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| Elternbrief |
Weekly Newsletter for TCGIS Families November 10, 2011 | |
 | | Annika Fjelstad, TCGIS Directo |
Dear Families, We are really happy to have Conflict Resolution staff available after each recess to help students work through conflicts with their peers. These teachers on call are an excellent resource for students who may feel excluded from games as well as for dealing with issues of aggression or name-calling. However, we cannot solve the problems that we don't know about. If you sense that social issues are weighing on your child please help empower him or her to either sign up for conflict resolution or to ask a staff member to help.
Twin Cities German Immersion School will participate in the statewide effort to give to Minnesota non-profit organizations on Give to the Max Day on November 16th. We will focus our giving campaign on supporting our Amity program. There is no program where a dollar stretches farther. The impact on the culture of our school to halve our student/staff ratio is a large component of what allows our students extra individual attention, small reading groups and constant exposure to native speakers as language models. Many support our Amity program through hosting. If you are not in a position to host, but want to show a special appreciation for the gifts to the school of these young assistant teachers we encourage you to donate next Tuesday. Please see below for more important information about this important fundraising drive.
Thank you for all you do for the school, 
Annika Fjelstad
651-492-7106, ext. 103
afjelstad@tcgis.org
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 Upcoming Dates
Save the Date  NOVEMBER
17 - 8:15 AM, Tour for prospective families
17 - 6:30 PM, Info session for prospective families
18 - 2:30-5:30 PM, PTO Craft & Bake Sale
19 - 9 AM-12 PM, PTO Craft & Bake Sale
22 - 6:30 PM, School Board meeting
23-25 - NO SCHOOL DECEMBER 1 - 8:15 AM, Tour for prospective families 5 - 6:30 PM, Info session for prospective families 8 - 8:15 AM, Tour for prospective families 13 - Vision and hearing screenings 15 - 8:15 AM, Tour for prospective families 15 - 6:30 PM, School Board meeting 19-30 - NO SCHOOL For the complete school calendar, click here. |
TCGIS Directory
PDF Attached here, OR Sign up for a hard copy in the front office by next Tuesday
The directory is finally here! To minimize paper usage we are sending it out in pdf format, attached here. If you are not able to print, you can place a special order for a hard copy with the office by signing up at the front desk. The sign-up sheet will be available until Tuesday, November 15th.
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PTO Coat Drive!
Donate winter clothing to Joseph's Coats
In keeping with the PTO theme Family Volunteerism, the PTO is collecting clean, reusable coats, along with winter clothing, children's toys and books, shoes, boots, and hygiene products. All items will be donated to Joseph's Coats. Items can be dropped off Wednesday, November 16 through Tuesday, November 22.
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Give to the Max!
Give to support our Amity program on Nov. 16
We will participate in Minnesota's Give to the Max Day on November 16th in order to raise money for our Amity program. In 2009 we raised $17,000 on Give to the Max Day. In 2010 we raised $22,685. With a 15% growth in student body we are hoping for a 15% growth in our annual appeal income. We will be shooting for a fundraising goal of $26,000. We hope families will consider pledging $100 or otherwise giving as they are able. We are of course very cognizant of the many non-financial gifts of time, effort and insight that so many give.
We already have a number of matching donors lined up for approximately $7,000. We will announce early next week how much money is available as a match. Please contact Annika ASAP if you are in a position to pre-pledge matching funds.
Look for a letter early next week inviting participation in the Give to the Max pledge drive. Focusing all our giving effort on one day reduces staff time in managing a fund drive. Participating in the Give to the Max efforts also gives us access to some of the benefits like a surprise drawing of one non-profit every hour for a $1,000 bonus. Last year TCGIS earned an extra $1,000 when one of our donors was selected. We encourage you to share the letter with grandparents and other friends of the school. Reaching out to our wider community is important to sustaining our school financially.
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TCGIS Photo Contest
We want your pictures!
TCGIS is looking for images to represent the school on our website, in marketing materials and even the yearbook. The 6 most suitable pictures will be used in the banner headings on our new website, which is currently in development. We are offering a prize for the best overall photo: tickets to a production by the Children's Theater Company this Spring! See flyer for more info.
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Congratulations!
TCGIS Student is finalist for "Artist of the Week"
We would like to congratulate Addie Ravensborg, who was a finalist last week for the honor of "Artist of the Week" on Artsonia! Artsonia is the online art gallery where Frau Lenburg displays student artwork-- if you haven't yet, click here and search for Twin Cities German Immersion School to check it out. Thanks to all who voted, and congratulations Addie!
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Remember to Send Warm Clothing for Recess
Winter is coming!
Please remember to send appropriate clothing for your children to wear outside during recess. For their safety, children will not be allowed to go outside to recess without warm clothing. Thank you!
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Spielmannzug MN Community Events
Karneval Season begins November 11!
Friday on November 11, 2011 at 11:11am Karneval season officially begins. The season will open with Plucking the Prinz on Friday, November 11 above the Glockenspiel at 7:00pm. This event is only $5 (or free with a Prinzenkrönung ticket!). Festivities include a door prize, raffle, passing of the boot, music, dancing, and other merriment! Saturday, November 12th at 6:00pm is the Prinzenkrönung, where the new "Prinz and Hoff" are crowned for the 2011-2012 Karneval Season. This event takes place at the Kelly Inn (161 St. Anthony Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55103). The cost is free for children under 5, $12 for children 5-17 and $32 for adults, and includes dinner, dancing, and door prizes. |
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PTO Craft & Bake Sale Nov. 18-19th
Start dropping off donations starting Monday
 The 3rd Annual TCGIS-PTO Craft and Bake Sale is just around the corner. This year's sale will be held on Friday, November 18 from 2:30 PM-5:30 PM and on Saturday, November 19 from 9AM-noon in the TCGIS Cafeteria. New this year will be the addition of children's crafts at children's prices. There will be cake and other treats sold by the slice with coffee or cider. Craft and canned donations can be dropped off in the office starting on Monday, 11/15 through Friday, 11/18. Look for the specially marked box. Please remember to price your craft donation. Baked donations can be dropped off starting Friday morning, 11/18 in the conference room or Saturday morning, 11/19 before 9:30 a.m. No need to price items, unless you would like to.
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After School Activities Instructors Needed
Form available now
It's that time again! We are looking for instructors to offer after school activities for Session 2. Classes will be from January 9th through March 15th. Pay rates vary from $15-40/hour depending on the number of kids that sign up for your class. If you are interested in teaching, please fill out this form and turn it in to the front office. Even if you are teaching a class this session and want to continue with that class, please fill out a new form. Student registration will begin in December.
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Read to Feed
Fourth grade students read to raise money for Heifer International
Read to Feed is a reading incentive program designed by Heifer International, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty while caring for our Earth. Students are obtaining sponsorships from parents, friends, and relatives based on the number of units (minutes) they read. The goal is to promote reading and help Heifer International assist millions of people around the world feed their families and reach self-reliance through gifts of livestock and training. Ultimately the program offers global education opportunities and will foster in your children a love for reading, a passion to help others and a desire to help create a better world. The details of the program: Who: Fourth Graders at TCGIS & Heifer International What: A reading incentive program that will give students a chance to help provide livestock to struggling families When: Friday, November 4th to December 15th (all money must be turned in on the 15th or 16th) Where: At school, at home, in the car, while on vacation, anywhere! How: Students set a personal reading goal and ask family, friends, and neighbors to sponsor their reading Click here for more information about how to participate. If you are interested in sponsoring a student reader, but do not have contact with the 4th grade students, please contact Michelle Wallace at mwallace@tcgis.org and she'll match you up with a student who needs sponsors. |
Kaffeeklatsch
Friday, November 11
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Kinderstube Open Haus
GAI German Immersion Preschool
Join us for the upcoming Kinderstube open houses. Current and potential Kinderstube families are invited to learn about and show support for the Kinderstube German Immersion Preschool; the classrooms will be open during this time for tours and questions. Both German and non-German speakers are welcome to attend. St. Paul (carriage house of the GAI) Saturday, November 19, 10am-12pm
Minneapolis (106 Diamond Lake Road) Thursday, December 8th, 4-6pm The Kinderstube St. Paul open house is scheduled during Kaffeestube, the GAI's European breakfast café, so you can schedule your visit around a delicious German breakfast. For more information, please e-mail preschool@gai-mn.org or call 651-353-5147. |
Middle School Math Website
Now available from TCGIS website
Attention Middle School Parents: You can now access the Middle School Math website from the "Parent Resources" section of the main TCGIS web site. |
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Educating Children for Informed and Active World Citizenship
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The Elternbrief is published electronically Thursdays throughout the school-year and on an as needed basis at other times. Submissions are due by 3 PM on Tuesdays. Content printed at the discretion of the TCGIS administration.
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