Message from the Principal | |
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Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft / Dear TCGIS Community,
Our 8th grade students are doing their speaking tests to complete this year’s round of the DSD I (Deutsches Sprachdiplom I). Last week our teachers administered the reading, listening and writing components.
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Frau Gabriele Maiss-Minkler, our Fachberatung für Deutsch/German Language Advisor from the Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA) has been here this whole week assisting our teachers in this long process. This test is the first step toward the DSD II and toward demonstrating the level of proficiency needed for German university. We are proud of our students reaching this milestone!
Elizabeth Zehnpfennig, Principal
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We are monitoring the weather forecasts for tomorrow and Monday. We will announce by 5:00 am via email and text if we decide to close school. The email or text will indicate whether or not it is an e-learning day. | |
David Meis' Memorial - This Weekend | |
We would like to inform you that the family of Herr Meis has invited our community to attend his memorial this Saturday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m. at the Open Book Performance Hall, 1011 Washington Ave S., Minneapolis. | |
PTO's Maskenball - THIS Saturday Night! | |
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Maskenball is THIS SATURDAY! There is still time to get your tickets. It's a great night to get out and socialize with great people. We've got great music, food, drinks, and a photobooth! The Art Auction items will be displayed as well. Hope to see you there!
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Parent/Guardian - Teacher Conferences Next Week! | |
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Conference Dates:
- Thursday, March 28, 4-7:30pm
- Friday, March 29: 8:00am-3:30pm
Please click here for more information about the conferences.
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The Board of Directors meets tonight at 6:30 in Room 100. You are invited to attend in person or to listen to the meeting via Zoom. The board is excited to recognize 23 TCGIS students who are advancing to the state history day competition!
Executive Director Klinzing will report on key performance indicators, describe the process for creating next year’s budget, and highlight innovative education and outreach initiatives. Lead Special Education Coordinator Andrew Haugen will provide an update from the Special Education Department. The board will also hear updates from the Board Liaisons and discuss reports from the Committee Chairs. Please find the board packet here.
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Updated Attendance Policy | |
Updates to TCGIS’s Attendance Policy (503) were approved at the February school board meeting. Please be sure to review sections 4.1 and 4.2 for additional clarity on which reasons for absence are considered excused or unexcused and new information about half-day absences in elementary school. The policy remains in agreement with the attendance procedures outlined in the Family Handbook. If you have any questions, please email info@tcgis.org. | |
TCGIS School Calendar 2024-25 | |
The Calendar for 2024-25 has been approved! You can find it linked from our website or by clicking here. To see what days Kinderclub will be CLOSED in 2024 click here. | |
Re-Enrollment Survey for All Current TCGIS Families | |
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Help us prepare for the 2024-25 school year by completing our re-enrollment survey! Please click here to fill out the survey by April 5th. If you have more than one student at TCGIS, please submit the form individually for each 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!
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Capstone 2024 Pre-departure Meeting is in 1 week! | |
The Class of 2024 Capstone group of parents and students will have their pre-departure meeting next week in the cafeteria on Thursday, March 28 from 7:30pm to 8:30 pm. Please bring your signed documents in their envelope to turn in. See you then! | |
The TCGIS Lesemarathon (Read-a-thon) Result | |
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Our 4th annual Lesemarathon has come to a close and we are ecstatic to announce that TCGIS recorded over 170,000 minutes! This is 20,000 minutes over the goal we set for our school!
The following classes met their individual classroom goals: Kb, KC, 1A, 3A, 3C, 4B, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C. The fifth grade accumulated the most read minutes! Principal Zehnpfennig and Dean Radecki will be celebrating with ES and MS students at their next assembly. Stay tuned!
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Intern Hosting Info-Night: Tue. April 2, 7:00pm | |
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Curious about hosting an intern next school year - or in the future? Join Intern Program Director Katharina Schirg for a virtual Info-Night and learn more about supporting our robust and valuable Intern Program as a host family! Katharina begins matching host families with fall interns in May - so now is the time to learn more!
Tuesday, April 2nd, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Google Meet Link (also in the Google calendar )
All interested families should fill out this brief interest and r.s.v.p. form whether you can join the meeting April 2 or not.
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Looking for TCGIS Alumni to help with Middle School Competition | |
Do you know a German learner alumni in your family or circle of friends (sibling, other relatives, neighbor...) who would be happy to do an interview with one of our German students and participate in the first Alumni competition? Then don't hesitate and contact Frau Gillhoff as she will get interested TCGIS students in touch with former alumni. Click here for more information about the competition. | |
Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) | |
The next meeting of the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is scheduled for Monday, March 25th at 5:00pm in Room 99. 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. | |
Spring Enrichment Classes Registration Open! | |
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Registration for the spring session of Enrichment Classes is now open! The spring session of after school activities will run from April 15th to June 7th. We will be offering a wide range of new and returning activities. For a full list of classes, click here for the list.
Registration is via Infinite Campus. You will be able to register your children for classes and pay for them all online; when the class is full, it will close automatically. The registration deadline is Sunday, March 31st at 11:59 pm. If you have any questions, or are curious about leading an enrichment class at TCGIS, please email Andrew Mangan.
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March Parent Council Update | |
The Parent Council (PC) met in-person and over zoom on Monday, March 11th. Dean of Students, Catherine Radecki, joined us to share an update from Admin. Staff shared a lot of data, both academic and behavioral, and detailed all of the supports TCGIS offers to students. Click here to learn more about the meeting.
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Upcoming BIPOC affinity group events; all are welcome to join! | |
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Upcoming BIPOC affinity group events; all are welcome to join! The organizers of the BIPOC affinity group activities invite ALL members of the TCGIS community to join.
We had fun exploring the Midtown Global Market together with a scavenger hunt last Sunday.
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Our April activity is attending the relaxed, family-friendly MN Orchestra concert on April 7th at 2pm, featuring music from around the world. The concert is designed for audiences of all ages, including individuals with autism or sensory sensitivities. This is the first Sunday of Spring Break. We are trying to estimate how many tickets our group would need. Adults are $12 and kids under 18 are free. The performance is approximately 60 minutes. Your answers to this interest form will help guide our planning. Thank you for your time!
| Call for Nominations & Applications for the TCGIS School Board | |
In early May, the school community will elect three new directors to the TCGIS School Board. The work of the Board ensures that TCGIS provides a meaningful education and experience for all students.
All interested persons are encouraged to consider serving on the board! The Board represents the whole TCGIS community, and individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups such as BIPOC, LGBTQ, and families with neurodiversity are especially encouraged to apply, as are individuals with experience relevant to board work, such as finance, education, board governance, legal matters, management, and marketing.
If you would like to run for the board or nominate someone else to run for the board, additional details and links to the nomination form, application form, and FAQ are available here.
| Want a Reminder for the Ordering Window at Aki’s Breadhaus? | |
Would you like to receive an email reminder when the ordering window is open for Aki's BreadHaus and when the orders have arrived at TCGIS on Fridays? Click here!
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Save the Date: The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! | |
Save the date for the book fair April 1st-5th from 3:30 to 5 pm in Room 97.
| Save the Date: Used Book Sale! | |
Our TCGIS used book fair will be on April 25th from 3:30-5:30 P.M. It is open to the public and will take place in the school atrium. Expect to find German books of all levels. All items are sold on a donation basis, and credit card or cash is accepted. The funds raised benefit the TCGIS library.
Do you have books (in English or German) that you would like to donate to the fair? The school will be accepting donation drop-offs starting April 11. Donated materials must be free of mold, tears, or other damage. We also ask that only books published after 2010 are donated, unless in outstanding condition and deemed "classic" or "vintage."
| Girl Scouts Need Your Aluminum | |
Junior Girl Scouts at TCGIS (grades 4 & 5) are working on their Bronze Award project, the highest award they can earn as Juniors. They are combining their interests in helping animals and helping the earth through recycling and reusing. They are collecting cans to raise money to purchase items for a wildlife care organization. There is a bin outside the front office. Their goal is 500 pounds and they will be collecting through March. If you have questions, please email tcgisgirlscouts@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!
Looking for cookies? Order here and pick up your cookies at our school booths TOMORROW and March 22. Cookies will also be available for purchase then. If you have questions, contact our cookie manager.
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- The Spring Auction is here! We've got classes, gift cards, tickets to sporting events, scavenger hunts, gift baskets and more! Check it out and happy bidding! This Auction closes Saturday, March 23rd at 830pm.
- The Kid's Art Auction is happening on Saturday only! We'll be sending out an email when it opens at 10am, but you can bookmark this link right here and set an alarm to check out all of the kids amazing pieces. Each class has made a wonderful piece. Art Auction runs from 10am to 9pm on March 23rd.
- Maskenball is THIS WEEKEND! There is still time to get your tickets. It's a great night to get out and socialize with great people. We've got great music, food, drinks, and a photobooth! The Art Auction items will be displayed as well. Hope to see you there!
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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 read the entire Rundbrief. Danke! | |
Scholastic Book Fair Volunteers | |
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The English Team is looking for some parents to help us run the Scholastic Book Fair from April 1st-5th from 3:30 to 5 pm in Room 97. If you’d like to sign up, contact Rachael Schlee.
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Campus Planning Committee | |
Interested in the future of our schools campus and design? We are looking for additional volunteers to participate on the Campus Planning Committee. If you have interest in thinking about campus planning needs and priorities for the next 10-20 years then email Karen Klinzing. | |
Recess and Lunch Supervision Volunteers | |
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Looking for something to do? Want to volunteer, but prefer to be outdoors? Come volunteer at recess!
Recess chaperones walk around the playground during recess and make sure students are playing safely. With the weather getting nicer, this is the perfect way to get involved at TCGIS and get some sunshine! Schedules are flexible. Email Alex Weeding if you are interested.
The school is also looking for volunteers to supervise students in the lunchroom at lunch time. For details, please email Esther Neu.
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School Board (Schulvorstand) Announcements
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Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings | |
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March Board Meeting: Thurs., March 21 - 6:30PM; Room 100/Zoom
Finance Meeting: Tues., April 2 - 6:30PM; Zoom
Governance Meeting: Mon., April 15 - 4:30PM; Google Meet
Communication Meeting: Tues., April 15 - 6PM; Zoom
Cmte of the Whole Meeting: Thurs., April 17 - 6:30PM; Room 310
April Board Meeting: Thurs., April 25 - 6:30PM; Room 100/Zoom
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Apprenticeship and You–An Emerging Path to a Meaningful Career | |
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Wednesday, April 10 | 6 PM
Increasingly more U.S. students and families are choosing apprenticeships as the debt-free, post-secondary education option leading to a rewarding and high paying career. Join us to learn more about local, national and international opportunities for both youth and adults seeking an alternative career path. Hear directly from apprenticeship directors at Bühler and ICATAP, and learn how apprenticeship can empower your future. Register here!
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Weekly camps for ages 5–16, July 8–August 9
Add a GAI German camp to your child’s summer fun. Our half-day week long camps (with optional extended care) immerse campers in themes such as In der Märchenwelt (into the world of fairy tales), Musiktheater (musical theater), All Things Bauen (engineering), Küchenexperimente (Kitchen Science) and more! German beginners to bilingual children are welcome. Click here to learn more!
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Intercultural Engagement Opportunities | |
The board’s Diversity & Belonging committee would like to highlight upcoming events in the Twin Cities as opportunities for intercultural engagement- one of our school’s core values. Click here to learn about highlighted events! | |
Check the Lost & Found during Conferences | |
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When you are at TCGIS for conferences, please consider checking out the Lost & Found. It is full of winter wear, lunch boxes, and water bottles.
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Saturday, March 23
Thursday, March 28
- NO SCHOOL Evening Parent Conferences
Friday, March 29
- NO SCHOOL Parent Conferences
April 8 - April 12
Thursday, April 25
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