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!

Dear WIS Family,

On behalf of the entire WIS staff, I would like to extend our sincerest wishes for a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, and an Amazing New Year. May peace, prosperity, and happiness be yours throughout the holidays and into 2025.

We look forward to seeing our students back in the building on January 7th. Until then, please take time to refresh and rejuvenate your spirit with the ones you love.

Mr. Longacre

slongacre@duneland.k12.in.us

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

5th Grade 93.5800%

6th Grade 92.9941%

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.

Family Friendly Schools Survey for DSC Families

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 by December 20, 2024

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

School Name: choose your school from the drop-down list

School Corporation: 6470 Duneland School Corporation

School Liaison Name: MICHELLE PALKO

School Liaison email: mpalko@duneland.k12.in.us

School Codes for your convenience:

6928 - Bailly Elementary School

6819 - Brummitt Elementary School

6817 - Jackson Elementary School

6823 - Liberty Elementary School

6941 - Newton Yost Elementary School

6821 - Liberty Intermediate School

6927 - Westchester Intermediate School

6925 - Chesterton Senior High School

6926- Northwest Indiana Online School (Trojan Virtual Academy)

Dear Parent/Guardians,

Starting November 6, 2024 through the month of January 2025 the Health Services at WIMS will be conducting Vision Screenings of 5th grade students , according to Indiana Law are required to have their vision checked.

We are asking that if your student wears glasses that they have them on their person daily so that there will be no delay in getting their testing completed. If you have any questions, please contact WIS School Nurse, Tina Sosby, R.N. at 219-983-3710 or via email at

tsosby@duneland.K12.in.us.

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.

Let's give a round of applause for our Westchester wrestlers and their combined effort in our recent meet at the Lake-Porter Conference tournament on Saturday: Specific congratulations goes to the following wrestlers for placing:

Ellie Sharp placed 4th at 70 lbs.

Sam Crothers placed 3rd at 125 lbs.

Tyler Santiago placed 1st at 135 lbs.

Alfonso Llamas-Cortes placed 4th at 140 lbs.

Ryan Bradford placed 4th at 150 lbs.

Mason Donahue placed 3rd at 240 lbs.

The grapplers next compete on Tuesday vs Pierce and again on Thursday vs Liberty. Both matches will be at home.

1st place: SAI JEEJU
2nd place: JORDAN FIEFFER
3rd place: MASON HIMAN

Language Arts

• Last week, students finished up their novel study of Hello Universe, and took the middle-of-the-year reading NWEA test. This week, we will be taking our final CSA of the quarter, covering main idea and supporting details. The second quarter ends on Friday. Please help students to be sure all work has been completed. Honors ELA - Last week, we took the middle-of-the-year reading NWEA test and began reading the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, interspersed with clips from the 2009 animated Disney version. It's a fun challenge for students to take on, and has led to very insightful discussion. This week, we will finish up reading and have some fun with different versions of the story. The second quarter ends on Friday. Have a wonderful winter break!

Math

• Students will take the NWEA test on Tuesday. This week they will have the opportunity to retake the CSA: Multiply Decimals. The rest of the week is filled with various thinking, problem solving and review activities. When we return in January, students will begin dividing decimal numbers.

Social Studies

• Last week we reviewed the three regions of the original 13 colonies and quizzed over the material. This week we will be taking the CSA for this chapter. We will also refresh our map skills. The second quarter ends on Friday. Please help students to be sure all work has been completed. Have a wonderful winter break!

Science

• Last week we finished up our Ecology unit by taking the CSA. We then put our engineering hats on and began designing a zipline cart prototype. This week we will continue with the zipline project. Students will create, test, and modify the perfect zipline cart to save an elf.

Language Arts

• This week, students that have been receiving interventions and remediation will retake the first iLearn checkpoint. This will take place on Tuesday. Students that are not retaking the test will complete enrichment activities. Enjoy your holiday breaks!

Math

• This final week of school in 2024 and in the world of numbers- We will wrap up equations and inequalities. Once we are back in 2025, we will review all things algebra. As we close out this year, we want to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season. We look forward to the second half of 6th grade upon our return in January.

Social Studies

• Students will finish looking at the effects of the Crusades during the Middle Ages and its lasting effects today. The Bubonic Plague will be discussed. A look at the different factors that caused the spread- economic, environmental, and social- will be the focus of our discussion. A final summative will be given in connection with this material to end the 2nd quarter.

Science

• Students will be continuing to learn how the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth can create shadows that result in solar and lunar eclipses. Students will then demonstrate their knowledge of eclipses while taking a CSA. Finally, science will end with a space escape room and space bingo. MS-ESS1-1 Earth's Place in the Universe

PE

• This week in PE, we will be continuing our volleyball unit with volleyball games!

Art

• This week in art we will continue with our Kandinsky projects. Students will add their own elements to their artwork creating a balanced composition. Later in the week students will add color to their artwork by painting their projects.

Music

• This week we wrap up our rotation. Students will perform their Harmony Projects and take a rotation survey. We will finish with a study of traditional holiday music and a Karaoke Friday.

PLTW

• This week in PLTW, the 5th grade students will be revising their robot designs and testing their new designs. The 6th grade students will be finishing up their final Microbit projects and testing out each others’ games.

Media

• Students will be wrapping up their digital learning this week with a couple of projects, including the creation of unique emoji that reflects a positive attitude/response when writing or communicating online.

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.

Welcome to our 2024 Winter Baseball Camp!

The Holiday Baseball Camp consists of 3 days of baseball activities for $50.

DECEMBER 26-27-28

• Grades 3-5 11am-12:30PM
• Grades 6-8 1:00 – 2:30 PM
  • Day One = Defense (IF, OF, P/C Drills)
  • Day Two= Offense (Tee Work, Soft Toss, Short Toss, Batting Practice, and our most important TWO STRIKE APPROACH**)
  • Day Three = FUN! TROJAN OBSTACLE COURSE and the World Series Wiffle Ball Tourney

  
  

  Link to Sign Up:

  https://forms.gle/ooCiW3hWxBjERhVu7

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://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/