• 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,

Creating a consistent homework routine is essential for student success. Research shows that structured study habits help children develop time management skills, responsibility, and deeper learning retention. To support your child, consider the following research-backed strategies:

• Set a Regular Time & Place: Establish a quiet, well-lit space for homework and keep a consistent schedule.

• Encourage Short Breaks: The Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of work, 5-minute break) can boost focus and reduce frustration.

• Limit Distractions: Encourage a tech-free environment unless devices are needed for assignments.

• Use a Planner or Checklist: Writing down assignments helps with organization and accountability.

• Offer Guidance, Not Answers: Ask open-ended questions to encourage problem-solving while allowing independence.

At Westchester Intermediate School, we are committed to supporting both students and families. If your child is struggling with homework or needs additional resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their teacher or our staff … We’re here to help!

Respectfully,

Mr. Longacre

slongacre@duneland.k12.in.us

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

5th Grade 93.3819%

6th Grade 92.8232%

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.

Immunization requirements prior to the start of 6th grade

The State of Indiana requires 6th grade students to be immunized with Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine) and Meningitis vaccine. The Tdap and Meningitis vaccines must be received after the student turns 11 years of age and not before, to be considered valid.

On Thursday, February 20th 2025, your student was sent home with an envelope containing a letter indicating what immunizations your child needs before 6th grade and a copy of the most current immunization record the school has on file for your child. In the letter coming home, the vaccinations your student needs are highlighted and written in. Please make your appointment with your physician or health department as soon as possible to get started on this process.

If your student is 11 years old and has already received these immunizations please turn them in or email a scanned copy to the school nurse. You do not not need to wait until next school year.

Please contact Mrs. Sosby, WIMS School Nurse at 219-983-3710 or email tsosby@duneland.K12.in.us with any questions or concerns covered in this message.

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.

Each of the 11 Duneland School Corporation schools, in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Education, are working toward renewing distinction as a Family Friendly School. The purpose of this initiative is to ensure that each DSC school is demonstrating excellence in engaging families in their children’s education.

Launched in 2015, the Family Friendly Schools initiative focuses on addressing the academic, physical, emotional, and social needs of students, while providing the needed resources and fostering the active involvement of their families through schools and the community. The program recognizes and honors schools that welcome all families into the school community, communicate effectively, support student success, speak up for every child, share power and collaborate with the community.

As part of this process, students in grades 5-12 will be asked to take a 5-minute Family Friendly Schools survey (link for parent review only). Students will take this survey at their school sometime between the dates of Feb. 18 - March 2.

Thank you for your support!

Help our Duneland Schools keep their Family Friendly School Designation

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.

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

Language Arts

• Last week, students completed a practice informational writing. We will do another practice this week, with a CSA informational writing on Friday. In addition, we will begin reading our next novel, Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. Honors ELA - Last week, students completed a practice informational writing. We will do another practice this week, with a CSA informational writing on Friday. We will also finish reading Johnny Tremain this week! Look for a final book test next week.

Math

• Students will begin learning about multiplying fractions and mixed numbers this week. We will also be completing various review and enrichment skills during the week using Get More Math and IXL. Students who will be retaking any previous CSAs will work with their math teacher to better understand the lessons before testing again.

Social Studies

• Last week in class, we learned about the Constitutional Convention and the Bill of Rights. This week, we will be looking a bit deeper into the Constitution, and will have a CSA on Thursday/Friday.

Science

• Last week the students spent some time learning about the planets. With that background knowledge, they were given the task to create a rover or space probe to complete a mission. This week students will communicate their ideas by presenting their space bots. This week we will also test over the Earth and Universe Unit. Depending on their blocking schedule, students will take the CSA either Thursday or Friday.

Language Arts

• Students will continue to read paired passages and respond to text. Students will also fill out graphic organizers based on a variety of prompts. We will continue to practice finding and using evidence that relates to the priority standards we have learned this year.

Math

• This week in the wonderful world of numbers . . . we will be working hard in geometry. Our focus will be on the area of polygons and complex shapes. We will also be working with volume of rectangular prisms. We will be reviewing many concepts from previous grades. Many of these previous skills will be beneficial for our current unit of study.

Social Studies

• This week we will be reviewing the election process for Congress and the President. A review of criteria required to become a member of Congress and to be President of the U.S will be looked over. Students will also be spending time reviewing the branches of government and the powers stated in the Constitution for an upcoming summative assessment.

Science

• This week students will be learning more about the realms of ecology. Students will be creating a niche business card for an animal of their choice. In the middle of the week, students will be learning and doing an experiment on population density. Later in the week, we will be doing activities on population changes, predation and prey skits, and sorting game for producers, consumers, and decomposers. 6-LS-2 & 6-LS-3

PE

• This week in PE, we will be continuing our basketball unit. We will be playing multiple lead-up games and then play half court basketball.

Art

• This week in art 5th and 6th grade students will select a famous black American in honor of Black History month to research and create a digital work of art in the style of American painter Kehinde Wiley.

Music

• This week in music 5th grade students will continue our recorder unit. Students should know notes: B,A,G and E. We will add a low D this week as well as high C and D. For students interested in joining band next year, instrument selection night is Wednesday 2/26 at 4:30 @CHS. Come out and try ALL of the instruments before making a decision on which to play. 6th grade students will test over piano patterns 3&4 this week. All students can retake patterns 1&2 if needed.

PLTW

• The 5th graders will continue to get practice with coding robots and using loops in their coding. They will be able to program their robots to create pixel art on the VEX VR website. The 6th graders will be using the Microbits to explore light, sound, and temperature and will also get additional practice with coding.

Media

• 5th grade students will continue to work through BrainPOP modules. 6th grade will be working on Micro:bit coding. Both levels will have a special media assignment on Tuesday (I will be away representing Westchester at an educational conference).

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

Online registration is now open for State Park Little League Baseball 2025. New or Returning players may register by clicking the State Park Little League logo at the left.

Online registration for 2025 Liberty Rec. Baseball and Softball. Register by clicking the Liberty Rec. Baseball and Softball logo at the left.

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/