Hello Students and Families,

Starting in October, we will be focusing on a different character trait or life skill each month. I want to thank everyone who participated in the character trait survey that was shared in the first few editions of the LIS Weekly newsletter. We will be using your feedback, along with the needs we are experiencing at school, to determine what area we will be focusing on each month.

During October, we will be placing an emphasis on the character trait and life skill of RESPONSIBILITY. Responsibility is a very important skill that will have an impact on your child in many aspects of their life, including at school, work, home, and in personal relationships with others. Responsibility is also one of the three areas we focus on through our behavior matrix at school. You can find our behavior matrix in the student handbook.

Each morning during our announcements, we will share something different about being responsible, ranging from the definition to different ways of exhibiting this trait. We will also start selecting a Student of the Week for each grade level. Teachers will be nominating students who demonstrate the monthly character trait and they will be featured in our LIS Weekly newsletter. We can't wait to see how our students show responsibility throughout the month of October at LIS.

Together we shine brighter!

Have a wonderful week,

Mrs. Hardwicke

Principal

Dear LIS Students and Families,

This year the Liberty Intermediate School Veterans Day program will be held Monday, November 11, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. The Liberty Middle School program will take place prior to our program, beginning at 9:30 A.M. All LIS families and veterans are welcome to join us in our annual Veterans Day celebration. Our students in the performing arts will honor our veterans by singing songs and playing an assortment of patriotic tunes. The winners of our essay and poetry contest will share their writings that morning as well.

We will be creating a slideshow to honor our veterans, and students are encouraged to send in photographs for this display by October 23, 2024. If you would like to contribute to our slideshow, please fill out the Google Form: https://forms.gle/qVbjx2wrbYBAZWzg9

Also, in honor of Veterans Day, students may enter an essay and/or a poem on “Why is Veterans Day Important?” or “How Do Veterans’ Sacrifices Affect Our Lives Today?” Essay entries should be 200 words long, with correct sentence structure, paragraph form, and neat handwriting. Students are free to choose any form or style of poetry for poetry entries. Some students will be selected to read their writing during the program. We would like this to be authentic work from the students so this will be a 0 -No AI Use on our District AI policy.

Please make sure you turn in your essay or poem to your Language Arts teacher no later than Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Here is a digital version of the Essay paper.

Veterans Day Essay 2024

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to me at jplant@duneland.k12.in.us

Mrs. Julie Plant

Liberty Intermediate and Westchester Intermediate 5th and 6th graders will be participating in the ILEARN Checkpoint Pilot this year for both ELA and Math in October. Assessments will be condensed and focus on limited standards during each of the three checkpoints.

Mrs. Morrow is one of our new fifth grade teachers this year. She teaches ELA on a team with Mrs. VanNostran and Mrs. Olson. Before coming to Liberty Intermediate School, she taught at Westchester Intermediate School and at Kankakee Valley. She is a University of Evansville graduate. We are so happy to have her as part of our team. Thank you for everything you do for ours students.

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Food: Shrimp

Favorite Subject as a Student: Math

Favorite Hobby: Raising Pigs

An interesting fact about Mrs. Morrow is that she was an Indiana All-Star catcher in high school.

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our students, we want to inform you about an important update regarding students who are injured and wearing medical devices such as walking boots, crutches, casts, slings, or splints. Effective immediately, any student with a medical device will be required to provide a doctor’s note confirming that they are cleared to participate in both gym class and recess. If a doctor advises against participation for any specified duration, the student will need to provide a subsequent note from the doctor clearing the student to resume these activities once they are healed.

This update is designed to ensure that all students can safely engage in physical activities while also considering their health and recovery. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Health Clinic. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

6th grade students are invited to join the Liberty Middle School Wrestling Team. 5th grade students are invited to practice with the LMS Wrestling Team, however cannot complete in meets. If your 5th or 6th grade student is interested in joining the wrestling team, they must have a current physical on file.

Sixth grade students will have the opportunity to participate in both LIS intramural sports and Liberty 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 Middle School Cross Country, Westling, and Track and Field. Below is a link to the Liberty Fall Sports page. This fall, students can participate in Middle School Cross Country. Mr. Nick Bamber is the athletic director for Liberty Campus. Please reach out to Mr. Bamber with any questions.

10/9 - PTO Meeting in Media Center 4:00

10/18 - End of 1st Grading Period

Purchase Kona Ice During Lunch

10/24 & 10/25 - Fall Break No School

10/29 - Report Cards Released on Skyward

Cell Phones, Smart Watches, Earbuds, & Earphones Usage

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.

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. Intermediate curriculum is designed to utilize iPads for lessons and enrichment activities.

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.

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.

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.

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

DuneNews

You can access the most current issue of the DuneNews by clicking here.

LIBERTY INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

School Website: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/Domain/13

Address: 50 W. 900 N. Chesterton, IN 46304

Phone: 219-983-3690

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