Elternbrief
Issue: 185
January 22, 2015
In This Issue
Friendly Traffic Flow Reminders
Meet the Spring Interns
Family Ski Day at Trollhaugen
Maskenball Update and Information
Wir schaffen Veränderung!
Are You an HR Professional?
Join the TCGIS Advisory Committee!
Social Hour is now K-8!
Give Kids a Smile!
February Lunch Orders Are Out
PTO Announcement
GAI Announcement

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Jan 22: School Board Meeting

Jan 23: Afternoon PTO Kaffeeklatsch

Jan 30: K-8 Social Hour

Feb 6: Morning PTO Kaffeklatsch

Feb 13: Professional Learning Day - No School

Feb 16: Presidents' Day - No School

 

If you are a current volunteer or would like to become one, please visit our volunteer page, read the instructions and fill out the online application.
Click HERE!
Administrative Information
Friendly Traffic Flow Reminders from TCGIS and Officer McGinn

Thank you for all of your efforts to improve traffic flow this year! There have been some huge improvements. Below are some friendly reminders on how we can keep improving. Great work everyone!

1.  Remember to stay in your cars during drop-off and pick-up. This keeps traffic moving quickly for everyone and avoids long backups. TCGIS staff will assist you. (Hot Spot: Van Slyke Ave. and Como Ave.)

2.  Leave a few feet between your vehicle and the edge of alleys/driveways. This allows drivers to better view oncoming traffic. (Hot Spots: The alley on Horton Ave. near Lexington Ave. around 3:15 and Argyle St. driveways around 3:15).

3.  Do not make U-turns in front of the school or in intersections. Parking is available is designated locations, which can be found on the TCGIS website listed below. (Hot Spots: Como and Oxford St. and Van Slyke Ave.)

4.  Stop for students and school buses in the area. Students from other schools are dropped-off in the area. Please make sure to watch out for children and school bus stop signs. (Hot Spot: Churchill)

5. Please pull up to the front of the drop-off and pick-up areas. This prevents traffic build up and allows the maximum number of vehicles to be loaded at one time. 

5.  Please continue to enter via the designated roads for each drop-off. When cars enter through other locations, it creates traffic disruption.

K-1: Enter from Lexington Ave. onto Horton Ave. (line up on Van Slyke Ave.) and exit via Chruchill St to Como Ave or Front Ave.

2-8: Enter Churchill St. to Jessamine Ave. to Argyle St. (line up on Argyle St.) and exit via Lexington Ave.

Pick-up and Drop-off Procedures can also be found here. Thank you!

 

Meet the Spring Interns!
A wonderful new group of interns is among us! The majority of the new interns have already arrived and have spent the week shadowing and learning about TCGIS, and a few more interns will join us in February! Click here to read about the great new group that we are so fortunate to have at TCGIS. We also want to say Vielen Dank to the Fall interns who are soon heading back 
to Germany!
Family Ski Day at Trollhaugen
Presidents' Day, Monday, February 16 2015

Where:Trollhaugen Outdoor Recreation Area  
2232 100th Avenue   
Dresser, Wisconsin 54009
          
When: February 16th 2015,  9.30 am Arrival

Because this is on a holiday, the group rate (for 20+ people) will be slightly higher than last year (unfortunately we could not book it on a Friday this year): 
Lift tickets: $16
Ski rentals: $18

There are complementary ski lessons for children 10 and older. 
Children under 10 may take a two hour ski lesson from 10 - 12 am for $27 per child. 

If you are interested or have questions, please email Manuela Thames and provide the following information: 
  • Name of each person (adults and children)
  • Age
  • Height 
  • Weight
  • Shoe Size

Maskenball Update!
Saturday, February 28 2015
 
Just 4 weeks to go until the Maskenball auction opens! Community events organized by parents, called "Great Gatherings," are some of the most popular items offered in the auction. (Equally popular are events hosted by teachers and staff, called "Admin Adventures & Teacher Treasures.") Whether it's a pizza party or wine tasting, bingo night or a camping trip, a Great Gathering is a fun way to get to know other adults, kids, or families in the TCGIS community. It's also a great way to raise money for our school! Click here to read more about Great Gatherings. Ready to submit your own idea? Click here to register your Great Gathering now. Contact Karen Arras or Katy Sanchez, Great Gatherings Co-coordinators, with any questions. Final submission deadline is Friday, February 6.

And don't forget about the party! Tickets for the Maskenball party go on sale Thursday, January 29, but you can start planning your outfit today! Seek inspiration in the number 7: the seven continents, colors of the rainbow, James Bond (007), lucky number 7... Make an entrance wearing a 7-inspired costume or mask, or simply come as you are. Need a new outfit or costume ideas? Stop by TCGIS parent Kitty Van Hofwegen's Everyday People store on Selby Ave. and mention "Maskenball" to receive 25% off your total purchase. 

Remember: Maskenball is the PTO's BIGGEST fundraiser of the year! Be a part of it!



Wir schaffen Veränderung - We Create Change

The service learning group that meets twice a week during student life is launching a fundraising campaign called "We Create Change" (Wir schaffen Veränderung).

 

It all starts with you digging around in your pocket, handbag, and junk drawers for some change. Regardless if it is a couple of pennies or a handful of quarters, it all adds up and can mean everything to a family. We will be "creating change" starting at the end of January 2015 until June 1, 2015. Poverty is a big challenge that affects billions of people around the world every day. Every $50 gives a goat to a family, providing nutritious milk and sustainable income for years to come!

 

All ages of students (K-8) and all adults who support our school vision, "educating children for informed and active world citizenship", are encouraged to bring coins to school and drop them in the large plastic containers marked "We Create Change" located at the front desk, in room 310 (service learning room), and room 314 (6-8 math room). Additionally, checks can also be made out to "Free the Children" with the memo: WE Code: 6AF4AB. This allows the donation to be tracked back to our school! Please drop checks off at the front desk or send them to the following address:

 

We Create Change

Pauline Wong, EPC

233 Carlton St.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M5A 2L2

 

The Global Service Learning Team will share facts about poverty, let you know the progress of our coin collections, and keep you informed about other upcoming campaigns/competitions to help us maintain "We Create Change" momentum!

 

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely, The Global Service Learning Team

 

Are You an HR Professional?
The TCGIS Board of Directors recently created a new subcommittee to provide oversight and develop policies concerning school personnel issues. The personnel committee is seeking a parent or community member with professional experience in employment law or human resource management to participate in the committee. Committee meetings will be held on a monthly basis.

If you have HR experience and would like to join the committee, please email the personnel committee chairperson, Kelly Laudon, at klaudon@tcgis.org to volunteer.

 

Now Taking Applications for the TCGIS Advisory Committee!                                

TCGIS is looking for parents, guardians, teachers and community members to serve on the TCGIS World's Best Workforce Advisory Committee. The Committee will meet at least two times a year to review academic standards and academic goals and measures. The school is looking to build a diverse Committee representing various grade level parents/guardians, teachers and support staff. Please find the application here. If you would like more information on the Advisory Committee, please see the Committee Charter here. Applications are due by Tuesday, February 17 and can be dropped off at the front office.

 

If you have questions or comments, please contact Ann Jurewicz at ajurewicz@tcgis.org or at 651-492-7106 

K-8 Social Hour
Friday, January 30, 2015
Our January social hour is now open to all families K-8! Join us for coffee and cookies and socializing in the foyer!
Friday, January 30, 2015
7:50-8:15am - parents/guardians gather in classrooms to visit with teachers and interns
8:15-8:30am - adults quietly observe Morning Circle
8:30-9:30am - gather in theCommons for coffee and parent/guardian connection
We look forward to seeing everyone who can make it!
Give Kids a Smile!

Participating dental clinics are now taking appointments for "Give Kids a Smile," a once-a-year opportunity for children in need. Give Kids a Smile is for any child whose family faces financial or other challenges accessing dental care. No eligibility questions are asked, in an effort to remove any possible barrier to care.

Here are the details:

When: Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7 (with some alternative dates)
Where: About 180 locations across the state. Use this online list to find a participating clinic or call United Way 2-1-1 for help in multiple languages.
How: Parents should call a clinic ASAP to secure an appointment for their child(ren).

Please take some time today to visit mndental.org/gkas for more information. 
The Minnesota Dental Association is committed to doing what it can to make quality care accessible to every child in Minnesota. 
February Lunch Orders Due Tomorrow!

Lunch order forms for February are in! Please find the regular lunch menu here and the gluten free menu here. Lunch orders are due in the front office by Friday, January 23. The menus can also be found on our website! 

Spirit Wear Pick-Up Starts Monday!
Monday, January 26 2015

The Spirit Wear sale was such a success--thank you to all who participated! All apparel has arrived and will be ready for pick-up starting on Monday, January 26. Please stop by the front office anytime next week to receive it. Wear it loud and wear it proud!
 
PTO

PTO Announcement


 Find out what's going on in the PTO. Click here to read more about:

  • Kaffeeklatsch - Friday, January 23 at 2:30pm
  • PTO Room - seeking furniture donations
  • February PTO meeting (2/10) - parent discussion

For the latest information, be sure to like our Facebook page

 

 

GAI
GAI Announcement

Grüezi! Celebrate Swiss culture at the GAI and learn the traditional Alpine singing technique of yodeling. The evening will also include a quick Swiss German lesson as well as a variety of Swiss treats.

The Germanic-American Institute will award one $500 scholarship to a GAI-member family so that their child may attend a German immersion language camp at Concordia Language Village in 2015. The completed application is due back to the GAI by April 1, 2015.