Click below to watch Director Zehnpfennig's message for the week!

Reminder: No School on Friday, Nov. 1

This is a reminder that there is no school next Friday (Nov.1) for a Teacher Professional Development Day.

Fall Conferences: Sign-Ups Open October 30

Conference Dates:

Monday, November 25, 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Tuesday, November 26: 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Sign-up information will be sent on October 29. Similar to last spring, there will be a mix of virtual or in-person appointments and in-person drop-in windows, depending on teachers’ schedules. Read more here.

The sign-up window will open at 8:00 PM on October 30 and close at 8:00 PM on November 13. Please contact info@tcgis.org with questions.

Help Us to Keep Our Student Body and Staff Safe and Healthy

To keep our student body and staff safe and healthy please look into our General Student Illness Guidelines in the TCGIS Family Handbook (page 25). To avoid outbreaks and the spread of contagious illnesses please keep your students home if they are sick, even with minor symptoms. If your student doesn’t feel well in the morning, please monitor and rather send to school later in the school day.

Strep throat is a common infectious disease we see. Symptoms might be different from what you think of being strep throat. Please see the Parent/Guardian information by Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department (HSPHD) for more information.

The Minnesota Department of Health encourages Parents to check their children’s heads for lice on a regular basis throughout the year. The Parent/Guardian Fact Sheet by Hennepin County Public Health Epidemiology Department provides detailed information about head lice. 

Halloween Costumes in School Thursday, October 31

All students are welcome to wear costumes to school on Halloween Day although it is not required. Please keep in mind the following guidance from the TCGIS Dress Code in the Family Handbook:

• Articles of clothing shall comply with health & safety requirements
• Articles of clothing are not contrary to the School’s values
• Articles of clothing are not disruptive to the learning experience
• Students must be able to get into and out of their costumes without help during the day for bathroom use, recess, Sport, or other reasons
• Most relevant to Halloween costumes: costumes may not include weapons. or masks that cover the entire face.

You're Invited: Halloween Parade

Students will have a parade around the block and parents are invited! Parents may take photos, cheer, and otherwise celebrate our students as they parade around the block. Elementary students will have a flashmob dance on the soccer/ basketball field on the playground after the parade. All students will return to their classrooms before they leave for the day. Parents, please prep your students that they must return to the classroom. 

• Update PikMyKid if you change pickup type
• Parents may take photos in the playground area or along our parade route
• We ask our students to stay off private property and ask our parents to do the same
• A good spot to watch your ES student dance in the flashmob is along the fence by the Gagaball pit and between the newly planted trees in front of the climbing dome
• Obey parking restrictions and cross streets safety at our crosswalks near the school 
• Keep sidewalks clear in the playground and around the block
• The parade is on a tight schedule and we are not able to stop for photos
• If you want individual photos, please opt for Walking Pickup and take your photos after school hours when you pick up your child at 3:15

Middle School Dance 11/1

Our first dance of the year will be Friday, November 1st.

• 5th and 6th graders will have their dance from 6:00-7:15 pm.
• 7th and 8th graders will have their dance from 7:30-9:00 pm.

Tickets will be available on Infinite Campus for $5.00 beginning next Friday, October 24th. Snacks will be for sale by our Capstone students so students can bring a few dollars to buy a drink or treat. 

Costumes are allowed and encouraged but must adhere to the same costume policies that we have at school:

• Articles of clothing shall comply with health & safety requirements
• Articles of clothing are not contrary to the School’s values
• Articles of clothing are not disruptive to the learning experience
• Students must be able to get into and out of their costumes without help for bathroom use

Will you have a NEW student in 2025-2026?

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is now open! If you have a NEW student who will attend TCGIS in the 2025-2026 school year, please submit an application for admission online or by mailing a paper application. The enrollment window is open until January 31, 2025. Siblings of currently-attending TCGIS students receive sibling preference for enrollment; for more information about TCGIS' enrollment process, please visit our enrollment webpage. Please direct any questions to enrollment@tcgis.org. Currently-enrolled students do not need to reapply.

Shoe Boxes Needed!

Eighth grade students will be making Ofrendas in Spanish class beginning November 1 for Día de los Muertos, and we need 65 shoe boxes! Students can bring them to the Spanish classroom. 

We are hiring! Become a Kinderclub Activity Leader!

Are you 16+ looking for a fun and exciting job in child care? Join our Kinderclub Team and become an Activity Leader. 

Join Us at St. Martinstag!

Join us on November 15th at 5:30 PM for a special evening! We’ll kick off with a short program featuring singing and a performance by the TCGIS band, followed by a reenactment of St. Martin’s story. Afterward, enjoy the lantern parade through the neighborhood, ending with the Capstone sale! This year, the Capstone Café will offer baked goods, hot dogs, and brats. Come enjoy some treats while supporting our 8th-grade trip to Germany in the spring! 

Host an Intern

We feel incredibly fortunate to have 10 amazing interns with us this year, who are enriching our classrooms and community in so many ways. Thank you for all that you do, liebe Interns! As we look forward to welcoming 12 new interns in the spring, we are still in need of host families. Get to know them here!

Now is the time to apply to host an intern for the spring semester! 

Interested? Please complete the Host Family Application!

Questions? Email Claudia Müller for more info! 

TCGIS Band

• There is NO Konzert Band after school on Oct. 31

• ALL band students, including all new 5th graders and beginners, are invited to attend Konzert Band after school on Nov. 7 and 14 from 3:30-4:30.

• The TCGIS Martinstag celebration is FRIDAY, NOV. 15 at 5:30pm. ALL band students are invited to participate. (it is not required) The band plays first or second; students are welcome to hang out with family when they are done, or go home. (more details on this will be in an email)

Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Affinity Group November Gathering--Greater TCGIS Community is Welcome!

Please join us to celebrate "Friendsgiving" with the BIPOC group! We will meet in the school cafeteria from 5-7 pm on Saturday, November 16th. Please bring something to share--it can be as simple as a bag of chips, or as fancy as a roasted turkey. In keeping with our school's zero waste policy, please bring plates and silverware for your group.

Interested in being a part of our community? You can find more about our family group here.

If you would like to be added to our group's email list, please contact Christine Chitambar.

Parent Council Elections Are Open Through Oct. 31

The waiting is over, the nominations are in. Please click here to vote for your Parent Council representatives for the 2024/25 school year. To learn more about the individuals on the ballot please check out the nominations list. At least half of the seats need volunteers, please check out the voting form and consider volunteering if your class has an open slot.

The new Parent Council will have their first meeting on November 8th with both the old and new representatives. We have some parents planning to rotate off and some parents hoping to stay and we look forward to continuing our momentum as we meet new council members. 

If you have any questions about the ballot or the nominations form, please email the PC.

PTO Auction & Trick or Treat Happening Now!

The Auction is open! Check out what our amazing community has to offer. As always, there are delicious baked goods. gift cards, kick ball with the Board and murder mystery party for 5th graders! This year we even have a Custom Wheaties box for an amazing staff member!  Check it out here - Auction is on from October 24 to November 1

Our mega fun Trick or Treat event is coming up this Sunday afternoon! Get those kids dressed up for a trial run and come gather some candy and treats with us. You can start at the school cafeteria - 2-4 pm, Sunday, October 27. Sign up here!

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!

Hand Out Candy to Neighborhood Kids!

Don't get trick or treaters in your neighborhood? Here is your chance to see everyones costume!

The comm and outreach team is looking for volunteers to hand out candy to kids at the Dock and Paddle "Meet and Treat." On Saturday, October 26th from 1-4 pm there will be a trick or treat style event. TCGIS would send volunteers with candy and materials to hand out at this event. Click here to sign up and email Paige Yurczyk with questions or for more info. We can split up the volunteer shifts as well if you can be there for part of the time!

Come and Join the Mission of Alignment Committee!

A new board committee is gearing up this school year and is looking for motivated individuals - everyone is an asset! The committee’s purpose is to advance strategic milestones in ways that support student achievement and strengthen the German immersion program. Furthermore, we want to foster a strong and positive school culture and ensure, that our school’s activities and

strategies are consistent with its core purpose, values and mission. If this sounds like something that piques your interest, don’t hesitate and enrich us with your presence on Monday, 18th November 2024 in room 99 at TCGIS at 6:30pm. I look forward to meeting you all and to a great collaboration!

The TCGIS Board invites you to attend its October board meeting in-person or via Zoom tonight at 6:30 p.m. Highlights of this month’s meeting agenda include celebrating the many individuals who ensured a successful Capstone exchange, a presentation on our annual audit results and a deep-dive into MCA test results from SY23/24. Attending school board meetings is a great way to deepen your engagement with our school!

Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings

Committee of the Whole Meeting: Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at 6:30 pm in Rm 100

Governance Meeting: Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 at 4:30pm on Google Meet

Fundraising Meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 at 12:30pm on Google Meet

Finance & Facilities Meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 at 6:30pm on Zoom

Trick or Treat at TCGIS this Weekend!

Come in costume and bring the whole family for an afternoon of music, fun, and trick-or-treating at stations around the playground. We are honored to bring this event to our entire community - no payment is required. Pick a time slot and sign up for treats so we have enough for everyone! 

Oct 24 - Board Meeting

Oct 27 - PTO Trick or Treat

Oct 31 - Halloween Parade

Nov 1 - No School PD Day

Nov 1 - Middle School Dance



TCGIS Google Calendar