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 TCGIS Online Calendar
Upcoming Events:
August 27: Board Meeting
Sept. 8: First Day of School
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| Schöne Sommergrüße von TCGIS |
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Greetings from the Front Office
The Front Office is now open from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm weekdays. Please email questions to info@tcgis.org or call us at 651-492-7106 during office hours.
If or when you come to school in person, please remember that masks are required for entry and visitors in the office are limited to 3 people at one time, including children. Please follow physical distancing guidelines by keeping a distance of 6 feet from others to protect the health of staff and other visitors. Vielen Dank!
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Fall 2020 - Returning to School Updates
Learning Model Selection Survey Results
Over 415 families selected a learning model for their child(ren) in our survey last weekend. We learned that the ratio of families selecting distance-only and distance-with-connection models remained the same as in our July parent survey.
These results mean that we can have 3 equal cohorts in each grade level:
2 hybrid cohorts + 1 distance-only cohort.
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| | Learning Model Selection - Survey Results |
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Class Cohort Composition: Process and Timeline
Class cohorts were primarily organized to ensure that siblings participating in connection weeks are in the building on the same days. Other important factors considered were:
- transportation/accessibility challenges
- a balance of student genders in each cohort
- parent scheduling needs for Tier 1 essential workers, and
- scheduling academics across grade levels
Proposed cohorts will be vetted by our general ed and special ed teachers. Class lists will be shared with families by Wednesday, August 26.
FAQs
- technology and devices
- school supplies
- class cohort composition procedure and notification
- how long the current distance-learning and in-person models will continue
- building school community while physically apart
- Back to School Night
- safety measures: isolation room usage and protocols
Please bear in mind: questions related to the daily schedule for both learning models cannot be answered until our educators are back at school and have time to collaborate and prepare for this new school year. In addition, we are unable to answer questions that are related to human resources. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Please continue to email your questions, concerns, and feedback about the new school year to fallplanning2020@tcigs.org. We will update the FAQs as we are able to answer more questions.
Special Education Parent Meeting Presentation
On Monday we hosted a virtual SPED Parent Meeting to answer questions parents had regarding Special Education Services for the upcoming school year. If your child is receiving Special Ed and you were unable to attend the meeting, you can view the presentation here. Questions specific to Special Ed services can be emailed directly to Stephanie Betley at sbetley@tcgis.org.
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Construction Updates
The construction project is almost done. We are working on the final inspection so we can get our certificate of occupancy. We hope we can officially take over our new building by Tuesday next week.
Andy Nesset
Director of Facilities
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| | TCGIS Aerial View - August 2020 |
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Busing Registration
We are pleased to offer school bus transportation to TCGIS students for the 2020-21 school year. If you are interested in having your student(s) ride the bus, please complete this Busing Registration Form by Sunday, August 23, at midnight.
CSTMN will use the registration to plan the bus routes. We are not looking to add any additional stops for now given the limited amount of students we are planning to have in the building per day.
All registered busing families will receive the updated forms for permission to ride, the behavior agreement, and donation options by August 31.
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Kinderclub Update: Tier 1 Essential Worker Parents
Essential childcare will be offered at no cost to families who qualify as Tier 1 employees during the school day. Families who require after-school care to supplement the school day care hours or need care on no-school days when Kinderclub is open must register for fee-based after-school care and full-day care for those days as well. Families will be charged the normal daily rates for after-school care and full-day care.
If you are unsure if your family qualifies for no-cost childcare during the school day as a Tier 1 employee, please review the School Age Care Guidance and FAQ from the Minnesota Department of Education.
Proof of qualification as a Tier 1 Essential Employee is required before families can register for Kinderclub. Please submit the documents listed below to
mbromenschenkel@tcgis.org as soon as possible. Tier 1 families will not be approved to register for no-cost care without these documents. No exceptions! - a signed letter from your employer on company letterhead dated after Aug. 1, 2020
- a current pay stub dated within the last two weeks
- your occupation must be included on the Tier 1 Essential occupations list
Families who submit this documentation will be emailed information on how to enroll and when registration opens.
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School Supplies Lists + Practice Wearing Masks
Elementary School: supply lists have been modified for individual rather than communal supplies, and include a container in which to keep the their supplies; students can bring in their supplies on the first day of school if they are attending "Connection Weeks."
Middle School: supply lists have been updated and do include a reduced number of shared supplies. Please bear in mind that we are collecting supplies for the entire school year. The shared supplies are items the teachers use with students during the school day. Middle school students should bring shared school supplies in a grocery bag on their first day of school.
Parents who chose a 100% distance-only model are not asked to purchase shared materials or bring them to school. However, please note that some teachers may ask students to use these items at home.
Click here for the updated supply lists. There is also a button on our homepage.
If your child(ren) will attend Connection Weeks, it's time to help them practice wearing a mask for longer periods of time. This recent article from the Washington Post includes a list of tips to help students prepare for the new school year with social distancing and mask requirements. |
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Application for Free and Reduced Lunch Program
Please find the information and instruction letter and the application form for the Free and Reduced Lunch program for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year, however in order to receive free/reduced school lunches for the first day of school, please submit your application form no later than August 28, 2020. Forms may be emailed to Alex Weeding aweeding@tcgis.org or dropped off at the front office. If you have any questions or need help, please don't hesitate to email Alex Weeding at aweeding@tcgis.org or call the front office: 651- 492-7106.
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Immediate Job Openings: Food Service and Kinderclub
We are still seeking new staff for positions in Food Service and in Kinderclub. Please spread the word within your networks!
Part-time Food Service Associate
We are seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Food Service Associate for the 2020-21 school year. All Food Service team members are Tier 1 Essential Workers and eligible for free Kinderclub Care.
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 (awestonmiller@tcgis.org).
Childcare Staff for Kinderclub
We are currently seeking candidates that could fill a full-time OR part-time Kinderclub program staff position. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain experience working with children in a German-speaking environment for those interested the field of Education!
View the full job description here. Interested candidates should submit cover letter, resume (including two references), and copies of transcripts to Michaele Bromenschenkel (mbromenschenkel@tcgis.org).
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Health Office Updates & Corrections
Authorization to Provide Medication to Students
If your child will need medication during the school day in the 2020-21 school year, please be sure to:
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In order to administer medication to a student during the school day, we require the Medical Authorization Form, signed by both the health care provider and the parent/guardian.
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All medication must be in its original package with a valid expiration date and labeled with the student's name.
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Medication drop off: Our Health Office Associate, Monika Avery, will be available to receive your child(ren)'s medication together with the completed authorization form:
Monday, August 31st from 8 - 10 am
Thursday, September 3rd from 5 - 7 pm.
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Please come to the Van Slyke Entrance of the school
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If there is a line, please keep a safe distance of 6 feet. We would appreciate if you would let us know which date would work for you (mavery@tcgis.org)
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If at all possible, please leave your children at home.
- 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 at mavery@tcgis.org.
CORRECTION: Vaccination Records for 12-year-olds are due
In the past Elternbrief we incorrectly stated that vaccination records for 11-yr olds were due. If your child is 12 years old and/or entering 7th grade next school year, Minnesota State Statute 121A.15 requires your student to have a dose of the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccine to return to school. If you choose to opt-out you may file a medical exemption signed by a health care provider or a non-medical exemption signed by a parent/guardian, and notarized (vaccine needs to be specified).
Because of the current public health situation, we know it can be difficult to get an appointment with your health care provider. If your child is unable to see their health care provider for updated vaccinations at this time, please use the exemption part of this Immunization Form until you are able to send the updated immunization record.
Please return completed immunization documentation to TCGIS via:
- email to info@tcgis.org
- mail to school: 1031 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103; ATTN: Monika Avery
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Annual Registration for Returning Students
If you haven't already done so, please log in to your children's PowerSchool accounts and fill out annual student registration forms by August 20th. We have revised several of the forms so even if there is no new information, we need you to review the form and, most importantly, even if you change nothing, you must hit the submit button on each form for the information to update in their account. Please review and update the following forms:
B - Student Demographics - review & submit C - Student Health Information - review & submit D - Media/Directory Release - update & submit E - Neighborhood Walk Permission - update & submit F - Emergency Treatment Authorization - fill out & submit T - Student Contacts - update & submit
Please also use this opportunity to fill out any forms your child is missing except the S - Change of Address form. Only fill out this form if you have moved.
Thank you so much! |
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TCGIS Band Program Information
To all 4th grade families: are you interested in participating in the TCGIS Middle School band program? Click here to find more information about signing up for band and participating in summer lessons online!
Krista Johnson
Band teacher
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School Board Announcements
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Upcoming Committee and Board Meetings
Here are the scheduled upcoming committee meetings. Please email the committee chair listed below for meeting login details.
August School Board Meeting: Thurs August 27, 6:30pm, details above
Schoolwide Culture & Innovative Education Committee: Wed, Sept 2, 3:45pm, contact llinnell@tcgis.org
Governance & Leadership Development Committee: Mon, Sept 14, 3:45pm, contact ealbers@tcgis.org
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Opportunities at the Germanic-American Institute (GAI)
Samstagsschule (Saturday School) for kids and teens
Saturday School classes for ages four through high school return for fall!
The program is built around natural acquisition of language in an interactive, fun environment. Beginning to advance levels offered for all age groups. Samstagsschule begins Saturday, September 26. Register at gai-mn.org/children
Climate Workshop for Teens - ATTENTION TCCIS Alumni Parents!
Saturdays, September 19-December 5 | 10:30 AM-12:30 PM
Conceived in collaboration with TCGIS, this is an interactive climate and culture workshop leading to a Klimagipfel (Climate Summit) in December. The course is designed for young people, ages 12-16, with basic knowledge of German (Level 2/A2 or higher). Register at gai-mn.org/German-and-Science-Workshops
Adult-learners Fall classes at the GAI Haus or Online Our German language fall classes for adults include START 1-2-3 for beginners and a range of options for intermediate and advanced students. These classes will follow social distancing protocols while offering invaluable in-person interactions with your instructor and classmates. Classes begin the week of September 14. |
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German-American Chambers of Commerce (GACC)
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