ISSUE 503 / June 16, 2022 |
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Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft! / Dear TCGIS community,
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It was a delight to take part in my first TCGIS graduation on Sunday. Herzlichen Glückwunsch!/Congratulations to our 8th graders! Despite missing out on their Capstone trip to Berlin and other opportunities that have always been hallmarks of the TCGIS experience, these students have grown into thoughtful bilingual learners. I wish them all the best on their high school journey.
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Our goodbyes this week included our interns, who made themselves an integral part of our community and our mission of German immersion over these past four months. Thanks to our mentor teachers and host families for making the intern program possible! (If your family is able to host an intern next fall, please reach out to Katharina Schirg.)
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As I greeted students yesterday morning, I asked a kindergartener if she was excited about the last day. She responded emphatically that she didn’t want it to be the last day! So much about this year has been challenging, but thanks to every member of the TCGIS family who contributed in so many ways to a year that has created an educational home students didn’t want to leave.
Herzlich,
Kirsten
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Incident Response Team (IRT) |
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COVID-19 Updates Available on IRT Webpage |
In order to shorten the Rundbrief, we will prioritize new items for this newsletter and link to our Incident Response Team Updates webpage so you can reference past updates more efficiently. |
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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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Urgent Request: We need 5 more Host Families for Interns Arriving in late August
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There were tears yesterday as our interns bid farewell to their students and colleagues, and will soon say goodbye to their host families. TCGIS has one of the most robust intern programs in the country and we prioritize placing interns in all grades so as many students as possible benefit from their teaching and positive impact.
But we cannot host these engaging young adults at TCGIS without your help! We are still seeking 5 families to host an intern from late August to mid-January. The basic requirements to host are: a bedroom with a door, access to a (shared) bathroom, transportation to/from school, and meals. The bonuses are many, including: building a personal connection to the language and culture your children learn at TCGIS and sharing your family's daily life and U.S. culture with a curious and engaging young person.
Curious? Email Katharina Schirg your questions or a time to connect by phone/zoom and she can answer them! Click here to "meet" the interns who will arrive around August 19 and stay until January 13. Learn more about hosting here.
Without the generosity of our wonderful volunteer host families, the TCGIS Intern Program could not exist. Herzlichen Dank!
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We're just $2000 from our annual goal: we can do it with your help!
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We are so close to meeting our Annual Fund goal of $110,000!
The Annual Fund finances our robust intern program, funds our incredible German-language library with engaging resources for K-8 students, and helps pay for German curricular materials in our classrooms - all things that make a German immersion education both unique and possible!
We are grateful for all the tremendous ways our school community gives back. Thank you for all you do!
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Last Day to take the Parent Satisfaction Survey! |
We warmly invite you to participate in our annual Parent Satisfaction Survey which will be available through TONIGHT, June 16. This annual survey is developed collaboratively by the TCGIS Parent Council, Administration, and Board. Your feedback plays a vital role in helping us fulfill our mission of innovative education of the whole child through German immersion.
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In Need of Girl Scout Troop Leaders |
Girl Scout Troop #57317 is proud to have completed a seventh year at TCGIS! But in order to keep the troop available to all girls, we need more leaders. Those of us who started the troop are moving up with our daughters and we need leaders for the Daisies (kindergarten and first-graders) and Brownies (second- and third-graders). They meet once a month after school at TCGIS and it is a time commitment of 3-5 hours a month during the school year. We have loads of materials and program ideas so you wouldn’t be starting from scratch. The troop has provided hours of service to our school, neighborhood, and community, as well as learning new skills and having a lot of fun. You don’t have to have been a Girl Scout or have a Girl Scout to be a leader. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Cindy Miller at cynmillbea@hotmail.com. |
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Thank you for a Great Year! |
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Front Office and Library Summer Hours |
The Front Office will be open from June 21 to August 12 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We will be closed July 4-8. Have a great summer!
Our TCGIS library will be open this summer! Come check out books from 9AM-12PM on Mondays, June 27-August 8th. 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 to 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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Seeking Applicants for 2-Year Appointment to Board of Directors |
The board of directors will have a vacant seat upon Director Jasmin Root-Joswig’s resignation from the board at the end of June. With the current composition of the 11-member board, this vacancy is open to any board member type: teacher, parent, or community member. If interested in applying to be appointed by the board to finish Director Root-Joswig’s remaining 2 years of service, please fill out this application and email it to board@tcgis.org by June 21. |
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Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings |
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The board of directors meets twice a month at the Committee of the Whole and the Regular Board meetings, both public meetings. All are invited to attend school board and board committee meetings. It’s a great way to stay engaged and informed regarding the governance of our public charter school and independent school district. Upcoming meetings and their agendas are listed below. Zoom links are available on the agendas and on the online school calendar.
Governance Committee: Mon., June 20, 4:30 PM; Agenda
Finance Committee: Tues., June 21, 6:30 PM; Agenda
Cmte of the Whole: Wed., June 22, 6:30 PM; Agenda
June Board Meeting: Thurs., June 30, 6:30 PM
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Umweltworkshop (Environmental Workshop)
Monday, July 18–Friday, July 22 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Teens will dive into a one-week German immersion experience to explore exciting ideas like the future of transportation, furniture, clothing, or groceries. We’ll also explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and how they relate to environmental development. This advanced course is for teens with at least an A2 level of German. Current TCGIS 7th and 8th graders and graduates of TCGIS are especially encouraged to enroll. Register here. |
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Vienna Community Arts offers onsite lessons at TCGIS during the summer. We have lessons in Classical Guitar, ukulele, and beginning piano.
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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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June 16: Parent Satisfaction Survey Closes (Midnight)
June 19: Juneteenth (Office closed June 20 in observance)
June 22: Cmte of the Whole Meeting
June 30: School Board Meeting
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