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| Elternbrief |
Weekly Newsletter for TCGIS Families September 27, 2012 | |
A Letter from Dr. Greener
Today is my final day as I officially hand over the reins of TCGIS to Ann Jurewicz, the new Director. Many thanks to the parent community for their support these past three months and for the many kind words as we saw each other in the morning. I will miss the smiling faces and I'm sure the kids will miss looking at my rather creative ties. Parents should be justifiably proud of TCGIS as it does its best to prepare its students in so many ways, not the least of which is to speak fluent German. Now that I've been reacquainted with the school, I fully intend on keeping in touch with Ann and hopefully staying involved as a spectator and supporter.
Parents can check today's City Pages in print and online for an ad about the school. The online ad will be run for one year and comes up when anyone searches online for the school. This is probably the most effective means today to get information into potential students' families' hands.
This week I received a request from the NaCel School in St. Paul asking if we knew of any families who would be willing to host a 15 year-old German student who is attending their school. For more information, you can contact Suzette Scheele at smscheele@comcast.net or at 612.799.2469. More information on the NaCel Open Door School can be found at www.nacelopendoor.org
Just a reminder to K-4 parents of the Curriculum Night tonight from 6:30-8 pm. For parents who have more than one child here in those grades, teachers will be giving two identical presentations, one at 6:30 and the other at approximately 7:15. This will enable both parents to attend both sessions. Specialists will be located in a separate area if parents have questions. The Curriculum night is designed to inform parents of the overall program and teachers will not be able to spend time answering questions about individual students. That is reserved for Parent Conferences in November.
Thank you,
Dr. Ken Greener
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A New Beginning with Ann Jurewicz
Dear TCGIS parents-
What a week it has been! Although I do not "officially" begin my post as your new Director until October 1st, I was able to get my first glimpse of the school's goings-on at the Middle School Curriculum Night, September 20th. It was very informative to hear directly how teachers, such as the talented Sylvia Roth and Trisha Groth (Grades 5), are challenging our young learners to think critically in all subject areas. I was also thankful to meet many of the wonderful parents in the community. Tonight, I will also attend the Elementary School Curriculum Night, where I look forward to meeting many more of you.
I must say, I feel genuinely blessed to be under the tutelage of the phenomenal Dr. Ken Greener, and I know that not only I, but also the entire TCIS community is tremendously grateful for the service he has provided in this transition. He has made my welcome very smooth indeed.
I, myself, was immersed of sorts into the German speaking community last weekend when ZfA hosted the German Immersion Conference at the GAI and TCGIS, an honor we enjoy every five years, from what I understand. We welcomed German teachers and administrators from Anchorage, Alaska, San Diego, California, Washington, DC, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin to discuss various themes and best practices in German immersion education. Our teachers were star presenters, including Missy Morrissey, Michelle Wallace, Elena Heindl and Elisa Schwalbach. After the opening reception at the GAI last Friday evening, we had the absolute pleasure of showcasing our wonderful string musicians and Blumenkranz dancers. It was the first time I saw these students in action, and I must say, Wunderbar!!! Thank you so much to Valentin Solukhau for all he has done to build this wonderful program.
I have been at the school half-days throughout this week, greeting the students at the door and getting to know many of the parents in the community. I look forward to getting to know many more of you at this coming Tuesday's PTO meeting at 6:30 pm on October 2nd.
In the meantime, we continue to work hard on the facilities question for next year, and our Facilities Committee is meeting this coming Monday, October 1st at 6:30pm for anyone interested in attending.
Finally, I would like to celebrate the kindergarten classes and their excellent behavior on Wednesday's field trip, or Wandertag, to the apple orchards in Minnetonka. The weather was almost as amazing as the parent volunteers who accompanied the students. Of course, this could not have been possible without the great leadership of our kindergarten teachers, Leah Steiner-Suter, Elena Heindl, and Stephanie Schulz, and the assistance of Amy Davis.
So as you can see, it has been quite a week! I look enthusiastically to officially joining the TCGIS team and bid a very fond farewell to Dr. Ken Greener as Interim Director.
Sincerely,
Ann Jurewicz
Director
TCGIS
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Upcoming Events
September
TONIGHT!-Elementary School Curriculum Night 6:30-8 pm
28- Kaffeeklatsch 8:00am
30- Maskenball Volunteer Meeting 1:30-3:00
October
2- School Picture Day
2- PTO meeting 6:30-8:00 pm
12- Kaffeeklatsch 8:00 am
12- Auflauf Cook-Off 6:00 pm
17- Early Release Day 12:45 pm
18- Teacher Work Day (No School)
19- Teacher Work Day (No School)
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Food Server Needed
Starting ASAP
 TCGIS is in need of a part-time food server for the lunch program. Training will be provided. Duties include helping to receive and inventory catered lunch items, preparing and serving lunch trays and cleaning of the kitchen area after lunch service. This is a minimum-wage paying position. The workday is from 10:30 am-1:30 pm Monday-Friday, on days that school is in session. The end date for the position is June 6th. If anyone is interested, please contact Sarah Bailey at sbailey@tcgis.org or (651) 492-7106. |
Picture Day!
Tuesday, October 2nd
On Monday we sent home order forms (envelopes) in your child's backpack for you to review and chose the photo package you would like to order. Please include your payment by check or cash and have your child bring in the envelope (one per student) in for picture day, October 2nd, or choose the convenient online payment option by visiting the studio's website at www.enstromstudios.com. Both portraits and group photos will be taken on that day. We are again in need of volunteers who
can help the photographers by getting the classes ready, making sure envelopes are marked correctly, checking names off of
lists, etc. Available shifts are 8:30am to 10:45am and 10:45am to 1:00pm. If you are willing to help, please contact Stefanie Berres at sberres@germanschool-mn.org. Volunteers will receive vouchers for complimentary photo packages (first come, first serve). For more information about the company, please visit their website.
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Elternkontakts Needed for Classrooms
 The Classroom Support Committee is setting up Elternkontakts for all classes. Elternkontakts are parent volunteers who help out with special classroom activities, field trips, and other events. Field trips are beginning, and it's important that each teacher have parents to count on for communication and organization of events; plus, it's a lot of fun! If you'd like to be an EK, please ask your child's teacher if there is a need or contact Committee Chair Cindy Miller at cynmillbea@hotmail.com.
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TCGIS Auflauf Cook-off and Community
Dinner - Tickets on Sale Now!
Friday, October 12th 6pm-8pm
Get out the casserole dishes! It's time to compete in the 4th Annual Auflauf
Cook-Off. The dish to beat is Kordula
Coleman's Gedeckte Koenigsberger
Klopse, which won top honors by both
our judges and attendees last year.
Our celebrity judges will choose winners
in three categories: German Traditional,
American Traditional, and the Rest of
the World. Once the judging gets going,
we will all join in a community dinner.
Don't forget to take notes and vote for
your favorite in the People's Choice.
There will also be a "Non-Judgmental" Dessert Buffet and a Kids Buffet - for
those who enjoy cooking but not the
competition. Feed your kids right away
at 6:00, if you'd like, and then send
them off to play in the Adventure Zone
play area while you eat and visit with
other guests.
Cook-off participants receive a reduced
ticket price. Click here to learn everything
you need to know about the Auflauf
Cook-off.
The Cook-off will be at the Salvation Army
Community Center at
2727 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis.
Space is limited!
Purchase your tickets without delay!
There are many ways to get involved with
the Auflauf Cook-off, so please check-out
VolunteerSpot to sign-up to volunteer!
Everything You Need To Know About Auflauf
link (Click here)
Registration Link (Purchase your tickets)
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Kinderclub Extended Care
For October Teacher Workdays
Kinderclub will be offering care on Thursday and Friday October 18th and 19th, from 8am-6pm (please inquire if you need early extended care starting at 6:30am - subject to minimum enrollment) during MEA Days. Sign up is required via electronic doodle link http://www.doodle.com/38pgtdkvru5snv97.
It is very important that parents sign up by the October 10th deadline, in order for Kinderclub to staff accordingly! The fee for school release days is $37.00/per child.
Please note: By signing up you are reserving a spot for your child and are therefore entering into a valid payment agreement as outlined in our Kinderclub Family Handbook. Other students could therefore potentially be turned away due to space and student /teacher ratios. Payment is due at the time of service.
Please contact Babett Larimer with any questions at blarimer@gai-mn.org.
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Tour Guides Needed
Get to know new TCGIS families
TCGIS needs your help in providing tours to prospective new families interested in enrolling their children in TCGIS. Tour guides are needed on Thursday mornings starting at 8:00am. Tours start at 8:15. For more info, please contact Sarah Bailey at sbailey@tcgis.org. |
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Kaffeeklatsch
Tomorrow !
At Kaffeeklatsch, the PTO sells coffee to the community with proceeds going back to support our teachers in the classroom in form of supplies, special project requests etc. This event is also a good occasion to get to know other parents of the school community. If you don't have time to stay for a while, you can be on your way to work with a freshly brewed cup of coffee! We usually start serving coffee around 8:15 by the front entrance.
A cup of coffee is $1.00 if you bring your own cup, or $1.25 if we provide you with a cup. We are also serving tea (you can choose between three kinds of teas. Hope to see you there! |
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Cereal Boxes Needed for Lantern Project
85 More Boxes Required
Please start bringing to school your empty cereal boxes. They are needed for the lanterns the elementary students will be making in Art Class for the German festival of Martinstag. Due to schedule changes, boxes are needed earlier than ever before! Please either drop them off in the art room or in the front office.
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Second Annual Book Fair
Thanks for a great success!
Thank you for making our second book fair a BIG success! We put $3110 worth of books into the hands of our students! I'm thrilled that the students and families love literacy! Since we take the profits from our fair in Scholastic dollars, that means we have a minimum of $1555 to use toward our next SMART Board. (final numbers are not calculated yet).
Please look out for more opportunities to order books through our Book Club online.
Plus we will have another FAIR themed 'The Story Laboratory' in the Spring -
April 15th - 19th.
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2012 Chinook Books Are HERE!
Buy a Coupon Book and Support the School
The 2012 Chinook Books are here! As always, the Chinook Book is full of coupons to help you save at local sustainable and community-oriented businesses. This year, Chinook Book is offering two options: A traditional book full of your favorite coupons, or a mobile coupon pack for your smartphone that has the same great coupons but is paperless.
The cost is $20 per book or $14 for a mobile pack and the TCGIS PTO keeps half of the cost to support our school community. Save money and support our school with Chinook Book!
Peruse this year's coupon book and pick up your copy of the book or the mobile pack in the front office at TCGIS. Checks are payable to the TCGIS PTO - please place cash or check payment in the TCGIS PTO box.
Questions? Contact Kate Olson at kathryn.a.olson@gmail.com.
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Maskenball 2013
Volunteers Needed!
The 2013 Maskenball theme is, like, totally awesome, because it will take you back to the '80s! Let's show those current young hipsters donning '80s garb what we're made of, because we've so been there! Dig out the scrunchies and the shoulder pads, and live out your yuppie fantasies, rock the Kasbah, do the Safety Dance, or just hang out with your school friends, with or without costumes. Enjoy high school party snacks, drinks, and live music from the real-deal Ol'Yeller, all night long!
And yes, thanks for asking, Maskenball 2013 needs your help! Maskenball is our biggest community gathering and fundraiser of the year. The Maskenball Committee needs your help to make this year's event as fun and successful as it can be. There are many different tasks, big and small, before or at the event - we've got something for everybody! So come join us for our first volunteer meeting:
Maskenball Volunteer Meeting
Sunday, September 30, 1:30-3:00,
at Heidi Zimmermann's house,
1048 26th Ave. SE, Minneapolis
Hope to see you there! (legwarmers optional)
The Maskenball Team
Questions? Call or email:
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Typewriters Needed
Old Machines find New Purpose
 Do you have old word processing machines or typewriters gathering dust in your attic or basement? Frau Kocher will take them off your hands! Students enjoy the novelty of typing on these machines, and the added pressure needed to manipulate the keys helps students build their typing skills. Frau Kocher is accepting donations and loans of machines through the school year. |
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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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