ISSUE 460 / JUNE 17, 2021 |
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Congratulations to our 2021 8th Grade Class! |
Congratulations to the TCGIS class of 2021!
We would like to congratulate Annie Strom for receiving this year's Promotion of German Language and Culture Award and Lene Jones for receiving this year's Academic Achievement and World Citizenship Award.
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Wir haben es GEMEINSAM geschafft! |
We did it - we made it through this incredibly challenging year - together.
Herzlichen Dank - our heartfelt thanks - for all you have done to support your student(s), their teachers, our staff, and this community. We appreciate you.
Yesterday's picnic was a resounding success: our students were over the moon to connect with friends and classmates they hadn't seen - online or in person - in so long! They were able to play and socialize and eat together safely in the fresh air and sunshine. It was the perfect way to send our wonderful students and staff into summer break.
We wish all of our TCGIS families and staff a wonderful summer vacation!
Wir wünschen die ganze TCGIS Gemeinschaft einen wunderschönen Sommer!
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Incident Response Team (IRT) Updates |
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What is the Incident Reponse Team (IRT)? This team meets regularly to review data and makes decisions about changes to the learning model. IRT Members are: Ted Anderson, Executive Director; Julie Alkatout, TCGIS Board Chair; Ashley Weston Miller, Dir. of HR and Operations; Monika Avery, Health Services Associate.
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Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan & Survey |
Please see our initial Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan for the 2021/22 school year. We welcome public comment in the survey at the end of the document. Thank you for keeping TCGIS safe! |
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Note: If you don't see the calendar at the end of your Elternbrief, the message has been clipped and you must click "View entire message" to see the full Elternbrief. Danke!
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Front office summer hours |
The Front office will be open June 21-August 13 from 8am-12pm. We will be closed July 5-9.
Have a great summer!
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If your students' Chromebook didn't get returned yet, don't worry! The front office will be staffed this summer, though check to make sure they will be here when you plan to drop off. Please make sure to return all school technology so we can ensure a strong start in the fall! |
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Can you help us pass the finish line? We are SO close! |
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we are only $800 shy of our $103,000 annual fundraising goal! Vielen Dank!
To recognize all the tremendous efforts of the TCGIS community this school year, we invite all families to make a tribute gift in honor of a student, staff or community member who has made a difference in their lives this year.
Simply make a gift of any amount to the TCGIS Annual Fund in honor of one or more person(s) whose efforts or accomplishments you would like to celebrate. Be sure to note who you are honoring on the giving page or in the memo of your check. Dankeschön!
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Calling all TCGIS families: Be in our next TCGIS music video! |
Remember the Brilliant Variety Show Video that the PTO Put Together in March? Want to be in our next TCGIS music video? Of course you do!
We're recruiting awesome participants to help us put together a music video with a celebratory and welcome back to school theme. Similar in scope to the Variety Show video, it will be filmed in early August, at the school.
You don't need singing and dancing skills - you just need to bring your enthusiasm! We'll work with you and your family to make sure you look great, and you'll have a blast! Email producer/director Erin for more information, and we'll see you there! |
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Dieser Baum wurde von Schülern(innen) und Familien als Abschiedsgeschenk an die Schule gegeben. Es wurde Geld gesammelt und der Baum wurde gekauft. Durch den Baum behält die Schule die Abschlussklasse von 2021 immer in Erinnerung. Die 8.-Klässler haben am Dienstag gemeinsam den Eastern Redbud rechts neben die Schule am Van Slyke Eingang gepflanzt. Er kommt ursprünglich aus Nordamerika. Er wächst sehr schnell und vor allem im Frühling ist er mit seinen roten Knospen und Blüten sehr hübsch.
This tree was given as a gift to the school by students and families of the class of 2021. Through the tree, the school will always remember the class of 2021. The 8th graders all planted the Eastern Redbud together. It is a tree native to North America, and is fast growing and very pretty. It was planted to the right of the Van Slyke entrance on Tuesday morning.
- Lene Jones & Annie Strom (class of 2021)
Die Schulgemeinschaft dankt der Abschlussklasse und ihren Familien!
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TCGIS 7th graders & Medtronic Scientists do Heart Dissections together |
This week TCGIS Board Chair Julie Alkatout and four of her colleagues from Medtronic came to TCGIS to do heart dissections with the 7AB class. Medtronic kindly provided the class with the pig-hearts and their scientific expertise. Students did the dissection in groups of 2 or 3 under their supervision, led by a native-German pathologist, in German. Students in the 7C group had the opportunity to complete their heart dissections at home under the supervision of Frau Stillwell.
One student summarized the experience very succinctly: "It was so much fun! I thought I was going to be grossed-out, but it was really interesting instead!"
It was a great way for the 7th graders to end the school year!
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Powerschool Report Card Instructions |
Grades have now been stored for spring semester. Please click on this link to find information on how to view/print your child's report card. Kindergarten report cards will be emailed out to parents. |
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TCGIS Brand Refresh: Share your Insights! |
Next school year a sub-committee of the board Communications Committee will lead a refresh of the TCGIS brand. It has been 5-6 years since the last brand evolution, and, having moved through our construction project and a pandemic in our 15th year, the time is right.
We are eager to hear from students, staff, and families what kinds of words and imagery each group of stakeholders associates with our school. Parents/Guardians: please share your perspective in this very brief, 3-question survey. We will send staff and students their respective surveys separately.
Thank you in advance for your input!
The Branding Sub-Committee
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Come check out books this summer at the TCGIS library! Summer library hours are every Monday 8-12pm from June 21-August 9, except for the week of July 5-9.
Sign up here for a 30-minute time slot to visit inside our library! Each time slot is limited to 3 families (max 5 people per family). Masks are required.
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TCGIS Soccer Clinic & PTO Interest Survey |
Your friendly TCGIS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and the Twin Cities Soccer Academy are teaming up to bring you:
TCGIS Soccer Clinic
Featuring Coach Swen Anderson from Stuttgart, Germany
Saturday July 17th, 9am until noon at Como Park.
Want to have some input on PTO meetings? We'd love to change things up if it means we get to see you! Please take this short 3 question survey.
Follow TCGIS PTO on Facebook for our all of our awesome events. Have an amazing summer!
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Health records and vaccination records needed: Kindergarten and 12-Year-old students/7th grade |
Our school must follow Minnesota regulations for certain health requirements. You will receive more information about this in the coming weeks, but please already familiarize yourself with our school and state policies (Minnesota State Statute 121A.15) to ensure that your child can attend school in August. You will need to work with your pediatrician to complete the forms carefully and completely. All forms can be found on our website. Please send to one of the following:
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via email
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U.S. mail to school (1031 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103) ATTN: Monika Avery
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Student Medication Authorization for 2021-22 |
If your student(s) will need to take medication in the 2020-21 school year, please be sure to:
If you have questions or need to make alternate arrangements to drop off completed forms and/or medication, please contact our Health Service Associate, Monika Avery.
Please note: School staff can only provide medication to students with a completed 2021-22 Medication Authorization Form on file!
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School Board Announcements |
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Director Anderson’s Farewell Party |
Last Friday we honored Director Anderson with a farewell party and Nelson’s ice cream. We presented the photo book with messages from community members and a framed aerial picture of the new building with guest signatures on the matte. Thank you to all who stopped by to wish him well. Director Anderson’s last day is June 30th. |
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Each year the school board conducts a self-evaluation to document achievements and identify opportunities for development. We share the self-evaluation with our authorizer and invite you to read it as well. Check out the work of your SY 20-21 school board here. |
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BIPOC family affinity group gathering a success! |
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TCGIS BIPOC families met at Como Park for watermelon, ice cream, playtime and social time. We look forward to the next event in September and hope more can join the fun! |
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“Thank you very much for organizing the BIPOC meetup. We had a great time!
Not only did it reinforce the relationships they had with some of the students there, we also believe it helped provide them with a base they could use to form strong but proud connections in the larger TCGIS community. A strong BIPOC community is a direct contributor to a strong TCGIS community. I hope we have more BIPOC meetups and that they're even more expanded.” -Awet and Wondi Tesfayesus
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Family Affinity Groups: Mark your calenders! |
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The LGBTQ2S+ affinity group is putting on a get-together at Como park on Wednesday, June 23 from 5-7 pm. We will be between the playground area and the mini-golf. Families should bring their own dinner, but we will provide ice cream and cake! All TCGIS students and families are welcome.
Family affinity groups are intended for TCGIS parents/guardians who identify with the affinity group, or whose children identify with the affinity group, and for those who are supporters and allies. The intention is to provide a supportive forum for affinity group members to foster relationships, discuss experiences unique to their families, to uplift and empower their voices.
LGBTQ2S+ affinity group: June 23, 5:00-7pm. Como Park!
Modern families affinity group (Co-/Step-/Single Parents) - August 11 at 6:30pm
BIPOC families affinity group: next meet-up September
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Volunteers needed for the TCGIS community garden! |
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The TCGIS Community Garden is a small plot at the D10 Como Community Garden near the State Fairgrounds. TCGIS community members sign up for week-long slots throughout the summer to do light gardening like pulling weeds, watering plants, and donating our harvest to the Keystone Midway food shelf. With slots for three families per week, it is light work for all involved. We are especially in need of volunteers for late July and early August.
The time commitment is very minimal and flexible to your schedule, it's great for gardeners of all levels, and kids will have fun watering and harvesting. Sign up through this link. Want more specifics? Please email Lisa Linnell for a brief info packet. |
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Please email the committee email addresses listed below for each meeting’s login details. You can find links to the new committee charters here. All are welcome to join committee meetings!
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International Café at the GAI
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Saturday, July 17 | 1–3 PM
Join the GAI and the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project (IARP) for an international Kaffee und Kuchen featuring German and Iraqi sweets. Members of the Iraqi community will also share some traditional Iraqi dances and music in a joint celebration of culture and community.
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Summer classes for adults at the GAI
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Improve your comprehension and conversation with themes like Sommerparty auf Deutsch!, Haribo macht Kinder froh! (German ads), contemporary German topics and German short films. For level A2/B1, the summer Buchclub class features the book Schloss Gripsholm. More information and registration here. |
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German Language Camps at the GAI
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The GAI is offering a variety of half-day summer camps including German for Beginners. After-care is available! More info here.
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Summer Music Lessons with Vienna Arts
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Vienna Community Arts will continue to provide music lessons throughout the summer for new and continuing students. Please contact us at infoviennarts@gmail.com for more information.
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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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June 23: LGBTQ2S+ affinity group at Como Park
June 26: PTO Playdate (everyone welcome!)
July 17: TCGIS Soccer Clinic
July 24: PTO Playdate for Kindergarten & new families
August 10: TCGIS Alumni Picnic
August 11: Modern Families Affinity Group (Zoom)
August 14: PTO Playdate (everyone welcome!)
August 21: Kaffeeklatsch with new Executive Director Dr. Christensen (Zoom)
August 26: Back to School Night at TCGIS
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