Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft / Dear TCGIS Community, 

The first full week of summer is here and your family is settling into a new routine away from school. Parents often ask me what families can do to help kids retain their language skills over the summer. Just like any academics, kids can experience a “dip” during summer. Keine Panik! Don’t panic. Your child’s teachers are prepared to ensure a linguistically rich environment at the beginning of school to reactivate their language skills. But if you are wanting to provide some fostering of those skills this summer, here are some suggestions: 

• Find a sitter who speaks both languages and ensure that she speaks solely your child’s second language during their time. Encourage them to play games and have fun using as much of the language as they can. There are a lot of Central students out there who speak German.
• Playdate with TCGIS families and give the kids directions to play in German for the first 20 minutes. They may forget to switch over.
• Family movie night? Try it out in German! Pick a movie that everyone has seen a million times and let your kid teach you. I highly recommend Frozen (Die Eiskönigin)! Ich lass los, lass jetzt los! 🎵
• Step into the community! Head to local restaurants or shops where they can use their language skills authentically. Aki’s Breadhaus in Northeast is run by a native German and most of their employees speak German. If you’re traveling, try a German restaurant in Milwaukee, Chicago or LA! Invite your child to read items off the menu or on the shelves and speak with the employees. 
• Preserve reading time in German. Borrow and lend books with your kid’s friend group. Our TCGIS library is open on most Mondays starting next week for summer check-outs! Visit our TCGIS Library Facebook page for the schedule.
• Take suggestions from your children. We all know how much children love having choices! When I ask my kid, these are the top three things she suggests:
• Dance Party! Here is a Schlager! (Hit)
• Technology fun! Some iPad apps and websites can be a great reinforcement. Here is the link to our enrichment website. Duo Lingo is a great choice as well.
• Cook or Bake–Find a recipe on Pinterest and do the best you can with the measurements. Here is one for Rote Gruetze. 

In the end, learning a language is intended to help us connect across languages and cultures, and summer is a wonderful time to get out there and connect. Read. Meet people. PLAY.

Genieß’ den Sommer! Enjoy your summer, TCGIS families. We will see you in August. 

Elizabeth Zehnpfennig, Principal

Troop #57317 finished its eighth year with 47 Scouts K-8 (and a few ninth-grade alumni) who had fun, earned awards, and served their community. We want to keep the organization going but we need your help. We specifically need 2-3 leaders for the Daisies (K & Grade 1 students). Volunteering with our troop takes at most 3-4 hours a month or as little as an hour or one event during the school year. We welcome all; you don't have to have a Girl Scout, have been a Girl Scout, or even be a girl! If your company offers compensated volunteer hours, we would love to have you join us. Please contact Kirsten Holmlund at kirstenlholmlund@gmail.com to find out more.

FC Kaiserslautern is visiting TCGIS on Monday, June 26! We are in need of volunteers to help at the stations. If you are able to volunteer for one or both shifts, please contact Michaela Bromenschenkel. Shifts are 12:45-2PM and 1:45PM-4PM.

Before next week's visit and game against MN United, learn more about F.C. Kaiserslautern by watching this video on YouTube and this presentation!

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!

Looking for recommendations for some fun ways to practice German over the summer? Our German literacy support specialist, Frau Baumeister, compiled this list to keep up your student's learning through reading, writing and games. Danke, Frau Baumeister!

August 8 | 5-8PM

Save the date! We will have our Alumni Picnic once again at the Germanic American Institute (GAI) on Tuesday, August 8th. Like the last picnic, you can expect tables set up outside on the GAI grounds and a good time socializing with other alumni students and parents.

We will especially recognize our 5- and 10-year alumni! Like our last Alumni Picnic, this year's picnic will be a potluck! Please bring a dish or dessert to share. As part of the TCGIS zero-waste initiative, we encourage you to bring your own reusable plate and cutlery. Please email Silke Moeller with any questions.

The Front Office will be open from June 20 to August 11 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We will be closed July 3-7. Have a great summer!

The TCGIS library will be open one day a week during summer! Come check out books from 8AM-12:30PM on Mondays, June 26-August 7 (All dates listed below). Students MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Library Summer Dates: June 26, July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7

July 14 | 5:30-8PM

Every year, the D10 Neighborhood Relations Committee plans an Ice Cream Social, featuring free ice cream, live music, meet-and-greets with neighborhood organizations, and activities for children and families. TCGIS will have a booth at this fun event - bring your friends and come say hi!

The event is at the Historic Streetcar Station in Como Park, 1224 Lexington Pkwy N. Because parking is limited, we encourage community members to walk, bike, roll, carpool, or take public transportation.

Wednesday, June 28 | 7:30 PM

Watch Minnesota United FC versus 1. FC Kaiserslautern with TCGIS!

• When: Wednesday, June 28th at 7:30pm
• Where: Allianz Field, St. Paul

Tickets average $26, 29, 35 (depending on section). Click here to purchase your discounted tickets.

When school isn’t in session during the summer, kids 18 and under can receive free meals at locations that include park and recreation sites, community centers, libraries and schools. No registration is required.

Hunger Impact Partners’ Free Meals for Kids mobile app will help you locate meal sites and features other resources. More details here.

We are looking for our TCGIS community to help keep our community garden watered, weeded, and to harvest when it's time! Everyone in the TCGIS community is welcome and encouraged to sign up to help support- the time needed is minimal and flexible! We have a step-by-step guide for tending the garden so all experience levels are welcome and appreciated!  Sign up HERE to join us this summer! Details on how to jump in will be sent to all who sign up. Please reach out to Terra Erickson or Julie Alkatout with questions!

Cmte of the Whole Meeting, Wed., June 21 - 6:30PM; Room 100

Board Meeting (DATE CHANGED): Tues., June 27 - 6:30PM - Room 100 & Zoom

Join us for an evening of outdoor opera on the GAI lawn! You'll hear a sampling of German, Italian, and French opera arias performed by local Twin Cities artists from Opera on Tap Twin Cities. Joining them this year are special guests from Opera on the Lake. 

While feeding your soul with music, you can also partake in a wine flight of German, Italian, and French wines, savor a crêpe, or enjoy the tried and true pretzel and beer. Tickets: $20/$15 GAI members (plus $1 booking fee). Food and drink for sale. Buy tickets here.

Friday, August 18

Save the date for a Grillabend on the GAI lawn with an outdoor showing of a German film (TBD). Details to come at gaimn.org.

The board’s Diversity & Belonging committee would like to highlight upcoming events in the Twin Cities as opportunities for intercultural engagement- one our school’s core values. Click here to learn about highlighted events!

Please plan for the 2023-2024 school year! New medication authorization forms are required for each new school year. If your student is attending summer programming (camp, summer school), you are responsible for coordinating with that program and providing the medication for the summer. More information for the 2023-24 school year can be found here. Please contact mavery@tcgis.org with any questions.

We currently have open spots in kindergarten and other grades that we need to fill. You can help prospective families find and learn more about our excellent school and welcoming community when you leave a positive review on sites like Google or GreatSchools.org. Thank you in advance!

TCGIS has some great job opportunities available for the 2023-2024 school year! If you or someone you know is looking for a job next year within our great community, please take a look at our website! Below are our current openings: 

• Behavior Interventionist
• Capstone Exchange Program Support
• ​.2 FTE Elementary School Coordinator

• Special Education Teacher (K-8)
• ​​Full-time Educational Assistant
• ​.5 Educational Assistant
• Elementary School Teacher (Grades 1-4)
• Food Service Associate 

June 26: F.C. Kaiserslautern visit

June 26: Summer Library Check-out

July 3-7: Front office closed

July 10: Summer Library Check-out

July 14: Como Ice Cream Social

August 8: TCGIS Alumni Picnic



TCGIS Google Calendar