Elternbrief
Issue: 124
October 3rd, 2013 
In This Issue
German Unity Day
Picture Day
Cereal and Oatmeal Boxes
Special Ed Advisory Committee
PTO Parent Panel Night
PTO Meet-ups
Craft and Bake Sale
GAI Annual Gala Fundraiser
Substitute Teachers Wanted
Quick Links
Dear TCGIS parents and community,

 

We are looking forward to seeing you all tonight at Curriculum Night!  Remember, there are baby sitting services provided from 5:15pm-8:30pm for those needing it.

 

Parent Friday Social Hour in School!!!

On Friday, October 11th from 2:45-3:10 we invite all parents into the school to come to teachers' classrooms, visit and pick up their children.  We hope this opportunity will help with community connections.  If parents are not able to make it into the school, we will still have pick up in the usual fashion at 3:15 on Van Slyke and Como Avenues.

 

PowerSchool Parent Portal coming October 11th!

As we prepare to launch the PowerSchool Parent Portal, we are distributing an agreement letter for "acceptable use" of the TCGIS PowerSchool Parent Portal. Please click here and read this letter carefully.  On October 11th, you will be able to sign up or log into the parent portal.  By doing so, you will be agreeing to the terms and conditions of acceptable use of the system.  Students in the 5th-8th grade classes will also receive a similar student letter as middle school students will have the opportunity to log in to the portal as well. Login passwords with instructions will be sent out next week and we are preparing a series of video podcasts to provide instructions on how to log into the system.

 

Danke Sch�n!

 

Ann Jurewicz

Executive Director

Happy German Unity Day!
23rd Annual Day of German Unity

On this day in 1990, East and West Germany were officially reunited into one nation. This holiday is celebrated across Germany every year. TCGIS would like to wish our community a happy Unity Day. For more information on the holiday please visit this site.
 
Picture Day Update

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Picture Day this year was a great success! TCGIS would like to thank parent volunteers Katheryn Mueller and Anna Earle Alderete as well as Enstrom Studios for a great picture day.

Cereal and Oatmeal Boxes
Martinstag

Please bring in your cereal boxes and round oatmeal boxes!  Frau Lenburg will be needing them in October to make lanterns with the Kindergarten through third graders for the annual Martinstag celebration.  At last count she still needs 15 oatmeal boxes and 160 cereal boxes.  Additionally, anyone interested in helping to prepare the boxes for the art classes can email Frau Lenburg directly at [email protected].  Empty boxes can be brought to the office or sent to the classroom with your student.  Danke!

 

Special Education Advisory Committee 
Parents of Students receiving Special Education Services 
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We invite you to join our Special Education Advisory Committee.  Your input is important.  Your commitment will be attending a few short meetings throughout the year. Anyone interested should contact [email protected].

Thanks for your support.

The Sped Team 

Join Us for the PTO New Parent Panel Night! 
Tuesday, October 8, 6:30-8:00 pm in the TCGIS Cafeteria

 

The PTO is offering this Panel Night as a way to orient new families to TCGIS. If you are new(er) to TCGIS, please consider attending. New parents will be given the opportunity to ask any questions they may have, such as:

 

  • What is the overall structure at TCGIS (Board, Board Committees, Administration, Teachers, PTO)?
  • Questions around the day-to-day logistics (lost & found, how to submit & pay for school lunches, volunteering at TCGIS, etc.)  
  • Who do I go to when I have a question re: ____________?

 

Unfortunately, we will not be able to entertain any questions regarding teacher unionization.

 

Feel free to submit your questions in advance to [email protected]. You will also be able to submit questions in writing or ask them verbally at Panel Night.

 

RSVP & Childcare

In order to help us plan for setup, please RSVP your attendance. If you would like free, PTO-sponsored childcare provided by TCGIS Interns, then you must RSVP. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to help settle your child(ren) in before the meeting begins. 

 

The After Party

Please consider joining us after the meeting at Como Park Grill.

 

Questions

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact PTO President Kami Blackwell Kinney at  [email protected].

 

Documents  

October 8 Meeting Documents:

 

Be sure to TCGIS PTO Facebook page for all the latest and greatest information!


 

PTO Meet-Ups

The PTO Meet-Up Committee is creating lots of opportunities to foster the TCGIS sense of community!

 

Walk around Lake Como: Tuesdays at 2:30 pm, Wednesdays at 8:30 am, Thursdays at 2:30 pm. Meet at entrance to Black Bear Crossings. Weather permitting.

 

Como Playground: Playtime following afternoon pick up on Monday, October 7 & Tuesday, October 15. The Como Playground is off Midway Parkway across from Como Town. Weather permitting.

 

Kaffeeklatsch:Friday, October 11, 8:00 am at Black Bear Crossings (upstairs loft area).

 

Afton Apple Orchard Outing: Sticking around town during Fall Break? Join TCGIS friends at Afton Apple Orchard on Friday, October 18, 2-5 pm. They have pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, a huge climbing area/playground, small petting zoo, and a corn maze. (www.aftonapple.com)

 

Cost is $3/person ages 5 & up, and $2/person 4 & under. (There are extra costs for apples, pumpkins, and corn maze, but the playground and hayrides are free.) We will stake our claim to a few picnic tables near the playground as a home base, and everyone can do whichever activities appeal. This event will be weather permitting.

 

RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/m98qanm or [email protected].
Attention All TCGIS Craft Folks! 

 

It's time to get your knitting needles out, your sewing machine ready, and your beads strung. The TCGIS PTO Craft and Bake Sale is only 6 weeks away.

 

This year's sale will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2:30-6:00 pm and Thursday, November 14 from 8:00-9:00am and 2:30-6:00 pm at the Mission Orthodox Presbyterian Church. We will accept all types of crafts, canned goods, and crafts made by our own students. If you are not into the craft arts, we will need food makers too. Look for more details about the sale to follow.

 

If you have questions or would like to help at the event, contact Heidi Zimmermann at [email protected].

 
Five-Course Winetasting at the GAI

Who: Germanic-American Institute

What: Five-Course Wine Tasting Dinner

Where: 301 Summit Avenue, St. Paul

When: October 26, 2013

Time: 6:00pm

Price: $85 for GAI members,
$100 for non-members

 

Join us October 26 for the Five-Course Winetasting Dinner, the GAI's annual gala-style fundraiser. This year's proceeds will go toward the Haus renovation project, which helps us maintain our historic Summit Avenue mansion.

 

Katrin Erdmann, the GAI's Director of Event Services, has put together a delectable menu, featuring herb-crusted pork tenderloin and pan-fried semolina dumplings. Wine expert Jennifer Chou, of The Savvy Grape, will educate guests about each of the five European wines accompanying the meal. Ambient music will be provided by classical guitarist Jim Falbo throughout the event.  

 

NEW THIS YEAR: Guests are invited to participate in the optional cigars and cognac available for purchase following the dinner.

Reservations can be made online from our website:  www.gai-mn.org.

Prepayment by check or credit card by Monday, October 21 is required. Parties of six or more may reserve a private table by contacting the office at 651.222.7027. Once the office has received your payment, we will send your tickets via postal mail, or we may hold them at the door. Please provide us with your mailing address upon reservation.  

Substitute Teachers Wanted! studen-teacher-sm.jpg

Interested in helping out at school? Why not try substitute teaching! German fluency is preferred, but not required. Those interested must have a four-year degree. If you are interested, please contact Molly at [email protected] for more information. Thank you!