would like to share their culture at the event. Volunteers may be parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, grandparents or friends! Thank you for your consideration! If you have any questions, please email keberhard@tcgis.org

To avoid outbreaks and the spread of contagious illnesses among students and staff please keep your students home if they are sick, even with minor symptoms. If your student doesn’t feel well in the morning, please monitor and rather send to school later in the school day. We strongly recommend testing for COVID-19. Please let us know if you would like to pick up an antigen at home test from the front office.

Remember to place your order for March 2023! Please log on to our online store website Boonli to place your child's School Lunch/Milk order. Please make sure to check out your cart to successfully place an order and to check your order for completeness. All orders must be submitted by 10pm on Sunday, February 19th. Orders received after the 19th will have a one-week delayed start date. 

In order to use the Van Slyke carline, your student(s) must be able to exit/enter the car independently; adults must remain in the car. If your child is unable to do this, walking pick-up/drop-off is the only other option. Walking pick-up/drop-off means caregivers park on specific streets (see map below) around the school and can either come to the playground to drop-off / pick-up their child, or their child(ren) may walk from/to where they are parked. 

Van Slyke Carline Reminders

• Students may only exit/enter the car within the loading zone which is marked by sandwich boards
• Enter the drop-off/pick-up line from Horton east-bound only and take a right on to Van Slyke. 
• Do not block the city bus stop or alleyways
• Close gaps between cars in the (un-)loading zone - pull up if there is space in front of you so we are using the entire loading zone.

Parents/guardians of elementary students are invited to read a book or share your experience in your student's class throughout the month of February. If interested, please get in touch with your teacher. If you're not sure about a book, your teacher or our library coordinator Frau Zimmerman may have one.

We are looking for one or two volunteers to help hang up the Periodic Table of Black History, and a few other signs/posters in the hallways in honor of Black History Month. Inspired by the Periodic Table of Elements, classes visit to learn and engage in conversation about past and present African-American leaders and innovators. This would be an after school project, taking approx. one hour. If you would like to help, please email Mary Zimmerman.

Did you know that over 1/3 of TCGIS students participate in our busing program? To keep this important service financially viable for our school, we ask all busing families to consider making a monthly contribution in whatever amount is sustainable for their family. (A suggested donation amount is $2/ride or $80/mo per child.)

Bus donations from families help offset transportation costs, which increased 39% (primarily due to fuel costs) for SY22-23. Bus donations can be made in the School Store in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal (login), or parents can complete the School Bus Donation Authorization Form for automated giving options (where suggested amounts are also noted). Return completed forms to Isabel Vollenweider. Thank you! 

The TCGIS Cafeteria staff is looking for a substitute who would work on days when staff is out sick, in training, and taking PTO. Work hours are 9-2pm on each occasion. Substitute would be helping with prepping meals, setting up the lunchroom, and clean-up. Must be able to lift up to 30lbs. Pay is $15/hr. If you are interested in helping and have questions, please contact Alex Weeding, Food Service Coordinator.

We have heard from several families regarding receipt of a letter from Zepto Life Technology detailing significant outstanding balances for COVID-19 testing services.  If you received one, the letter is not a bill. Please click here for more details.

Please attend the school board meeting next week, Feb. 23 at 6:30pm, and hear a special performance by the TCGIS Liederkranz choir before the board recognizes teachers and staff with service awards for 3, 5 and 10 years at TCGIS. Following the awards ceremony, there will be a recess with treats provided by school board members. Let us know if you plan to join us in Room 100 with an RSVP. Danke! The meeting agenda is available here. 

Cmte of the Whole Meeting Wed., Feb. 15 - 6:30PM

Board Meeting Thurs., Feb. 23 - 6:30PM, Room 100, Zoom

Governance Meeting Thur., March 2 - 6:30PM, Google Meet

Communication Meeting Tues., March 7 - 12PM; Zoom

Finance & Facilities Meeting Tues., March 7 - 6:30PM; Zoom

Fundraising Meeting Wed., March 8 - 8:30AM; Google Meet

Diversity & Belonging Meeting Tues., March 21 - 4:30PM; Google Meet

Cmte of the Whole Meeting Wed., March 15 - 6:30PM

Board Meeting Thurs., March 23 - 6:30PM, Room 100; Zoom

February 19th, 12-4PM

Landmark Center - 75 5th St. W, St. Paul, MN 55102

$4 kids 7 and older; $6 adults; Free 6 and younger

Experience the music, dance, language, foods, costume and arts & craft traditions of several countries hailing from the Black Sea region of Eastern Europe. Produced in partnership with Landmark Center and Ethnic Dance Theatre.

Sunday, February 26, 2023 - 1 PM – 3 PM

Landmark Center, 75 5th St. W, St. Paul

Free Admission, 1-3PM

Urban Expedition: Norway will include a children's craft area, Peer Gynt Dancers youth performers, a Hardanger fiddle performance, genealogy information, language fun, Norwegian handwork displays, food, a Bunad parade, and more! One of our own TCGIS students will be performing!

Find out more on the Facebook event page.

Saturday, March 4, 2023

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Pre-registration is required | $10 per player

Play the world-famous German board game CATAN and compete to win fun prizes! Beginning at 5 p.m., we’ll explain the rules and how to play the game. At 6 p.m., take what you learned and put it into action! Tickets to this family-friendly board game night include one drink and bar snacks. Children 11 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Those 12 and older may be dropped off.

Prefer to play in German? Let us know at registration and we’ll put you at a German-speaking table. We’ll teach some basic German CATAN vocabulary as well!

No previous CATAN or German language is required. All are welcome! Register here.

The board’s Diversity & Belonging committee would like to highlight upcoming events in the Twin Cities as opportunities for intercultural engagement- one our school’s core values. Click here to learn about highlighted events!

February 17: March Kinderclub registration closes

February 17: No school

February 20: No school

February 23: Annual Service Awards

March 1: Spring Conference Sign-Up opens

March 9: Indigenous Land Acknowledgement Talks at TCGIS

March 25: Maskenball & Auction



TCGIS Google Calendar