January 31, 2025

Dear Westchester Middle School Families,

We’ve had another fantastic week at Westchester Middle School! Our Winter Dance was a huge success, with a great turnout of students enjoying music, dancing, and capturing fun moments in the photo booth. A big thank you to our Student Council for organizing another memorable event!

Exciting things are happening in our classrooms every day, and we love seeing our students engaged in learning. This weekend, we want to wish the best of luck to our Science Olympiad and Robotics teams as they compete. Both teams have shown incredible dedication and success in recent competitions, and we are so proud of their hard work!

As a reminder, please encourage your student to come to class prepared each day with a charged iPad, a pencil, and any necessary class materials. Your support in reinforcing these habits is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for being a valued part of our Westchester community!

Warm regards,

Respectfully,

Mrs. Lauren Seiss, WMS Principal

Reminders:

• 48-Hour Attendance Policy for Call Off(s) - Parents/Guardians will have 48 hours to excuse their students absence, after which time it will be considered unexcused.

• Parents who are picking up their child or dropping something off for their child must present a driver's license or state ID to our office staff in order to do so. Also, if a parent sends someone else to pick their student up or drop something off for them, they must not only present identification but must also be on the list in Skyward as a family or emergency contact.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

2/1 - Robotics Competition

2/1 - Science Olympiad at IUN

2/6 - 7th Grade Body Safety Presentation

2/7 - 8th Grade Body Safety Presentation

2/14 - 2/17 NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

2/18 - Classes Resume

2/21 - Kona Ice - During Lunch

2/22 Duneland Invitational Robotics Competition

Upcoming ATHLETIC Dates to Remember:

2/3 (A) 7/8 A Team Girls Basketball Game vs. Wilbur at 5:30pm @ Munster

2/4 (H) 7th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. LaPorte at 5:00pm @ WMS

2/4 (A) 8th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. LaPorte at 5:00pm @ LaPorte MS

2/6 (H) 7/8 B Team Girls Basketball Game vs. Barker at 5:00pm @ WMS

2/8 (H) 8th Grade Girls Basketball Invite at 8:30am @ WMS

2/10 (A) 7th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. LMS at 5:00pm @ LMS

2/10 (H) 8th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. LMS at 5:00pm @ WMS

2/12 (H) 7th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. Hebron at 5:00pm @ WMS

2/12 (A) 8th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. Hebron at 5:00pm @ Hebron

2/17 (H) 7/8 A Team Girls Basketball Game vs. Morgan at 5:00pm @ WMS

2/18 (A) 7th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. Wheeler at 5:00pm @ Wheeler

2/18 (H) 8th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. Wheeler at 5:00pm @ WMS

2/20 (A) 7th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. Fegely at 5:00pm @ Fegely

2/20 (H) 8th Gr. Girls Basketball Game vs. Fegely at 5:00pm @ WMS

Q: Burrs stuck to a dog's fur helped inspire this hook-and-loop fabric that was patented in 1955

A: Velcro

Each year, a representative from Dunebrook visits K-8 schools to give a body safety presentation. This year, our presentation is scheduled for Thursday, February 6th-grade 7 and Friday, February 7th-grade 8. This will take place during advisory time. Please see attached opt out form and return to Mrs. Lamb-dlamb@duneland.k12.in.us by email or main office prior to February 3rd if you do not want your student to attend the presentation.

ONLINE ENROLLMENT is NOW OPEN for incoming Duneland Kindergarten students for the 2025-2026 school year. Families are asked to complete online enrollment prior to attending Kindergarten Round-Up on Thursday, February 27, 2025. To get started please visit: DSC Kindergarten Enrollment 2025-2026

Please call our main office at 219-983-3780 to report your student absent with in 48hours.

Attendance questions should be directed to Amanda Ray amray@duneland.k12.in.us

The nomination period begins at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, January 31.

Here is the link to the page with the information: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/about-us/dsc-teacher-employee-of-the-year

The Duneland School Corporation will continue to improve current facilities to enhance the student experience with the following capital improvements in 2025: playground replacements at Bailly, Brummitt, Jackson, and Liberty elementary schools and soccer stadium renovations and carpet replacement at Chesterton High School. This presentation below provides additional details on the scope of each project. Concept drawings and timelines regarding 2021-2025 capital improvement projects are available on the DSC website.

The CHS administration is inviting all 8th grade parents to an 8th grade parent information meeting to share the new Indiana Diploma Requirements. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 6pm in the CHS Auditorium.

The CHS administration will be presenting information pertaining to the new Indiana Diploma Requirements that will go into effect for the Class of 2029. Principal, Brent Martinson, Associate Principal, Kristen Peterson, and Assistant Principal, Tiffany Hawkins, will be explaining the details of what these new requirements will look like and mean to your student as they enter high school.

Current 8th grade students will begin their high school scheduling process with the high school counselors visiting the DSC middle schools the week of February 18-21, and Discovery and St. Pat’s on February 25. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Brent Martinson, Principal at 219-983-3730 x 7102.

Westchester Middle School 7th grade Math students and Liberty Middle School 8th grade ELA students will be participating in the ILEARN Checkpoint pilot this year. Assessments will be condensed and focus on limited standards during each of the three checkpoints

The DSC Child Nutrition Department is now utilizing NutriSlice as its new 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 items at any of the Duneland Schools. This program will be developed further incorporating images of food items being served at each of the schools.

Breakfast $1.60

Lunch $2.95

ATTENTION!!!

2024-2025 ALL ATHLETES MUST HAVE A CURRENT PHYSICAL ON FILE TO PARTICIPATE!

Middle School Physicals will need to be turned in to coaches or the athletic department, prior to open gym, tryouts, or practices in order to participate.

There are a total of 6 forms that need to be completed. The actual physical is completed by the Dr. and the rest of the forms are completed by the parent(s) and the student. Physicals will not be accepted if there are forms missing!

*Physical Checklist*

• Final Forms Online parent and student
• Physical Examination from the Dr.
• History Form (It is 2 pages)
• Consent and Release Certificate (Make sure insurance information is complete)
• Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Form
• Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities Code of Conduct

Need to FIX your Skyward App?

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

Cell Phones, Smart Watches, Earbuds, & Earphones Usage:

7th and 8th 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.

iPad Use

• 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. Middle school curriculum is designed to utilize iPads for lessons and enrichment activities.

CONTACTING IT SUPPORT

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

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

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

WE WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO RIDE THE BUS HOME WITH FRIENDS THAT DO NOT SHARE THE THE SAME DESIGNATED BUS ROUTE. THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE UTMOST CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR STUDENTS.

n 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.