Elternbrief
Issue: 220      
October 29, 2015
In This Issue
October Board Meeting Recap
Give to the Max 2015
Halloween Parade Tomorrow
Welcome to Realschule Borghorst
Martinstag November 8
Picture Retake Day
PTC Sign Up Closes Monday
SEAC Meeting: Save the Date
Scholastic Book Fair Nov 2-6
Save the Box Tops
Bring in Your Old Shoes
Literacy Tip from Gesa Zinn
GAI Announcement
PTO Announcement

Quick Links
TCGIS Online Calendar

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!
Like us on Facebook
Administrative Information
October Board Meeting Recap & Video
 
 Please find the board recap here and the video of the meeting here.
Give to the Max 2015
Don't forget to support TCGIS as part of Give to the Max Day on November 12. All gifts will be matched thanks to a group of dedicated and generous parents and board members who have already provided a strong foundation of $13,000. This means every dollar you give will be doubled!

We would like to see 100% community participation, and gifts are accepted and appreciated at all levels. Currently we are at 5% participation, so let's get giving!
Join Us For Our Halloween Parade & Flashmob Dance!
Friday, October 30, 2:15-3:00pm at TCGIS

We are looking forward to a fabulous, safe and creative Halloween enjoyed by all students! Weather permitting we will have a parade and FLASHMOB DANCE outside! Please get your cameras ready and come to enjoy the fun and creativity from 2:15-3:00 tomorrow!
 
Welcome Realschule Borghorst!

Last week our German exchange students from Borghorst arrived in Minnesota and this week they toured Chicago! Interested in seeing what else they've been up to? Check out their Tumblr!

Remember: Martinstag on November 8!

Martinstag lantern update: The K-3rd graders are busy in art class creating their lanterns for the Martinstag celebration!  They will be sent home late next week. This year, TCGIS will be selling battery-operated tea lights at the event Sunday, November 8 for lighting the lanterns. If you would like, bring along a short stick to hang your lantern by- and your lantern, of course!

All participating artists please arrive ahead of time, cast call is at 3:30pm at the Landmark Center:
  • TCGIS Band
  • 5th grade (scenes, songs & dances)
  • 4th grade (a song)
  • 2nd grade (songs and scenes)
  • Blumenkranz (dances)
  • some 7/8th graders (final scene)

See you on November 8 at the Landmark Center! 

Picture Retake Day - November 10

Students should have come home this week with either their picture orders or proofs. 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. Interested in placing an order? The proofs will have this information. 
Parent Teacher Conferences Sign-Up Closes Monday

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

For further information, please find the attached parent letter, parent overview, and user guide.
Save the Date: Next SEAC Meeting
Monday, November 16, 6:30-8:30pm
 
The TCGIS Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) will sponsor a viewing of the movie, "The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia" - followed by a discussion of learning disabilities (in general) in the immersion environment. All are invited to attend.
For questions or to RSVP, please contact Jessica Chastek.
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! 
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.
 
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! 
 
New Tip from Gesa Zinn  
Interested in reading more German at home for fun? Learn about the history of Halloween with your child at Zzzebra, a German online magazine for kids (recommended for 3-7th graders). You can also try out the Halloween-related activities -- all at www.labbe.de/zzzebra. Enjoy!
Germanic American Institute 
Puppet & Mask Workshops for Adults and Kids
3 Saturdays, November 7, 14, 21 from 10:30am-12pm
Come for three Saturdays in November for some Puppenherstellung (puppet making) while learning about the trolls, spirits, and other creatures in German Folklore. Participants will build and decorate their own puppets, develop performance and puppeteering skills, and learn a classic folktale to perform on the last day. For 1st through 5th graders ; $35 for Members/$40 for Non-members  - Price includes materials and instruction. Register here!

Friday, November 6, 11am-12pm: Lunch & Social Hour, 12pm Presentation
Take a mid-day break at the GAI's newest program, Lunch auf Deutsch. Attendees will pick up their boxed lunch and join others in the dining room for socializing and networking before the short program at noon. Our first speaker will be Dr. Beckmann, former Honorary Consul of Germany, who will be leading a talk--auf Deutsch-- on current European challenges with not only the financial crisis in Greece, but also the sudden surge of asylum seekers and migrants. $20 prepaid-includes boxed lunch and program. RSVP required. Register here!    
PTO

Get Ready, Get Set, Bid! - The PTO Community Auction Starts Next Week
Get ready to take part in the largest PTO fundraiser of the year! The PTO Community Auction begins next week. Bidding opens at 5 p.m., Wednesday, November 4, and remains open until 9 p.m., Wednesday, November 11.
 
This year's offerings include:
  • Great Gatherings: events and parties hosted by TCGIS families
  • Teacher Treasures and Admin Adventures: fun events donated by teachers and staff at TCGIS
  • Personal Pieces: Handmade items, home-baked treats, gift cards, and opportunities donated by TCGIS families and community members
Some events will sell out fast, so don't wait to get your bids in! This is a great way to help the school and build community at TCGIS. Questions? Contact Becky Deimel and Astrid Knott Johnson at TCGISAuction@gmail.com.