DuneNews
Duneland School news for parents, students and teachers
Technology enhances learning and prepares students to collaborate, advance critical thinking skills, and help students adapt to rapidly changing innovative environments. A tech-driven world is all around us, and we are charged with responding by preparing our students to meet the demands.
There are several ways in which teachers utilize strategies to support student growth in technology use:
Collaboration: Using online platforms and collaborative tools that require students to work together on projects, focusing on teamwork and communication.
Critical thinking: Accessing online information to analyze and evaluate data and information to form a conclusion.
Problem-solving: Learning from trial and error to solve complex problems.
Digital literacy: Building competency in navigating online platforms, authentication of research sources, and evaluating information.
Creativity and innovation: Providing students with a range of expression to demonstrate content mastery.
Adaptability: Instilling comfort in adapting to change and continuous learning.
Career readiness: Teaching coding, data analysis, and other tech-related skills to support future careers in STEM fields.
The Duneland School Corporation's strategic planning committee recently updated the Corporation's strategic plan for 2024-2028. Within the Student Achievement and Growth category of the plan, Strategy 4 references Media Balance. Media Balance outlines how teachers and students use devices and engage with media in deliberate and mindful ways. As an author and educational innovator, George Couros states, “Technology will never replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of a great teacher can be transformational.” The following action steps outline the district’s goals to reinforce our deliberate and meaningful intentions to support technology in the classroom.
Strategy 4: Coordinate Programming to Support Balanced Media Practices
Action 1: Deliver a blended learning approach prioritizing media balance and enhancing instruction with technology.
Action 2: Integrate ongoing instruction on the topic of responsible and balanced technology use into the curriculum and family outreach.
Action 3: Develop and utilize a vertical alignment of digital skills to guarantee student success in grades K-12 as well as prepare for life beyond high school.
Action 4: Expand technology integration into the GVC to enhance instruction, including resources for instruction, reteaching, review, and extension.
Action 5: Focus use of blended learning strategies and media to enhance DSC High-Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS).
Click on the links below to view the third quarter honor rolls at each school:
During the event, listeners can make a pledge by calling the station at (219) 983-3777 or by contacting the station through Facebook Messenger. Listen to WDSO on FM 88.3, or stream through the Tune-in app, or you can ask your Alexa or Google Home to play WDSO. Pledges can be mailed in with cash, checks made out to WDSO, or donate via credit/debit card through the link, which will be posted on WDSO’s Facebook starting Friday, April 18. WDSO will also be bringing back the retro logo shirts for a donation of $25. The logo (at right) was designed in the 1980s by Chesterton resident Deano Recktenwall. These were a huge hit last year! Anyone interested in a throwback shirt, or one of WDSO’s other logos should contact the station.
WDSO 88.3 FM, is Chesterton High School’s student-run, not-for-profit radio station. WDSO has been on the air since 1976, and its sound waves reach listeners in Chesterton, Portage, Valparaiso, and Michigan City. WDSO broadcasts a wide variety of music all year long. During the school year, the station provides listeners with local news, weather reports, local sports coverage, and a variety of educational and community-driven programs Monday through Friday. Students who join WDSO have the opportunity to learn hands-on about media production and broadcasting, allowing them to gain skills, confidence, and a connection with their community.
WDSO members engage with community members and give them an opportunity to teach others about topics they are passionate about. The integration of these programs allows both staff members and listeners to strengthen their bond with their community and become involved and informed citizens. WDSO strives to bring attention to and elevate the voices of residents, community assets and issues, local history, and cultural highlights. WDSO is dedicated to being a place where young and emerging adults can form lasting mentorship bonds and community connections. Students can explore futures in broadcasting careers while building confidence, leadership, communication, and STEM skills that they will use throughout their lifetime.
Donations received from the public during WDSO’s yearly Radiothon help support the station's general upkeep, as well as funding the cost of a much-needed mixing board upgrade. Support from the community helps ensure that WDSO will stay on the air for years to come, allowing Chesterton High School students the unique opportunity to study and work in a student-run, not-for-profit radio station. This will be WDSO’s 34rd annual Radiothon. The first Radiothon was hosted in 1991, WDSO members Brandon Kroft and Daryl Anderson attempted to be on-air for 30 hours straight the DJs managed to stay on the air for twenty-four hours and raised a total of $283.60.
WDSO is currently looking for donations from local businesses, specifically gift certificates to contribute to their pool of on-air giveaways, a staple of Radiothon. Additionally, the station is seeking out testimonials from WDSO alumni to read on air about why WDSO was beneficial to you. Reach out on WDSO’s Facebook messenger or email efletcher@duneland.k12.in.us if you would like to contribute to either cause.
Common Sense, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of media and technology, has recognized Westchester Middle School as a Common Sense School.
Westchester Middle School has demonstrated its commitment to taking a whole-community approach to preparing its students to think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate while preparing them for the perils that exist in the online realm, such as plagiarism, loss of privacy, and cyberbullying. With the right support, kids can take ownership of their digital lives, engage with real issues, and change their communities for the better. The recognition acknowledges our school's commitment to creating a culture of digital citizenship.
"We applaud the faculty and staff of Westchester Middle School for embracing digital citizenship as an important part of their students' education," said Merve Lapus, vice president of education outreach and national partnerships at Common Sense Education. Westchester Middle School deserves high praise for giving its students the foundational skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st-century workplace and participate ethically in society at large."
Westchester Middle School has been using Common Sense Education's innovative and research-based digital citizenship resources, which were created in collaboration with researchers from Project Zero, led by Howard Gardner at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and are grounded in the real issues students and teachers face. The resources teach students, educators, and parents tangible skills related to internet safety, protecting online reputations and personal privacy, media balance, managing online relationships, and media literacy. The free K-12 curriculum is used in classrooms across all 50 states, in more than 80,000 schools by more than 1,000,000 educators.
"We're honored to be recognized as a Common Sense School," said Principal Lauren Seiss. By preparing our students to use technology safely and responsibly, we are providing them an opportunity to build lifelong habits to help them succeed in a tech-driven world."
To learn more about the criteria Liberty Middle School met to become recognized as a Common Sense School, visit https://www.commonsense.org/education/recognition-schools.
Something to Smile About Scholarship - The KTG Family Scholarship
The "Something to Smile About" Scholarship aims to support Duneland students aged 10-18 who need braces but face financial challenges in obtaining them.
Initiated through the collaboration of a local family and orthodontist, this scholarship provides an opportunity for parents or guardians to ensure their child receives professional orthodontic care, ultimately enhancing their confidence and promoting a positive self-image through a healthy smile.
General Eligibility Requirements:
Your child is between 10 and 18 years old.
Your total family income is 200% of the poverty level or less.
Your child receives regular dental care and has good oral hygiene.
Your child is not currently in orthodontic treatment or in between phases of treatment.
Your child has not received previous orthodontic treatment.
The family contribution is $500.
Downloadable Something to Smile About Application
8th Grade Reality Check is set for May 9, 2025, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Liberty Middle School, located at 50 W 900 N in Chesterton. For more than 20 years, this event has been preparing 8th grade students from the Duneland area on how to be successful in life after graduation.
Students are given a predetermined salary that they would earn in their chosen profession at age 28. During 8th Grade Reality Check, they visit tables where they pay such expenses as taxes, housing, childcare, etc. Some do end up in bankruptcy, while others may have a little money left over at the end. The ones that have remaining funds can “spend” their money on imaginary rewards such as investments, trips, concerts, motorcycles and so on.
The Reality Check is organized by the Duneland Chamber of Commerce and the Duneland School Corporation. The event takes over 120 volunteers each year. Volunteers are welcome to take part in the 8th Grade Reality Check for either a half day or whole day. Morning sessions are from 7:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., and afternoon sessions are from 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Lunch is provided for all-day volunteers. Volunteers should contact Rachel Campbell at the Duneland Chamber of Commerce at 926-5513 or by email at rachel@dunelandchamber.org. Volunteers can also register online www.dunelandchamber.org/events
Dear Families,
We are excited to announce that we have adopted a new form of school-to-home communication at called ParentSquare for the 2025-2026 school year. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with Duneland School Corporation. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:
Send and receive school and class information
Share pictures and files
See calendar items
Sign up to volunteer
Schedule parent-teacher conferences
and much more . . . all in one centralized place!
All district and school, grade level and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).
Have questions? Click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.
CHS Class of 1990 - 35th Reunion
WHEN: Saturday, July 12, 2025
WHERE: Spa Special Events Center - 333 N Mineral Spring Road, Porter, IN
TIME: 6-10 p.m.
Click for more details on the Class of 1990 Reunion
Come visit the Duneland Early Learning HUB!
The Duneland School Corporation Early Learning HUB is proud to be the first birth-to-school initiative in Porter County. It’s a special place where caregivers and children can come together to learn, play, and grow.
This April, the HUB is exploring exciting topics like rainbows, plants, food, and so much more with our families. If you have children ages 0-5, we invite you to join us Monday through Friday at the HUB for some fun and engaging activities!
Don’t miss out on this FREE program—visit our DSC website to learn more and get involved!
Discover Duneland School Corporation’s Trojan Learning Center (TLC)!
The Trojan Learning Center (TLC) provides a variety of educational opportunities designed to support young children and their families. Here’s a glimpse of what we offer:
- Duneland Early Learning HUB
A FREE program for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers, offering birth-to-school educational experiences. Learn more about this exciting initiative here: Duneland Early Learning HUB. - Preschool Programs
Tailored programs for children ages 3-5 with developmental delays and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). - Duneland Family YMCA Partnership
In collaboration with the Duneland Family YMCA, we offer two additional preschool classrooms, expanding learning options and enhancing the educational experience.
Our preschool programs are grounded in a research-based curriculum that promotes children’s social skills and emotional development. At TLC, we ensure every child is immersed in a nurturing, engaging environment with activities designed to bring all preschoolers together!
Emergency School Closing Procedures
As we approach the winter season, please review the procedures for school closings and/or delays that may occur due to inclement weather. See DSC Unplanned Synchonous eLearning Day Schedules below.
eLearning - Unplanned Synchonous Schedules
If students are asked not report to school due to emergency weather conditions; students will participate in an unplanned inclement weather eLearning day (virtual-synchronous-see Guidelines for Students)
Students will take part in Google Meet sessions with their teachers to receive face-to-face instruction. Teachers will post schedules by 9:00 A.M. Please click on the link above for more information.
SKYWARD Family Access Portal
Link to Skyward Family Access Portal
DSC 2024 -2025 Calendar
2025-2026 DSC Calendar
The Duneland School Corporation School Board of Trustees approved next school year's 2025-2026 district calendar
CHS Maroon & Gold Calendar/Bell Schedules
Parent Observer Account
Parents are encouraged to set up their Canvas observer accounts to monitor their students' progress. Parents can click this link to view how to set up their Parent Observer Account
Link to the Canvas Log In
Say Something Anonymous Reporting System
NEW!! DSC K-4 Anonymous Safety Reporting Form
K-4 Anonymous Safety Reporting Form
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.
DSC Strategic Plan 2024-2028 Update
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 Board of School Trustees for the Duneland School Corporation approved the new DSC Strategic Plan at its December 4, 2023 regular meeting. The plan will guide DSC for the next five years in the areas of Student Achievement, Safety & Operations, People & Culture, and Finance & Facilities.
These timelines were revised as of December 2024 to reflect necessary adjustments to the plan and to ensure the continued success and growth of our educational community.
Click this link to view the new 2024-2028 Strategic Plan
CONTACTING IT SUPPORT
Contact the Duneland School Corporation IT department via one of these methods:
- Open a IncidentIQ ticket by sending an email to: helpdesk@duneland.k12.in.us
- Log into IncidentIQ and submit a request duneland.incidentIQ.com
Internet Connectivity
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
Duneland School Corporation
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