School Board Election Results |
This year we had 234 people vote in our Board election, which is about 28% turn out. We are happy to announce that Julie Alkatout (incumbent, parent), Kevin Eberhard (teacher) Lübbert Kruizenga (community member), & Jasmin Root-Joswig (teacher) have been elected to serve 3-year terms starting in June 2021 to June 2024! Join us at the June 24th board meeting to observe the newly elected board members take the oath of office.
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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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According to Governor Walz's announcement from May 6th, because the youngest Minnesotans are not yet eligible for the vaccine, the Safe Learning Plan for schools will continue until the end of the school year to protect students, teachers, and staff in schools.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Available for Youth 12 and Older |
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people age 12-15. This means all Minnesotans who are age 12 years or older are eligible to get vaccinated. The CDC also recommended that everyone age 12 and older get vaccinated.
At this time, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been studied and authorized for use by people age 12-17. Other vaccine manufacturers are also studying their vaccines in younger age groups but have not yet received authorization.
We are reaching out to ensure you have the resources necessary to help parents/guardians get their child vaccinated.
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There are a number of ways that parents can get their child vaccinated. Some locations require appointments, but many places are now accepting walk-ins. To find a vaccine:
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Walk-in or schedule an appointment through the State’s Community Vaccination Programs at the Mall of America, Roy Wilkins, Lino Lakes or Oakdale. You can also get connected to a vaccine through Minnesota’s Vaccine Connector.
- Minnesotans age 12-15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Information about appointments will arrive via text or email from the state’s vaccination partners running those sites: Vault Health, Primary Bio or SpeciaLysts (Solv).
- Contact your child’s primary health care provider, local public health or a local pharmacy.
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Use the Vaccine Locator Map to find vaccine locations near you.
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Use Vaccines.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you. Under vaccine make sure to check the box for Pfizer.
Minnesotans can call the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline at 1-833-431-2053 for language assistance, questions and to find an appointment near them.
There is no cost for the vaccine. Minnesotans do not need to provide a Government issued ID or medical insurance to be vaccinated, and no question on immigration status is ever asked.
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MS Student COVID-19 Testing Program next date: Monday, May 24th |
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.
- Students will receive their test on Monday 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.
This is the assigned testing day for our school, unfortunately we can’t accept tests on other days.
If you are interested in your Middle School student participating in testings, please fill out this form.
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Quarantine after travel out of state |
We are following the guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
If you travel out of state CDC recommends testing and quarantining of not fully vaccinated people for 7 days if your test is negative. The CDC recommends testing 3-5 days after travel to limit the chance of a false negative. If a family member’s test comes back positive, you will be expected to follow the isolation guidelines in the decision tree. Please also note, our teachers will not be expected to provide additional work or asynchronous work during your recommended quarantine period. Your students absence will be considered excused.
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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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Please keep your students 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 and [email protected] to review the MDH Decision Tree. Please inform us as soon as possible. We monitor emails every day including weekends and holidays to ensure informing concerned parties duly to give them time to make necessary arrangements.
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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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Wed. June 16: Last Day of School is EARLY RELEASE and 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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June Order Window for Lunches/Milk Closes on Sunday, May 23rd
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Remember to place your order for June 2021! If your student rides the bus, please consider donating in the June Busing menu. Please log on to our online store website Boonli to place your child's School Lunch, Milk and bussing order. Please make sure to check out your cart to successfully place an order. All orders must be submitted by midnight on Sunday, 05/23/2021. Orders received after 5/23 will have a delayed start date.
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Volunteer Opportunity: Help rebrand TCGIS Identity and Logo |
Graphic Designers & Brand Strategists: The Communications Committee is forming a working subgroup to review and update the TCGIS brand identity and logo. This group will meet once in June and then will meet more regularly starting in August. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Rich Iwen. |
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Join us in painting our first school mural! |
The school design subcommittee is ready to take its first step: We are painting an amazing mural on the wall of the cafeteria and we'd LOVE for our school community to join in on the fun! You want to help? That is fantastic! Find more info in this video!
Sign up here for a time slot June 5 (Sat) or June 6 (Sun), 2021!
Bring your whole family and join in on the fun! Our artists will help, it'll be easy, and your work on the mural will be an amazing part of our school. Sign up by May 28, 2021 for a time slot and we'll see you there!
Thank you! The school design sub committee
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Tonight at 6:30: Intern Host Family Info-Meeting |
If you are are interested in, or curious about, hosting a TCGIS intern in the future, join us TONIGHT for a virtual Info-Meeting:
Thursday, May 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,
Zoom link (also available in the Google calendar event)
Whether or not you can attend this evening, families interested in hosting should fill out this brief form to learn more about hosting opportunities in 2022 and 2023/24. |
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This Sunday: Last PTO meeting of the school year! |
Sunday May 23rd at 3:30pm.
We'll have snacks, and review what we accomplished this year and go over our plans for next year. Please join us and share ideas or feedback.
We'll be hanging out at the school playground - bring the kids to play if you would like.
Bring a chair and we'll see you there!
Meeting ID: 829 0783 6911
Passcode: 360155
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Share warm wishes and say auf Wiedersehen to 3 TCGIS Leaders
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In yesterday's email to the TCGIS community, we invited colleagues, families and supporters to share messages of thanks and warm wishes and to bid farewell to three of our TCGIS leaders:
Herr Ted Anderson, Executive Director
Frau Beate Simon, Dean of German Immersion and Middle School Teacher
Frau Tina Haarbusch, former Director of International Programs and Outreach
Please join us in recognizing Herr Anderson's, Frau Simon's and Frau Haarbusch's many valuable contributions to TCGIS and wishing them luck in their next adventures! Share your messages and upload any photos from their time at TCGIS using the following Google Forms:
The Google forms will be open until midnight next Wednesday, May 26th. The comments and images will be compiled into three printed books and given to each of them at the end of the school year.
The Board of Directors will be hosting an outdoors event for the TCGIS community to say farewell to Director Anderson in June. The administrative team will host an outdoor event for staff to say farewell to Frau Simon and Frau Haarbusch. More details will be shared soon.
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TCGIS goes to National History Day! |
7th graders Neave Hennessy and Erin Strege placed 2nd in group performance at the Minnesota State History Day Competition. Their performance is titled "The Arrest and Trial of Angela Davis." Earning second place at state means you get to move on to the National History Day Competition. Nationals usually takes place at the University of Maryland outside of Washington D.C.; however, this year the competition will be virtual. TCGIS students who make it to Nationals get to sign the University of Maryland pennant to signify their accomplishments. |
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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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Two weeks left to order the 20/21 Yearbook! |
Online pre-order ends May 31st - Get your yearbook today! |
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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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TCGIS Alumni Picnic: August 10 |
Save the date! We are happy to announce that the annual TCGIS alumni picnic will be on Tuesday, August 10. There will be a tour of the new building from 5-6pm, followed by the alumni potluck picnic at 6:30pm.
Location: GAI, 301 Summit Ave.
More info to come!
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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.
Live Story Time with Silke
Yesterday was our LAST live Story Time of the year with Silke. A big thank you to Silke for reading to our students throughout this school year!
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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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TCGIS XC Team Registration Now Open! |
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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School Board Announcements |
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Vision 2025 Strategic Plan Update |
The Vision 2025 strategic plan is nearing its final draft, with the board and administration having considered feedback from staff and parents since the plan was first shared in January. The student council will have a chance to review and provide feedback next week. The board anticipates approving the plan at the May 27th board meeting. If you have comments or questions regarding the plan; please email the school board at [email protected]. The strategic focus areas and main goals are shown in the diagram below. The full plan is available here with most recent edits highlighted.
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Family Affinity Groups-Mark your calendars! |
The BIPOC family affinity group will meet in person at the Como Firepits on June 6th at 4 pm for S’mores. The LGBTQ2S+ has the next meeting via Zoom on May 26th. Join us! 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.
BIPOC family affinity group June 6th, 4:00 pm- S’mores at Como Fire Pits!
Blended/Step family affinity group August 11 at 6:30pm
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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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Deutsche Tage 2021 at the GAI |
Lift your beer steins—Deutsche Tage is back! Make your Prost with a selection of four Paulaner beers on tap or with a grapefruit or NA Radler. Black Forest Inn will serve up delicious Bratwurst and German sides, with desserts by Ruhland's Strudel Haus. A variety of live musicians and dancers will entertain you all weekend.
Saturday, June 12 | noon – 9 PM and Sunday, June 13 | 11 AM–5 PM
Online registration is no longer required. Admission is free. Adults 21 and over may buy wristbands for $5 to purchase beer and wine at the bar. Please bring your ID. More info at gaimn.org.
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This Saturday: 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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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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German Beginner Series for Adults at the GAI
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Impress your children! Our START 1-2-3 Beginners Series for adults will get you on the road to learning German! Offered via Zoom. Class emphasis is on speaking in a casual, fun, and supportive environment. Classes begin June 7 and meet once a week on Monday evenings through August 30. More information 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 [email protected] 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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May 23: Last PTO Meeting of the year
May 26: LGBTQ2S+ family affinity group
May 26: May Board Meeting
June 4: Spring Band Concert (June 11: rain date)
June 4: All library books due back
June 5 & 6: School mural painting
June 6: BIPOC family affinity group at Como Park
June 16: Last day of school (in person, early release)
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