The Weekly Update #4

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 [school or district name]. 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!

Parents—Getting Started Video

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.

Summer School Registration will open on Monday, March 17th in a new Skyward portal. Families interested in enrolling in one of Duneland's PreK-12 Programs should look for email communication next week with detailed instructions on how to register.

Separate registration processes will be shared for invitation only Kinder Camp and Grades 1-4 High Ability programs. PreK-7 Summer School will take place at Liberty Elementary from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. in Session 1. Grades 8-12 Summer School will take place at CHS from 7:30 a.m.-12:55 p.m. in both sessions. See below for the scheduled dates of this year's schedule.

The 50th annual Porter County Arts-A-Budding student art exhibit will open on March 4 featuring the best artwork produced by students’ grades Kindergarten-8th in Porter County. Visual Art teachers from across Porter County have selected the top 11 pieces of artwork done by their students during the past year. Hundreds of students’ art will be featured at this Best of Porter County Exhibit.

This exhibit may be visited from March 4-13, 2024 Monday-Sunday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Chapel of the Resurrection, Valparaiso University Campus. A reception and awards presentation will be hosted for students and their families on Sunday, March 9 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of the Resurrection, Valparaiso University Campus.

Many talented young people have been recognized since ARTS-A-BUDDING began 49 years ago. It was started by Visual Arts teachers who wanted to honor students and encourage their creativity. This exhibit is organized annually through the volunteer efforts of these teachers and in cooperation with the Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University.

The following students will have their artwork on display:

Cayia Blythe, Maisie Benson, Fiona Gurgon, Isabella Martinez, Addison Meyne, Lincoln Phelps, Micky Plinovich, Julia Pytel, Barinderjit Singh, Ainslee Shaw, Sam Wineland

The great majority of students taking IREAD have completed the test. We will finish with the few students who were ill next week when they are feeling better. Here are some frequently asked questions that may be helpful to you.

When will I know how my student did?

Preliminary score reports should begin to populate in the testing system next week. Once we can see the scores, we will begin the process of contacting families about the results. We plan to have contacted all families by March 21st at the latest.

What happens next if my student passes IREAD?

If your student receives passing marks on IREAD, then it is time to celebrate! This will be the last time your student takes IREAD. Consider doing something special with your student to acknowledge their accomplishment.

What happens next if my student does not pass IREAD?

If your student does not receive passing marks on IREAD, we will determine a path forward with you. Specifics vary based on the student's grade level and other factors (such as the student having an IEP or ILP). Additional retest opportunities are available during the summer testing window.

ONLINE ENROLLMENT is NOW OPEN for incoming Duneland Kindergarten students for the 2025-2026 school year. If you were not able to attend Round Up on 2/27, you can still complete online enrollment. To get started please visit: DSC Kindergarten Enrollment 2025-2026

Students have the opportunity to be recognized for displaying the positive behaviors our staff teaches them each day. Recognition comes in the form of Caught Being Awesome tickets. The following students received tickets this week:

Picture Day for Jackson Elementary School is scheduled for Friday, March 21st. This event's Order Code is 93827YF.

Please note, only those who have preordered will be photographed. Click here to order. Online preordering closes at 7:00 a.m. on Picture Day.

AUTHOR VISIT TO JACKSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2025

ALL GRADE LEVELS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A PRESENTATION TAILORED TO SPECIFIC LEVELS.

Students who wish to have a book autographed will need to bring their book to school before the author visits. The book will be signed and returned to the student the day after the author visits. The school will not be selling books and no books will be provided by the author.

A form will be provided to help track books that you would like the author to sign.

Please plan ahead if you wish to have a book signed as our author will be visiting ALL 5 DUNELAND SCHOOLS. Local supplies as well as online sources could run short if you wait until April to purchase a book. All students will participate in an author study before she arrives.

PTO has once again agreed to sponsor our author visit. Thank you to our PTO for this wonderful opportunity for our students.

Mrs. Eleftheri

Jackson Library Media Specialist

leleftheri@duneland.k12.in.us

Per the Indiana Department of Education, students should be in attendance for at least 94% of the school year. This means students should be absent for 10 or fewer days across the entire year. See below for our progress toward that goal.

Congratulations to 2nd grade for having our best attendance percentage this week! As a reward, the grade level earned an extra recess period.

We'd like to highlight the 148 students who had perfect attendance in the month of February.

If you need details about the attendance policy, please see the below graphic or refer to the student handbook.

Dear DSC Elementary Families,

To ensure that all students, staff, and families have a way to report safety concerns anonymously, DSC administration has introduced a "K-4 Anonymous Safety Reporting Form."

This form is designed for individuals who wish to remain anonymous or for students who want to report something but are unsure of how to proceed. Parents are encouraged to continue reaching out to the school directly via email or phone for any concerns.

Please keep in mind that this initiative was created to keep communication channels open and provide students with a safe way to report incidents while maintaining their privacy. If you have any questions or safety concerns, don't hesitate to contact your building principal.

Submissions are not reviewed in real time. As a result, all emergencies should be reported to local law enforcement by calling 911.

We are working with students to help them learn what is expected of them in the various settings they encounter during their school day. We are focused on three big ideas: we want students to be safe, be respectful, and be responsible.

We know the power of partnering with our families and caregivers. We encourage you to speak with your child about the expectations in the "Everywhere" column, as this language will become a daily part of your child's experience at Jackson. We welcome support in helping students see the importance of these behaviors not just in school but in every other context of their lives.

Spirit wear items are available for purchase throughout the school year. Families may order at a time that suits them; the store will remain open all school year.

Kindergarten students will attend related arts with their classroom group. In grades 1-4, students are attending related arts with a mix of students from the other classrooms. The groups they attend are named after universities in Indiana: Ball State, Indiana State, IU, and Purdue. If you ask your child their group, then the below schedules will help you know which related arts class they have each day.

Each day is assigned a color (Maroon, Gold, White, Black). That color corresponds with a particular spot in the rotation. All classes rotate in the same direction: music moves to art, art moves to PE, PE moves to media, media moves to music.

Help us celebrate DSC Child Nutrition staff during National Nutrition Month and beginning on March 1. Take this time to thank the Child Nutrition Associates in your school for all they do in keeping our students nourished.

Help CHS get first three years in a row!

Help VOTE Chesterton High School 'Best Public High School' for the 3rd year in a row! Voting opened TODAY. Participants may vote one time daily in each category today through March 23. Click on the image below of this link to vote.

State Park Little League 2025

Online registration is now open for State Park Little League Baseball 2025. New or Returning players may register by clicking the State Park Little League logo at left.

Liberty Rec. Baseball and Softball 2025

Online registration for 2025 Liberty Rec. Baseball and Softball. Register by clicking the Liberty Rec. Baseball and Softball logo at left.

Do you want to earn money but still be home with your family?

Does the cost of childcare hinder your plans to work?

Does your child participate in the many afterschool opportunities?

Would you like to spend quality time with your kids during spring, summer and winter breaks?

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

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.

We are excited to be hosting a Ready, Set, Kindergarten class at Jackson. The Jackson class will meet 11:30am-1:30pm on Fridays in the high ability classroom. See below for more information on registration.

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.

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.

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.

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