ISSUE 472 / October 7, 2021 |
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Greetings from the Executive Director |
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Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft!
Dear TCGIS community,
Last week we had our first Mausmünzenverlosung (Mouse Coin drawing) of the year celebrating the great choices our students make throughout the school day. Students can be recognized with a Mausmünze by their own or another teacher or by an administrator for acting safely, responsibly, and respectfully. It is a delight to honor one student from each grade each week with an all-school announcement. Best part of my week.
Staff, administrators, and board are committed to leading our students by example and have articulated some of what it means for us, as leaders, to live out our school values in this document. I see our Mausmünzen and our school values as closely intertwined. I hope you’ll take opportunities to talk to your child/ren about the good things they do and see others doing throughout the day that demonstrate our school values of curiosity, kindness, community, challenge and support, and intercultural engagement.
herzlich,
Kirsten Christensen
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Incident Response Team (IRT) |
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The IRT tracks COVID cases in this dashboard which will be shared weekly. |
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TCGIS Weekly Covid-19 Testing Begins October 12th |
TCGIS is partnering with Zepto Life Technology, LLC to provide free onsite COVID-19 testing on a weekly basis. They're able to offer a PCR Nasal Swab Active Infection test and oftentimes provide results the next day. In order for your student to participate in onsite testing we will need a signed parent consent form and a completed registration form (without these completed forms, your student will not be tested). Please also see this FAQ.
As of Tuesday, we had less than 100 student forms returned. If you are planning to test your students at TCGIS, please send the forms in tomorrow (Friday). We will continue collecting forms over the next weeks, though, and your family can opt in when convenient.
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COVID-19 Updates Available on IRT Webpage |
In order to shorten the Rundbrief, we will prioritize new items for this newsletter and link to our Incident Response Team Updates webpage so you can reference past updates more efficiently:
- Travel during COVID-19 Pandemic (testing before returning to school)
- COVID-19 Confirmed Case: Quarantine & Information Procedure
- Routine Testing & Vaccinations Keep Kids in School
- Keep Sick Kids Home this School Year
- Updated COVID-19 Dashboard
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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 see the full email. Danke!
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Kaffeeklatsch tomorrow, 8:00-8:40 a.m.
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Kaffeeklatsch is a great opportunity to connect with other parents/guardians in our TCGIS community. In non-COVID years, parents have been invited to observe Morgenkreis in the elementary school. This year we will all remain outside on the playground and enjoy our coffee and donuts in the fresh air. We hope to see you tomorrow morning!
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When: Friday, Oct. 8, from 8:00am-8:40am
Where: outside on the playground
Who: Parents / Guardians of TCGIS students
- We invite you to bring your own mug as part of our Zero-Waste Initiative.
- Masks are required (when not eating/drinking)
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Please R.S.V.P. here (in 2 clicks!) to help us estimate coffee quanitities. Danke!
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Picture Day is next Tuesday, Oct. 12! |
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Jostens will be here on Tuesday, Oct 12 to take student photos. Retake Day will be held on Nov 4 from 8:30am-12pm. Preview, personalize, and pay at Jostenspix. |
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Dear TCGIS parents,
Kinderclub has reached its max staff/student ratio and more spots can not be added at this moment. We are urgently looking for at least two or more staff members to join us. Mondays and Wednesdays from 3pm-6pm are the most urgent. We already have a waitlist of students to be added when spots become available and we would love to be able to do that.
Can you help? Do you you know of anyone interested in a part time job? Do you have a High Schooler looking for work? An Alumni? View the job description.
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We are in need of Substitute Teachers |
There is a state-wide shortage of substitute teachers and we are feeling this pinch! If you or someone you know has a substitute or teaching license, we could really use your/their help! Please email Front Office Manager Nicole Sveen to join our substitute list. Substitutes do not have to speak German.
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A Note about Student Email |
Now that we have returned to in-person school, we have taken a step towards increased security for our students by only allowing email within our school domain.
We realize that this could be an inconvenience to some parents. Please understand that we are erring on the side of caution with this change; if a student email is available to anyone outside of our domain it is available to everyone in the world. The potential risks, between phishing, ransomware, grooming, etc, are almost too many to count. This is also considered a best practice across education and is in alignment with the norms of most schools. All TCGIS students have an email address; generally they first begin using this email address in 3rd grade when Chromebooks are introduced in Tech class.
We are committed to our obligation to provide the safest possible internet experience for all students while they are at TCGIS. Thank you for your understanding.
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Lost & Found: First round of donations is before Fall Break |
Our “lost and found" is filling up! Please remind your student to come and pick up missing items from the "lost and found" and feel free to come look through it. It is located on the bottom of the staircase inside the West Entrance. We will donate items before fall break to keep our “lost and found” organized and make it easier to find items. |
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PTO Updates: 5K, Auction, and Halloween news |
Our Fun Run and 5k is THIS SATURDAY! You can still sign up! Come by for a run, snacks, and food trucks!
Interested in hosting a table for our Trick or Treat event? Saturday, October 30th in the playground. We need you to decorate a table and hand out treats to the kids. We had so much fun last year and are super excited. More info to come!
We still need your donations for the Fall Auction! You can donate food, arts & crafts, baskets, gift cards for your favorite local stores and restaurants, Covid-safe virtual gatherings or anything you can think of!
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Intern Host Family Info Meeting on Tuesday, 7:00 PM |
Interested in hosting a German intern next semester? Would you like to know more about hosting? Join us for a virtual Info Meeting:
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Zoom link (also in the TCGIS Google Calendar)
Interested families are encouraged to fill out this brief interest form; questions can be submitted here in advance so we can answer them in person at the meeting on Tuesday.
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Fall Conferences: Sign-up Opens Wed., Oct. 20th |
Fall Conference Dates:
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Thursday, Nov. 11th: 4:30-7:00PM
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Friday, Nov. 12th: 8:10AM-3:30PM
Conferences this year will be held virtually via Zoom for ALL families. We will send a Constant Contact email with sign-up information on Wednesday, Oct. 20th at 8pm CST (when the window opens); sign-up runs through Nov. 3rd, 8pm CST. Please contact Nicole Sveen with questions. |
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MS Student Library Ambassador: Earn a Volunteer Abzeichen! (Badge)
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Library student ambassadors help with projects such as keeping our shelves organized, re-shelving books, and working on creative monthly displays for our library books and heritage months. Students are encouraged to share and work on their own ideas for the library and its programs.
This program is for 6-8th graders and counts towards earning a volunteer badge (Abzeichen) at the end of the year. Other benefits include a first look at new books, and an end-of-the-year party in the library!
If interested in volunteering, please fill out this application form by October 29th. Ambassadors will start the first week of November. |
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Green Car Tags Important for Car Pickup |
Please use the green car tags for car pickup on Van Slyke. It saves time when staff don’t have to ask your child(ren)'s name(s) and grades, and it helps your kids get to you more expeditiously. The parents behind you in line will thank you! If you need another or additional green cards for other drivers in your family, please email info@tcgis.org. Staff will also have them at the car line. Vielen Dank! |
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Please Fill Out the Digital Equity Survey |
As part of TCGIS’s state reporting this year, we need all families to complete the Digital Equity Survey for their household. Paper forms are available in the front office. This data will be used by the state to implement effective digital inclusion strategies to address disparities impacting students and families. Thank you for helping us provide complete, accurate information to MDE!
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Register for TCGIS Winter Sports! |
Registration for TCGIS winter sports will be open on Popsicle from October 1 until October 15, and the season begins on Monday, November 29. All middle schoolers are welcome to sign up. TCGIS athletic calendars are designed so that students may participate in more than one sport per season.
Interscholastic Sports:
Intramural Sports:
Payment required at time of registration per sport (except Nordic skiing) per athlete: $150*
*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.
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School Board Announcements |
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Recap: BIPOC Family Affinity Group Gathering |
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TCGIS families gathered on October 4th for a potluck and bonfire at Como park and we had a great time building connections and friendships with about 40 people attending the BIPOC affinity group event. One TCGIS mom said “A community I never felt at TCGIS was felt tonight.” We’re working on planning the next get-together. Stay tuned! |
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What are Family Affinity Groups? |
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Family affinity groups are supportive forums for our school families to foster relationships, discuss experiences unique to their families, and to uplift and empower their voices. Current TCGIS affinity groups include LGBTQA+, BIPOC and Modern families (for step/single parent families). Email the Diversity & Belonging committee diversity@tcgis.org to request more information. |
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School Board Information & Meetings now on the TCGIS website |
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Please see the Board’s website for information about how to volunteer on committees, attend monthly board meetings or watch recordings, and be engaged and informed regarding the governance of our public charter school and independent school district. All board meetings and committee meetings are on the online school calendar. |
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German Storyteller Event at the GAI
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Saturday, October 16, 2021
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Nicholas Pawlowski is a storyteller, born of an Austrian mother and Polish father. Join us as he tells the story Vom Wunderschimmel (The Wonder Horse), from a collection of old fairy tales edited by the Austrian storyteller Helmut Wittmann. The story is brought to life through interactive dance, drawing and discussion. The event is geared toward families with children ages 5–12, but all ages are welcome!
NOTE: This event will be held outside and will be cancelled in case of rain or inclement weather.
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KinoKneipe at Summit Brewing |
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Join us for a family-friendly night of film and drinks at Summit Brewing. Visit with friends and enjoy happy hour from 5–7 p.m., then settle in to watch the movie, Der ganz große Traum (Lessons of a Dream), auf Deutsch (with English subtitles). The film features German star Daniel Bruehl as an English teacher who brings soccer to Germany in the late 19th century by teaching it to his class. Barbecue and ice cream food trucks will be on site. Tickets are $5 and Summit beer will be for sale. Get your tickets here. |
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Pathways to Germany: Study and Apprenticeship |
Saturday, October 23, 2021
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Virtual Event
Young people today have many more options for studying in Germany beyond traditional exchange programs. Those interested in studying in Germany can learn about visa requirements, the application process, health insurance, and other logistics. We will also present pathways such as the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange vocational scholarship and new university programs for non-German speakers. Partners include Wunderbar Together, Goethe-Institut Washington DC and Chicago, Nacel Open Door. For families with upper middle school to high school students. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. |
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Gruselgeschichten (Scary Stories) short course |
Level B1/B2
Four Thursdays beginning October 28th
6:30–8 p.m. | Online via Zoom
Explore scary stories for all ages including written works and video stories that are quickly watched but leave a lasting impression. In this 4-week course, we will explore the realm of the eerie and practice German along the way! Register here. |
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German Tutors for TCGIS Students |
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. |
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October 8: Kaffeeklatsch at TCGIS
October 9: Twin Cities Oktoberfest 5K and the TCGIS Fun Run
October 12: Picture Day
October 15: Winter Sports Registration Closes
October 18-22: Fall Break
October 27: Early Release
October 30: PTO Trick-or-Treat Event
November 5: No School
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