Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft! / Dear TCGIS community,

Thanks to the ingenuity and incredibly hard work of a group of visionary and dedicated artists and volunteers, the TCGIS atrium is now home to a beautiful new permanent art installation that bridges time and space. As most of you know, the new construction of TCGIS rests on the site of the former St. Andrew’s Church. Some of the gorgeous wooden pipes from the St. Andrew’s organ were safely set aside by TCGIS board member Rich Iwen and Facilities Committee member John Steingraeber in the hopes of finding a meaningful new use for them some day.

Members of the Design Our School 2022 Team Mary Henry, Amy Lenburg, Christopher Tabisz, Dianne Bell, Erin Meyers and Courtney Veszi conceived of the idea of using the pipes to represent the sound wave for the German word gemeinsam—together, a word we use frequently at TCGIS in the phrase Gemeinsam sind wir stark—Together we are strong. Artists Courtney Veszi and Erin Meyers designed the structure, and Randolph Meyers engineered the massive installation. 

These pipes that once made sound now represent sound in a wonderful and creative new way that will beautify our school for years to come. 

Ein sehr großes Dankeschön to everyone who contributed hours of creativity, time, and labor!

Stop in to appreciate the installation in person when you can! In the meantime, you can see photos of the project (and of the sound wave rendered digitally) here.

Gemeinsam sind wir stark!

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!

As we all re-learn our pick up and drop off routines, please keep the following in mind. Together we can make for safe and efficient student drop-off and pick-up.

Drop off / Pick up on VanSlyke

• Students must exit / enter the car independently. Adults must remain in the car. If your child is unable to enter / exit the car independently, please choose walking pick-up / drop off instead.
• Students may only exit / enter the car within the loading zone, which is marked by sandwich boards
• Enter the drop off / pick up line from Horton eastbound only and take a right onto Van Slyke. 
• Do not block the city bus stop or alleyways
• Close gaps between cars in the (un-)loading zone – pull up if there is space in front of you so that we are using the entire loading zone. 

Pick up-specific reminder on VanSlyke

Place green “PikmyKid” card in passenger window

We need your child’s name, grade, and PikMyKid number so that we can properly call them out to the pick-up line. Adding your child’s section (2B, 4C, etc.) is a helpful bonus. If you need a new card, let us know.

On Thursday, Sept. 22, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Middle School Curriculum Night and a Winter Sports Preview will be held in Zoom. What for the link in next week's Rundbrief. 

Due to very limited spots for Kinderclub in October, we are asking to leave spots available for families with both parents working. If you can pick your child up after school, please do so. If your child has music lessons and you can drop off/pick up, please do that.

We have many families on the waitlist that work full time and are dependent on Kinderclub. Thank you for your understanding!

Our first meeting is tonight! We'll have pizza and conversation about all of the great things coming up this year. 6pm in the cafeteria. 

The 5K and Kid's Fun Run is on! Saturday October 1st! Check it out here for more information and to sign up.

If you attend the GAI's Oktoberfest celebration tomorrow or Saturday, swing by the TCGIS table and check out the new merchandise! We have new t-shirts for youth AND adults as well as our new yard signs. We also have car magnets, window clings, and t-shirts for TCGIS alumni. All proceeds from merchandise sales benefit the TCGIS Annual Fund. 

We hope to see you there!

One batch of fresh produce picked and delivered this summer!

Our TCGIS community garden is a collaborative effort to grow produce to donate to the local food shelf. Right now is prime harvest time, and your family could pick cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers and then deliver them to Keystone Community Services on behalf of TCGIS. It’s a fun and meaningful way to live our TCGIS value of community! Sign up here and get all the garden details here. 

BIPOC affinity group fall picnic & bonfire 2021

The TCGIS Diversity & Belonging committee organizes affinity groups for our school community. TCGIS Affinity Groups are groups for staff, students and parents, aimed at bringing together individuals with a common identity to foster community. They are an integral and operational component of fulfilling the TCGIS mission and vision. Learn more about the affinity groups for BIPOC and LGBTQ2+ community members, and our task force for Modern Families (single/coparents/blended families).If you are interested in being add to the email distribution list for upcoming events, please sign up here.

The wind is blowing through your hair, the sun is setting and you feel a sense of loneliness engulf you. It’s Monday night. A night for camaraderie, a night for problem solving, a night to give voice to the concerns of others, a night to find out what is going on at your kid’s school...but where can you find all this in one place? Consider joining the Parent Council to connect with other parents and the school. Learn about how the school works and help represent the family perspective to the administration, School Board, Staff Council and Student Council.  

To nominate yourself (or someone else with their permission), please fill in your information in the Nomination Form here. Nominations will be collected until September 16th. Interested in reading about nominees for each class? Check out the Parent Council Nominations Google Sheet and click on the tab with the grade you would like to look at.

Meetings are once per month for a one-year term. Currently, those meetings take place on the second Monday of the month from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Many Parent Council members also attend other school committee meetings and attend to other tasks between meetings on an as-needed basis, however, these additional tasks are optional and it’s ok to dip your toe in the water or dive right in, whatever you are comfortable with.

Each class section has an elected representative on the council. The election will be held September 19th - 30th via a Google Form-Ballot. We would love to informally meet all new and old PC representatives on October 1st during the PTO 5K Fun Run and then there will be a joint meeting on October 10th to transition the old Parent Council to the new. 

Curious about what it's like to serve on the Parent Council? Watch our Welcome Video, visit our webpage, or email parent-council@tcgis.org to be connected with a Parent Council representative to answer your questions. 

Hello band families! Please start gearing up for Thursdays- kids need instruments and music every Thursday!

Beginner Band (grade 5 and any other brand new kids) will ONLY have lessons during the day.

Konzert Band (grades 6-8) will have lessons AND rehearsal 3:30-4:30.

An email was sent out today, Sept. 8. If you DID NOT receive it, please email monk2miles@gmail.com. 

It's not too late to sign up!!! If you have an interested middle schooler, email monk2miles@gmail.com.

Do you enjoy planning events, and using your creativity and artistic skills to design displays? Do you like books!? If so, consider joining Library Club!

Library club meets every Wednesday after school from 3:20-4:30. This year there will be two sessions: a fall session (Sept. 28-Dec.14), and spring session (Feb.15-Apr. 26). 

What do we do in Library Club? 

• Design and set up monthly book-related displays in the library
• Each student “adopts” a bookshelf to keep organized during each meeting and class library visit
• Work together to plan one library event for fellow students

If interested, print and fill out this application by September 12th. Applications can be dropped off in the library. Please email Frau Zimmerman with any questions.

Herr Stephenson is looking for an assistant or two to help with the wood working after school activity. It will be on Thursdays, next to the parking lot. If interested please contact Scot Stephenson.

TCGIS relies on family donations toward busing to fund our extended bus routes. No family is required to donate, but please consider contributing financially to our bus program.

This school year, Bus donations can be made in our new Infinite Campus “School Store” (not in Boonli). Please log into your IC parent portal and click on “School Store” on the left hand side, then select “Bus Donations”. You will have a choice between monthly bus donations “August/September 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. 

If you have problems with your Infinite Campus parent log-in, please contact Nicole Crashell.

Kinderclub is urgently looking for staff. If parents are interested in helping out, they can bring their children for free PLUS they will get an extra afternoon of Kinderclub for FREE! 

Please also reach out Michaela Bromenschenkel if you have any friends/family interested in a part time afternoon/morning shift. German NOT required this year! Thank you!

Thinking about volunteering on a board committee and have questions? Share your contact info and interest here and a board member will contact you!

Fundraising; Tues. Sept. 13; TCGIS Room 97 or Zoom Contact Chair Reich

Diversity & Belonging; Sept. 20, 4PM; Contact Chair Eberhard

Governance Tues.; Sept. 13, 4:30PM: Zoom Contact Chair Albers 

Finance & Facilities Tues.; Sept. 13, 6PM; Zoom Contact Chair Heid 

Board Meeting Thurs.; Sept. 29, 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.

• Mendota Mdewakanton's 25th Annual Traditional Wacipi (Pow Wow) is this weekend with events scheduled Sept. 9-11. The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Dakota culture and heritage. If you go, please review this information about etiquette at wacipi.
• Festival de la Monarca- Minneapolis Monarch Festival will occur on Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Festival celebrates the monarch butterfly’s amazing 2,300 mile migration from Minnesota to Mexico with music, food, dance, and hands-on art. 
• "Whiteness in Plain View: A History of Racial Exclusion in Minnesota " Author Event, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul; Sat., Sep 17, 2022, 11:00 am - 12:45 pm. Author Chad Montrie and retired Attorney at Law and former Minnesota State Law Librarian and Board Chair of Reconnect Rondo, Marvin Anderson for a discussion of Chad's book. They will discuss numerous historical institutional barriers to full citizen rights and economic opportunities afforded to African Americans throughout the state. Then they will dive into action steps that can lead to repairing the harm that has already been done.

Friday, September 9 | 4–10 PM

Saturday, September 10 | 10 AM–10 PM

Oktoberfest is synonymous with beer, and this year, we will have an even larger selection than ever. The iconic Paulaner is imported directly from Munich and our local brewer, Utepils, is based in Minneapolis. We’ll also feature an array of foods, from favorite German fare like Gerhard’s bratwurst and Aki’s pretzels to Currywurst and more. With non-stop entertainment and fun for the whole family, it’s a two-day celebration of German food, beer, and culture! More information can be found here.

Saturday, October 8, 2022

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Spezialagenten: You have 60 minutes to find and neutralize a poisonous substance planted at the GAI by the notorious Dr. J. Save the city of St. Paul and yourselves—auf Deutsch—und macht schnell!

Each one-hour Escape Room session will have groups of participants working together to solve the puzzle. Register for a start time between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

For teens ages 13+

This activity is in German—at least an A2 level of German is recommended. More info here.

Join the GACC for their annual golf tournament on Monday, September 12th at Crystal Lake Golf Club. Register here.

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.

September 8: PTO Meeting, 6pm

September 9 & 10: Oktoberfest at the GAI

September 21: Early Release Day



TCGIS Google Calendar