Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft! / Dear TCGIS community,

I am pleased to announce that TCGIS received a 2022 Innovation Award at last week’s annual meeting of the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools. We won in the category of “Creating different and innovative forms of measuring learning outcomes” for our German literacy assessments (or screeners) that were developed in-house. These assessments screen for German letter sound fluency (K-1) and German reading fluency (1st-5th) and are administered one-on-one three times a year.

The screeners help to distinguish whether a student is struggling with literacy more broadly or specifically with German as a second (or third) language. This distinction then allows staff to more easily identify which students need support and what the nature of that support should be. Because screeners happen throughout the year, needs can be identified on an ongoing basis, allowing for early intervention. Another innovative feature is that data have now been collected long enough to generate grade-level norms unique to TCGIS. 

This is a critical part of our work that helps us fulfill every aspect of our mission of innovative education of the whole child through German immersion. Congratulations to the assessment team for the award and most of all for their ongoing important work in this area that benefits so many TCGIS students.

Herzlich

Kirsten

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!

The Plant Sale is happening! Start your winter and holiday decorations planning here.

Go to www.gertensfundraising.com, Store ID : 550

The Strudel sale is happening too! Sweet and savory - so many delicious choices. Click here to order.

The first Kaffeeklatsch is tomorrow morning! Stop by the playground after drop-off tomorrow morning for a cup of coffee, a snack, and a chat with fellow parents. We'd love to see you there!

Our Trick or Treat event is coming up on Saturday, October 29th. We'd love to have you there! You can be part of the fun and host a table even - sign up here. All are welcome and it's free to attend. Friends and family welcome.

Just in time for our first Kaffeeklatsch tomorrow, our brand new TCGIS travel mugs are here! Mugs, adult t-shirts, and yard signs will be available for purchase during Kaffeeklatsch tomorrow, and next week these items will be available in the Infinite Campus School Store. The proceeds from every purchase of TCGIS merchandise benefit the TCGIS Annual Fund. When you sport TCGIS gear, you support our Annual Fund and promote our school in the greater community! Vielen Dank! 

We're collecting input on our next cold-weather item: sweatshirts! This 3-question survey will help inform our next order. Thank you in advance!

Our “lost and found” is well stocked, please come and look for your student’s items if you are missing anything: Jackets, sweaters, water bottles, lunch boxes. We will donate for the first time this year before fall break. 

Did you know you can support TCGIS during the University of Minnesota’s 2022 Community Fund Drive? You can! From now until October 31, TCGIS community members working at the U of M can direct their contributions to our school. Simply type “Twin Cities German Immersion School” (tax-exempt number 56-2443462) in the “add recipient” search function and make your gift today. Thank you!

Jostens will be here on Thursday, Oct 13 to take student photos. Retake Day will be held on Nov 3. Our TCGIS event code is FE42022. Further directions here. Preview, personalize, and pay at Jostenspix.

Sport class is off to a great start this year, but I am looking for help from TCGIS families. Right now we have a few students who come to class without athletic shoes, so here is my reminder to please send your child with their sport shoes to school. This way our students can safely participate in class.

Secondly, if your family has old shoes in decent shape, I'd love to collect any shoes that could fit a student from Kindergarten - 8th grade, so when a student forgets their shoes, they can still participate safely in class. I will take donations all year, if your child outgrows a pair later in the school year.

Thank you so much!

We are seeking families to host 9-11 interns who will join TCGIS in January 2023! If you are interested in hosting an intern - or learning more about hosting - we invite you to read the Host Family FAQs and then join us for a virtual Info Meeting:

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7:00-7:45 p.m.

Zoom link (also available in the TCGIS Google calendar event)

All interested families are encouraged to fill out this brief interest form which also provides space to share specific questions in advance so we can answer them in person at the meeting on Oct. 11.

We have reached that time of the year where allergies and colds are upon us and symptoms can be very similar to COVID. To stop outbreaks and protect students and staff we need your support to avoid the spread. Please keep your students home if they are not feeling well, 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.

We strongly recommend testing. If symptomatic please test several times with at home antigen test or use molecular tests like PCR and NAAT (find free testing sites). Please complete the form “Take home antigen test” if you would like us to send an antigen test home with your student.

Symptoms are:

• Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• New cough or a cough that gets worse
• Difficulty/hard time breathing
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion/stuffy or runny nose
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Muscle pain
• Extreme fatigue/feeling very tired
• Severe/very bad headache
• Chills

Tonight! BIPOC Check-in with TCGIS Leadership

Thursday, Oct. 6, 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom, With the intention to amplify BIPOC voices in the TCGIS community, this is a forum for 2-way communication between BIPOC community members and school leadership. We endeavor to help identify and interpret any sources of exclusion, oppression, racism or discrimination for school leadership to address.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) affinity group activities are planned through January. Members, please mark your calendars!

Click on the picture to see the activities. 

Registration for TCGIS winter sports will be open on Infinite Campus (school store) from October 1 until October 15, and the season begins on Monday, November 28. All middle schoolers are welcome to sign up.

If you missed the winter sports preview after MS Curriculum Night, check out our slideshow.

TCGIS athletic calendars are designed so that students may participate in more than one sport per season.

Winter Sports:

• Basketball coached by Jenna Powell
• Indoor Track-and-Field coached by Emily Albers, Michelle Loken Price & Chris Tabisz
• Nordic Skiing coached by Kirsten Partenheimer

Payment required at time of registration per sport (except Nordic skiing) per athlete: $200*

*Finances should not be a factor in deciding to participate in TCGIS athletic teams. If finances are a concern, please contact Coach Tabisz BEFORE registering because payment is required at the time of registration.

With questions, please contact Athletic Coordinator Tabisz.

After you have picked up your child, please leave the playground area by 3:30 p.m. so that the playground area can be used by Kinderclub. 

Raising children in a complex world can be challenging and sometimes we feel alone. Meet with other parents and the school social worker or guest speakers and feel empowered raising children in this complex world. This survey is anonymous with the purpose to determine interest. 

The October Bus donations can now be made in our new Infinite Campus “School Store”. Please log into your IC parent portal and click on the drop down menu in the upper left corner and scroll down to “School Store”, then select “Bus Donations”. You will have a choice between monthly bus donations “October Bus Donation” or “Annual/Semester Bus Donations”. Select your student in the “Recipient” drop-down menu and choose your bus donation in the “options” drop-down menu then proceed to “Add to Cart”. Enter a preferred payment method before checking out your cart.

Frau Lenburg is collecting empty cereal and oatmeal boxes now so that students in Kindergarten through third grade can make lanterns in art class. This will be part of the celebration of Martinstag in November. Boxes can be brought to the office or the art room. Interested in a take-home volunteer opportunity, or preparing boxes for the students? Contact Frau Lenburg at alenburg@tcgis.org.

Fundraising: Wed., Oct. 12, 8:30AM: Room 97

Finance & Facilities:  Tues., Oct. 4,, 6:30PM; Zoom

Governance: Thur., Oct. 6, 4:30PM: Zoom 

Board Meeting: Thurs., Oct. 27, 6:30PM; Room 100

The board’s Diversity & Belonging committee would like to highlight some upcoming events in the Twin Cities as opportunities for intercultural engagement- one our school’s core values.

• Twin Cities Oktoberfest. When and where? Historic Progress Center at MN State Fairgrounds; 1621 Randall Ave; St. Paul, MN 55108. 20+ Beers, Ciders & Seltzers on tap from Utepils Brewing, Lupulin Brewing, Hop & Barrel Brewing Company and Sociable Cider Werks. Expect great local food, music, dancing, games and fun! Drink local. Eat local. Support local. Fest local. Read more here.
• Owámni Falling Water Festival. When and where? Saturday, October 8 from 1 - 5 pm; Water Works at Mill Ruins Park, next to the Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis (333 First Street South). The Owámni Falling Water Festival celebrates Indigenous Minnesota cultures. “Owámni” means “whirling or falling water” in Dakota. The area around Mississippi River's St. Anthony Falls is a sacred site for Dakota and Anishinaabe people, and the festival name is based on the Dakota name for the area, “Owámniiyomni.” This free, family-friendly event features music, art, food, exhibitors and more! Read more here.
• Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway at the Grand Opening of Norway House's Innovation + Culture Center. When and where? Saturday, October 15, 2022; 10:00 AM 2:00 PM; Norway House, 913 East Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55404 (map) Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway will attend the Grand Opening of Norway House on October 15, 2022. The program will begin at 11:00am. The program and block party will include a ribbon cutting, food trucks, the dedication of the building, special guests, makers and community organizations, family activities, and so much more. This event will be outdoors! Please dress appropriately. Bunads, Norwegian sweaters, and casual Autumn attire. Oh — and don’t forget to bring your Norwegian flag to wave proudly as Her Majesty arrives! Read more here!
• Vietgone at the Guthrie Theater (only for mature audiences!) When and where? September 10 - October 16, 2022 at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Vietgone is a music-filled, raucous romantic comedy set against the trauma of the Vietnam War. Playwright Qui Nguyen says this is not a play about war but a story about falling in love. Read more here!

Grass-roots, provocative, collaborative, and outside the traditional art market, East and West Berlin artists imagined new forms of social and creative life during and after the Cold War. Harvard professor and author Briana Smith will present her new book, Free Berlin: Art, Urban Politics, and Everyday Life, at a talk at the GAI followed by a Kaffee und Kuchen reception. She'll highlight some of the memorable, and often humorous, art projects. Learn more about it here.

The GAI is offering three special classes for your "FallVergnügen"—Vom Ton zum Topf, an evening pottery workshop auf deutsch, a film class focusing on WWII and the GDR, and a "Krimi" Buchklub class. Join our fun community of German learners! Register at here.

Ab aufs Eis! German Night at the Minnesota Wild is back! Cheer on Minnesota’s hockey team at this special event with GAI members and friends on October 15. Buy tickets through our designated link to join us for a photo on the ice, pre-game gathering, and the chance to win fun prizes.

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.

October 6: BIPOC Check-in with TCGIS Leadership

October 7: Kaffeeklatsch, hosted by PTO

October 10: Parent Council Meeting 



TCGIS Google Calendar