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| Elternbrief |
Weekly Newsletter for TCGIS Families May 31, 2012 | |
 | | Annika Fjelstad, TCGIS Director |
Dear Families,
This marks our final Elternbrief of the year. 2011-2012 has marked many successes for the TCGIS community. It's hard to isolate a few key stories among the many, and it is certainly difficult to begin thanking individuals when there are so many that make this community successful. A few highlights of the year include:
- Dramatically increased MCA III Math scores. Thanks to all classroom teachers, with a special shout-out to Missy Morrissey, Amy Davis, Susan Kocher, Yvonne Kuhn, Nicole Halvorson, Hunter Goetzman and Sarah Bailey.
- Major progress on curriculum alignment and documentation. Thanks to all of our teachers, with special thanks to Michelle Wallace and Katie Stephens for their leadership.
- A fully enrolled third Kindergarten for next school year. Special thanks to Elena Heindl and to the Marketing Committee: Julie Elias, Chris Weimholt, Molly Illes, Cindy Miller, Kelly Huxmann, Marilee Tuite and Amy Ireland.
- A successful launch of our Middle School, with nationally recognized World Savvy scholars to show for it. Thanks to Katie Stephens, Khrisslyn Goodman, Cornelia Fritsche, Elisa Schwalbach, Amy Lenburg, Valentin Solakhau and Laura Mueller.
- A more structured and affordable afterschool activities program. Thank you to Amy Davis and Molly Kalda.
- 100% compliance on the state's audit of our Special Ed Progam. Thank you to Anne Kile, Denise Stegmann and Amy Davis.
- A clean audit. Thanks to the Finance Committee: Renee Moelders, Andrew Oxenham, Colin Kreuziger, Michael Dorneich, Kim Kömpel and Mary Zellmer-Bruhn. Thank you as well to our accountants at BKDA.
- Majorly improved tech support. Thanks to Sarah Bailey, the Board and the Tech Committee: Peter Clark, Jesse Zibble, Peter Huxmann, Aaron Grenz, David Morrissey and John Holmlund.
- An improved support structure for our ever-growing Amity intern program. Thanks to Amy Davis, Elena Heindl and the Amity Committee: Ina Elliot, Nicole Grenz, Darcy Rindelaub, Mary-Fred Bausman-Watkins, Andrea Zibble, Sylvia Oxenham and many, many host families.
- A new Literacy Plan posted on the website and formal literacy assessments implemented in grades K-2 per state requirements. Thanks to Michelle Wallace and the K-2 teachers.
- A great classroom schedule for 2012-2013--thank you to Britta Walker.
- 268 happy, inquisitive, bilingual active world citizens - thanks to the teachers, staff and our supportive TCGIS community!
I'd also like to extend a very deep thank you to each of this year's Amity interns for their work and dedication to our students. A volunteer event at the GAI on June 5th will more inclusively thank the many, many, many individuals whose hands played a part in enriching this community. Thank YOU for the part you played!
I also send out special thanks and greetings to staff who will not be returning next year: Esther Eufinger, Alice Gerard, Yvonne Kuhn, Michelle Knoll, Cornelia Fritsche, Laura Mueller and Leigh York. Their efforts, spirits and insights will be hard to replace.
Next week, June 2nd - 10th, is Bike Walk Week, and Thursday, June 7th is official Bike Walk to Work or School Day. Join me by registering here and throwing on a helmet to ride your bike to school to celebrate the culmination of a great school year and to kick of the summer with sustainable alternative transportation.
We look forward to seeing many families at the picnic at Newell Park next Thursday, June 7th to wish you well for the upcoming summer months.
Thanks for all that you do to support your children and the school,
Annika Fjelstad
Director, TCGIS
651-492-7106, ext. 103
afjelstad@tcgis.org
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 Upcoming Dates
Save the Date 
JUNE 1 - 8:05 AM - Kaffeeklatsch 5 - 6:00 - 6:30 PM, PTO meeting 5 - 6:30 PM, Volunteer Appreciation Event 7 -11 AM - 2 PM, End-of-the-Year Picnic For the complete school calendar, click here. |
TCGIS Volunteer Appreciation Event
Join us at 6:30 PM on June 5
 It's time for us to say THANK YOU to our wonderful volunteers! If you have helped out at TCGIS in any way over the course of the year, please join us for our volunteer appreciation event after the PTO meeting on June 5th. The PTO meeting will end at 6:30, so join us then for appetizers and beverages at the Germanic-American Institute (301 Summit Avenue, St. Paul). We hope to see you there!
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PTO Meeting Next Week
June 5th, 6:00 - 6:30
The PTO meeting will be held from 6:00 - 6:30 at the GAI (301 Summit Avenue) just prior to the volunteer appreciation event. Meeting Documents: Agenda May Meeting Minutes 2012-2013 PTO Budget |
Last Kaffeeklatsch of the Year!
Friday, June 1 at 8:05 AM
 It is time for the last Kaffeeklatsch of the school year! It will be held this Friday, June 1 in the front lobby entrance. We start serving coffee by 8:05 AM. A cup of coffee or tea is $1.00 if you bring your own cup, or $1.25 if we provide you with a cup. All proceeds go to the PTO. |
Donate Your Old Toys to Kinderclub!
Kinderclub looking for toy donations
Kinderclub is looking for used toy donations! Did your Spring cleaning leave you with a bunch of toys your kids no longer use or want? Well, one child's boring "old stuff" is another child's exciting "new stuff"! If you have any gently used, fully functional age-appropriate (K-7) toys to donate, we would be very thankful and happy to receive them! Just drop them off in the afternoon with our Kinderclub staff in the basement/music room or with the office staff!
Things we have already: board games, wooden blocks, books. Things we'd love to have more of: Legos, Littlest Pet Shop, dolls/doll clothes, activity items, crafts, coloring books, and more!
Thank you in advance! |
6th Grade Trip to Waldsee
6th-graders visit the Concordia Language Village
The 6th-graders returned from a four-day trip to the Concordia Language Village-Waldsee near Bemidji. It was an unforgettable week of extraordinary science experiments, outdoor adventures and community building. The students stayed at the first certified "Passive house" in the U.S., Waldsee's "Biohaus," and studied its environmental advantages. They sang and danced like crazy and even enjoyed sauna visits. This is definitely a trip that the lower grades can look forward to. |
Please Check the Lost and Found
See if your children have lost any of their belongings
The end of the school year is coming soon, and our lost and found is overflowing! Please check for your child's jackets, clothes, shoes, lunchboxes, etc. The lost and found is located in the front office, and will be moved outside on Fridays at pick-up if weather permits. All items still at the school on June 14th will be donated.
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Construction Update
Updates for your commute to school
 Construction on the Central Corridor LRT continues. Please watch for the following intersection and lane closures that may affect your commute to TCGIS:
-Cleveland is closed at University to north-south traffic for approximately two weeks. -North-south traffic at Snelling & University is restricted to outside lanes with one lane in each direction. North-south left turns are prohibited. -Hamline & University is closed to north-south traffic on the north side.
The traffic restrictions at Snelling may make your ride to school more complicated; please utilize north-south crossings at Aldine and Fairview as needed. Please click here for the most current construction information. We know that the constant construction has been frustrating--thank you for your patience during the construction this year.
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End-of-the-Year Picnic
Thursday, June 7th, 11 AM - 2 PM
 Please join us for our end-of-the-year picnic at Newell Park (at the intersection of Fairview Ave & Hewitt Ave, St. Paul)! Students will walk with their classroom teachers to the park at 11 AM, and will be back at school at 2:00 PM for early release pick-up.
We are still looking for volunteers for the picnic. We need volunteers to help with grilling, security and games. Please let us know if you are able to help out and tell us which shift you would prefer (10 - 11:30 or 11:30 - 1). Please contact Amy Davis at adavis@germanschool-mn.org if you would like to volunteer.
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TCGIS Summer School
Session runs June 16 to August 16
 Hunter Goetzman, 4th grade teacher, is offering a summer school immersion program this summer. The classes are designed around speaking, writing and reading important vocabulary for the upcoming year. The program will consist of weekly vocabulary lists, writing assignments and reading groups, and is ideal for students entering 1st through 5th grades. This will not be operated as a school-aged day care, but rather as a way to support students academically who have little or no exposure to German through the summer months.
Sessions will run June 16 to August 16, and will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There will be morning (9-11:45) and afternoon (12:15-3) sessions, and students can attend one or both. Cost is $20 per session, but there is a 5% discount for enrolling for three days in a week. For more detailed information, send an email to hgoetzman@germanschool-mn.org, and visit Herr Goetzman's website by clicking here.
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Yearbooks Still Available
Available for purchase at the front desk
The yearbooks are here! If you have not picked one up yet, there is still time! Swing by the office and pick up your copy before they are gone. Cost is $15 and all proceeds go towards the 8th Grade Capstone Experience. Only a few remain - get yours today!
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Introducing Next Year's Amity Interns!
Help us welcome these interns next fall
 Christina Schmidpeter is a student at the University of Eichstätt. She is studying art and elementary school teaching. Christina is from Stammham, which is near Ingolstadt. Her interests include painting, traveling, skiing, cooking and meeting friends.
 Steffi Mekacher is studying to be an elementary teacher at Pädagogische Hochshule in Berne, Switzerland. Her hometown is Zϋrich. She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors and meeting new people. Steffi also plays piano, guitar, badminton, volleyball and soccer. She was a scout leader and loves to spend time with kids.
 Vanessa Klaes is studying English and Spanish at University Saarland. She is also studying to be a secondary educator. Her hometown is Riegelsberg, which is close to the French border. Vanessa enjoys traveling, going to the gym, reading, swimming and going out with friends.
 Christiane Menger is studying to become a teacher at Julius-Maximilians University. She is also studying German and English. She is originally from Ulm, but is currently living in Wϋrzburg. Christiane enjoys traveling, arts, cooking, meeting friends and playing sports.
 Cagla Kazek is a studying to become a teacher at the University of Duisburg-Essen. She is studying English and design technology. Her hometown is Gelsenkirchen. Cagla enjoys traveling, soccer, art and design, spending time with family and friends and listening to music. She also enjoys immersing herself in foreign cultures.
 Alexander Limper is a student at University of Passau. He is studying to become a secondary teacher in geography and English. He is originally from Lindenberg im Allgäu, which is a small town near the Alps. He enjoys spending time with friends, traveling to foreign countries and getting to know different cultures. Alexander loves to go skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking. In the summer, he loves to be outdoors and swim. He also plays the drums and piano.
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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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