Twin Cities German Immersion School
Accepting Enrollment for 2023-2024
Twin Cities German Immersion School has class openings for the 2023-24 school year in all grades. Enrollment is open to any child who resides in a Minnesota school district; German language proficiency is not a requirement to enroll.
Research has shown that second language proficiency has a positive effect on first language skill development and that immersion students perform as well as or better than students in a monolingual setting. TCGIS offers individualized German support to students who join in later grade levels. If you are interested in enrolling, please visit tcgis.org,email info@tcgis.org, or call 651-492-7106 for more information.
TCGIS eighth graders travel to Germany
Fifty-four eighth graders from TCGIS departed for their two-week Capstone exchange trip to Germany on May 21.
The Capstone exchange is the culminating immersion experience offered to all eighth graders at TCGIS, representing the largest back-to-back exchange program in the U.S. with more than 90 students participating each year.
Each fall TCGIS eighth graders host German students from three partner schools in the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen for two weeks, immersing their German guests in life in Minnesota.
Then in May, TCGIS eighth graders travel to Germany to stay with the students they hosted in the fall, experiencing daily life with their host families and attending school and field trips.
This exchange program is available to all eighth graders, regardless of ability to pay. Students raise funds from group activities and apply for grants from the German-American Partnership Program (GAPP). Meanwhile, community members solicit larger donations for student scholarships.
Submitted by Mary Zimmerman.
Murray Middle School
Fundraiser to save musical instruments
Murray Middle School band and orchestra teacher Denae Olsen conducted a successful “Adopt-an-Instrument” fundraiser this spring.
Upon her arrival at Murray this past fall, Olsen discovered 85 musical instruments in some state of disrepair. The average repair cost per instrument was around $155, ranging from $23 to $640 and totaling about $13,000.
Olsen, her performing arts students and Murray family members together created a fundraising event, inventing names and personas for each instrument, said Principal Jamin McKenzie.
“The idea took off like a rocket and is gaining support from across the state.”
For her part, Olsen said, “The music students were ecstatic that they were a central part in our successful campaign. It has helped them to realize their value as creative thinkers, collaborative learners and community members. This experience has shown students the potential of being engaged community citizens.”
On May 2, the final of all 85 musical instruments had been adopted, Olsen said. Repairs were being made at Cadenza Music, 149 Snelling Ave.
Olsen told the Bugle that due to generous supporters, “Every single instrument has been adopted in under two weeks! What is even more astounding is that there were enough donations to the general instrument repair fund for the Murray Music Program to repair every instrument we brought to Cadenza Music and more, for a couple of years!”
Murray’s “Adopt-an-Instrument” fundraiser attracted media attention too, gaining recognition from the Star Tribune and Kare 11 television. To support Murray’s Music Department for future repairs and improvements, please visit givemn.org/organization/MurrayPTO.
Murray students at State History Day
Thirty-five Murray students participated in State History Day, presenting a total of 24 projects at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus in late April. Nineteen of those projects gained awards.
Two Murray students advanced to the National History Day Competition at the University of Maryland (College Park) on June 12 and 13, 2023.
Sofia Patronski will present her individual performance project entitled, “Rachel Carson: A Frontier for the Environment.” Patrick Tennison will present his individual documentary, “Sponging: A New Frontier in Tarpon Springs.”
Compiled by Sarah CR Clark, Bugle freelancer
