Elternbrief
Issue: 302                           
 October 12, 2017 
In This Issue

Quick Links
TCGIS Online Calendar

Upcoming Events

Oct. 12: Fall Strudel Sale

Oct. 16-20: No School - MEA

Oct. 25: Early Release

Oct. 26: School Board Meeting

Nov. 7: Picture Retake Day

Nov. 9-10: Parent Teacher Conferences

Nov. 12: Martinstag Celebration at the Landmark Center

Nov. 14: PTO Meeting

Nov. 20-24: No After School Activites

Nov. 22: Early Release

Nov. 23-24: Thanksgiving Break
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Administrative Information
Office CLOSED During Fall Break

Next week is our well-deserved Fall Break! Please note that the office will be
closed all week. If you need to contact someone in regards to Kinderclub, please email them directly at kinderclub@tcgis.org. The Front Office email will not be checked throughout the week. Enjoy your break!
Pick Up and Drop Off Reminders

Please read the following reminders about pick up and drop off below. In our second month of school, it has come to our attention that not everyone is adhering to these guidelines. Our children's safety in this process depends on everyone's efforts to achieve a smooth pick up and drop off. 
  • Slow down
  • Be aware of school busses that may be picking up/dropping off kids from our neighborhood from other schools. Please follow all appropriate guidelines (ie: MN law requires drivers to stop least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying its flashing lights and stop arm. This applies to drivers behind and approaching from the opposite direction).
  • Please do not park in the carpool lane. If you need to exit your car to pick up your child, please park elsewhere. Parked cars are confusing to other drivers, hold up general traffic, and contribute to a less organized and less safe pick up procedure. 
  • Consider Chatsworth (east of the school). Van Slyke Ave. loops around to the right, becoming Chatsworth, which goes under the railroad and connects to other main streets. This may be a faster and safer way of exiting our neighborhood, especially if you need to return to I-94 or downtown St. Paul. 
TCGIS appreciates your cooperation with staff directions in this process. Thank you for your patience, support, and cooperation in this team effort. 
Announcing the TCGIS 2017-2018 Annual Fund Kickoff -
"Operation Interns"!

TCGIS's 2017-2018 Annual Fund Campaign kickoff starts now!  The focus of our targeted fundraising this year is $100,000, which will go towards covering the cost of our Intern Program.  Because TCGIS is funded at only 67% of what other public schools are funded, we have to pay for all of our programs and resources with much less.  The Intern Program is critical to the success of our school.  The benefits interns provide to our children and teachers are immeasurable.  


Covering the cost of the Intern Program via donations provides relief to our General Fund for other critical programming and resource needs, such as teacher development programs and German language materials and programs, and more.

Your donations are critical to covering the cost of this valuable program!  

How to Donate
1.Drop off a check in the office with "Intern Program' in the memo line.  100% of your donation will go to the intern program, as there are NO PROCESSING FEES with a check
2.Make a convenient online donation via Boonli while you're ordering your kids' lunches or scheduling Kinderclub.  The processing fee here is 2.9%
3.Donate via TCGIS website and the convenient Square store using your credit card.  This is a great website to share with friends and families who would like to support our school.  

Each month we will track our Annual Fund donation progress via a donation 'thermometer' visual graphic. To-date we have raised $1,549 against our $100,000 target.  Keep an eye on the 'weather' to see how we are doing against our target!

 
Order Window for School Lunches/Milk, Bus Seat and Kinderclub Care is Opening Friday, October 13!

Please log on to our online store website   Boonli now and place your child(ren)'s Bus, Kinderclub and School Lunch/Milk  order for  November.   All orders are due by Midnight on Friday, October 20.

We will be checking our ordering@tcgis.org email for any order questions or help requests during Fall Break. However, it might take us 24-48 hours to get back to you. Thank you for your understanding.

If your family is new to our online store, please  click here for more information on the  Boonli website, how to "Register" for an account and how to navigate the site. Please note the school password needed during the registration process is  TCGIS1If you need assistance with your existing account login, please email us at  ordering@tcgis.org .
Health Reminder from School Nurses

It's important that students stay healthy while in school. There have been an increase of strep throat cases in the past couple of weeks. The best way to prevent the spreading of strep throat is with thorough hand washing, as well as staying home when sick. Please click here for more detailed information on how to treat strep throat.
Class Directories

This year's Elternkontakts have graciously volunteered to organize our student directories this year, and will be sending out Google Forms to collect contact information from families who wish to be included in directories in the coming days. After collecting the information, EKs will share out directories with families.

Please note the following important changes in the Directory process this year:

1. Rather than using information provided by families in the annual registration paperwork, we are asking that families provide contact information specific to the grade-level directories. This will allow families to tailor what demographic information they wish to share with classmates (ie: you can share phone number, but not email, or email, but not home address, etc.)

2. Directories will be grade-based, rather than school-wide, which will allow EKs to more easily maintain accurate information, make changes as requested, etc. 

3. Information for a school-wide 2018-19 carpool directory will be gathered this spring.
Congrats to our Mausmünzen Winners!

Congratulations to this week's Mausmünzen winners! They are  Rex Hackett-McCoy (K), Persephone Walling (2), Anders VeLure Roholt (4), Soren Gunsaullus (5), and Lydia Spencer (8). Keep up the great work, TCGIS!

2017-2018 Schülervertretungsteam


Liebe Eltern!  Please see here our Schülervertretungsteam für the school year 2017-18. We will work on dream, hopes and issues our classmates in middle School have. We are super excited and cannot wait to serve our classmates as representatives!
-Die SV (Schülervertretung)

 
Collecting Empty Cereal and Oatmeal Boxes

Frau Lenburg still needs to collect 75 empty cereal and oatmeal boxes 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, but some classes will begin right after Fall Break.  Boxes can be brought to the office or the art room. Frau Lenburg also needs five more volunteers to help in preparing boxes for the students- this is a take-home opportunity.  Please contact her at alenburg@tcgis.org.
Looking for Paper Towel Rolls and Empty Bottles!

Emma Carroll is the new Middle School art teacher and she is a big fan of using recycled components in art projects. She needs your help by collecting and sending some recycling items to school.

We need empty cardboard paper towel rolls and empty 2 Liter soda bottles for some projects. Thank you for your help!
PTO Announcements
PTO Announcements

Auction opens at  5:00pm  today!  Let the shopping begin. So many options:  TCGIS camping ,  Cafe Latte,    Pippi Langstrumpf swimming lessons ,  Baklava   knitting ,  Staff Parking spot  and so much more. Don't wait, items do sell out and bidding closes  Oct 26th at 9pm

Find the recent  PTO newsletter in your email for more information about other PTO stuff (Culver's & volunteer needs) or check out our website and Facebook page.
GAI Announcements
GAI Announcements

Sandbox Theatre 'In the Treetops' 
Sandbox Theatre explores the life and stories of Wanda Gag in their new play.  Inspired by the life and art of pioneering illustrator, children's author, feminist, and New Ulm, MN-native Wanda Gag, In The Treetops is Sandbox Theatres first new production created for both kids and adults alike.

Registration now open for German for Business, Gesprächsrunde Conversation, and Oberstufe Literatur classes
KAFFEESTUBE ON SATURDAY MORNINGS
Kaffeestube European Breakfast Café, Saturdays thru November 18; 8:30am - 11am
Enjoy our European-style breakfast buffet with your friends & family! Frühstück includes German rolls, cheeses, cold cuts, eggs, spreads, and more!