Chesterton High School is proud to announce that seven outstanding students have earned the prestigious recognition of being named 2025 National Merit Commended Students. The students who have achieved this honor are:

• Emmalise Adcock

• Nicholas Carpentier

• Quinn Fleming

• Savannah Grant

• Samuel Macker

• Alaina McGrogan

• Carmen Thomas

These students are part of a select group of about 34,000 Commended Students across the nation who are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2025 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, their performance on the 2023 PSAT exam places them among the top 50,000 students nationwide.

These students have demonstrated remarkable academic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication. Their recognition as Commended Students is a testament to their commitment to excellence and their bright futures ahead.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is one of the most prestigious academic honors in the country, and being named a Commended Student highlights the significant academic potential of these students.

The SAVE Promise Club believe everyone deserves to feel safe and supported while they are on our campuses every day. The safety and well-being of our students and staff is a top priority–and requires a proactive approach to violence prevention. That is why the Duneland School Corporation is happy to introduce the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System to its grades 5-12 schools. We have a banner hung near the stadium’s concessions and posters placed throughout the school displaying the anonymous tip number and this important message. Let’s keep the Duneland School District safe, and remember if you see something, say something!

All 9th, 10th, and 11th Graders will take the PSAT (Pre-SAT) Exam on October 16th.

This exam is given through the College Board and is the preparatory exam to the Indiana graduation pathway exam (the SAT given in March to all Indiana 11th graders). Testing room locations will be emailed to each student prior to the exam date. A master exam site rooming list will also be posted in the main entrance & the cafeteria. Attendance will be taken in exam room locations and submitted to CHS attendance

Below is the exam day schedule:

● 8:10 am Tardy Bell Rings – Students will report to their assigned exam site.

● 8:30 am - Exam instructions begin.

○ No students will be permitted to enter the exam room once the exam begins.

● 11:00 am – PSAT/NMSQT testing concludes

● 1:30 pm - PSAT 9/NMSQT (w/ accommodations) testing concludes

Lunch schedule

❖ A Lunch 11:20am – 11:50am

❖ B Lunch 11:35am – 12:05pm

❖ C Lunch 12:10pm – 12:40pm

❖ D Lunch 12:45pm – 1:15pm

1:30pm - 3:10pm: Students will attend a presentation on positive choices (includes anti-vaping, tobacco, and drug use) / safety drills.

● 12th Graders will have a college career readiness day. Students can work on college applications and essays, go on a college visit (In person or virtual), attend their internship, attend CTE courses, job shadow, or volunteer. If they are not utilizing this opportunity then your student should attend school as normal.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the following CHS Offices:

CHS Phone Number: 219.983.3730

CHS Data & Testing - Ext #7116

Asst Principal’s Office - Ext #7105

Attendance - Ext #7117

Monday (9/23) --Adam Sandler Day

Dress up like Adam Sandler (baggy shorts with t-shirt/hoodie), or like a character from an Adam Sandler movie (Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, The Waterboy, etc).

Tuesday (9/24)--Country vs. Country Club

Dress like in country attire (jeans, plaid pattern, boots, cowboy hats) or in country club attire (tennis skirts, collared shirts, khaki, polos, visors)

Wednesday (9/25) --Wear Pink

Wear anything pink!

Thursday (9/26)--Anything But a Backpack

Students are encouraged to carry their books/things to class in anything EXCEPT a standard backpack

**RESTRICTIONS: Students cannot bring an item to school bigger than would fit into an overhead airplane compartment; also, NOTHING ALIVE (pets, younger siblings, etc.)

Friday (9/27)--Wear Your Class Colors

Freshman (9) - White

Sophomores (10) - Maroon

Juniors (11) -Gold

Seniors (12) - Black

Staff - Gray

Voting for the Homecoming Court closed on Friday 9/20 at 8 AM. Votes were tallied, and a court of 9 participants were selected (most votes). The following students will make up this year's homecoming court:

First row from left to right: Isis Spruth, Lauren Koonce, Olivia Roach, and Destiny Blackwell

Second row from left to right: Adam Kurek, Ryan Gray, Cal Stuckert, Zach Fender (Not pictured: Evan Hibshman)

Voting for Homecoming Royalty will take place during Homecoming Week. Students can access the Student Info Canvas page to vote. The two members of Homecoming Royalty will be crowned at haltfime of the Chesterton vs. Portage homecoming football game (Friday, September 27th).

Theme: Homecoming in Hollywood

Tickets are now ON SALE! Please click here to purchase a ticket.

PLEASE READ ALL DIRECTIONS WHEN PURCHASING A TICKET!

The Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday, September 9th:

• It will be held in the CHS cafeteria from 7:00-10:00 PM
• No student will be admitted to the dance after 8:00 PM
• Students must be in school for the full day on Friday to attend the dance and be in good standing (NO SUSPENSIONS)
• Students wanting to bring an outside date must have the proper paperwork from the AP office filled out and signed prior to the dance
• Guest paperwork must be submitted by Wednesday, September 25th. Guests will bring their signed paperwork to the dance with a photo ID (driver's license, student ID, etc).
• Students will need to take a breathalyzer test before entering the dance
• Ticket cost is $10, plus a small service fee
• Tickets can only be purchased online, NO CASH AT THE DOOR
• Ticket sales will close at the end of the day Thursday, September 26th

Chesterton High School will celebrate Homecoming 2024 on Friday, September 27 in a home varsity football game vs. Portage High School. The Trojans will take on Portage at 7:30pm!

Homecoming Parade participation call-out: The CHS Homecoming Parade will take place at 5:00 PM on Friday, September 27. Participants will begin lining up at 4:00 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 7:30 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).

In our efforts to prepare every student for life after high school we have an opportunity for your student to learn what we believe are the most important traits to help them be successful. At Chesterton High School every student has the opportunity to sign up to participate in our Work Ethic Certification program. We will be giving every student the opportunity to sign up to work toward earning a Work Ethic Certification during their Advisory period on Tuesday, September 17. This credential can be used in potential interviews for jobs, college admissions, and scholarship opportunities. If you have any questions please contact Doretta Kurzinski at dkurzinski@duneland.k12.in.us or Brent Martinson at brmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us.

Why Work Ethic Certification?

• Employers have indicated that mastery of Work Ethic Skills is one of the top characteristics needed in employees.

• One of the fundamental goals of Northwest Indiana Workforce Board is to produce an emerging workforce that has the 21st Century Skills needed to face the challenges of a global marketplace.

What is the Work Ethic Certificate?

• A filter for employers when hiring or selecting candidates

• A common identifiable metric of work habits

• A credential demonstrating knowledge of skills, abilities and commitment to work

• Development of needed behavioral characteristics in emerging workforce

Who is eligible to earn a Work Ethic Certificate?

• High school students who demonstrate mastery of 10 employer expectations (See below)

Top 10 Employer Expectations

1. Show a positive attitude

Encourages & assists others when needed, sees the best in situations, responds positively to authority, demonstrates willingness to learn new tasks

2. Work well with others

Sees different perspectives, collaborates/cooperates with others, communicates effectively, encourages others to participate,

3. Be honest and have integrity

Is trusted by others, is truthful/does not lie or cheat, acknowledges one's own work, shows up, follows through on tasks

4. Arrive to work on time

Arrives on time, anticipates and adjusts for potential delays, meets deadlines

5. Follow directions

Follows rules and procedures, clarifies directions, completes assignments

6. Recognize problems and find solutions

Thinks critically, accepts challenges, considers choices, finds alternative solutions

7. Apply good listening skills

Values and respects other opinions, knows when to speak & when not to, demonstrates patience, asks questions for clarification

8. Manage time effectively

Routinely plans and prioritizes, sets realistic and attainable goals

9. Maintain a safe work environment

Understands the need for healthy lifestyle, laws, & regulations in the workplace, is aware of purpose of passing drug & background checks

10. Respect diversity and exercise tolerance

Recognizes and respects others’ differences

1. Chesterton Girls Basketball Winter League at Chesterton High School

• Girls in grades 2nd-6th
  
• Registration is open now until September 26th.
• Player Evaluations on October 6th, League begins November 17th
• Register at www.chestertongirlsbasketball.org

2. Chesterton Girls Basketball Middle School Winter League (Club1 League)

• Girls in grades 7th/8th
• Registration opens Monday, September 16th
• League begins Nov. 10th and runs for 4 weeks at area schools.
• Register at www.chestertongirlsbasketball.org

3. Chesterton Girls Basketball Fall Girls Hoops & Handles Skills Academy

• Girls in grades K-8th
• Registration opens Friday, September 13th
• Ball Handling, Shooting, Offensive and Defensive concepts
• Register will open on www.chestertongirlsbasketball.org

The Chesterton High School Girls Basketball program is hosting a trivia night fundraiser on Saturday, October 5th, in the Chesterton High School cafeteria. Join the Trojans for a night of trivia, food, basket raffles, music, and fun! Bring an entire trivia team with costumes and compete for prizes. Or, you can also purchase individual trivia seat tickets as well. To purchase trivia tickets, make a donation, or if you own or work at a business that is interested in being a winter season sponsor, please visit www.chestertongirlsbasketball.org. We are a 501c3 Not-For-Profit Group and all transactions have no processing fees and receipts are issued immediately for tax purposes. If you have any questions, please contact Chesterton High School Head Coach Candy Wilson at chestertongirlsbbchs@gmail.com.

Thank you to all of our students and parents for helping us get off to a good start regarding our arrival and dismissal procedures! We will continue to make adjustments to effectively get our buses out and on their routes. When we work together then we can accomplish anything!

Key Changes:

• Morning Drop-Off: All students being dropped off before 8:10 AM must be dropped off at Door 34 or Door 31.
• Afternoon Pick-Up: All students being picked up after 3:10 PM must be picked up at Door 34 or Door 31.

This change is being made to ensure that our buses can enter and exit CHS safely and on time.

We appreciate your cooperation in following this new policy and helping us maintain a smooth and efficient arrival and dismissal process for all students.

Thank you for your continued support.

In efforts to help with our arrival and dismissal procedures at CHS the following procedures will be implemented for all student drivers.

All student drivers must purchase a student parking pass and display visibly to park at Chesterton High School. You can pick up a student parking application in the main office. All students need to have a complete application and student parking pass by the end of the day on Wednesday, August 21. There will be no fee for the student parking pass.

Parking Guidelines:

• Students are only allowed to park by Door 31, Door 34, and in the back of the school by the tennis courts.
• Students are NOT allowed to park in the front of the building (west side), which includes the faculty lot and the visitor lot.

Failure to follow this policy could result in disciplinary action and/or loss of driving privileges.

Thank you for your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines.

CHS currently offers 67 Dual Credit courses! Our goal at CHS is for 75% or more of our students to earn dual credit while they are in high school and 40% of our seniors to earn 1 years worth of college credit. We have dual credit partnerships with Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue Northwest, Ball State University, University of Southern Indiana, Vincennes University, and Indiana University. Ivy Tech is our main partner for dual credit opportunities. We offer many courses through our Dual Credit partnerships that are part of the Indiana College Core (ICC) Transfer Library. This means that students who take these FREE courses will be able to transfer those college credits to any state funded institution. The current cost of a year of college at a state funded school (ex. IU or Purdue) is approximately $10,000 for tuition plus room and board. By earning these credits at CHS you could save A LOT of money!

To be eligible for dual credit, students need to apply to Ivy Tech AND earn a score of 70 or higher on both English and Math STEM Knowledge Assessments BEFORE registering for a dual credit course.

Scan the QR Code below for the steps to apply for Ivy Tech Dual Credit courses. Once you apply, you will be able to register for dual credit courses. If you have any questions or need assistance contact Mrs. Tiffany Hawkins, CHS Assistant Principal, at 219-983-3730 or thawkins@duneland.k12.in.us.

On July 1, 2024, the Indiana Legislators enacted a new law for all K-12 schools in Indiana. The law reads as follows:

Electronic Devices (P.L. 108-1994, HEA 1202): Wireless Communication Devices

Per IC 20-26-5-40.7: the use of wireless communication devices, including but not limited to cellular telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, gaming devices, smartwatches, etc., is strictly prohibited during academic class periods unless explicitly authorized by the teacher for educational purposes.

Students are permitted to use a wireless communication device in the event of a health or safety emergency or to manage health care as specifically defined in the student’s Individualized Health Plan (IHP), Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and/or Section 504 Plan.

A wireless communication device is defined by Indiana law as any portable wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two (2) or more parties.

Chesterton High School’s new policy regarding wireless communication devices includes cell phones, earbuds/headphones, smartwatches, and any other auxiliary device that can be paired with a cellular phone. When a student is directed by a teacher or staff member to follow the established classroom phone/wireless communication policy, noncompliant students will be referred to the office and are subject to disciplinary action for insubordination.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us create a focused and productive learning environment at CHS.

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.