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| Elternbrief |
Weekly Newsletter for TCGIS Families November 17, 2011 | |
 | | Annika Fjelstad, TCGIS Directo |
Dear Families, Let's stay healthy together. It has been a bad week health-wise with lots of kids and teachers sick. Keep up the constant hand washing to slow the spread of sickness. Thanks for keeping your kids home when they're sick. It can be a logistical challenge, but it is respectful to the rest of the community. Our school nurse will be on site to give flu shots tomorrow morning between 7:00 and 10:00. We have some limited spots available. Shots should be covered by most insurance plans. If you'd like to reserve a spot, please call or stop in at the front desk to get shots for you or your children. Thank you! It has been a great week financially. We set a goal of raising $26,000 on Give to the Max day and raised $27,210 at last count. We are grateful for each and every donor. Each donation of whatever size is given from the heart and makes a huge difference. THANK YOU. The money raised yesterday helps us pay stipends and visa fees for our hardworking Amity interns who so positively impact the quality of life for both teachers and students. We are so grateful for the community-wide commitment to retain this treasure of a program that sets our school apart. Amity Host Homes Needed. Another significant factor that allows us to have these 14 additional staff members is the contribution of the host families who provide room, board, transportation and family for these young adults while they are here. While host families give significantly, they also receive significantly. Many report the joy of seeing their children have access to a native speaker for homework help, having the opportunity for spot babysitting and above all for companionship with some stellar young teachers. Now is the time to let us know if you have ever considered hosting an Amity aide. Click here for more information about hosting. TCGIS Staff member awarded study opportunity! 6th and 7th grade teacher Frau Khrisslyn Goodman has been selected to travel to Germany for 3 weeks to receive an intensive training in preparing students for the Deutsche Sprachdiplom. Our students are scheduled to be tested on their German proficiency level at the A2 level in 5th grade. This year for the first time we will assess our 7th graders at the B1 level. It is very meaningful to help us assess our success at building language proficiency to be able to have one of our staff members professionally trained. Congratulations to Frau Goodman. She will be gone in late January and early February. We are working on finding a sub for her during that time. 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 - 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. |
Amity Host Homes Needed!
Help us host our Amity interns
We need your help! A walk through our school highlights the ways the low student-to-staff ratio facilitated through our Amity program gives consistent opportunities for small group work and individual attention. Teachers in training from Germany in each classroom allow us to differentiate instruction, accommodate different learning styles and provide native speaking language models. In January, we have 10 new interns coming to our school that need a place to live. Please consider hosting an intern at your house! If you have any questions or are interested in hosting an intern this spring, please contact Amy Davis at adavis@germanschool-mn.org and she will get you in contact with the Intern Committee! The committee will work with you to find an intern whose interests and personality would be a good match for your family. The committee is also there to problem solve if you need a short term respite home for your amity if you are traveling or have other houseguests or if you need to think creatively about issues such as transportation. Our volunteer Amity Committee, consisting of Andrea Zibble, Ina Elliot, Sylvia Oxenham, Nicole Grenz, Darcy Rindelaub and Mary-Fred Bausman-Watkins, has put in many hours of hard work and creative problem solving to create the hospitable support network, transportation coordination system and safety net that makes our Amity Program possible. Please send them a thank you and/or offer to lend them a hand. The most helpful thing would be to offer up your home if it's available to host an Amity. Short term as well as long term offers become part of what puts the whole puzzle together to enable our interns to serve our kids. |
TCGIS Photo Contest
We want your pictures!
TCGIS is looking for images to represent the school on our website, in marketing materials and even in 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! Please submit your photos by January 15 to photocontest@tcgis.org. Only those submissions that receive a confirmation email will be entered into the contest--if you do not receive confirmation, please re-submit your photo. See flyer for more info.
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December Lunch Menu Now Available
Please turn in your orders by Nov. 28
It's time to order December lunches! The menu and order form are available here and in the front office. Please return the order form with payment to the TCGIS office by Monday, November 28. Remember that the price of a la carte milks is now $0.30. Please contact Leigh at lyork@germanschool-mn.org with any questions.
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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 through Tuesday, November 22.
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GAI Nikolaustag & Holiday Open Haus
Sunday, Dec. 4, 11am-5pm
Come experience a taste of German Christmas! This holiday season the Germanic-American Institute will combine two well-loved events, Nikolaustag and the Holiday Open Haus. The Haus will be decorated and filled with information tables staffed by local arts and culture organizations, GAI Gruppen, and local vendors selling German Christmas gift items. Enjoy live music provided by the Volksfest Singers, historic Haus tours, model trains, freshly grilled bratwurst, gingerbread, Glühwein, and more!
Nikolaustag Activities:-$8 member child, $10 non-member child
-Day-of registration only -St. Nikolaus will be available from 12-4pm to visit with children. Price includes an authentic Adventskalendar, holiday treats, and the opportunity to make holiday crafts.
-In case of inclement weather, please call the GAI or check the GAI's website/Facebook page for event status. |
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PTO Craft & Bake Sale This Weekend!
November 18-19th
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 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
We are still 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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November Art News
Monthly update from Frau Lenburg
I wanted to thank all of the parents who helped me prepare for the K-4th grade students to make their lanterns. Your work behind the scenes is much appreciated by myself and all of the 190 or so students who were able to enjoy making their colorful lanterns because of your efforts. And thanks to all of the families who were able to attend the Martinstag celebration at the Landmark Center--I wish I could have been there this year. Danke! Please contact me at alenburg@tcgis.org
if you have any questions or concerns about art class. Click here for this month's Art News! |
TCGIS Directory
PDF Attached here
The TCGIS directory is attached here in pdf format. It's also not too late to get a paper copy by signing up at the front desk.
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PTO Winter Strudel Sale
Order your strudel by Dec. 1!
The TCGIS PTO is pleased to once again offer Ruhland's Strudel--just in time for holiday entertaining! Information and an order form will be available shortly on the PTO website and will also be at the front desk at school next week. Plan to place your order by Thursday, December 1. Strudel will be delivered to the school on Thursday, December 15 and can be picked up between 3 and 5:30 pm in the parking lot. |
Kinderstube Open Haus
GAI German Immersion Preschool
Join us for the upcoming Germanic-American Institute 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 For more information, please e-mail preschool@gai-mn.org or call 651-353-5147. |
Kids Judge!
Science opportunity at Macalester for grade school students
Kids Judge! is an exciting and engaging event for 4th, 5th & 6th graders. The elementary students rotate through different presentations by college students taking a Brain, Mind and Behavior class. They may crawl through a brain, do a balancing test, a smell/taste test and other active learning experiences. The young students then judge these presentations and awards are given. The Saturday morning event includes a light breakfast and a pizza lunch. It's from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on December 3. Please contact Lee Olson at lolson4@macalester.edu or 651-696-6223 to reserve spots. Parents are welcome to attend or to drop children off.
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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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