Volunteer Program

TCGIS welcomes volunteers at our school!

Parent/guardian and community volunteers are an important and necessary part of a successful school year for our students, teachers, and staff. Volunteering is also a great way to engage with and get to know other TCGIS community members. Whether you have a two hours a week or two hours a year, there is a meaningful way for you to contribute to TCGIS.  ​
To ensure the safety of students and in accordance with board policy, TCGIS requires criminal background checks for all adults who wish to volunteer as field trip chaperones or in the classroom or school.
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TCGIS considers Background Checks valid for 3 years. Please complete the Background Check Disclosure Form and submit the $20 fee (check, cash or in Boonli) to the Front Office. Please contact Nicole Sveen with any questions.                  ​

PARENT COUNCIL

SUPPORT PARENTS & ADMINISTRATORS
The TCGIS Parent Council is an advisory body that represents the parent community and serves as a 2-way communication channel to address parent input and to receive requests from school administraton about parent input or for parent support. 
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The Parent Council is comprised of an elected representative from each class and grade level. Representatives are elected yearly around the first week of September.  All parents / guardians are invited to volunteer. You can find more information on the Parent Council page.

EK -ELTERNKONTAKT

SUPPORT HOMEROOM TEACHERS
​Each elementary homeroom and middle school grade has 1-3 parent volunteers who serve as Elternkontakte (EKs). EKs are parents/guardians who help build community among families within the homeroome/grade level through monthly email updates, and who support the teachers with classroom needs and volunteer recruitment for field trips and other class events. EKs are recruited at the beginning of the school year, but parents are welcome to join the EK team throughout the year. Email Katharina Schirg for more information. 
The EK program is not part of the PTO - if you are interested in supporting other community building projects and school fundraising with the PTO, please contact the TCGIS PTO.

JOIN A BOARD COMMITTEE

SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY
​You're invited to help the board with its work! Board members chair six subcommittees that help us work towards our six school goals. Click here to view the Board Committee Structure & Membership 2019-2020 and the School-Wide Goals 2019-2020. 

Attend a committee meeting and see how you can contribute. Meeting dates/times are listed in the weekly Elternbrief and also on the TCGIS Public Calendar. To share thoughts, feedback and ideas in between meetings, the best way to reach the board is via email at  board@tcgis.org. 

INTERN PROGRAM SUPPORT

SUPPORT THE INTERN PROGRAM
You don't have space to host an intern in your house but you want to support the intern program? There are many opportunities.  You can read more about the Intern Program here. 

2020-21 Update: Due to COVID-19 the Intern Program has been cancelled for the 2020-21 school year. We look forward to hosting Interns again in 2021-21. 

READING SUPPOR​T

SUPPORT YOUR HOMEROOM TEACHER
Help elementary classroom teachers with small group reading support. German language skills required.
Please contact your 1-4 classroom teacher directly.

ASSESSMENTS

SUPPORT ALL TEACHERS
​Help with our standardized German language assessments in the fall, winter and spring. German language skills required.
Please contact Esther Neu, Dean of Academic Support, for more information

MORNING RECESS HELPER 

SUPPORT TEACHERS & STUDENTS
Recess benefits every aspect of childhood development - physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Help facilitate this very important part of the day and get some fresh air with TCGIS students to help keep the playground safe and fun for all students. Available - M-F, 7.30 to 8.15am in the spring and fall. Please contact
​Chad Prater for more information

LOST & FOUND

SUPPORT THE FRONT OFFICE & ALL FAMILIES
Help families find their lost clothing. A couple times a year, we clean up and sort the Lost & Found  cabinets and look for the owners before we donate clothing to a Twin Cities nonprofit organization.
Please contact the Front Office (info@tcgis.org) for more information​