ISSUE 605/January 23, 2025

Message from the Executive Director

Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft / Dear TCGIS Community,

Even though we just turned the page on 2025, it feels very much half way through the year at TCGIS. We are wrapping up our first semester. Teachers will finalize grades next week and they will be posted beginning February 4th. As a reminder our K-4th graders receive standards based grades and our middle school students receive letter grades. Our hope is that grades are never a surprise. Feedback on progress is important. Our conferences in November and our updated grades on Infinite Campus are two important tools for staying up on your child’s academic progress. An email to a teacher is a good way to handle any quick questions about final semester grades. As a reminder, Friday, January 31st is a grading day that our teachers also use to transition to the next semester. When we return to school on Monday, February 3rd, our spring interns will be joining us and our 7th and 8th grade students will begin their new specialists. Students are being instructed in advisory on how to check those new classes. Stay warm and let’s finish the semester strong!

Elizabeth Zehnpfennig, Executive Director

School News & Updates

Festival of Cultures Table Host Interest

The 3rd annual TCGIS Festival of Cultures is coming up quick on Thursday, February 20 from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Cultures represented by TCGIS families presenting at the festival include: Serbian, Brazilian, Sami-American, Mexican, Turkish, Sicilian, and Colombian.

We are looking for more table hosts to represent cultures! Can you represent a culture not yet represented? Sign up here! Email Catherine Radecki with any questions!

The 2025-2026 Enrollment Application Closes Soon!

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year will close on January 31, 2025! If you have a NEW student who will attend TCGIS in the 2025-2026 school year, please submit an application for admission online or by mailing a paper application. Currently-enrolled students do not need to reapply. You can check whether or not you’ve already submitted an application by emailing enrollment@tcgis.org. Please also share the application with any families who may be looking for schools for next year!

Send Record Requests to Enrollment@tcgis.org

At this time of year, TCGIS starts to receive requests for records of 8th graders and other students who may be considering transferring. If you are applying to a new school for next year, please let the registrar know to send their records requests to enrollment@tcgis.org to ensure timely processing of the request.

Infinite Campus Grades and Comments Closed

Access to grades and comments in Infinite Campus will be closed January 24th-Feb 5th while teachers finalize first semester grades. Once access to grades and comments reopens, please follow the steps here to access your child(ren)'s report card.

After School Activity Pickup

Please note, the pickup location for after school activities (e.g Kinderclub, Enrichment Classes, Music Lessons w/ Vienna Community Arts) is the Como Avenue entrance, door 6 (on the south side of the building).

Sweeney Nawi/Science Supplies Needed

6th graders are starting to learn about hurricanes in Nawi. As part of our hands on learning, we will build hurricane towers out of minimal supplies and test our construction by exposing these crafted towers to different levels of wind speeds. I would like to ask for assistance in obtaining building materials: chop sticks, small wooden sticks, popsicle sticks, wine corks other bottle corks, disposable straws, stir sticks, or similar are needed. If you have any to share please drop them of for SWEENEY in the front office or have your child deliver items to science room 313. (Tooth picks will not work for this craft project. Plastic bottle caps are not needed)

Special Education Advisory Council

The third meeting of the school year for the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is scheduled for Monday, January 27th at 6:30 pm via Zoom. SEAC is open to community members who want to be involved in supporting, advocating, and advising on special education related issues at TCGIS. Meetings will be facilitated by Andrew Haugen, Lead Special Education Coordinator at TCGIS. If you are interested in joining the conversation, please consider attending this upcoming Monday evening.

Upcoming BIPOC Event - THIS Weekend!

Please join us from on Sunday, January 26th from 12-2 to celebrate Winter Carnival. We will meet at the Vulcan Snow Park at the State Fair Grounds. Look for us near the warming tent at the north end. More information can be found here.

TCGIS Family Ski Day Sign Up

Please join us for the annual TCGIS Family Ski Day at Trollhaugen on Sunday, February 2nd, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM! Whether you’re an experienced skier or want to learn, this is the perfect chance to hit the slopes with your kids and fellow TCGIS families.Lift tickets are $26, and equipment rentals are available for $25. Plus, there’s a free "Learn to Ski" lesson. Please sign up for lift tickets and rental equipment here. We will contact those who sign up to arrange payment. Organized by 8th grade parents: Sarah W., Nic L., and Julie A.

Central High School Open House February 12th

Central High School in the Saint Paul School district, where our immersion track continues for 9-12, is having their open house on February 12th from 5:30-7:30 pm. They historically have an extra 30 minutes before that for TCGIS families. Our students can automatically enroll in SPPS regardless of where the student lives. Enrollment is currently open and will close February 14th. Enrollment can only be guaranteed if you apply before this deadline. Email Catherine Radecki or Elizabeth Zehnpfennig with questions.

Sign up for our spring & summer sports on February 1-15 on Infinite Campus (school store). Please be respectful of the time and efforts our coaches and athletic director put into the sports program by signing up during the registration window. There is a $50 late fee for registrations after February 15. 4th graders are welcome to register for summer track-and-field 2025. Click for full message.

Save the Date! Valentine's Kaffeeklatsch Feb 21!

On Friday, February 21st 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 am we will have a Valentines Kaffeeklatsch! Parents/guardians are invited to join us for coffee and sweets and morgenkreis visits! See you there!

Parent Council Update January 2025

The TCGIS Parent Council is an all-volunteer, elected organization that facilitates communication between families and TCGIS 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.

PTO News

Cookies and Canvases

On Sunday, January 26th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM in the TCGIS Cafeteria. Led by our local and talented group art coach Courtney Veszi, we will paint along to create epic masterpieces that you can bring home with you and display on your wall. WITH COOKIES. Space is limited, so sign up today!

CatStronauts and Pizza!

On Tuesday, February 11th from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM in the TCGIS Cafeteria, local author Drew Brockington (Catstronauts, Waffles & Pancake) will teach us how a graphic novel is created, how doodles can inspire stories, and how to make our own graphic novels. He will teach us how to draw a character, and we get to ask questions and get our books signed!

He will sell books on site after the event. Bring drawing paper and pencils and prepare for fun. Our PTO will provide pizza. Learn more and sign-up for the event.

Volunteer Opportunities

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!

Are You Spring Cleaning?

If you are cleaning out old clothes you can drop them in the green bin located near the Como entrance of our building! It's an easy way to support our fundraising initiatives and sustainability goals. TCGIS receives funds for every pound of textiles you recycle! Drop off your old clothes, shoes, and linens in the bin and help support our school and the planet!

School Board (Schulvorstand) Announcements

Looking for a fun evening out with fellow TCGIS families and friends? Then join the TCGIS Board for its SmorgasBOARD event on Saturday, January 25 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. There will be loads of good food, great company and best of all, ticket purchases support the TCGIS PTO! Only a few spots remain, so purchase your ticket TODAY!