Oct 22: School Board Meeting

Oct 30: Halloween Parade

Nov 2-6: Scholastic Book Fair

Nov 5-6: Parent Teacher Conferences

Nov 8: Martinstag at the Landmark Center

Nov 10: Picture Retake Day

Nov 12: Give to the Max Day

Nov 19: School Board Meeting

Nov 20: K-8 Morning Circle/Kaffeeklatch

Nov 25: Early Release 12:45pm

Nov 26-27: Thanksgiving Break

Nov 30: Professional Learning Day

Volunteer at TCGIS!

Take a look at current volunteer opportunities! If you are not yet a volunteer, but are interested in becoming one - please fill out an application here. Vielen Dank!

Administrative Information

Welcome Realschule Borghorst

Today we welcomed our visiting exchange students from Germany! Our visitors arrived last night at the airport and spent their first day with our 8th graders at the Minneapolis Library and Mall of America.

We're looking forward to two weeks of German-American cultural exchange!

Join Us For Our Halloween Parade!

Friday, October 30, 2:15-3:00pm at TCGIS

We are looking forward to a fabulous, safe and creative Halloween enjoyed by all students! Each teacher is sending out ideas for costumes and classroom party ideas, so watch for that in your weekly teacher updates. With good weather, we are hoping for a parade at the end of the day, making for another great opportunity for parents to connect with the school! Please get your cameras ready and come to enjoy the fun and creativity from 2:15-3:00 on Friday, October 30!

All parents are welcome for the end of the day parade!

We NEED You!

The busing program appears to be going well. However, we cannot determine exactly how well without your assistance.

We are requesting ALL Families please place your bus seat order(s) through TCGISorderlunches.com.The amount you pledge once you log in is up to you.

Important Bus Links

TCGIS.Orderlunches.com - for families to submit the monthly donation.

Drop off Policy - what happens if an adult is not at the stop.

Bus Change order - NEW:***please use 24 hours in advance of the change**

Bus Behavior Agreement - please sign and return to your child's homeroom teacher

Bus Stops & Times - used to see the times each bus is at each stop AM, PM & Early Release

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Wallace - mwallace@tcgis.org.

Parent Teacher Conferences Sign-Up Open Now

The online parent portal for parent teacher conferences opened this week and will remain open until Monday, November 2 at 5:00pm. Conferences this fall are November 5 & 6. To login you will need a master password, fall2k15

Before you log in, we suggest that you have the following information:

1. A list of all the teachers you would like to see. The online conference system will not tell you the names of your children's teachers.

2. The times you would like to have conferences. The system will tell you the available slots for all teachers. If the teachers you wish to see are not available, contact them to schedule an alternative time for a conference.

For further information, please find the attached parent letter, parent overview, and user guide.

Child Safety at TCGIS

Please click here for information on safety at TCGIS. It includes information on keeping the students safe during recess, Kinderclub and during school hours.

Kinderclub -- Last Reminder to Order for November

ACTION REQUIRED BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23

This is a reminder to all Kinderclub families with a yearly or monthly contract. We are now using the Orderlunches online payment system. If you have not already done so, please click on this link to order and pay for all care you need in November. Any care not ordered and paid for by the 10/23 deadline will be considered "drop in" and charged at the higher rate.

Drop-in care will continue to be arranged by email with the Kinderclub Director, and will be added to each families' Orderlunches shopping cart the month following care.

Join the First Co-Ed TCGIS Basketball Team!

This w

inter TCGIS will be putting together its first co-ed basketball teams for middle school. Players of all skill levels are encouraged to sign-up and join Herr Prater for an awesome season! Practices and games will be held after school. Stay tuned for more information but mark your calendars--the season will run from December 2 - February 12! As soon as game days are decided, a practice schedule will be created and shared with the community. Herr Prater is really excited to bring basketball to TCGIS, and is looking forward to coaching our middle school students!

Help Save the Box Tops!

Keep Box Tops out of the garbage with one of these nifty collection containers. You can help increase Box Tops donations by placing one of these collection containers in your work place, business, church, favorite coffee shop...so many possibilities!

These silly little Box Tops really add up. So far this year TCGIS has collected over $750.00! If you are able to help, the containers are available for pick up at the school office.

Scholastic Book Fair -- November 2-6

Details for the book fair:

Dates: November 2-6.

Times: Mon. - Wed. : 3:30-5:30

Thurs. : 4:00-7:15

Fri.: 8:15- 3:00.

Place: Room 112

In addition to being able to purchase amazing new books at the scholastic book fair, we will be conducting a Book Drive to help out a less fortunate school. We will be collecting gently used or new picture books to donate to a kindergarten class in need. Please drop them off at the Book Fair in room 112. The first 275 people to donate a book(s) will receive a fun, bright, "Read" bracelet!

We are offering online ordering this year as well! The dates for online ordering are Oct. 28 to Nov. 10. Click here for the website.

Interested in helping out at the book fair? Click here to sign up now!

Bring in Your Old Shoes!

This month we will be collecting your gently used shoes for a charity called Shoe Away Hunger. We will have bins throughout the school for your donations in the next month. Thank you for donating!

Picture Retake Day - November 10

Around the end of October/early November, all students will receive a proof of their picture day photo or a completed photo order.

Not happy with the proof or the order? Smile big for retake day on November 10! If students would like their picture retaken, all they need to do is bring either their proof OR their order to the photographers on retake day. A parent volunteer Included with each proof is information on how to place an order after you've seen your proof.

Individual MCA Results Are Here

TCGIS has received paper copies of the 2014-2015 MCA results. You are certainly welcome to pick up your child's results in the main office starting immediately. However, for your convenience, teachers will also have all individual results ready for hand out at parent/teacher conferences November 5-6. Any remaining results after that time will be personally mailed to your homes.

Please let us know if you have questions.

Germanic American Institute

Puppet & Mask Workshops for Adults and Kids

This fall the GAI is hosting two workshops for the crafty kid or adult in the family.

German Folklore for Kids: Naughty Nisse and Crafty Kobolde Puppets

For three Saturdays, kids can join Seth Eberle, an In The Heart of the Beast and Three River's Parks teaching artist, in making kobolde and other creature puppets, and learn to puppeteer a short show for the last day. The first session is November 7th--in just 2 weeks! Click here for more information and to register!

Krampus Mask Making

For adults and teens 16 and older, spend a four-day intensive learning frommaster craftsman Paul Robinson, Puppeteers of America Executive Director and former Managing Director of In the Heart of the Beast. Each evening, from November 30 to December 3, participants will not only be guided in the steps to design, sculpt, mache and adorn a Krampus mask, but every participant will be individually coached to bring to life their specific artistic ambitions for the project. This is a wonderful opportunity to develop your artistic skills and to have a high-quality mask in time for Krampustag. Click here for more info and to register!

PTO

PTO Community Auction - Last Day to Register Your Event

Friday, October 23, is the last day to register your great idea, event, or donation for the PTO Community Auction. The PTO Community Auction is a great way to support the school and build community among TCGIS families. Please consider hosting Great Gatherings, Teacher Treasures & Admin Adventures, or donating Personal Pieces. Learn more and register your event on the PTO Community Auction web page. Questions? Contact Becky Deimel and Astrid Knott Johnson at TCGISAuction@gmail.com.

Please note: the fall strudel sale will be part of the November auction - click here for more information!