ISSUE 589/September 5, 2024 | |
Message from the Executive Director | |
Click below to watch Director Zehnpfennig's message for the week! | |
Reminder for Parents: Practice Safe Goodbyes at the Entrance Door | |
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As a reminder, all students should walk alone to their classrooms through the designated entrance doors, as indicated by the signs at Van Slyke and the Office entrances. For everyone’s safety and to maintain a secure environment, please remember to say your goodbyes at the entrance door.
If you need to bring something into the classroom or to a locker, kindly check in with the office first. This policy helps ensure that only authorized individuals are inside the building. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!
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Support Immersive Learning: Optional $15 Fee for Unique German Supplies | |
As we settle into the school year and finalize our curriculum, we encourage you to consider the optional $15 supply fee. This fee helps cover the cost of unique German supplies, such as special notebooks and pens for cursive practice, which are vital for delivering an authentic intercultural experience at TCGIS. Your contribution will help us continue offering these valuable resources. Please make your payment through our Infinite Campus school store using the instructions provided here. | |
Have you heard the rumors? New TCGIS Swag is on the way!! On Monday, September 2nd, our newest merchandise will be live and available to purchase. Take note: the ordering window for the new swag will only be ONE WEEK (Sep 2 - Sep 13th). More communication will go out on Monday for how to order, so keep an eye out! | |
Enrichment Class Registration Opens Sept. 10th | |
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Registration for the Fall session of Enrichment Classes will open on Tuesday, September 10th! This session of after school classes will run from October 21st to December 20th.
Enrichment Classes provide an opportunity for TCGIS staff and parents to organize and lead engaging activities or clubs for our students after school. Each class is held from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm on a designated day of the week, once a week. Classes are generally aimed at a particular age range, but are not always strictly age-limited. Classes are not held on early release days and on no-school days. Registration for an Enrichment Class costs $12/week the class plans to meet.
Click here to see this semesters class offerings and to sign up!
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Safety Drills During School Year | |
TCGIS is required to perform three types of safety drill during the school year: fire/evacuation drills, tornado drills, and hard lockdown drills. We will send communication to families before hard lockdown drills, and teachers will prepare their classes for all upcoming drills as they approach. Please reach out to your child(ren)’s classroom teacher if you have questions about the class’s drill procedures. | |
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Don’t miss out! Buy your TCGIS yearbook now at the lowest price of the year. Click here to order one.
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Some of our one-on-one literacy assessments with students began as early as our first week of school. Universal screening for all students will continue until Wednesday, September 11th.
Universal screening is an important part of our multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) framework at TCGIS. It allows us to identify those students who are on-track to meet grade-level standards in reading and math, and also to identify those students who may need some additional support to meet grade-level goals by the end of the year.
Students in every grade level will participate in at least one assessment so that we can learn more about their current skills and knowledge. More information about Universal Screening can be found here.
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This fall, 10 wonderful interns joined TCGIS, enriching our classrooms and community in countless ways. Thank you for everything you do, liebe Interns! We’re excited to welcome new interns in the spring! 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! | |
We are hiring! Become a Kinderclub Activity Leader! | |
Are you looking for a fun and exciting job in child care? Join our Kinderclub Team and become an Activity Leader.
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PBIS Prizes & School Store Donations | |
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We are looking to replenish out PBIS School Store and weekly student prizes! Please see this Amazon Wish List if you are able to contribute.
What is PBIS at TCGIS?
PBIS (positive behavior interventions and supports) is a school-wide program to help standardize and communicate behavior expectations to students and adults while at school. PBIS aims to reinforce desirable positive behaviors that support our school-wide expectations: Sicherheit (Safety), Verantwortung (Responsibility), Respekt (Respect), and Freundlichkeit (Kindness).
One way to do this is by reinforcing desirable behaviors through Mausmünzen. Staff can award a Mausmünze to students who they catch in the act of living out our school expectations while at school. Mausmünzen are entered into a drawing (K-4) and winners who exemplify our expectations may choose a small prize. Middle School students are able to use their Mausmünzen to "shop" at the school store.
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Seeking Lunch/Breakfast Volunteer | |
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Do you know someone looking for something to do in the mornings? Maybe a TCGIS grandparent or family member!
We are seeking 1-2 breakfast volunteers. This volunteer would help check in students when they arrive at school and pick up their breakfast. Time commitment: 20-25 min (7:50-8:15am). Flexible schedule.
Want to spend a few hours a week hanging out with students during their lunch time? We are seeking 2-3 lunchroom volunteers who enjoy working in a fast-paced environment to help with general Lunchroom duties (assist younger students during lunch, end of session clean up), and minor kitchen support. Time commitment: 2 hours/daily (11am~1pm). Flexible schedule.
If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact Alex Weeding, TCGIS Food Service Coordinator.
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BIPOC Affinity Group Gathering Signup and Mailing List | |
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The BIPOC affinity group organizers hope you can join us at the Monarch Festival this Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1:00pm. We will meet near the performance stage, where Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca will be performing from 1-2.
Additional translations available here.
Los organizadores del grupo de afinidad BIPOC esperan que puedas unirte a nosotros en el Festival Monarca este sábado 7 de septiembre a la 1:00pm. Nos reuniremos cerca del escenario, donde el Ballet Folklórico México Azteca actuará de 1 a 2.
Let us know you're coming and/or sign up here for the BIPOC affinity group distribution list to get reminders about the group's events going forward.
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Free Upright Piano for You! | |
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TCGIS has an upright piano for you! Free of charge! It’s in good condition – only needs tuning – will be done by Herbert. You will need to pick up from school classroom. Call Herbert from Vienna Community Arts or email for more info !
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FREE PIZZA PARTY AND BINGO! | |
Saturday, September 21st
5:00 PM at the TCGIS Cafeteria
We’re hosting a party and mini-meeting at the TCGIS cafeteria. Bring your whole family - we’ll bring the food and fun. No need to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you!
Save the Date:
October 6 at 2:00 pm: Paint and Sip fundraiser at TCGIS.
October 27 at 1:30 pm: Halloween Party at TCGIS - sign up to host a table.
Seeking Donations! Email us if you have something to donate.
Donate prizes for the pizza party bingo on Sept. 21. We’d love items like new books, games, puzzles, and food treats.
Donate to our fall auction! Past donations include things like food gift baskets, hand baked treats, hosted sledding parties, hosted dinners, homemade art, woodwork, wine tastings, gift cards, knitted scarves, etc.
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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 read the entire Rundbrief. Danke! | |
Represent TCGIS at the GAI Oktoberfest | |
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TCGIS will be tabling at the Germanic-American Institute’s Oktoberfest on Friday, September 13th and 14th where we will sell school swag, connect with the community, and share our school with interested families. We are looking for volunteers to be at this table for short shifts on Friday or Saturday. Sign up to volunteer here and email Paige Yurczyk with any questions.
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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.
Each homeroom and grade-level have 1-3 EKs who work together to support the class or grade-level teachers, connect parents with each other and help strengthen our community.
Much of this fun volunteer position can be done remotely since it primarily consists of communicating via email. If you're interested in volunteering as an EK this year, please fill out this brief form. Vielen Dank!
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Volunteer for Parent Council - Nominations Open | |
Looking for a long term volunteer opportunity outside of school hours? Consider nominating yourself for the TCGIS Parent Council. More information can be found here. If you would like to see what a meeting is like, our September meeting is on Monday, September 9, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, and all parents (current reps and anyone interested in running for the 2024/2025 school year) are welcome to join the first portion of the meeting! Click here for the zoom link. | |
Represent TCGIS at Columbia Heights PRIDE | |
TCGIS will be tabling at the Columbia Heights PRIDE event on September 21st. We are excited to have a booth at this fun event where we will showcase TCGIS' GSA artwork, LGBTQ+ books in German, and a fun craft! Sign up to volunteer here and reach out to Paige Yurczyk with any questions.
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TCGIS Communications Committee | |
Do you have a knack for communications and marketing? We’re seeking talented individuals to join the Communications Committee! Help us enhance our outreach efforts and support exciting school events. Your skills can make a real impact on how we connect with our community and celebrate our achievements. Interested in contributing your time and talents? Contact Communications and Outreach Manager, Paige Yurczyk, for more information. | |
School Board (Schulvorstand) Announcements
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Upcoming School Board & Committee Meetings | |
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Committee of the Whole – Thursday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m.; Room 100
Governance Meeting – Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 at 4:30 on Google Meets
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Zedashe - Georgian Folk Ensemble | |
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Musicians, singers, dancers from the Republic of Georgia on Friday, September 6 at Augsburg University at 7:30pm. Click here for more info!
Hoversten Chapel, Augsburg University
2211 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN
Free admission, donation welcome
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Liederkranz Youth Choir at TCGIS with Herbert! | |
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New season and new program for 3rd to 8th graders! Our choir enters its 3rd year with exciting news! We will add choreography to our song repertoire to become a Youth Show Choir! Frau Emma Theis, the new assistant to Herbert with students to create stage moves. This will add new experience to the children while enhancing our performances. Choir practices will be Thursdays 3:15 to 4:30 pm. Contact Herbert by email or phone.
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Food Music Music Dancing Crafters & Lutefisk Toss at Lions Park in Victoria, MN.
Click here for more info.
Saturday, Sept 7 from am - 8 pm
FREE
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St. Sahag Armenian Festival | |
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September 7-8
Discover the Vibrant World of Armenia at the Only Armenian Festival in MN!
Come for the food, stay for the cultural presentations, and do a little dancing.
All are welcome! Fun for all ages! Click here for more info!
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German Heritage Night at the Minnesota Twins | |
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Experience “German Heritage Night” at Target Field on Friday, September 27 when the Twins take on the Baltimore Orioles at 7:10 p.m.
This special “German Heritage Night” ticket package includes your ticket to the game plus an exclusive German Night Twins hat! The night will also include an honorary first pitch by former Twins player and three-time All-Star player Terry Steinbach and New Ulm’s ‘Hermann The German,” and more!
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Sep 12 - Committee of the Whole
Sep 16 - Governance Committee Meeting
Sep 21 - PTO Kickoff Meeting w/ Pizza & Bingo
Sep 26 - Board Meeting
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