WIS Weekly

• Who needs support at home, in school, and in the community? ... Every Child!
• Who needs our guidance, attention, and patience today and every day? ... Every Child!
• Who will shape the future of our world tomorrow and in the years to come? ... Every Child!

Dear WIS Family,

We at the Duneland School Corporation take great pride in our transportation department and the service it provides. For over fifty years, Westchester students, as well as their peers across the school system, have been safely shuttled from home to school and back again with safety and reliability... in the morning and afternoon, from fall to spring, and during fair or inclement weather. Our transportation department not only maintains the highest of standards for its personnel and equipment, but also seeks to continually improve upon its ability to provide reliable transportation that Duneland families can trust. If you are not aware, let me remind you that the Duneland transportation department offers My Stop tracking for all of its service routes. Parents who use My Stop can access information such as the current location of their child's bus, as well as the estimated time of arrival. Please check out the announcement below for further information.

Mr. Longacre

slongacre@duneland.k12.in.us

We are striving to achieve a 96% attendance rate this year at WIS.

5th Grade 93.6537%

6th Grade 92.9297%

When needing to report a student absence, parents/guardians should call (219-983-3710) or email (mkowalecki@duneland.k12.in.us) the attendance secretary in the WIS office by 9:00 am on the day of the absence. If the school sends a student home early, then no notification is required.

This past week, several Duneland School principals and staff members participated as Harvest Helpers serving the annual Thanksgiving meal to Duneland School students at all of its school locations. The kids enjoyed having Mr. Longacre serve them lunch!

Family Friendly Schools Survey for DSC Families

In keeping with our Core Values, Duneland School Corporation is committed to fostering partnerships to improve the quality of life in our community. One of our most important partnerships is with our families. As we strive to continue to build upon and strengthen our family partnerships, DSC is applying for renewal from the Indiana Department of Education as an IDOE “Family Friendly Schools” corporation. In doing so, we will continue to “focus on addressing students' academic, physical, emotional, and social needs while providing the needed resources and fostering the active involvement of their families through schools and the community.” (Indiana Department of Education Family Friendly Schools Handbook)

Please help us as we continue to support our students and community by completing the IDOE online survey by December 20, 2024

Your ongoing support in educating the children of our community is greatly appreciated!

SURVEY LINKS AND INSTRUCTIONS:

Survey Links:

• 2025-2026 Family Friendly Survey Questions for Families

• 2025-2026 Family Friendly Survey Questions for Families-Spanish

School Name: choose your school from the drop-down list

School Corporation: 6470 Duneland School Corporation

School Liaison Name: MICHELLE PALKO

School Liaison email: mpalko@duneland.k12.in.us

School Codes for your convenience:

6928 - Bailly Elementary School

6819 - Brummitt Elementary School

6817 - Jackson Elementary School

6823 - Liberty Elementary School

6941 - Newton Yost Elementary School

6821 - Liberty Intermediate School

6927 - Westchester Intermediate School

6925 - Chesterton Senior High School

6926- Northwest Indiana Online School (Trojan Virtual Academy)

Clothing /Shoe Donation for Nursing Office

The nursing office of Westchester is in need of clothing for students who may need a change of clothes during the school day due to unexpected circumstances. Please consider donating a garment or two of your child’s gently used clothing that they have outgrown. We are in greatest need of girls leggings and boys elastic waist pants in varying sizes. Other items we like to keep in stock are T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and shoes. Any donation would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to contact the Westchester nursing office any time during the school day at 219-983-3710 (WIS) or 219-983-3780 (WMS).

Most Appreciative,

Tina Sosby, R.N. & Abby Demeter, R.N.

Dear Parent/Guardians,

Starting November 6, 2024 through the month of January 2025 the Health Services at WIMS will be conducting Vision Screenings of 5th grade students , according to Indiana Law are required to have their vision checked.

We are asking that if your student wears glasses that they have them on their person daily so that there will be no delay in getting their testing completed. If you have any questions, please contact WIS School Nurse, Tina Sosby, R.N. at 219-983-3710 or via email at

tsosby@duneland.K12.in.us.

Do you have a nose? Is it sometimes runny? Well, here's the solution: Tissue! As the weather begins to change, we've noticed that some of our WIS kiddos also have noses that are runny. Parents, if you have any spare tissue boxes, please consider sending one or two to Westchester with your child to give to her or his 1st period teacher. The students -- and their noses -- thank you.

We are excited to announce that this year’s yearbook will include both Westchester Intermediate School (WIS) and Westchester Middle School (WMS). Yearbooks are available for $30.00, and you can order directly through this link: Order Yearbooks Here.

Sixth grade students will have the opportunity to participate in both WIS intramural sports and Westchester Middle School athletics. If your child wants to participate in middle school sports, they must have a current physical on file, dated after 4/1/24. Sixth grade students can ONLY participate in Middle School Cross Country, Westling, and Track and Field. This fall, students can participate in Middle School Cross Country. Mr. Rich Gross rgross@duneland.k12.in.us is the athletic director for Westchester Campus. Please reach out to Mr. Gross with any questions.

Language Arts

• Last week, we focused on finding the main idea and supporting details in short passages of text. We also continued reading Hello Universe. As the novel starts to make unique and startling connections, be sure to ask your student about the story! Honors ELA - Last week, we reached the climax of our novel, Hello Universe. This week we will be finishing up the story. Be sure to ask your student about it! After the Thanksgiving break, we will be starting a final project

Math

• Last week students continued to learn about multiplying decimals. In this short week, students will be completing a variety of activities depending on what individual practice is needed. Next week, we will move forward with multiplying decimals and have a CSA before the week is done. Here is our new homework (independent practice) policy that we have started in case you missed it earlier: Math 05 students have begun doing homework practice a little differently. Homework practice will be paper/pencil and will consist of practice problems for that day's lesson and daily spiral review worksheets. These worksheets are intended to be completed independently by our students. If they have difficulty with a problem, they should make an attempt and move to the next problem. The completed worksheet is due at the start of the next class where it is given a completion grade which can total 5 points. These scores will be combined and go in Skyward as a weekly homework grade and not as individual assignments. We will go over the problems as a class as part of our lessons for the day and therefore students will not have the opportunity to turn it in at a later date unless they were absent or there were other special circumstances. Math 05 Honors classes will be completing different homework at times since that group often works on different daily skills.

Social Studies

• Last week we completed the unit on the first English colonies in North America. This week, students will be taking part in a Pilgrim simulation. Be sure to ask them all about it!

Science

• Last week we learned about food chains and food webs. We also took a closer look at the role of an owl in an ecosystem. The science lab allowed students to dissect owl pellets and learn about an owl’s diet. This week we will pause from science and pair up with our social studies teachers and participate in a Pilgrim simulation.

Language Arts

• The most recent CSA is now behind us. Students will continue to read and analyze text in preparation for next week and our new priority standards! Happy Thanksgiving.

Math

• Two days in the wonderful world of numbers this week . . .We continue to work on all things algebra. Students need to be studying their notes for upcoming formative and summative assessments. We hope everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Social Studies

• Students will be working on map skills during this short week. We will look at some population density maps and physical features maps. When we return from break, students will move into Medieval Europe and the system of feudalism.

Science

• Students will be taking a CSA over MS-ESS1.1 Earth’s Place in the Universe. The standard which will be tested is students can make a model that will show the seasons are a result of that tilt and are caused by the differential intensity of sunlight on different areas of Earth across the year. We will be interpreting a graph. The students will end the week performing a solar system break out. Enjoy the holiday!!

PE

• In PE this week, we will be playing fun teamwork games.

Art

• In art this week students will discuss the characteristics of the artwork of Wassily Kandinsky. Students will create an original abstract drawing that they will later turn into a painting.

Music

• This week in music, students will be using standard pitch notation to spell words. Students will be working with a partner for this week’s activities. We will play a game to see if they can guess the sounds of various words.

PLTW

• This week the 5th grade students will be learning about disaster response robots and 6th grade students will be introduced to algorithms and flow charts.

Media

• This week students in 5th will continue exploring digital citizenship modules, and students in 6th will continue moving through the digital technology modules.

Our Trojan Cafe has a new look! We have a new serving area with 2 lines to serve our students. We will also have new trays available for our students to use during lunch.

Please help your student memorize their student identification number, as they will need to know this number in order to purchase their lunch.

Here are the meal prices for the 2024-25 school year.

Elementary Breakfast Price: $1.45

Elementary Lunch Price: $2.55

Intermediate/Middle/High Breakfast Price: $1.60

Intermediate/Middle/High lunch Price: $2.95

• iPads are the property of Duneland Schools. Students should keep the devices in operable condition.
• Students should refrain from downloading apps, pics, etc. that are not permitted under school and/or corporation policy.
  
• Students are required to bring their charged iPads to class.
• Our Intermediate curriculum is designed to utilize iPads for lessons, remediation, and enrichment activities.

5th and 6th grade students are not allowed to use their personal communication devices (cell phones and smart watches) during the instructional day. Items used for communication should be stored in lockers to be kept safe throughout the day. If students need to contact a parent/guardian during the day, they are welcome to do so from the office. Classrooms also have phone access. Similarly, students are not permitted to wear personal earbuds with bluetooth capabilities attached to their phones (e.g. Air Pods, etc.). Students will need to use their school-issued iPad earphones for Exact Path lessons and select ILEARN testing sessions. The only time audio ear pieces are permitted are for teacher-assigned classwork and medically-approved needs.

Westchester is committed to supporting students' use of technology. To get your problems solved as fast as possible, choose one of the following methods:

1. Open a new Incident IQ online:
   1. AV number is typically located on a sticker on the back/bottom of the device
2. Open a Incident IQ ticket by sending an email to: helpdesk@duneland.k12.in.us
   1. Please be sure to include email address, student or staff name, and a description of the problem
3. Contact Westchester's tech aide (Ms. Bennett) in WIS Library/Media at 219-983-3710 or fbennett@duneland.k12.in.us.

Welcome to our 2024 Winter Baseball Camp!

The Holiday Baseball Camp consists of 3 days of baseball activities for $50.

DECEMBER 26-27-28

• Grades 3-5 11am-12:30PM
• Grades 6-8 1:00 – 2:30 PM
  • Day One = Defense (IF, OF, P/C Drills)
  • Day Two= Offense (Tee Work, Soft Toss, Short Toss, Batting Practice, and our most important TWO STRIKE APPROACH**)
  • Day Three = FUN! TROJAN OBSTACLE COURSE and the World Series Wiffle Ball Tourney

  
  

  Link to Sign Up:

  https://forms.gle/ooCiW3hWxBjERhVu7

DUNELAND TRANSPORTATION

Information regarding student bus transportation for the 2024-2025 school year is available on DSC website under the Transportation Department.

TRACK STUDENT'S BUS WITH MYSTOP APP

The Duneland School Corporation Department of Transportation has now made My Stop available to our families.

My Stop is a web-based application which will allow parents to access live bus GPS information using a smartphone, tablet, or computer and securely view the current location of your child’s bus on routes. The system also provides the bus’s estimated time of arrival at your child’s bus stop.

Please read the attached letter to parents for more information on how to use My Stop to track your child's bus.

To make an appointment please call 219-763-8112. Let NorthShore know you are a Duneland School student or staff member and that you would like to make an appointment at the Duneland School Clinic located at the old CMS.

WIS Mission:

WIS provides a safe and engaging environment where students are empowered to explore their talents, build on their curiosity, embrace high expectations, and become responsible, caring citizens.

WIS Vision:

WIS inspires learners to become independent, critical thinkers collaborating in an environment where responsibility, adaptability, and reflection are modeled and developed.

Email: slongacre@duneland.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/Domain/14
Location: 1050 South 5th Street, Chesterton, IN, USA
Phone: (219) 983-3710
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westchesterintermediate/