Click Play to See This Week's Message From Director Zehnpfennig

Conference Sign-Ups Now Open & Checking Grades

The Spring conference sign-ups opened Wednesday, October 29 and will run through Wednesday, November 12. Click here to read more about the conferences. Contact info@tcgis.org with questions.

Conference Dates:

Monday, November 24, 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Tuesday, November 25, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

A good way to also stay informed about grades and quizzes is to check infinite campus regularly. Most Middle School teachers are using infinite campus as a tool to leave feedback and comments for you to read about individual grades and assignments. To not miss anything, opt in for notifications if something is added to your child's grade book. 

TCGIS Swag Store is OPEN!

Items will arrive in early December just in time for gifting season! Click here to view our school store which is open until November 13 at 11:59 PM.

TCGIS Coat and Coin Drive Starts on Monday!

On November 10th, TCGIS will be officially kicking off its annual week of giving! Donate loose change to the TCGIS Coin Drive, November 10th - 14th, which will support the TCGIS Annual Fund. Students should pour their donation into a jar in their homeroom, advisory, or the front office.

On November 14th, at our Martinstag Celebration, we will be hosting a Coat Drive where families are encouraged to bring in gently used coats and hygiene products to donate to Joseph's Coat. Click to learn more!

TCGIS Martinstag Lantern Parade November 14th, 5:30 - 7:30PM

You’re invited to join us on November 14 for an evening of music, drama, and a festive lantern walk through the school’s neighborhood.

• We’ll gather in the gym at 5:30 PM (doors open at 5:15 PM on Como Ave) to enjoy performances by the band and choir, a 5th-grade reenactment of the Martinstag story, 3rd grade performance, and a community sing-along.
• Electric lights for the lanterns and glow sticks will be available for purchase in the gym before the program begins.
• After the indoor program, we’ll head outside for a Lantern Parade along the sidewalks around the school - much like our Halloween Parade. Following the walk, join us in the cafeteria for donuts and apple cider or a Bratwurst, provided by our 8th-grade families as part of their GAPP Exchange fundraiser. You’ll also have the chance to browse our used German book sale.

TCGIS Food Drive - November 3rd-7th

TCGIS is hosting a Food Drive to support families in need, and we need your help! Please consider donating non-perishable food items next week November 3rd-7th. You can bring your donations to the front office. In addition, we’re collecting extra snacks for classrooms.

• These snacks must meet the Smart Snack guidelines — examples: raisins, Gogo Squeeze, Dole fruit cups, fruit bars, individual snack packages of goldfish, pretzels.
• Please label your donation “Food Drive” or “Extra Snacks” to help us sort the donations.

We will be giving families access to donated food on Thursday, November 13, 3:15-3:45 PM. While we don't require RSVP to get food in-person, it is helpful to have an idea of how much food we may need to serve our community. If any families need food and are unable to come pick it up in person, they can sign up here for food to be sent home with their child(ren). Thank you for your generosity and support!

Food and Clothing Needs 

If you are in need of food assistance, here is a list of local resources. The weather will start to get colder! If your child is in need of winter gear - coat, hat, gloves, or boots - you can connect with your classroom teacher or Assistant Principal Catherine Radecki.

Special Education Advisory (SEAC) Meeting

Just a reminder that our next meeting will be November 17th. This meeting will be fully virutal. If you have any topics you would like covered please complete this survey. Please check the school calendar for the link and agenda. The agenda will be out Monday, November 10th.

Parent Council Coffee Meetup Nov 20th

It was so fantastic to chat with new parents in October, we are going to do it again! November's meet-up will be right before Fall break on November 20th at Karol Coffee, just north of Como Park in St. Paul. We will meet there after morning drop-off - hope to see you there! Send us a message to get future coffee on your calendar. 

The parent council is a resource for parents and families to share information. New this year - check in here for occasional tips/tricks/FAQs - this week featuring calendars: Did you know you can add the school's public calendar to your google calendar? Click here and hit the ‘add to calendar’ button at the bottom. In your own google calendar, find the PUBLIC Twin Cities German Immersion School calendar in the Other Calendar section. You can toggle it on and off as needed!

TCGIS Students at MPLS Christkindlmarkt on 11/21

TCGIS students and their families are invited to to parade with their lanterns for the Opening of the MPLS Christkindlmarkt on 11/21 at 6 pm. We meet in front of the stage at 6 pm, sing the lantern song accompanied by a musician and walk around the perimeter. After the walk the children can pick up a German treat at the stage and color some wooden ornaments to take home. RSVP Here!

Mausmünzen Wish List

November is the month of giving, and we need your help restocking our Mausmünzen prizes and middle school store! Elementary students pick prizes every Friday, and middle schoolers shop at the student-run store. Donations from our Amazon wish list help us offer fun new items and favorites—thank you for your support!

Meet our Spring 2026 Interns 

While our current fall interns are heading into the last phase of their internship at TCGIS, we already have a new group for the second semester ready to start at the beginning of February. We will welcome five wonderful interns - 2 for our Elementary School and 3 for Middle School. We will start matching them with host families and mentors soon. If you are interested in hosting an intern in Spring or the future - fill out the host family application or reach out with questions to Claudia Müller

Great Events Coming Up!

You may have missed these great events in the Fall Auction, but do not fear - you still have time to sign up for these great events!

• Click to find more information about Games & S'mores, Athletics Movie Night, 5th Grade Tie Dye Party, Women's Empowerment & Self Defense class (with our very own Frau Loken-Price)
• Only 8 spots left for SmorgasBOARD dinner with the Board! You can find more information and sign up here

Looking for a unique and fun gift? We're offering these amazing, super soft, and custom designed blankets! We'll only have 75 of each design so get your order in now!

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!

Festival of Cultures Planning Committee

We are looking to build a planning committee for this year's Festival of Cultures. This group will meet in December and January to plan and prepare for February's Festival of Cultures. Reach out to Assistant Principal Catherine Radecki if you are interested!  

Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings

• Fundraising Committee on Tue Nov. 11th at 6:30 pm Meet Link
• Finance Committee on Tue Nov. 11th at 6:30 pm Meet Link
• Committee of the Whole on Thur Nov. 13 at 6:30pm in Room 310
• Governance Committee on Mon, Nov 17th at 4:30pm Meet Link
• Board Meeting on Thur, Nov 20th, Room 100, Zoom Link

Minneapolis Christkindl Market

November 21 – December 21, 2025 - Step into the magic of the holidays at the second annual Minneapolis Christkindl Market — an authentic German-style Christmas market in the heart of Minneapolis! Stroll through a sparkling outdoor wonderland of twinkling lights, alpine-style wooden huts, and the cozy aroma of mulled wine.

Nov 10 - 14 - Coat and Coin Drive

Nov 14 - Martinstag Celebration



TCGIS Google Calendar