Herr Anderson gives updates regarding teacher observations, administrative planning, communication guidelines, and more! |
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School Board Election is Underway! |
The election is underway this week! Check your email for a voting ballot link. If you feel that you didn’t receive one, please email Emily Albers and Julia Henriksen for more information.
The following nominees have been certified to appear on this year's Board elections ballot: Julie Alkatout (incumbent, parent), Kevin Eberhard (teacher), Jasmin Root-Joswig (teacher), Lübbert Kruizenga (community member) and Nic Ludwig (incumbent, parent). Read biographies of the nominees HERE and watch the recording of the recent candidate forum hosted by the PTO and Parent Council HERE.
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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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Class quarantine for 14 days if positive case in classroom |
In our recent consultation the Regional Support team of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) strongly recommends in case of a positive Covid-19 test result in Elementary and Middle School classrooms, the entire class will enter quarantine and distance learning for 14 days. Our Director of Operations/HR and Health Services Associate will continue to closely track any lab-confirmed positive Covid-19 cases in our building and will partner with MDH in closely monitoring our school.
Please see our IRT website for more information regarding COVID-19 protocol, symptom checks and updates.
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MS Student COVID-19 Testing Program Starting May 11th |
Every student in Minnesota is strongly encouraged to take a COVID-19 test every two weeks. In order to increase access to testing for students, all middle schools are strongly encouraged to implement at least one COVID-19 testing option. Tests will be no-cost to students or schools. TCGIS will provide the following testing option:
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Provide Zoom-enabled COVID-19 tests available every two weeks for any middle school student to pick up, complete at home over zoom, and return to school to be sent to the lab.
- MS Students will receive their first test on Monday, May 10th to bring home. Test should be completed the evening of May 10th or before school on May 11th, and returned to TCGIS before school on May 11th. Tests should be returned to the health office.
- Going forward students will receive their test on the Monday before and completed tests will need to be returned the next morning, on Tuesday. If you choose to test your students, they will receive tests on the following Mondays: May 24, June 7th.
If you are interested in your Middle School student participating in testings, please fill out this form.
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COVID-19 Testing for Kids and Families |
It has never been easier to get tested! Testing is provided at no cost to you.
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As always, please keep your student home when they are sick. If any member of your family tests positive for Covid-19, please contact Monika Avery and/or Ashley Weston Miller to review the MDH Decision Tree and support in contact tracing if necessary.
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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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Wednesday, June 16: Last Day of School is In-Person! |
Our last day of school is a half day (12:45 all school dismissal) and will be in-person! Students will be going to Como Park for our end-of-the year picnic. The schedule will be staggered to reduce the amount of students at the park at one time. Distance learning students will be dropped off and picked up by parents during their class schedule time slot.
More details to come!
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Communication Map for Parents / Guardians |
We welcome your questions and comments, and we want you to get the information you're looking for as efficiently as possible. Not sure whom to ask your question or where to send a comment?
We now have a communication map that shows where to send your educational, operational, and schoolwide questions or concerns. Simply click the arrows to switch between slides, and click the pink links to find the relevant email addresses.
For future reference, this Communications Guidelines page can be found under the Family Resources menu on our homepage.
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Reminder to pack your student(s) a snack! |
Please be sure to send a healthy snack with your student daily. Some students need 2 snacks, so please plan accordingly. It is a TCGIS Wellness Policy not to provide food for students beyond the lunch that they purchase.
From the Family Handbook:
Snack times are incorporated into each school day and will be eaten in the classrooms.
Kindergarten: Snacks are a part of both the morning and afternoon schedules for our kindergarten students. In accordance with TCGIS policy 533 - Wellness, TCGIS will provide the snack for Kindergarten students. Parents may be asked for a monetary donation to support this practice.
Grades 1-8: Students bring their own snack. We rely on each family to provide a healthy, nutritional snack each day. Please realize that snack time is brief, so consider something tasty but easy. Fresh and healthy foods such as vegetables, fruit or cheese and crackers are encouraged.
Covid-19 Impact: Please do not pack any items containing nut products in your students’ snacks.
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4th Graders: Would you like to join band next year? |
Our band program is for middle school students (Grades 5-8). If your 4th grader would like to join band next year, please read this letter from our band instructor Frau Johnson on how to sign up and information about summer lessons.
Correction: A reminder that this year's band spring concert is June 4 on the playground! The rain date is June 11.
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Tag der Erde: Our 8th Grade Students are inviting the TCGIS Community to Participate! |
8th graders will be reflecting on their consumption habits in terms of how they determine our use of the Earth's resources. For the first week they are picking one habit/behavior to monitor (e.g. How often do I use a new plastic bag?/How many miles do I drive?/ How many pieces of paper do I give out?/ How many minutes is my computer running?). Weeks 2, 3 and 4 they are trying to change their behavior for the better.
How big of an impact can we make after 4 weeks? We invite our community to join us!
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The Zero Waste Subcommittee of the Board’s Mission and School Culture Committee has developed a draft Zero Waste Policy for the school. The purpose of the policy is “to outline and support a culture of environmental sustainability at the Twin Cities German Immersion School” and to drive conversation about actions all members of the TCGIS community can take in support of waste reduction and elimination. The draft policy can be reviewed HERE. If you have any comments or questions about the policy, or if you are interested in joining the Zero Waste Subcommittee, please contact the Mission and School Culture Committee.
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Lesemarathon: Submit your total minutes May 16-18!
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May 16 is the last day of our Lesemarathon. Students have from May 16-18th to submit their total number of minutes. If a student hasn't started tracking their minutes yet, it's not too late to participate!
Prizes will be given out on Friday, May 21. A $10 & $5 gift certificate to a local bookshop will be given out to the two students who have read the most minutes in each grade, respectively. There is also a 100% class participation award and a top grade award. For more information including a detailed calendar, please click here. |
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Recap: Elementary & Middle School Virtual German Author Visits |
On May 10th and 11th our elementary students had a virtual visit with German author Ingo Siegner. Students were able to see Herr Siegner draw his beloved characters from Der kleine Drache Kokosnuss and Eliot und Isabella, as well as hear him read from one of his books. |
On May 12th our middle school students had a virtual visit with Fabian Lenk, author of the popular Die Zeitdeketive. Herr Lenk read from one of his books and answered questions from students about being an author.
Both of these authors' works can be checked out from our TCGIS library!
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Please make sure you have returned all overdue books from this school year.
We are nearing the end of the school year! All library books and materials need to be returned by June 4. Any overdue and lost books will be going on the student's Boonli account to be paid by the end of the year.
Next week is the last week to check out new library books! Fill out this form to get new materials.
Live Story Time with Silke
Join us for our LAST live Story Time of the year with Silke on Wednesday, May 19 at 2:45pm. Follow this link to tune in! (Zoom passcode: 040736). A big thank you to Silke for reading to our students throughout this school year!
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Parent Council: May Update |
The Parent Council (PC) met on Monday, 5/10/2021 via Zoom.
To begin, Board Liaison, Sam Imbo, reminded us that voting for board candidates is open from May 10 - May 14. Please vote! Next we heard from Lisa Linnell, Board Chair of Mission and School Culture Subcommittee about the zero waste initiative and the draft zero waste policy published in today’s Elternbrief. She talked about the strategies and changes they plan throughout the school to make forward progress toward reducing waste.
Click here to read the full update from the Parent Council. If you have any questions or anything you’d like the Parent Council to address, please email your class representative or the full Parent Council.
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TCGIS XC Team Registration Opens Saturday! |
May 15 at 8:00 AM until May 31 at 11:59 PM, and the season begins on Monday, August 2.
Regarding the calendar: Practices are set for Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Meets are scheduled to return after the pandemic. Athletes are required to attend two practices each week and may attend all three.
Payment required at time of registration: $150*
*Finances should not be a factor in deciding to participate in TCGIS athletic teams. If finances are a concern, please contact Coach Tabisz BEFORE registration opens because payment is required at the time of registration.
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Intern Host Family Info Night: Next Thur., May 20 |
We are excited to begin planning for the return of our beloved Intern Program in January 2022. Families who are interested in, or curious about, hosting an intern are invited to a virtual Info-Meeting:
Thursday, May 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Zoom link (also available in the Google calendar event)
All interested families are encouraged to fill out this brief interest form which also provides space to share specific questions in advance so we can answer them in person at the meeting on May 20. |
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Order the 20/21 Yearbook! |
Online pre-order ends May 31st - Get your yearbook today! |
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Our TCGIS Meistermäuse winners!
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The selected students have shown exemplary behavior at TCGIS during the school day and are representing their class and grade level. Meistermäuse have demonstrated to staff one or more of the following praised traits: Sicherheit (safety), Verantwortung (responsibility), Respekt (respect), and Freundlichkeit (kindness).
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(L to R): Violet (K), Emma Jeanne (1), Julia (5), Luke (3), Annie (8), Dean Zehnpfennig |
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We wish our TCGIS families who are breaking their fast for Ramadan Eid Mubarak!
If your family is unfamiliar with Ramadan, here is a great kid-friendly resource to learn more about this important Muslim holiday.
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This Weekend: The TCGIS Scavenger Hunt 2021 |
Ready to get lost? Having trouble deciding where to go this weekend? Want to do an outdoor "family thing" and be really wholesome this weekend?
It'll be fun. There are surprises. Gifts. A bathroom available. Have a good time and take photos to celebrate your success! 10am - 4pm Saturday OR Sunday.
When you sign up, you'll get the email with clues this Saturday morning. Pile the family into your favorite set of wheels, hit up the target locations in style, take some photos (hold up TCGIS signs for bonus points!) at each spot, and collect goodies at the school pit stop. Stop for coffee and treats as you roll, and enjoy the fun because it's not a timed trial. See you there!
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Learn about the Germans from Russia |
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Summer Teen Intensiv for ages 14-18 at the GAI
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This advanced full-day camp experience is for teens with level B1 German skills or graduates of TCGIS. We will dive into two important current topics in these week-long camps: Multiculturalism—what does racism looks like in Germany and how do young people deal with this topic, and Living the Sustainable Life—how does "Nachhaltigkeit" relate to nutrition, housing, education, and the digital world.
June 21–25: Multikulti? Multiculturalism and Racism in Germany
August 23–27: Living the Sustainable Life (#FridaysForFuture)
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Summer Music Lessons with Vienna Arts |
Vienna Community Arts will continue to provide music lessons throughout the summer for new and continuing students. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
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School Board Announcements |
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Volunteer Opportunity: Affiliated Building Company (ABC) Board Member |
TCGIS is calling for a volunteer to be an Affiliated Building Company (ABC) board member. Charter schools in Minnesota must create an ABC to own the property on its behalf. The time commitment is minimal, reviewing ABC financials quarterly with the option of attending school finance committee meetings. ABC board meets once a year as required by statute.
Please contact Nic Ludwig for more details.
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Family Affinity Groups-Meet in May |
Family affinity groups will meet for the first time via Zoom. The 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, and equip families with the tools of courage, perseverance, and resilience as we work toward dismantling systems of injustice and inequity in education. Mark your calendars and join us.
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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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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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May 10-14: Cast your ballot for Board Members
May 15-16: TCGIS Scavenger Hunt
May 16-18: Submit Lesemarathon minutes on Google Form
May 20: Intern Hosting Info Meeting
May 26: LGBTQ2S+ family affinity group
June 4: Spring Band Concert (June 11: rain date)
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