ISSUE 490 / March 10, 2022 |
|
Greetings from the Executive Director |
|
Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft! / Dear TCGIS community, |
|
The war in Ukraine is disrupting all aspects of life there, including education. Through former TCGIS Director of International Programs and Outreach Tina Haarbusch, we have learned of an opportunity to support the German School of Kiev ( die Deutsche Schule Kiew), which, like TCGIS, is a member of the International Association of German Schools Abroad ( Weltverband deutscher Auslandsschulen). The German school community in Kiev is facing increasingly dire circumstances, and donated funds will directly support local school staff and their families. Interested individuals can donate here. (Donations are in Euros, but international credit cards are accepted.) |
|
Children of all ages may be asking questions about the Ukraine conflict. TCGIS Social Worker Diana Erwin suggests resources here and here to parents and caregivers who may have questions about how to support and comfort their students as we all confront this unfolding tragedy.
May peace prevail / Möge Frieden herrschen,
Kirsten
|
|
Incident Response Team (IRT) |
|
The IRT tracks COVID cases in this dashboard which will be shared weekly. |
|
IRT Update for March 10, 2022 |
Thank you for your feedback on the Family Survey around masking. You can expect an update and more information from the IRT through a special communication tomorrow. |
|
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:
- Updated Quarantine Procedures
- Updated MDH Decision Tree
- Weekly COVID-Testing at TCGIS
- Keep Sick Kids Home this School Year
|
|
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!
|
|
Parent Conferences are Tonight & Tomorrow! |
Thursday, March 10th, 4-7:30pm
Friday, March 11th, 8:10am-3:30pm
Need your conference schedule?
Here is the ZOOM Directory for your student/s conferences. Please click on the Zoom Link at your designated conference time. Tips & Best Practices for Online Conferencing:
- Make sure the device you are planning to use for conferences is plugged in and/or charged.
- Change your Zoom Name: Label yourself "Parent of (insert student names)" so that teachers will know who you belong with when you join your conferences.
- Minimize interference by keeping your phone or other computer devices away from the area where you are conferencing.
- Teachers are on a tight schedule for conferences. Please do your best to join your conference on time and to stick to your scheduled time frame.
- Find a quiet place so that background noise is not disruptive to your conference.
The Conference Sign-up period has ended. If you missed Conference Sign-ups, please reach out to your student(s) teacher(s) to find a time that will work for both of you. They are happy to set something up.
|
|
No School next Monday, March 14th |
|
TCGIS Student is named Artist of the Week! |
Congratulations to Maya Penton in 1C, who was voted Artsonia's Artist of the Week in the PreK-2nd grade age category! Artsonia is the online art gallery where elementary art teacher Amy Lenburg uploads student art. Maya's picture got more than six hundred votes, and she will receive a plaque and gift certificate to Blick art supply store. Check out TCGIS' gallery on Artsonia to see what we've been up to in the art room. |
|
The TCGIS Lesemarathon has started!
|
From March 7-20th, both elementary and middle school students will track the minutes they read in any language and submit them to this Google form between March 18 & 20th. Prizes will be awarded to the top three readers of both elementary and middle school. Tracking sheets have been sent home with students.
Surprise Readers: We had two surprise readers on Monday & Wednesday - Frau Rowe and Frau Uitto read to students in Kinderclub and on Zoom. Our last surprise reader will be on Thursday, March 17. Who will it be!? Tune in here.
Executive Director's Challenge: Frau Christensen is challenging our K-8th graders to collectively read 150,000 minutes. If students reach this goal, she will dress up like a mythological creature and visit classrooms during the day, and the top class of elementary school and of middle school will get a lunch party with her!
NEW! Student Participation Raffle: Every student who participates (tracking their minutes and turning them in on the Google form) will be entered into a raffle! One participating student from every grade will have the chance to win a $10 gift card.
|
|
German Book Fair orders have (mostly) arrived |
The majority of the German book fair order has arrived, though we are still waiting on one more box. If you placed an order last December and have not yet been contacted, please email our library coordinator Frau Zimmerman.
|
|
Cross-Country Ski Equipment Donations |
Do you have cross-country ski equipment that is not being used or your kids have outgrown? The TCGIS Nordic Ski Team is accepting donations of youth and adult equipment! The team has rented equipment from an outside organization, but would like to transition to supplying our own rental equipment so that more students will have the opportunity to ski.
We're looking for donations of gently-used classic skis, boots and poles:
- Skis - Classic, waxless and NNN-compatible bindings
- Boots - Classic or combi, size 34 (EU) and larger, NNN-compatible
- Poles - 115 cm and taller
You can drop donations off in the front office. If you have questions, please contact the Nordic Ski Team coach, Kirsten Partenheimer.
|
|
Spring enrichment class registration opening soon |
Save the date! Registration for the spring session of Enrichment Classes will be opening next Thursday, March 17th. The spring session will run from April 11 to June 10th.
We will be offering a wide range of activities for all ages. The course catalog for the spring session and scholarship information will be posted early next week on the TCGIS Enrichment Classes webpage. |
|
Join us for Kaffeeklatsch: March 18th at 8am
|
Mark your calendars for Kaffeeklatsch! Kaffeeklatsch is a great opportunity to connect with other parents/guardians in our TCGIS community. Our next one will be held outside (weather permitting) on Friday March 18th at 8am. Sponsored by the PTO, there will be coffee and treats. |
|
TCGIS & GACC Fundraiser at Yoerg Brewing Company |
Join us Sunday, March 20 from 2-5 pm for a joint fundraising event hosted by TCGIS and German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) at Yoerg Brewing Company to benefit the TCGIS 8th grade class trip. Come for great food & beer and socialize with fellow TCGIS families and members of the GACC. This is an open-house, family-friendly fundraiser. If we sell 60+ tickets by this Sunday, Yoerg's will close to the public so that we have the entire space for our event. So far 43 tickets have been purchased. Learn more and purchase your tickets here.
Special thanks to Yoerg’s—named for the Bavarian immigrant who established the first commercial brewery in the state of Minnesota—for supporting this effort.
|
|
BIPOC Affinity Group - Circle Group Discussion with Amazeworks: Processing the inequitable treatment of BIPOC refugees |
Thursday, March 24, 6:00 pm. The group will gather at 6:00pm in the TCGIS cafeteria and dinner will be provided. From 6:30-7:30pm, adults and children will join separate circle groups and discussion will be facilitated by Amazeworks. Children will have fun activities in addition to discussion. Please RSVP for the dinner and meeting.
|
|
Modern Families Think Tank |
Our Modern Families Affinity Group will meet next on April 13th at 7pm via Zoom. Our discussion will be around the topic of students that live in two households. We would like to provide our wisdom to other families and then turn around and provide teachers and Admin at TCGIS with helpful tips to help these families. Join us! For more information, contact Elizabeth Zehnpfennig.
Meeting ID: 867 8812 1450
Passcode: 748587
|
|
PTO News: Save the Date for Maskenball!
|
Save the Date! Maskenball has moved to April 30th!
Keep an eye out here and for an email with more information and tickets. We're fundraising for Playground Equipment/Upgrades and we know that's something all of you understand that we need!
|
|
Watch SC Paderborn play Minnesota United with your TCGIS friends! |
Minnesota United will host TCGIS on June 11 as they take on Germany’s 2nd division team SC Paderborn. Tickets went fast the last outing for MNUFC versus Hertha BSC Berlin. We held seats for the group this year but we expect our allotment to go quickly. We’re excited to organize this again for our community!
-
What: Minnesota United FC versus SC Paderborn
-
When: Saturday June 11th at 7pm
-
Where: Allianz Field, St. Paul
Tickets average $35 (depending on section). Click here to purchase your discounted tickets. |
|
Carpooling Map Opt-in Form is Open |
There are now 60 families who have opted in to using this Google form to participate in the 2022 Carpooling Map.
Interested in exploring carpooling to / from school? Fill out this Google form. We will share the link to the unlisted Google map with those who have opted in (through the form).
|
|
Re-Enrollment Survey for All Current TCGIS Families |
Help us prepare for the 2022-2023 school year by completing our re-enrollment survey! Please click here to fill out the survey by March 25th. If you have more than one student at TCGIS, please submit one form for every child in your family who is currently in grades K-7.
Filling out this form is not required in order to attend TCGIS next year but it is extremely helpful for the school. We gather information about returning and withdrawing students to plan our class compositions for the next year. We appreciate your participation; thank you in advance!
|
|
The MCAs (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments) are administered state-wide each spring in grades 3-12. Assessments begin in March and go through the beginning of May. You can learn more about MCAs by reading this information from the Minnesota Department of Education.
We will start in March with Reading MCAs
-
Grades 5-8th: Early Release Wednesday, March 16th
-
Grade 3: March 28th, 29th
-
Grade 4: March 30th, 31st
On the day students take their MCAs, they should bring:
-
Their fully charged school Chromebook (7th- & 8th-graders)
- A snack and water bottle
-
Comfortable headphones (bluetooth headphones are not permitted for this exam)
- 1-2 sharpened pencils
- A book or drawing/coloring materials in case they finish early (note that it must be a paper book, not a Kindle or other electronic device)
The data we glean from the MCAs is helpful in informing instructional and curricular decisions. Parents and guardians have the right to refuse participation in MCA testing by filling out this form, which can be submitted in hard copy in the office or by email to eneu@tcgis.org . Please submit this form at least 3 days before your child(ren)’s first assessment so we have time to process it.
|
|
School Board Announcements |
|
Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings |
|
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 & Leadership Dev. Cmte: Mon., Mar. 14, 4:30 PM; Agenda
Diversity & Belonging Cmte: Tue., Mar. 15, 3:45 PM; Agenda
Cmte of the Whole: Wed., Mar. 23, 6:30 PM; Agenda
March Board Meeting: Thurs., Mar. 31, 6:30 PM
|
|
Kinderstube German Immersion Preschool is enrolling for fall! |
Through daily play, music education, art and science exploration, as well as outdoor play time, Kinderstube students are exposed to all the concepts of early childhood education—while learning German! No language experience from the child or family is needed. Locations in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Learn more about 2022–2023 enrollment. |
|
Swiss Teen Night: Heidi Reloaded |
Saturday, March 12 | 4-8 pm
Switzerland is famous for towering Alps, Swiss cheese, milk chocolate, and the classic story, Heidi. Teens will learn about Swiss culture as they prep and eat cheese fondue and a Swiss dessert, watch a Swiss movie in German and learn some phrases in Schwiizerdütsch (Swiss German).
The event will be in German and an intermediate to advanced language level is recommended. The registration fee is $45 for the four-hour event. Fondue dinner, drinks, dessert, and snacks are included. For ages 13 to 17. Register here. |
|
Make Knödel with Helga Parnell
|
Online Cooking Class
Saturday, March 19, 2022 | 1–2 PM
GAI cooking and baking expert, Helga Parnell, will demonstrate how to make Böhmische and Bayerische Knödel. You can follow along from your own kitchen and ask questions by chat as Helga shows the step-by-step process. Participants will receive the recipes before the beginning of the class. $5. Buy tickets here. |
|
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. |
|
March 7-20: TCGIS Lesemarathon (read-a-thon)
March 10 & 11: Spring conferences
March 11 & 14: No School
March 14: TCGIS Ski Day at Trollhaugen
March 16: Early Release Day
March 18: Kaffeeklatsch
April 30: Maskenball
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
