Elternbrief

Weekly Newsletter for TCGIS Families

January 24th, 2013

 
In this Issue
:: Upcoming Events
:: Letter from the Director
:: Carnival of Cultures
:: First Semester Grades
:: Tutoring
:: Kinderclub Registration
:: Study Opportunities in Germany
:: Maskenball
:: Adult Classes at GAI
:: Kaffeeklatsch
:: Yearbook
:: Science Experiment Materials Needed
:: Read to Feed
Upcoming Events
Calendar

January
24- Board Meeting 6:30 pm
25- Kaffeeklatsch 8:00 am
28- Study in Germany Presentation 6:30-8:30 pm
30- Facilities Committee Presentation 6:30-8:30pm

February
05- PTO Meeting 6:30-8:00 pm
07- Carnival of Cultures 6:00-8:00 pm
08- Kaffeeklatsch 8:00am
14- Kindergarten Applications Due
15- Teacher Workday, No School for Students
15- Kindergarten Lottery 9:00 am
18- President's Day, No School

Dear TCGIS community-

 

This week we certainly have gotten a taste of Old Man Winter! Please remember to bundle your children up for the cold weather so they stay warm for the outdoor recess!

 

FACITILITIES UPDATE, Wednesday, Jan. 30th 6:30-8:30pm

TCGIS invites parents and community members to join us on Wednesday, Jan. 30th from 6:30-8:30pm at TCGIS. You will have an opportunity to look at preliminary drawings for our new Como site and give feedback to our architect, Deb Rathman.

  

TCGIS on MPR

Listen to MPR (91.1 ) next week as we are sponsoring their programming. Let friends and family know about us, and our exciting move to our new home.

 

Study in Germany, Jan. 28th, 6:30-8:30pm

Anka Fehling and Susanne Ziemek from the German state will be giving a presentation on study opportunities in Germany for high school and college. All parents are welcome and students in the middle school may also attend. The event is Monday, Jan. 28th from 6:30-8:30pm.

 

Carnival of Cultures, Thursday, Feb. 7th, 6:00-8:00pm

Our grand winter event, Carnival of Cultures is only two weeks away! Please mark your calendars for Thursday, February 7th. Please plan to have students present by 5:45pm. NEW LOCATION!!!-O'Shaughnessy Education Center at St. Thomas University. This year's theme is Caf� International, celebrating the colors of life! For more information, see the article in this edition of the Elternbrief.

 

First Semester Grades and PowerSchool Parent Portal

First semester grades will be available starting this Friday, Jan. 25th for pick up by parents only at the front desk of TCGIS. Also, by Wednesday, January 30th, TCGIS will open the PowerSchool parent portal for all students, K-8. Parents and guardians can check on-going progress this semester, as well as access first semester assignments and grades electronically.

 

No Name Calling Week- a big thanks!

Thanks go out to the Social Climate Committee for making this week's No Name Calling Week a big success! Tomorrow, Friday, is our last dress up day. Please wear your favorite team's sports regalia, and if your favorite team is TCGIS, then wear your TCGIS spirit wear!

 

Thank you to all staff, parents and community members for their support of TCGIS children.

 

Sincerely,

Ann Jurewicz

Director

TCGIS

Carnival of Cultures 2013 
Cafe International

When: Feb. 7 (THU) at 6:00 pm
Where: The
O'Shaughnessy Education Center Auditorium (University of St. Thomas) 
We are proud to invite you to this year's Carnival of Cultures: Cafe International.

In some regions of Germany, the Carnival is the most important event of the year. We recall this old German tradition and celebrate the Carnival at TCGIS. We celebrate our cultural heritage and cultural diversity at the Carnival of Cultures in accordance with our school's mission.  

 

Whatever cultural tradition we touch it doesn't exist in isolation. It constantly collaborates with other traditions: it both learns from and influences others. In the Cafe International, the theme of this year, students will showcase not only the cultural variety of our world, but also the ways in which each culture connects to one another. Our special guests this year - Spielmannszug MN.

Due to our growing community, this year our event will be held in the O'Shaughnessy Education Center Auditorium at the University of St. Thomas. It is located between the intersection: Cleveland/Sibley and Cleveland/Summit. This spacious 600 seat auditorium should provide enough space for parents and friends to attend. Parking will be available at the Anderson Parking Facility located on the corner of Grand and Cretin Avenues. The parking rate after 4 PM is $1.00 per hour.

The event will start at 6 pm. Please consider to arrive at least by 5:45pm to give your children a chance to take off the outside clothes, find their classes and to familiarize themselves with the stage. Students in grades K-3 will be supervised by classroom teachers before their performance. The 3-4 first rows in the audience will be reserved for performers so that students can find a place there and watch the rest of the performance. During the intermission they will be able to find their parents and stay with them.


Schedule: 
6:00-6:45pm Part I K-3 with following themes and in following order:
  • Kindergarten - Germany
  • 1st grade - Asia
  • 2nd grade - Africa
  • 3rd grade  - Native Americans
6:45-7:00pm Intermission and Art Work Show

7:00-7:45pm Part II 4-8 with following themes and in following order:
  • 7th/8th grades - Austria  
  • 5th grade - Europe
  • 4th grade - America & African-Americans
  • 6th grade - German Cabaret
The Carnival is a colorful celebration of life. Therefore a nice costume will be appropriate.
Please discuss with your children what they would like to wear.There are no formal requirements to the costumes, just consider the following: If you and your children have a connection/affection/affinity to a specific culture - ethnic costumes will be perfect and very welcome! Other sources of inspiration could be flowers, birds, clowns etc. A nice evening dress will work as well.

Two limitations: 

PLEASE, do not mix up this event with Halloween - no Halloween attire.
PLEASE, no winter shoes on stage.

You can find some information about the Carnival of Cultures online at  http://sites.google.com/a/germanschool-mn.org/music/fundus/carnival-of-cultures

If you would like to volunteer and help during this event or with transportation of instruments and costumes please contact Valentin Solakhau at [email protected].
 
Thanks,
Valentin Solakhau
Performing Arts Teacher 
First Semester Grades

Parents/guardians may pick up copies of their child's first semester grades beginning Friday, Jan. 25 at the front office.  Grade reports will be available to parents only, and can be picked up through next week.

Intern offering Tutoring services 

 

Dear parents,

My name is Carolin and I am one of the German spring interns. I studied English, Spanish and German as a second language and I am 26 years old. I am interested in offering German and Spanish tutoring for students of any grade until the end of the school year. Tutoring could take place at school after classes Monday-Thursday. 

If you are interested, please contact me by e-mail: [email protected] 

Best regards,

Carolin

Kinderclub Registration
Friday, Feb. 15th

Please use the following link to sign up your child for care on the school release day Friday, February 15th. We will operate from 8am - 6pm. Rate $37/per child.
Early sign up is always encouraged! No sign up after Wednesday February 6th will be able to be accommodated this time.
Thank you for your cooperation!
 
http://www.doodle.com/47mgiv7iifkbt6zr

Please note: Kinderclub as well as the TCGIS is closed on Monday, February 18th in observance of President's Day.

Study Opportunities in Germany
Monday, January 28, 6:30 pm-8:00pm

Susanne Ziemek and Anka Fehling for the German state will be presenting Monday night on opportunities for students to attend either German high school or German university.  After the presentation there will be time for Q&A. Parents and guardians of all students are welcome to attend. Please, only children from grades 5-8 may accompany parents to the presentation.

Maskenball 2013 is now online 
 
Get into the Groove and check out the Maskenball website that is now live! Go to www.tcgis.org/maskenball_2013
for information about the online auction, ticket sales, the event location, what will be going on at the party, and more!

Thanks for stopping by!
The Maskenball Team

2013 Adult Classes at the GAI!

 

Get a start on that New Year's resolution and register for a language class at the Germanic-American Institute today! We offer all levels of German, from absolute beginner to C1 fluency.  Plus, there's a discount if you register by January 21st!  Registration is available online at www.gai-mn.org/classes or by calling Language Services at 651.222.2979.

 

Spring Adult Classes

G100: Mondays, 2/4-6/17
G100 accelerated: Thursdays, 2/7-6/13
G200: Tuesdays, 2/5-6/11
G200: Wednesdays, 2/6-6/12
G300: Mondays, 2/4-6/17
G400: Thursdays, 2/7-6/13
G500: Tuesdays, 2/5-6/11
G600: Wednesdays, 2/6-6/12
AMR: Wednesdays, 2/20-5/15

C-1 Oberkurs: Mondays, 2/25-5/20

 

 

Kaffeeklatsch
This Friday!
Coffee
Our next Kaffeeklatsch is this Friday, January 25th! We usually start serving coffee by 8:05am in the Front Lobby entrance.  A suggested donation for 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! Now also selling Coffee Cards for your convenience: $8 (with cup), $10 (w/o cup)!! No more searching for dollar bills necessary!

Yearbook Updates
Now accepting photos!

The Yearbook class is holding a contest for the book cover art. All grades are encouraged to submit their artwork to Molly Kalda by March 1st. The yearbook team will be voting on which pictures should be on which cover. First place gets the front cover, and second place gets the back cover. The first place winner will receive a free yearbook! We are also collecting additional pictures for the inside of the book. Any parents who have pictures of the school or school-related activities should submit them to Molly at [email protected]. You can send your pictures anytime!

Thanks!

Glass Jars Needed for Science Class

Second grade's science class needs your help! Frau Kocher is working on a science experiment with the second grade which requires glass jars with lids. Baby food jars, jelly, and jam jars are perfect sizes.  Please rinse and dry jars prior to dropping off.

Vielen Dank!

Fourth Graders Read to Feed
Help them raise money for Heifer International

The Fourth Grade English class is participating in the second annual Read to Feed program and we'd like to invite you to help us!  Read to Feed is a program of Heifer International that encourages children to be a part of Heifer's mission to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth.  Last year our fourth graders raised over $2500!!

Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income.  Heifer is currently working in 40 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities, become more self-reliant.  

The Read to Feed program encourages reading skills while teaching students how they can empower families around the world with the gift of livestock.  Children are recruiting sponsors for their reading goals from January 7th to March 2nd.  At the end of the program, the fourth graders will pool, calculate, and donate the funds to Heifer International to assist families around the world. 

If you wish to help us in our efforts, please visit our "Team" page to donate with a credit card or leave a check with Molly at the front desk!  Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students and the lives of countless others!!

Organizer: Michelle Wallace, 3/4 English Teacher

Educating Children for Informed and Active World Citizenship

 


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.