Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft! / Dear TCGIS community,
Even as the school year ebbs, our classrooms remain vibrant hubs of challenging and exciting academic pursuits. I am honored to highlight two from our middle school:
This week students in Frau Stillwell’s 7th-grade science class had the opportunity to work closely with Medtronic scientists to explore cardiac anatomy with pig heart dissections. This is the third year of this wonderful collaboration. The Medtronics team showed medical devices such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators and described how the technology has changed over time. Each scientist shared their areas of expertise and how their research supports the development of life-saving medical devices for patients. We are so grateful to Frau Stillwell for organizing this amazing day of learning and to these scientists (including TCGIS Board Chair Julie Alkatout) for so generously and enthusiastically sharing their time and expertise!
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(Left to Right):
Gwendolyn Davis, Senior Scientist-Physiological Computer Modeling;
Angie Hendrickx, Scientist- Forensic Science; Kim Chaffin, VP Corporate Technologist-Chemical Engineering;
Julie Alkatout, Principal Scientist-Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry;
Hannah Jeffers-Scientist- Medical Laboratory Science
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Scientist Angie Hendrickx with Surya, Max and Madden. |
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ShiAnne, Jacob and Hanni. |
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As in past years, students in Frau Jacobs’s 7th- and 8th-grade Social Studies classes participated in National History Day MN, a project-based approach to research and analysis of historical events of the students’ choosing. Students also select the project type best suited to their topic, from websites, to documentaries, to research papers, to exhibits. The following students qualified for an impressive 15 national awards, including 13 honorable mentions and two 4th-place awards. These students are: Eva Eakin, Luke Eenigenburg, Magnus Halvorson, Max Johnson, Cecily Jones, Lux Lessman, Theo Orsted, Hadden Podlucky, Evelyn Price, Alex Radecki, Etienne Reyes, Elizabeth Seelig, Sofia Soria, Siri Strom, and Anno Will-Anders, In addition, Eva Eakin and Evelyn Price won the Quantitative History Prize, and Cecily Jones won the Gale Family Library Prize, awarded to outstanding entries in the Minnesota state-level competition that utilize primary source research materials from Minnesota Historical Society collections.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch to all of these inspiring student scientists and historians! We can’t wait to see the contributions you will continue to make to these and other fields in the years ahead.
Herzlich
Kirsten
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Incident Response Team (IRT) |
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The IRT tracks COVID cases in this dashboard which will be shared weekly. |
(We have removed the quarantine numbers on the dashboard because we have moved to a test-to-stay program and only have students isolating.) |
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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: We need 6 more Host Families for Interns Next Fall
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Email Katharina Schirg your questions or a time you're able to connect by phone/zoom and she can answer them! Want to get your family members excited? Click here to "meet" the interns who will arrive around August 19 and stay until January 13.
Without the generosity of our wonderful volunteer host families, the TCGIS Intern Program could not exist. Herzlichen Dank!
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Parent Volunteers Needed for End-of-Year Picnic |
We are in need of some family or community volunteers to support our end-of-year picnic. If you are interested in running a fun station, helping with an activity, or supporting clean up on June 15th, please consider signing-up here.
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Parent Satisfaction Survey |
We warmly invite you to participate in our annual Parent Satisfaction Survey which will be available through June 13. 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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Last Chance for a Yearbook! |
Our Yearbooks will be distributed tomorrow (06/03). We still have a few extra copies! If you are interested in purchasing one, please bring $30 in cash or a check to the front office or to Frau Müller. |
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We are so close! Can you help us each our goal?
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Wow! Our Garden of Gratitude is now filled with more than 140 tributes to staff, students and community members. There's still time to make a gift to the TCGIS Annual Fund and 'plant' a flower in the garden with your tribute. Your gift will help us reach our annual goal of $110,000 - we're less than $6,000 away!
We are grateful for all the tremendous ways our school community gives back. Thank you for all you do!
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Front Office and Library Summer Hours |
The Front Office will be open from June 20 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 every other Monday, June 27-August 8th. Students MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
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Lost Library Books to be put on Boonli Account |
All library books were due back May 26th. Notice slips were sent home this week for any books that have not been returned. An overdue fee will be placed on Boonli accounts for any books not returned by tomorrow. Please contact our library coordinator Frau Zimmerman or our library assistant Frau Walz with any questions. |
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Infinite Campus Grades and Comments Closed |
Access to grades and comments in Infinite Campus will be closed May 25-June 9th while teachers finalize semester 1 grades. Once access to grades and comments reopens, please follow the steps here to access your child(ren)'s report card. |
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Monthly Diversity & Belonging Slideshow |
The Diversity & Belonging Committee is sharing pictures and short texts about what is happening in classrooms. Although we don't have many visitors in our classrooms these days, we are proud to show what is happening here. |
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TCGIS Food Service Survey |
We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on how we can improve your students' lunch experience. This was our first year with Done Right Foods and we would love to share your feedback with them. Thank you for your participation in the lunch program this year and for taking the time to fill out this survey!
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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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Coaches Wanted for Cross-Country Fall 2022! |
The Twin Cities German Immersion School (TCGIS) is looking for 1-2 assistant coaches for Cross-Country.
The season starts at the beginning of August and runs through early November.
Practices are on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays with several meets throughout the season. Compensation is $1,000 per season.
Coaching duties and requirements:
- coach 2 of 3 practices per week after school (3:30 - 5 PM)
- coach at the meets
- drive self to and from meets at different Twin Cities locations (or carpool with other coaches)
- have knowledge of and/or experience with the rules of cross-country and distance running
- attend an end-of-season party and award ceremony at TCGIS
Previous experience in coaching is preferred but not required. If you are interested, please contact (ctabisz@tcgis.org) by FRIDAY, June 10, to set up a time to talk further. Coaching job preference will be given to the most qualified individual.
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Any new students interested in Band (current 4th graders and up) are free to stop by room 97 on Thursday, June 9, 3:15-4:15pm to get information!
Because of Covid we are not having an actual instrument try-out. If students are interested in trying instruments, please email Krista Johnson and we can arrange it!
There is more information on Krista's website. Click on the "TCGIS" link. |
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The 3rd Annual TCGIS Community Garden |
The TCGIS Community Garden is a 14.5’ by 17.5’ plot at the D10 Como Community Garden near the State Fairgrounds. TCGIS community members sign up for slots throughout the summer to do light gardening like pulling weeds, watering plants, and harvesting and donating the vegetables to the Keystone Midway food shelf. Everyone in the TCGIS community is welcome and encouraged to sign up for gardening!
Sign up to join us this summer! The time commitment is very minimal and flexible to your schedule, it's great for gardeners of all levels, and kids are welcome and encouraged to participate (they are great at watering and harvesting!). Sign up HERE. Details will be sent to all who sign up.
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School Board Announcements |
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Last Thursday, the TCGIS board of directors convened and approved the contract with the authorizer, edits to the bylaws, the new calendar policy, and the new brand and logo for TCGIS. The new brand will be rolled out by administration for the next school year. The board also recognized several volunteers and staff for their contributions, summarized in this slide deck. The board packet with all information is linked here.
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Affinity Group for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Potluck June 10th |
Mark your calendars! The affinity group will have a potluck picnic at the Como Firepits on Friday, June 10th from 5 to 7pm. Please bring a dish to share. If you have a favorite ethnic or cultural dish, we encourage you to share that with the group. The organizers will provide beverages, compostable plates and cutlery. Please sign up to attend or to be added to the email list for future group announcements and events.
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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. |
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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.
Fundraising Committee: Tues., June 7, 8:30 AM; Agenda
Cmte of the Whole: Wed., June 15, 6:30 PM; Agenda
Governance Committee: Mon., June 20, 4:30 PM; Agenda
Finance Committee: Tues., June 21, 6:30 PM; Agenda
June Board Meeting: Thurs., June 30, 6:30 PM
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Saturday, June 11 | noon – 9 PM
Sunday, June 12 | 11 AM–5 PM
Deutsche Tage returns with Paulaner beer, an expanded food menu, and entertainment for the whole family. Look for special programming related to our theme, Fairy Tales: Medieval to Modern. Tracht or fairy tale attire is encouraged! You’ll also find fairy tale princesses, puppet shows, storytelling, polka dance lessons, and a castle bounce house for the kids!
Admission is free. Adults 21 and over may buy wristbands for $5 to purchase beer and wine at the bar. Please bring your ID. More information can be found here. |
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Seeking Volunteers for TCGIS booth at Deutsche Tage
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TCGIS will be having an info table at the GAI's Deutsche Tage on June 11-12. This is an exciting outreach opportunity for our school - and a fun weekend event to attend!
We are looking for volunteers to represent our school in 1.5-2 hour slots. Sign up here to spend some time at the table sharing what you and your family love about our school, and then hang out and enjoy the festivities! Reach out to Mary Zimmerman with any questions. |
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Employment Opportunities at TCGIS |
Please consider applying or forwarding to the following open positions at Twin Cities German Immersion School:
Staff:
Teacher:
You can apply for the positions by submitting your resume, cover letter, one letter of recommendation, and contact information for three additional verbal recommendations to employment@tcgis.org. Job openings can always be found on our website: tcgis.org/career.html. |
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2022 Fall Football Registration – OPEN NOW! |
Flag 1st – 4th | Tacklebar 3rd & 4th | Tackle 5th – 8th.
St. Paul’s hometown football club. Join your friends and experience the ultimate team game.
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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 9: Band Open Haus
June 11 & 12: GAI Deutsche Tage
June 12: 8th Grade Graduation
June 15: Last Day of School
June 19: Juneteenth
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