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!

WIS Family,

As we continue to integrate technology into our everyday curriculum at Westchester Intermediate School, I want to remind you of the importance of ensuring that your child comes to school with their iPad fully charged each day.

Having a fully charged iPad is essential for your child to fully participate in our blended learning approach. It allows them to engage actively in their learning, access online resources, collaborate with classmates, and complete assignments effectively. It also helps to minimize disruptions during class time, as students can focus on learning rather than searching for a charging outlet.

I appreciate your support in ensuring that your child's iPad is charged and ready for use at school. If you have any questions or concerns about iPad use or charging, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Mr. Longacre

slongacre@duneland.k12.in.us

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

5th Grade 97.1065%

6th Grade 96.3312%

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.

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.

Our Westchester Cross Country team is looking for more 6th graders to join the team. If your child is interested in being part of this exciting opportunity, please email Coach Zucker at szucker@duneland.k12.in.us. We truly care about providing our students with a variety of experiences, and we would love to see your child get involved.

Exclusion Day is Thursday, September 12, 2024 for 6th grade students whose immunizations are not up to date as well as any 5th or 6th grade student who has a Immunization Waiver on file that has not been completed for this school year.. Waivers must be completed and signed annually to be valid. The required immunizations for 6th grade are a Tdap and MCV4 (meningitis).

To avoid exclusion please submit your student’s updated immunizations or waiver to Tina Sosby, R.N., WIS School Nurse. You may scan and email them to tsosby@duneland.K12.in.us or send your student’s updated record to school. A scheduled appointment card with date, time and location of where updated vaccines will be received will also be accepted.

For any questions or concerns please contact Nurse Sosby via email or by calling 219-983-3710 ext.4015.

WIS has two levels of robotics that students can apply for. Please select the best option for you, and complete that form! Forms for both levels are due Wednesday, September 4th by 5 pm. Late applications will not be considered!

1. WIS Travel Robotics Teams

• Practice twice a week and attend multiple competitions from September until February or March
• 6 teams of students will be selected

Travel Team Application

2. WIS Robotics Club

• Practice twice a week during April and May with a scrimmage at the end of the season
• Everyone can join

Robotics Club Sign Up

Language Arts

• Last week, we began reading the novel Swindle, and read our first IRA (interactive read aloud). This week, we will continue our IRA theme of Empathy with the picture book Smoky Night and continue on with Swindle. We will be taking our first NWEA test on Wednesday; this will give us a baseline for the start of the year. In addition, we will be discussing the idea of theme in writing. Honors ELA - Last week, we began discussing the idea of The Hero's Journey by looking at the tale of Dadelus and Icarus. This week, we will begin our first novel of the year, and continue the hero's journey with Tales from The Odyssey. In addition, we will be taking our first NWEA test on Wednesday, to give us a baseline for the year.

Math

• In these first weeks, we are taking some time to practice thinking mathematically. We are learning some games and activities that we will use all year to strengthen math skills. We will learn about our online math book, McGraw Hill Reveal and Get More Math, an online mixed skills review platform. Next Monday, we will take the NWEA math test. After that, we will begin more structured lessons and independent practice. Students are always encouraged to work on Get More Math and math facts at home at any time!

Social Studies

• This week we will be diving into our textbook and our geography unit. We'll start with a latitude/longitude refresher, as well as working on map skills. We will also start talking about physical features of the US.

Science

• Last week, we took some time to explore a variety of scientific tools. Students were able to learn scientific names along with what certain tools measure. Our first science lab of the year required students to only use their sense of touch to determine the mystery tool located inside a bag. This week, we will continue a few more hands-on activities that will allow the students to practice using certain tools.

Language Arts

• This week in ELA students will take their first CFA (common formative assessment). The priority standard being assessed is 6.RC.2-Determine how a theme or central idea of a work of literature is conveyed through particular details; provide a detailed, objective summary of the text. This Thursday is the beginning of the year NWEA test for Reading.

Math

• This week in the wonderful world of mathematics . . .Students will take their beginning of the year NWEA/MAPS test. Skills for the week include: computation with decimals (+,-,x, ÷), order of operations, and mathematical properties. Standards 6.NS.4 Solve real-world problems with positive decimals by using one or two operations, 6.NS.5, Apply the order of operations and properties of operations (i.e., identity, inverse, commutative properties of addition and multiplication, associative properties of addition and multiplication, and distributive property) to evaluate numerical expressions, and 6.NS.6 Find the greatest common factor of two whole numbers less than or equal to 100 and the least common multiple of two whole numbers less than or equal to 12. Use the distributive property to express a sum of two whole numbers from 1 to 100, with a common factor as a multiple of a sum of two whole numbers with no common factor

Social Studies

• This week in social studies the students will be focusing on Europe and Russia. We will be identifying major physical features and waterways as well as identifying the different countries within Europe and their capitals. A common formative assessment will be given on Friday covering this material.

Science

• This week in science we will be continuing to learn about our hydroponics system. Monday, students will learn about the life cycle of plants. Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be looking at the different seeds and growing a bean in a bag. Thursday and Friday will be learning about pH. We will be setting up our hydroponic system to grow lettuce for our lunches. The growing cycle takes 28 days.

PE

• In PE this week, we are finishing our soccer unit with Soccer games. Towards the middle of the week, we will start our fitness testing.

Art

• This week in art class students will continue our Day and Night Name Projects. Students will create a sketch showing various line characteristics and qualities we discussed in class. Students will use warm colors to add color to the day side of the drawing and cool colors to the night side of their artwork.

Music

• This week in music class 5th grade groups will present their Soundpiece Stories and 6th grade groups will present their Garageband Live Loops. Once all groups have presented we will move into our Rhythm Unit. Students will explore how rhythm organizes sound and silence in time. 5th grade students will utilize a rhythm matrix, while 6th graders will use standard rhythmic notation. All students will need iPads for music class.

Media

• Students will continue to explore fundamentals of digital citizenship and appropriate uses of technology, including cyberbullying.

PLTW

• Last week the 5th graders used VEX Robotics pieces to build and test different sensors. This week, the 5th graders will build a chassis and test it out using their remote controls. The 6th grade groups will explore computer programming by creating flowcharts and using Micro:bits.

Orchestra

• This week in Orchestra class, students are learning new pieces to play! Fifth graders are beginning to learn to use their bows, which is very exciting. Just as a reminder, cello and bass students should not bring a bow to school without a case. Please make sure they have a case for their bow. Sixth graders have a playing check on one of their songs later this week, which will be submitted on Canvas.

Have your student see their Trojan Time teacher for an order form.

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.

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.

Learn more about the Duneland Early Learning Classes at the the HUB. Click on the image below to enroll.

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/