Elternbrief, January 31th, 2013

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-

It was wonderful to see so many people turn out to discuss the planning for our new Como school site. We are very excited so many are putting forward their efforts to build a great new school.

FACITILITIES UPDATE

We met with both our new Como community members on Tuesday, and with our TCGIS community members Wednesday. Deb Rathman, our architect, made a presentation along with Rob Hennelly and myself. You can see the presentation by going to the link below and accessing it with the password sent to your email address:

http://tcgis.org/sites/tcgis.org/files/4/German%20Immersion%20brd%20_presentation%20protect.pdf

If you would like to give feedback on the presentation, please send comments to:

design@tcgis.org

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

This is a reminder to have K-3 students present by 5:45pm for the performance beginning at 6pm. There will be a 15-minute intermission from 6:45-7:00. Students in grades 4-8 should gather at the stage at this time for their performance from 7:00-7:45.
NEW LOCATION!!!-O'Shaughnessy Education Center at St. Thomas University.

PowerSchool Parent Portal for Elementary Students

The PowerSchool parent portal is now open for all grades. Elementary parents, please understand we are in the pilot phase on using the parent portal for grades K-4. Teachers are still in the learning process for this technology and are trying to put in a couple of assignments each week. We are still in the practice phase, so please be supportive and patient as we work to develop this communication tool on student progress.

MCA IMPORTANT DATE CHANGE!

The school has change the test dates of the MCA reading exams. Exams are now scheduled from Monday, March. 18 to Thursday, March 21. Please mark this change on your school calendars.

Let's all hope the groundhog does not see his shadow this weekend. I am eager for spring weather!

Take care,

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 vsolakhau@tcgis.org.

Thanks,
Valentin Solakhau
Performing Arts Teacher

Maskenball 2013 News

The Maskenball ticket sale starts tomorrow, Friday February 1st!

Friday, February 1 is also the deadline for auction donations and Great Gatherings.

So now is the time to submit your donation or Great Gatherings idea.

Check the Maskenball website for details: http://tcgis.org/Maskenball_2013

Thanks for your support!

The Maskenball Team

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: carolin.sommer@freenet.de

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.

Yearbook Updates

Now accepting photos!

The Yearbook class is in full swing working on the 2nd annual yearbook. However, we need more photos to fill it up! If you have any photos from class field trips, school performances, special occasions or candid classroom pics, please share them with us. If you have pictures to submit, please send them to Molly Kalda at mkalda@tcgis.org.

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.

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. 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

February 8th!

Our next Kaffeeklatsch is this Friday, February 8th! 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!

MCA Testing Updates

Date Change

We have changed some of the dates for MCA Testing at TCGIS. Testing will now start on Monday, March 18th and continue until Thursday, March 21st. Please mark your calendars!

MATHCOUNTS Club Kick-Off February 14th

During Recess and Lunch

The MATHCOUNTS Club Program is designed to increase enthusiasm for math. The Club will use resources provided by the National Program that are a great supplement to our middle school program. The activities foster a positive social atmosphere, with a focus on students working together as a club to earn recognition and rewards from the program. The club is open to all 6-8 grade students. It is free to join and will take place every other Friday during recess. Students should sign up in the Room 211 (Math/Spanish). If you have any questions feel free to contact Missy Morrissey.

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.