ISSUE 467/ September 2, 2021 |
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Greetings from the Executive Director |
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Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft / Dear TCGIS community!
Danke für Ihre Unterstüzung zum Schulanfang! /
Thank you for your support for the start of the school year!
What a wonderful few days it has been! The halls, classrooms, cafeteria, and playground are humming with the activity they are meant for. Lunch is going smoothly, including seating charts throughout and our expansion into the atrium area to provide a bit of extra space. And arrivals and dismissals are finding their rhythm. Our kids, families, and staff are doing a fantastic job.
Our 1st-8th graders have begun to settle in just in time to welcome three new classes of kindergarteners Wednesday morning. They assembled on the playground with their parents and caregivers, were welcomed by their teachers, and then marched like seasoned school-goers right up the steps to begin their time with us at TCGIS. It was a beautiful sight.
Thank you for all you have done to prepare your students for a successful year. We look forward to working with you to keep them thriving.
in Dankbarkeit und mit Blick nach vorne / Looking ahead with thanks,
Kirsten Christensen
Executive Director
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Incident Response Team (IRT) |
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Test Weekly & Keep Sick Kids Home this School Year |
TCGIS strongly encourages all students to test weekly for Covid-19 throughout the school year. TCGIS is still determining the feasibility of providing school supported testing. You can access more information about Covid-19 testing here.
Please keep your student(s) home if they are feeling sick or show any symptoms. Together we can help keep our school healthy and safe!
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COVID-12 Vaccines for 12-15 year olds |
How youth and families can get their free shot:
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Use the state’s Vaccine Locator Map to find a local vaccine.
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Check for vaccine appointments using the Vaccine Finder. Parents can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
- Parents can contact their primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
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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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We are so happy to welcome our 2021/22 TCGIS teaching staff!
We have eleven new teaching staff members this year. You can read their bios here.
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Kindness in the Car Line and in the Neighborhood |
One of our 5 values at TCGIS is Kindness. One way we can live this value is by assuming positive intent. We have learned from a supportive neighbor that they are having trouble getting to work on time because of cars in the drop-off line blocking Churchill Avenue. When we assume positive intent, we leave space for our neighbors and don't assume someone is trying to cut in the line.
Pro Tip for Dismissal: The car line can be very long. A faster way to collect your child(ren) is to park in the neighborhood (see orange parts on the map) and meet them on the playground. Students delegated as "Walking Pick-up" in Pikmykid come directly to the playground at 3:15. (At 3:30 the playground is used by Kinderclub and we ask "Walking Pick-up" students/parents to depart at that time so Kinderclub staff have oversight of their students.)
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"Walking Pick-up" and "Independent Walker" families: Please do not park on Como Ave so that our buses, our students, and our neighbors have room to safely maneuver during arrival and dismissal. There is plenty of space on the orange-highlighted streets.
Please show kindness to our neighbors by always leaving space for them to access the streets, driveways, alleyways and sidewalks around our great school. Vielen Dank!
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Parent Council: Election Nominations are Open |
"Stop! Collaborate and Listen!”
That’s what the Parent Council is all about. Want to work together with the amazing people at TCGIS to represent family perspectives and help to create an engaged, supportive and responsive community? Consider joining the Parent Council and find new ways to connect with other parents and families as well as stay informed about the school and how it functions. Special bonus: you can connect with the other councils and administration on a regular basis. For more details click here.
To nominate yourself (or someone else with their permission), please fill in your information in the appropriate class document here. Nominations will be collected until September 10th.
Curious about what it's like to serve on the Parent Council? Watch our Welcome Video. |
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Volunteer as an Eltern Kontakt (EK) this Year
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Eltern Kontakte (parent contacts), or EKs, are parent volunteers who provide an additional communication channel between the teacher(s) and the parents in their child(ren)'s homeroom/grade. This is a fun volunteer position that can be done remotely in bits of time since it primarily consists of communicating via email.
Each homeroom and grade-level have 1-3 EKs who work together to support the class or grade-level teachers with activities, seasonal celebrations, or classroom events, and to connect parents with each other and help strengthen our community. Managing the opt-in parent contact list is also an essential part of the EKs role.
If you're interested in volunteering as an EK this year, please fill out this brief form. Vielen Dank!
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Arrival & Dismissal Procedures for All Grades |
Morning Arrival
Sidewalk supervision for morning arrival on Van Slyke Ave and Como Ave is provided daily between 7:50am - 8:10am. Students arriving after 8:10 a.m. must enter through the building’s Main Entrance (located on the WEST side of the building by the staff parking lot) and sign in at the Front Office (see Attendance Policy for more information on tardy procedures).
Dismissal
Students are dismissed from school at 3:15pm. Students remaining at school after 3:30pm without adult supervision, and/or with no dismissal plan indicated in PikMyKid will be directed to the Front Office. All student dismissal plans for Grades K-4 must be managed through the PikMyKid app; Middle Schoolers should discuss their daily dismissal plans with their parents each morning.
Late Pick-Ups
Students are expected to be picked up no later than 3:30pm (or 1:00pm on Early Release days). If, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to pick your student(s) up on time, contact the Front Office (651-492-7106) as far in advance as possible.
Any student who is not picked up by 3:45pm will be sent to Kinderclub to ensure appropriate supervision. Students using Kinderclub due to late pick ups are subject to regular Kinderclub fees, and families will be billed retroactively through the Kinderclub payment software, Popsicle, as needed. COVID-19 Impact: KinderClub may not be able to accommodate students who are not picked up on time due to staffing and limited spacing with COVID guidelines. The front office closes at 4pm and all students MUST be picked up by 4pm.
If students are habitually picked up later than 3:30pm, TCGIS may require families to set up a standing plan for after-school care with Kinderclub.
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Carpool and Transit Tools for TCGIS Families |
There are now 38 families who have opted into using this Google form to participate in the 2021 Carpooling Map.
to/from school, please fill out this Google form. Your address and limited contact information will be used to populate a Google map similar to the one on this page.
From now until the first week in September we will share the link to the unlisted Google map with those who have opted in (through the form) and are interested in setting up a carpool with nearby families. Once families have this info, it's up to them to contact possible matches and arrange the carpool.
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2022 Capstone Family Meeting for 8th Graders |
Save the Date! We are hosting a Capstone meeting for all 8th graders and their parents on Wednesday, September 29th at 7:00 on Zoom. We will discuss details, answer questions, and debrief families about where we are in the process of getting ready for the 8th graders' Capstone trip and year. |
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5th graders should report to the FLEX room (Rm. 97) Sept. 9 after school 3:30-4:30. ALL band kids should report to the FLEX room (Rm. 97) Sept. 16 after school 3:30-4:30. The FLEX room is located by the Sporthalle and near the Como Ave. entrance. We will not be playing inside either of these days, outside only, so no PPE needed. (If there are sport/other conflicts, please let Frau Johnson know).
In-school lessons begin Sept. 23. Here is a link to the tentative schedule- PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS ON IT. Even if they are doing private lessons, they should still be on this list. If they are not, email Frau Johnson. |
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Vienna Community Arts Fall Music Lessons began August 30. If interested in lessons please contact the VCA Office - Herbert and Nancy at 651-304-6205 or e-mail infoviennarts@gmail.com.
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TCGIS Soccer Registration Extended! |
TCGIS Soccer is back this fall! We are offering soccer to 5th-8th graders. The 5th & 6th grade team will practice after school on Mondays and have games on Wednesdays, and the 7th & 8th grade team will practice on Tuesdays and have games on Fridays. Registration on Popsicle is open from now until Friday, September 3, at 11:59 PM. For details, please check out our website!
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School Board Announcements |
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August School Board Meeting Summary |
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The Board of Directors met yesterday and welcomed Executive Director Kirsten Christensen as an ex officio board member. Special recognition was given to the TCGIS summer camp staff, the head track coach, the volunteer organizers of the TCGIS week at Waldsee, and the parent volunteer drafting the TCGIS land acknowledgment. Ashley Weston Miller was also recognized for her leadership during the executive director transition. The board voted to approve the TCGIS safe return to in-person learning plan. Thank you to everyone who joined us. The recording of the board meeting is available here. The next board meeting is scheduled for September 20th. |
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Volunteers needed for Diversity & Belonging Committee |
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The Diversity & Belonging Committee is looking for parent and staff volunteers who are interested in joining the committee. The committee is meeting on Tuesdays once every other month starting on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 3:45. If you have any questions, please contact keberhard@tcgis.org or jjoswig@tcgis.org.
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Kaffee & Kuchen with Kirsten: September 11
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The Board of Directors is hosting Kaffee & Kuchen with Kirsten as an opportunity for families to meet our new Executive Director and gather as a community.
Please RSVP to help us plan the treats and mark your calendars for Saturday Sept. 11th, 3:30-6:30 pm at the Como Picnic Shelter near the playground.
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Upcoming Board & Committee Meetings |
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Please see our new board committee flyer which summarizes the TCGIS board committees and their charters. All are welcome to attend board and committee meetings! Board meetings and Committee of the Whole meetings will be held in-person at TCGIS in the Flex Room, with the opportunity for the community to attend via Zoom. Committee meetings will continue via Zoom to make them easier to attend. Zoom information for each committee can be found on the public school calendar and are linked below.
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Seeking Enrichment Activity Leaders for Fall Session |
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Enrichment activities are back! The fall session runs Monday, October 4th-Friday, December 17th. We welcome parents/guardians and community members to lead enrichment activities. If you love to teach youth a hobby or passion you enjoy, this is a great way to support and get to know our community!
Enrichment activities meet once a week for an hour after school (3:30-4:30). Activities can be anything from arts and crafts, playing a sport, dancing, etc. The possibilities are endless! If you are interested in leading an activity, please fill out this form and submit it no later than September 8th at 12:00 pm. Reach out to Natalie Kaplan ( nkaplan@tcgis.org) with questions! |
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Want to know what it takes to earn one of THESE?
Our very own TCGIS PTO is proud to bring you:
2021 Twin Cities Oktoberfest 5K AND The TCGIS Fun Run
October 9, 2021 at Como: 11am until 1pm
Music, food trucks, the parent council, TCGIS board, and TCGIS PTO will be there to celebrate our community with the GAI and the TCGIS Immer Sportlich Track & Field Team.
5K: Everyone who finishes the 5K earns a medal. Sign the whole family up and make your way to the finish in your own time - bring grandma, baby and your BFF and you're a team! For serious runners, we will be chrono timing everyone with bib chips so bring your favorite running pals and show us what you've got.
FUN RUN: This is for the kids only! We will have age-appropriate races October 9th starting at 11am, and kids can race for chances to earn awesome medals. All who race walk away with a prize!
For the fun, you've gotta sign up - see you there, TCGIS!
ALSO: Don't miss our kick-off meeting next week. Thursday, Sept 9 at 630pm.
We have a lot of great events coming up that you don't want to miss hearing about. Fun Run, Coffee & Create, Plant Sale, Auction and Trick or Treat!
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TCGIS is Seeking a Part-Time Food Service Associate |
Are you or someone you know looking for a flexible, part-time job (that includes a free lunch!)? TCGIS is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Food Service Associate for the 2021-22 school year. A full job description for this position is available here.
Anyone interested in applying for this position should send a letter of interest and a current resume to Ashley Weston-Miller.
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Kinderclub, our before and after school care program, is hiring for the 2021-22 school year. Alumni students (High School Seniors) are welcome to apply! Please read our job description for more info. |
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GAI: Introducing Kinderstube German@home
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Kinderstube German@home is an online, self-paced German language program that offers fun enrichment activities for kids and caregivers to do together at home.
Parents or caregivers will receive weekly content updates with four activities that they can do throughout the week or on the weekend with their children. Each activity has been designed to take 15 minutes to complete. Students and caregivers have the opportunity to meet virtually with their instructor once a month for a check-in.
Tuition is $320 a semester or $600 for the full school year. For more information, visit our website, email kinderstubeathome@gaimn.org, or call our office at (651) 222-7027. |
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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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September 3: No school (Kinderclub Open)
September 6: No school
September 10: Parent Council Nominations Due
September 11: Kaffee & Kuchen with Kirsten
September 22: Early Release Day (Kinderclub Open)
September 29: Capstone Family Meeting
October 9: Twin Cities Oktoberfest 5K and the TCGIS Fun Run
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