MGIS
Events and Programs
Grillfest: This event, our school
picnic, serves as an opportunity for new and "old"
families to gather with lawn chairs or a blanket and get acquainted.
The PTA cooks up hot dogs and brats and each family contributes
a salad or dessert. Door prizes are awarded and everyone is
encouraged to join the PTA.
Open House: Another immensely
popular family event, Open House usually sees a turnout of 600-800
and allows parents to meet their child's teacher and see their
classroom. Everyone has the opportunity to enjoy an ice cream
sundae courtesy of the PTA, and German books, tapes, and games
are for sale, as are school shirts.
Laternennacht: Hundreds of students
and their families, teachers and staff turn out to celebrate
this German festival of light, music and thanksgiving which
is based on the legend of St. Martin. Everyone joins in as we
sing traditional songs and walk around the school grounds after
dark with our "laternen." Everyone enjoys cookies
and apples, and nonperishable food items are collected for our
food drive.
Birthday Club: Once a month,
the PTA arranges the celebration of children's birthdays during
the lunch hour. Volunteers help with out by baking cupcakes,
decorate the cafeteria and serving the kids.
Coffee With The Principal: This
PTA-sponsored morning chat allows parents to sit down with our
principal and talk about their concerns and ideas. Refreshments
are served.
RIF Book Distributions: Three
or four times a year, the PTA seeks to impress upon our children
that "Reading is Fundamental" by presenting them with
a book of their choice. PTA volunteers go to each room to read
to the kids and distribute the books.
Multi-Cultural Night: This event
is intended to promote school-wide appreciation of the similarities
and differences of various ethnic groups and cultures.
Winter/Spring Concerts: An evening
full of the artistic talents of our children as they perform
for family and friends. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade dance
groups, violin students, hand chime choir and other groups showcase
the skills they have learned.
Kinderkino (Movie Night): Many
families and staff members gather in the gym, get comfortable
with pillows and blankets and enjoy a family-oriented movie.
(This year's movie was a German language version of Disney's
"101 Dalmations"). The 4th and 5th graders sell popcorn
and beverages to help fund their trip to Camp Upham Woods.
Rollschuhabend (Rollerskating Party):
One of the most popular PTA-sponsored events, enjoy an evening
of skating with friends and family with reduced admission and
free skate rentals.
Family Fun Nights: Herr Arndt,
our Physical Education Instructor, runs this popular series
of family fitness nights in the spring.
Kinderfest: Held at the end of
May of alternating years, this festival is based on a German
custom where the teachers and parents treat the children to
an afternoon of fun and games. PTA volunteers and teachers assist
by popping and bagging popcorn, setting up and/or running games,
serving food and cleaning up.
Fine Arts Day: Held at the end
of May (on the alternating year when Kinderfest isn't), this
festival features national and local artists, along with parent
volunteers, spending the day giving students hand-on exposure
to a wide variety of arts including visual and performing arts.
Monday Morning Work Group: This
flexible group of parents lightens the load of our teachers
by doing some of their "busy work." Anyone with a
free hour or two on Monday mornings is always welcome to help
cut, trace, fold, staple and fill the dreaded glue bottles.
Preschoolers are welcome to play nearby.
German Book Sales: German books,
tapes and games are ordered from Germany and sold at cost during
school events.
School Shirt Sales: School T-shirts
and sweatshirts are sold at cost to our families.
Parent to Parent: The PTA welcomes
new parents to the school by matching them with an experienced
parent who can answer questions and help ease the transition
into the program.
Recreation: The PTA coordinates
volunteers to coach soccer, volleyball, T-ball, softball, and
basketball.
Community Service: The PTA sponsors
several worthwhile community service projects each year including
the food drive in the fall, Coats for Kids, Book Share, and
Sack-It-To-Me litter clean-up.
Parent Language Classes: In order
to help the families of our student become better equipped to
understand their child's education and help with homework, the
PTA offers evening adult German language classes to parents
in our school.
 Help Save the Earth!!!
We are continuing to participate in the RING LEADER RECYCLING
PROGRAM to help reduce the impact of solid waste by showing
students simple things they can do right away and helping them
develop attitudes towards waste which will last a lifetime.
Ring carrier recycling is a simple procedure for everyone
involved. Carriers are easy to find and small enough to fit
in a book bag. They are generally clean and safe for little
hands and don't need to be sorted before you send them for recycling.
They can provide a safe and simple lesson in the "three
R's" -- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle --
as children learn how to manage solid waste.
All flexible six-pack type plastic beverage ring carriers
will be recycled back into new rings by ITV HiCone, the manufacturer
of plastic rings. Please help us with this closed-loop recycling
program by sending all the plastic rings to school with your
child. We will collect them and mail them to the manufacturer,
who will produce new rings.
Thank you very much,
Frau Mattke
Updated on
January 12, 2011
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