Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft / Dear TCGIS Community, 

This week TCGIS had a very important guest and visitor. Fabrice Liesegang, our new Fachberater (specialist advisor) with the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA) joined our team of DSD I text administrators, Kathrin Gillhoff, Claudia Müller and Kevin Eberhard to administer the speaking exams of the DSD I. This is the culmination of many years of studying German for our students. Every March our 8th graders go through a testing process that leads them through reading, writing, listening and speaking to assess their level of German. The goal is for our students to reach B1 level of language proficiency on the Common European Framework. This is the first level of intermediate language proficiency. Our students who continue on to Central High School will take the DSD II in their junior year and will strive for the B2 level which is the first entry point to studying at a German university. 

Danke to the DSD team and to all the TCGIS staff members past and present who got our students to this point.  

Elizabeth Zehnpfennig, Executive Director

Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences Next Week!

Conference Dates:

• Thursday, March 27, 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM
• Tuesday, March 28, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Please click here for more information about the conferences.

All School Pulse Survey and Admin Office Hours

We appreciate your involvement in our Twin Cities German Immersion School community! To help us improve the educational experience for our students, we invite you to participate in this survey regarding the 24/25 school year. Your feedback is invaluable.

Director Elizabeth Zehnpfennig will host open office hours to talk with families about this survey on 3/27 from 5-7 pm. Email to set up a time.

Lost Glasses

These glasses have been found over the last weeks and we would love to return them to their owner, please help us! Email info@tcgis.org if you think one of these might belong to your student!

Donate to the TCGIS Book Sale!

Gather your old books (in English or German) to donate to the TCGIS Used Book Sale! Donated materials must be free of mold, tears, or other damage, and the publishing date must not be older than 2010. All book donations should be brought to the TCGIS Front Office (open 8 am - 4 pm on weekdays).

Save the date for the book sale on April 17th after school!

Graduation Yard Signs

8th grade graduates: If you are interested in a graduation yard sign (pictured here) please fill out this form.Take note that this form is a commitment to buying a yard sign. The deadline to order a graduation yard sign is Friday, March 28.

Special Education Advisory Council

The fourth meeting of the school year for the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is scheduled for Monday, March 24th 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. 

Summer Camp Registration Open Until May 1st

TCGIS Summer Camps 2025 registration is open until May 1st. For information and registration go to our website. If you need any assistance with your booking, please reach out to Deysi Gerding-Futagaki before making any payments. 

Buy A Yearbook!

Looking for photos and memories of your child's school year? Yearbooks are on sale now—don’t miss out! Here is the link.

Join the Board!

It’s that time of the year when the board is looking for candidates to run for the next 3 years as members! We are seeking 3 candidates to join us this June! Feel free to nominate yourself or someone else! Click HERE for more information or feel free to reach out to Emily Albers!

The Spring Auction is open for bidding! You'll find gift cards, art classes, great events and activities, tickets for sporting events and plays, gift baskets and more. Of course you can't miss the Kid's Art - each classroom worked with their art teachers to create a unique piece of art. You really have to check it out! Auction closes Saturday, March 22 at 8:30pm

Maskenball is this Saturday March 22nd! Join us at the GAI. The theme is CLUE - costumes are encouraged but not required. We'll have something for everyone - dancing and music upstairs, games and puzzles for people who need some quiet downstairs, dessert, a photo booth and the Art Auction display for everyone on the main floor. Grab your tickets here!

The Spring Plant sale is going strong! Browse Gertens Fundraising for flowers and vegetables to fill and beautify your garden. Sale is open until March 31st. Visit here and enter ID 550

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!

Food Service Team is Looking for Substitute Helpers

Our Food Service team is looking for substitute workers that can help out when team members are out sick, or on PTO. The job duties include participating in lunch preparation, service and clean-up and would require a time commitment of ca. 4-5 hours (9-1 or 2pm) each time. If you know someone (neighbor, family member), please have them reach out to Alex Weeding, Food Service Coordinator.

Regular and Closed Session Board Meeting on Thurs, March 20, 2025

Due to conferences, TCGIS’s March Board meeting will be held on Thursday, March 20 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in Room 100 at TCGIS. This month’s meeting will include a closed session from 9:00-9:30 p.m. which will be held in accordance with Minn. Stat. 13D.05; 13D.05, subd. 3. The Board will use the time to discuss the collective bargaining agreement process currently underway at TCGIS.  

Apply to Join the TCGIS School Board!

Are you a big-picture thinker? Do you enjoy creative collaborations? Are you looking for a way to make a positive impact in your community? Then consider serving on the TCGIS Board! The TCGIS Board is accepting applications or nominations for an appointment of a new parent, teacher or community member to serve the remainder of SY24-25 through SY26-27. The TCGIS Board is a nine-member volunteer body that works collaboratively with school leaders to provide strategic oversight of our school’s operations, finances, policies and more. Visit our website or email Board Chair Kersten Reich to learn more. 

Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings

• School Board Meeting: Thursday, March 20 at 6:30pm in Room 100 and on Zoom.

UMTYMP Spring Exam Opportunity for Young Mathematicians

The final round of exams for the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program (UMTYMP) is coming up in April! Students in grades 5-7 can take the Algebra Qualifying Exam to enter this accelerated five-year program.

UMTYMP offers middle and high school students the chance to earn high school and college credits while covering material at an advanced pace. Classes meet once a week at the U of M campus, covering about two weeks of material per session. Click for info.

Watch Holstein Kiel play Minnesota United with your TCGIS friends!

Join Twin Cities German Immersion School at Allianz Field when Minnesota United FC takes on Holstein Kiel, from the German Bundesliga! Discounted tickets are available while supplies last, and they cannot be resold online. All sales are final. We’re excited to organize this again for our community! Tickets average $33, 36, 44 (after fees). Click here to purchase your discounted tickets.

What: Minnesota United FC versus Holstein Kiel

When: Monday, July 7th at 7:00pm

Where: Allianz Field, St. Paul

March 20 - Board Meeting

March 27-28 - Parent Teacher Conferences

March 31-April 4 - Spring Break



TCGIS Google Calendar