Welcome to the PTO

PTO Home                 PTO Events & Fundraisers             PTO Finance & Budget                PTO Meetings            PTO Organizational Structure

Welcome to the PTO

​Welcome to the TCGIS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that enriches the Twin Cities German Immersion School. 
Our focus in 2019-2020 is:
  • To develop closer connections between school and home by encouraging parent involvement.
  • To support staff by enriching their environment and fostering a strong community.

Events and Fundraisers

We run events that support our staff (staff appreciation), support our school (fundraising), and support our families (community building). 
>>Find event descriptions and dates

Finances

A significant portion of the PTO budget (over 50% in most years) is provided to the school as grants to support teachers, educational activities, and school functions. In 2017-18, the money was used to fund:
  • Staff appreciation and Director-led staff enrichment
  • Community building events for school families and staff
  • Donations to the year-end picnic, student parliament, yearbook, and graduation
  • Classroom enrichment ($6,000)
  • General School enrichment ($4,000)
>>Review the PTO budget, guidelines for its use, and the purpose of the enrichment funds

Meetings

The PTO holds public meetings once a month, alternating between Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Parents and guardians of enrolled students, together with the school's staff, are all welcome to join us at the next PTO meeting. 
​>>Find meeting dates, agendas, and minutes from past meetings

Organization

The PTO is led by an executive team of volunteers that is elected yearly and oversees the committees that run the PTO activities, events, and fundraisers. We are all parents and guardians, just like you. Please join us – the more, the merrier! 
>>Read about the committees and their focus, the names of the executive team, and the PTO Bylaws  

Connect with the PTO

​For the latest information on events and volunteer needs:You can also contact any of the PTO Executive Committee members via the PTO email (tcgispto@gmail.com). 

Volunteer

We always welcome and encourage volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to meet and make friends! Here is a short list of volunteer opportunities:
  • Communications Committee
  • Teacher Appreciation Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • December Staff Appreciation Potluck
  • Teacher Appreciation Week
  • Fall or Spring Conference Meal
  • “Meet-Up” planning
  • Maskenball (planning and/or event)
  • Game Night planning and/or event
  • Plant sale coordinator
  • Fall or Spring Plant Sale
  • Fall or Spring Strudel Sales
Email tcgispto@gmail.com or attend the next PTO meeting to share your availability; we’d love to have you join us!

Past PTO Newsletters
​December News 2018
November News 2018
September News 2018
Summer News 2018
May News 2018
Strudel & planning 2018
April News 2018
​March News 2018
February News 2018
​January News 2018
If you have any questions or would like more information about the PTO, don't hesitate to contact us.

PTO Calendar

Membership
​
​Parents and guardians of enrolled students, together with the school's staff, may become TCGIS PTO members with voting rights, simply by attending a PTO meeting or requesting membership.

History

​Formed in the fall of 2008, the TCGIS PTO is a natural outgrowth of the longstanding tradition of parent involvement at our school. We formed to help streamline some of the many volunteer activities at TCGIS, to better coordinate fundraising efforts, and to provide new ways for parents to engage as our school grows from year to year. The PTO formally organized as a Minnesota nonprofit corporation in March 2009.