• 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,

As our children grow and navigate the intermediate years, the friendships they form play a significant role in shaping their future. Research consistently shows that peer influence is one of the most significant factors in a child's development, particularly during this pivotal stage. The adage, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future,” is a powerful reminder of this truth.

Friends can inspire positive behaviors, encourage academic effort, and promote healthy habits. On the other hand, poor friend choices can lead to negative influences, risky decisions, and academic struggles. Studies have shown that children with supportive and positive peer groups tend to have higher self-esteem, better problem-solving skills, and greater academic success. I encourage you to have open conversations with your child about their friends. Ask about the qualities they value in a friend and discuss the importance of kindness, respect, and shared values. Your involvement and guidance during this time can help them make choices that align with your family’s values and set them up for success.

Mr. Longacre

slongacre@duneland.k12.in.us

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

5th Grade 93.53%

6th Grade 92.9623%

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.

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

• Thank you for your flexibility with the e-learning day last week! We continue to read City of Ember. We are also looking at informational texts, finding main ideas and supporting details. This week, we will be taking the ILearn checkpoint 2 test, as well as a CFA. Honors ELA - We continue to read Johnny Tremain. Students are being challenged with this novel, and making connections to our social studies unit. Please be aware, students are being encouraged to make quiz corrections (directions were explained in class) to earn back points on quizzes. This week, we will be taking the ILearn checkpoint 2 test, as well as a CFA.

Math

• This week students will be taking the ILEARN Checkpoint 2 test in Math (and Language Arts). Students will be continuing to work with adding and subtracting fractions. We will have a CSA on this skill next week.

Social Studies

• Thank you for your flexibility with the e-learning day last week! Also last week, we completed a CSA over causes of the American Revolution. This week, we will be reading about the Declaration of Independence.

Science

• Last week we continued to practice metric and customary conversions. This week we will begin the unit over space. We will start with a lesson and lab on gravity!

Language Arts

• This week students will read and analyze primary sources from the Titanic. Students will begin to write informative essays with information they have gained from these sources.

Math

• This week in the wonderful world of numbers and data. We have finished our study of mean, median, mode, and range with data displays. There will be a CSA over these skills. Next, we will go back to working with fractions with ratios, proportions, and rates.

Social Studies

• Students will be looking into the key characteristics of a republican government and the influences that were taken from the models of Ancient Rome and Greece. We will also identify the importance of a constitution and reasons for allowing limits on our government. There will also be a comparison of how the state government operates compared to the national government.

Science

• Students will be starting a new concept in science this week. We will be discussing the electromagnetic spectrum and light waves. We will also be discussing wave behaviors by going through google slides with examples. Most of this week will be notes and discussion with an exit ticket to see what they know. MS-PS4-1, MS-PS4-2, & MS-PS4-3.

PE

• This week in PE, students will be playing Spikeball. We will start with some lead-up games and practicing skills and end with Spikeball games.

Art

• This week in art students will begin making the bases for their lightbulbs from paper, creating individual templates. Later in the week students will transfer their templates from paper to metal, learning how to engrave and emboss their metal lightbulb bases.

Music

• 5th grade classes will continue exploring recorder performance. As of now we can play about 8 notes. This week we will start collaborating with performance in small groups. 6th grade is finishing up our fingering patterns on piano and beginning to read notes and play songs. On Fridays we have been participating in “Karaoke Friday.” Students may select school appropriate songs and can perform with their friends.

PLTW

• This week the 5th graders will continue to use the Engineering Design Process to build, test, and revise their robot designs. The 6th graders will explore different types of inputs and sensors with the Micro:bits.

Media

• This week students will engage in various media activities and digital citizenship projects, including logos.

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.

Since the Skyward migration has been completed, the mobile app should automatically pull the new URL. Parents who are not getting the new URL, should remove the current account from the Skyward app and add the account back.

You can verify that the app is using the new URL by performing the following steps in the app:
1. Accounts--Edit
2. Click District. Review the URL under "Connection will be attempted using:"

You can delete the existing connection by performing the following steps in the app:
1. Accounts--Edit
2. Delete

DSC's new Skyward uses the following link: https://skyward.iscorp.com/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsedudunelandscin/seplog01.w

Do you want to earn money but still be home with your family?

Does the cost of childcare hinder your plans to work?

Does your child participate in the many afterschool opportunities?

Would you like to spend quality time with your kids during spring, summer and winter breaks?

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