Dear Parents and Teachers,

 

In Minnesota each charter school is considered to be an independent school district. Since charter schools are considered to be public schools they must provide special education services to eligible students. Each charter school is also required to have a special education advisory committee as part of guiding special education services.

 

The purpose of the committee is to have a forum to address the general needs and delivery of special education services at TCGIS. The committee is made up of special education staff, general education teachers, and for parents of special education students, as well as parents of regular education students. This team is NOT a forum for concerns regarding specific special education students nor for complaints regarding specific special education teachers/assistants. The special education advisory committee reports to the Board of Directors. One meeting per year is mandated, but the committee can decide to meet on a more frequent basis.

 

Examples of topics/goals are:

 

-  Support, advocate, advise on special education matters (in general)

-Provide input into the decision making process of the special education department

-  Support the development of a special education manual for TCGIS (required by law)

-  Support teachers at our school, especially those who come from different school systems/countries, who may not be familiar with the mainstreaming/integrated school system

-To develop or help fund materials that support the German language learning for students with special needs, since special ed. financial resources do not support a German immersion education.

 

The first meeting of the Special Education Advisory Committee this school year is planned for Tuesday, May 10th at 6 pm. We strongly encourage parents and teachers to participate in this forum. Please let us know in advance, if you are planning to come! A reminder will be sent out shortly before the meeting.

 

Anne-Kathrin Kile, Special Education Teacher 651-492-7106 ex. 200 or akile@germanschool-mn.org

With summer just around the corner, the time is right for gathering good reads for those sunny days ahead!

 

Check out the TCGIS Library's Open House and Spring Book Sale! The TCGIS Library Committee will once again be collecting book orders to place through globalbooks.de. There are no shipping charges, and a portion of all book orders will be donated back to the school.

 

Not sure what to order? With help from TCGIS teachers and parents, we have compiled a list of recommended books for all grade levels. Orders are not restricted to the list - you may add any book available through globalbooks.de to your order.

 

In conjunction with the book sale, the TCGIS Library Committee will also host an Open House on Wednesday, April 13 (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm) and Friday, April 15 (3:30 pm to 5:30 pm). Stop by to view the library's collection, get book ideas, or chat with library volunteers about your book order.

 

Fillable order forms and a list with recommended books will be sent out electronically later this week. All orders are due back by April 18 with pre-payment by check (payable to TCGIS). We will pool orders at an exchange rate of 1:1.45.

 

Thank you for supporting the volunteer-run TCGIS library!

 

Please contact Kelly Huxmann at huxmannp@bitstream.net with any questions.

We have a small group in our mime and creative movement class, and we are looking to add a couple more to our ranks! Mondays after school, we learn some mime skills, make mini shows aimed at making people laugh, and play movement games. Mime is a particularly great way to help growth in motor skills, coordination and focus.

If you have a student interested in joining, it is not too late! Join us starting Monday, April 11, and the cost will be pro-rated to $70 dollars for the remaining 7 sessions. We are already coming up with great and funny ideas for the showcase at the end of the year. It promises to be a great time.

Hunter Goetzman

Because of the hard work and generosity of our parent and school community, the PTO was able to provide funds for us to get some more playground equipment. Now that the ground is starting to thaw out, you and your students can expect to see some new equipment and new games soon. We are excited that we will be installing tether ball soon, and we just may celebrate the Twins' home opener with a TCGIS whiffle ball opener on Friday.

We will be introducing the equipment to the playground over the next week, but if you or your students have any suggestions for other equipment or games, let Herr Goetzman know. Our playground may have limitations, but you just might have a great idea that will make our students very happy and satisfied at recess.

Again, thanks to the TCGIS community for your support of our school!
Extra thanks to Gina Vader for transportation and Molly McBeath for accounting!

Join us for a private Pump it Up party! This fun evening starts with an hour and a half of playing in their huge inflatable jumpers, followed by a pizza dinner. Adults are welcome to join the party too! You can stay and join the fun, or drop off your child. The more the merrier, and the more money for the school! Parents with children younger than 4 need to stay.

 

• This is good for all ages. Yes, adults can jump too! Be sure to sign up siblings too!
• Takes place at the Burnsville Pump It Up at 1182 East Cliff Road - just a short drive down 35E.
• Date and time: Thursday, April 21 at 6:15 - 8:15 PM (plan on being there at 6:00 to get checked in so you have more jumping time).
• Past your child's bedtime? There is no school the next day.
• Cost is $10 and includes two slices of pizza and a drink. No need to pay now, pay at the door.
• Must wear socks.

This is a fundraiser sponsored by Pump It Up Burnsville - 40% goes to them, 60% to the TCGIS PTO.

  

Kinderclub offers an all-day summer program from June 13 through August 26.

Brian will probably take the file down in a month or so, so anyone who wants it should download it now.  

This year's school board elections will take place on Friday, May
20th. We will be electing three new members to our nine-member board
of directors. One term on the board of directors consists of three
years, and a director may serve for up to two consecutive terms.
Having a diverse board representing different points of view benefits
the school in many ways. We would welcome nominations of people who
have experience in a  legal, marketing, business, finance,
facilities/realty, human resources or educational field (ideally
involving elementary or middle school curriculum and/or language
immersion) and who are interested community members.  We are also
looking for someone who would have the interest and skills to serve as
the Board liaison to the German government. Any person who has a
passion for the school, and a willingness to work with and for the
community to promote and improve the school would be a great asset to
the Board.

Board nominations and all application paperwork are due on Friday,
April 15.  The application forms can be downloaded from the TCGIS
website (http://www.germanschool-mn.org/board_docs.html) or picked up
from the school office.  If you have any questions or have suggestions
for potential candidates from our school community or the larger
community, please contact Lisa Friedman, Board Secretary
(lfriedman@tcgis.org, 612-781-5182) or any other member of the current
board. Thank you for your consideration!

Throughout the summer the GAI is offering week-long German language camps centered around different fun themes. For more information and to sign up please follow the link http://www.gai-mn.org/classes/sommer.html. If you use this .pdf form instead, please return the filled-out registration form to Amy Neeser at the GAI.