DuneNews

Labor Day Holiday: There will be no school for all Duneland School students on Monday, Sept. 2 to observe the holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Have a safe and happy Labor Day!

This past Friday, Chesterton High School received its distinction as the first Heart Safe School in Porter County, achieved through the esteemed Project ADAM initiative. This significant milestone is a stepping stone for the Duneland School Corporation.

Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory) is a nationally recognized program dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in schools. Named in honor of Adam Lemel, a high school student who tragically lost his life to SCA, the initiative focuses on raising awareness, training staff, and providing schools with necessary tools to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies.

The Heart Safe School designation is a testament to Chesterton High School’s proactive approach to health and safety. Over the past year, the school has worked diligently to meet the rigorous standards set by Project ADAM. This includes installing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in strategic locations throughout the campus, ensuring all staff members are trained in cardiac awareness, and developing a comprehensive emergency response plan for cardiac events.

Principal Brent Martinson expressed his excitement in the school’s achievement stating, "As the principal of Chesterton High School, I am incredibly proud to announce that we have become the first Heart Safe School in Porter County through the Project Adam initiative. This distinction reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring the health and safety of our students, staff, and community. By meeting the rigorous standards set by Project Adam, we have taken proactive steps to safeguard our school environment, equipping our campus with the necessary tools and training to respond effectively in the event of a cardiac emergency. This milestone is not just an achievement; it is a promise to our community that we will continue to prioritize the well-being of everyone who walks through our doors.”

The Heart Safe School designation not only enhances the safety of Chesterton High School but also sets a standard for other schools in the region. By prioritizing the health and safety of its community, Chesterton High School exemplifies leadership and dedication to creating a secure learning environment.

Above, CHS Counselors, left to right, James Moore, Tuzdae Bartow, Johanna Hess, Julie Roytan, Amy Snyder and Gretchen Arthur.

Congratulations to the Chesterton High School Counseling Team who has successfully completed Indiana’s Comprehensive School Counseling Initiative — Carrying the Torch to Student Success - at the highest level possible - Gold Star level.

Indiana is now one of six states in the nation to earn reciprocity with ASCA’s RAMP program for its new Carrying the Torch to Student Success Comprehensive School Counseling Initiative! Schools who successfully complete the Gold Level programming will also earn RAMP certification.

This is the replacement for Gold Start recognition, a designation that all the Duneland Schools had previously completed. The CHS team will be recognized for this achievement at the November ISCA conference.

James Moore and Amy Snyder, CHS counselors, enjoyed an exhilarating experience flying with the US Army Golden Knights at the Gary Air Show recently, capturing unforgettable memories through numerous photos and videos. Their adventure not only provided an adrenaline rush but also offered a unique opportunity to connect with the aerial team, highlighting the thrill of flying and the joy of shared experiences.

Chesterton High School will celebrate Homecoming 2024 on Friday, September 27 in a home varsity football game vs. Portage High School.

Homecoming Parade participation call-out: The CHS Homecoming Parade will take place at 4:30 PM on Friday, September 27. Participants will begin lining up at 3:30 PM in the South parking lot of the former Chesterton Middle School campus (specific directions to come).

Any school/community groups and organizations interested in participating in the annual CHS Homecoming Parade should complete this Google Form by Thursday, September 19. Please direct any questions to CHS Assistant Principal Adam Tenbarge at atenbarge@duneland.k12.in.us, or call the CHS Assistant Principals' office at 219-983-3730.

Parade Route, Homecoming Royalty: The CHS homecoming parade will leave the South lot traveling east on Porter Avenue to S Calumet Road, Calumet Ave to Broadway, Broadway to S 6th Street, and ends back to the former CMS campus. The parade will be followed by the CHS home game against Portage at 7 PM. Homecoming Royalty will be crowned at halftime of the football game.

Homecoming Dance: The CHS Homecoming Dance will be hosted on Saturday, September 28 in the CHS Cafeteria from 7:00-10:00 p.m.

• Students must be in school for the full day on Friday, September 27th to attend the dance and be in good standing.
• Students wanting to bring an outside date to the dance must have the proper paperwork from the AP office filled out and signed prior to the dance.
• All students will need to take a breathalyzer test before entering the dance,
• Tickets will be made available for students to purchase two weeks prior to homecoming (more information will be forthcoming).

• Chesterton High - August 29 & 30 (Order before Picture Day to receive free shipping to the school)
• NWI Online School - September 3
• Liberty Intermediate - September 5
• Westchester Intermediate - September 5
• Bailly Elementary - September 19
• Brummitt Elementary - September 11
• Liberty Elementary - September 12
• Jackson Elementary - September 26
• Yost Elementary - October 2
  
• Early Learning Preschool - October 8 (Day 1) and October 9 (Day 2)

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

The Chesterton High School Alumni Association is seeking nominations from the community to be considered for the CHS Alumni Association Hall of Fame for 2024.

“Many accomplished and dedicated individuals are not necessarily in the public eye; they are the unsung heroes and quiet warriors among us impacting students and staff every day,” said Mike Anton, CHS Alumni president. “The 2024 recognition committee invites alumni, community members, parents and others throughout the Duneland community to submit their nominations.”

Please consider nominating a candidate for Alumnus, Teacher, Administrator, and Support Staff based on the following qualities:
Excellence
Leadership
Respect
Exceptional Contributions
Citizenship
Giving Back
Collaboration
Courageous Acts
Advocacy

The CHS Alumni Association is accepting nominations for 2024 now through Friday, November 1 at 3 p.m.

Learn more about the past Hall of Fame recipients and about the CHS Alumni Association at the CHS Alumni Association website.

The goal of the Duneland School Corporation district school newsletters is to inform students, parents and the school community about school-related information.

The Duneland Schools share information that pertains to opportunities our students may be interested in and outside of school on a special page on our website. These available opportunities are offered by not-for-profit partnerships and organizations within our school district boundaries and local communities. Follow this link to Community Opportunities.

Want your event/activity/camp posted on this page? Submit a request by email with the flyer/information to the Duneland Schools Administrative Center to ahicks@duneland.k12.in.us and bmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us.

Did you know that Duneland Schools has an online Spirit Wear Stores where you can buy your Duneland all school spirit wear? Check out our Spirit Wear Store platform at: https://dunelandschoolsopenstores.itemorder.com/shop/home/

The school meals program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Duneland School Corporation will process free or reduced-price meal benefit applications for those students who apply and are approved. Those students not qualifying for free or reduced-price meals will be charged the paid meal price for breakfast and/or lunch.

Meal prices for the 2024-2025 school year are available on the DSC Child Nutrition website.

The DSC Child Nutrition Department utilizes NutriSlice as its menus program. This app is available for iPhone and Android through your mobile app store. Parents can also access the full website for Duneland Schools on a computer via this NutriSlice link.

This app will allow parents and students to view the menus as well as the nutritional info for each menu item at any of the Duneland Schools. This program will be developed further incorporating images of the actual food items being served at each of the Duneland schools.

Menus will be posted on Thursday, Aug. 1

Duneland School Corporation offers MyPaymentsPlus, a state-of-the-art online service that provides you the convenience and information you need to manage your student's meal account. This system speeds up serving lines in the cafeteria, eliminates the need to send physical payments to school or worry about lost or forgotten lunch money and ensures that your child will receive a nutritious meal.

At no cost, MyPaymentsPlus allows any family to: Create a FREE, secured account to manage all your student’s accounts, check your student's current account balance, and create settings to receive email notifications when the account reaches a low balance.

Also, at no cost, MyPaymentsPlus allows any family to make a prepayment into your student's meal account using a check, credit card, or debit card at MyPaymentsPlus or by calling 1-866-441-9125. Funds deposited through MyPaymentsPlus are usually available for student use within a matter of minutes. Create settings to automatically replenish your student's account when it reaches a low balance.

The Duneland School Corporation encourages all parents (even if you do not prepay for your student's meal account) to create an account at no cost. To create a new account, follow the on-screen directions and register your student using their Student ID number. Student ID numbers can be obtained by contacting customer support at: 1-877-237-0946.

DSC Health Services and 2024-2025 School Immunization Requirements

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

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.

In the Fall of 2023, a strategic planning team was formed to review and update the current four-year strategic plan into a five-year plan that will be used to guide the Corporation from 2024-2028. The new Strategic Plan will guide DSC for the next five years in the areas of Student Achievement, Safety & Operations, People & Culture, and Finance & Facilities.

Contact the Duneland School Corporation IT department via one of these methods:

1. Open a IncidentIQ ticket by sending an email to: helpdesk@duneland.k12.in.us
   
2. Log into IncidentIQ and submit a request duneland.incidentIQ.com

Families without internet due to financial hardship have access to programs from two local providers.

Comcast Internet Essentials:

• Families that qualify for public assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI and other programs may also qualify for the Internet Essentials program from Comcast.

• This program offers internet at a low cost per month.

• Additional options and services are also available

• More information is available at this Comcast link

Frontier Lifeline Program:

• Families that qualify for public assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI and other programs may also qualify for the Lifeline Program from Frontier.

• More information is available at this Frontier link

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.

Email: bmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us

Website: www.duneland.k12.in.us
Location: 601 West Morgan Avenue, Chesterton, IN, USA
Phone: 219-983-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dunelandschools/
Twitter: @dunelandk12