Hello Students and Families,

What a fantastic start to the school year we’ve had at Liberty Campus! We can all feel the excitement in the hallways and classrooms as our students and staff members are beginning to settle in and get a feel for our new routines and expanded building. We are thrilled to have everyone back and are eagerly looking forward to a year of growth, learning, and memorable experiences.

We would like to thank everyone who has patiently waited in our arrival and/or dismissal line as we make slight changes to our procedures to ensure that it is efficient and safe. Each day last week our process got quicker and quicker. We will continue to review our plans as we look to create best arrival and dismissal plan possible.

This Friday we will have Kona Ice visit us during lunch recess. Students can purchase Kona Ice and the prices range from $3-$6. If students are not able to finishing eating their Kona Ice before recess is over, they are allowed to take it to their next class to finish it. You may also bring your refillable cups. We will have monthly Kona Ice Visits and a portion of the proceeds will go to our LIS PTO.

Parents, please help us make sure your child is bringing their iPad to school each day, fully charged. We do not have extra loaner iPads and chargers available for daily use to students who did not remember to charge or bring theirs. If your child has a hard time remembering to charge their iPad, it might be helpful to set an alarm Monday-Friday at 8:00 p.m. to remind them plug it in. We do have loaner iPads for those that are lost or damaged. Please reach out to our Media Assistant, Mrs. Valerie Warren, if you have any questions about this. Thank you for your help and support.

Together we shine brighter!

Have a wonderful week,

Mrs. Hardwicke

Principal

• When you enter our campus driveway, there are two lanes. Everyone should use the left-side lane (Row 1) until it is full to 900 N. Then, begin pulling into the right-side lane (Row 2).
• Stay in your lane. Do not move to a different lane.
• When arrival and dismissal begin, Row 1 will completely empty before Row 2 begins to move. Please be patient if you are in Row 2.
• Officer Mike Steege will be assisting with arrival and dismissal traffic and monitor the traffic rows.
• Once the lines begin moving, they will go quickly.
• During arrival, do NOT leave your lane after your child exits your vehicle. Stay in your lane and wait for everyone in front of you to exit our loading zone.
• The arrival line will not start moving until 8:30.
• During dismissal, you CAN leave the loading zone once your child is in your vehicle.
• Please be patient. We are all trying to move our students as quickly and safely as possible.

The Liberty Campus has been undergoing many improvements over the last two years. Next week, we are excited to begin our journey as a 5-8 campus. While our building is ready to welcome our staff and students back to school, there are still some areas where contractors will be finishing-up over the next 4-6 weeks. This will be noticeable near the main gym area and outdoor athletic complex. There will be minor disruptions to programming in those spaces as we begin the school year. These will be temporary and students and staff will move back into their regular area(s) as soon as the improvements are completed.

Mrs. Hardwicke has just begun her second year as principal of Liberty Intermediate School. Prior to that, she was an assistant principal at Kesling Intermediate School and Handley Elementary School in La Porte. She was also an elementary school teacher for eleven years at Riley Elementary School and Crichfield Elementary School in La Porte. Mrs. Hardwicke has fallen in love with the students, families, and staff members at LIS. While setting many goals for herself and our school, she is focused on creating a positive, engaging learning environment where everyone feels safe and challenged.

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Candy: 100 Grand

Favorite Board Game: Sorry

Colleges Attended: University of Illinois at Chicago, Purdue North Central, and Purdue- BOILER UP!

Favorite Subject as a Student: Writing

This is Mr. Wilson's first year as an assistant principal. We are so lucky to have him at LIS. Mr. Wilson had been a 6th grade teacher here at LIS for the past four years, while also coaching at CHS and CMS. Prior to working at LIS, he spent time teaching in Valparaiso and Houston, TX. Mr. Wilson always works to create a welcoming and nurturing environment for our students, and believes in the power of a positive attitude. Mr. Wilson loves to spend time with his family, be outdoors, and talk about sports.

Favorite Restaurant: Chipotle

Favorite Candy: Reese's Pieces

Favorite Game: Mario Cart

College Attended: Indiana University- GO HOOSIERS!

Favorite Subject as a Student: Math

A Message from our PTO President, Mrs. Christine Harris

We are so excited to start another year at LIS! The PTO has a lot of fun things planned for this year! Some of the things we do are Fun Nights, spirit wear sales, family nights and staff appreciation. We also help sponsor school clubs, help with extra classroom resources and much more!

If you are interested in getting involved, email us at lisptochesterton@gmail.com

We have one fundraiser that we plan on doing this year but if you would rather opt out, see the form below where you could donate directly to PTO.

Thanks! We are looking forward to a great year!

PTO Meetings

PTO will meet monthly on the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held in the LIS Media Center after school. Our first meeting will be on September 11th. All parents and guardians are welcome to join. We hope to see you there!

Spirit Wear

Be on the lookout for Liberty spirit wear information coming home soon. PTO will be sponsoring a spirit wear sale in September.

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.

How do returning Duneland Students Register?

• Go to Skyward to register online. Parents are encouraged to use a computer instead of a cell phone mobile app to complete the registration process.

Where do I find my student's schedule?

• Schedules will be available in Skyward on the afternoon of Friday, August 9th.

Will bus service be provided?

• Yes, however riding the school bus is a privilege. School busses are extensions of the school environment. To maintain safe student transportation, proper bus conduct is required of all student riders. Discipline for poor behavior can range from a simple warning to suspension of bus services.

Where do I find bus information?

• Bus information was available on your student's Skyward account on Tuesday, August 6th.
• In Skyward, navigate to the Portfolio and the Transportation drop-down.

Will students be provided lunch by the corporation?

• Families not already utilizing Duneland's food assistance program will pay for lunch this school year.
• More information regarding free and reduced lunch can be found below: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/programs-services/dsc-child-nutrition-services
• In addition, students will need to memorize their student identification numbers for presentation during checkout in the lunch line. Students' numbers can be found in Skyward under Student Info.

Is LIS a food allergy aware school?

• Yes, several students at our school have life-threatening food allergies. Trace amounts of foods like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat may cause hives difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, or swelling of the lips/mouth/throat, which in turn can lead to anaphylaxis and even death. Even touching contaminated surfaces may cause a reaction. LIS faculty and staff have been trained to recognize such a reaction and to administer medication (epinephrine) in an emergency.
• What can you do to help?
1. Instruct your child to not share lunch items with classmates.
2. Remind your child about the importance of hand washing before and after eating.
3. Tell your child to get help from an adult immediately if a classmate has a reaction.
   

Will students have lockers?

• Yes, all students will be assigned a locker where they will keep all of their personal items throughout the day.
• If they cannot remember their combination, they can look it up on their student Skyward account. Teachers also have locker keys to unlock and open lockers.

Can students decorate their lockers?

• Yes, students can decorate the inside their lockers with magnetic items. Stickers, tape, and other adhesives are not allowed.

What information does my student need to know for the first day?

• Students will need to know how they will get home each day - bus or car rider.
• Students should at least know the name of their Trojan Time teacher. This is one of their core teachers that they will have throughout the day. They can help them find their correct classroom if needed.
• Our teachers are so excited to meet our new students! We hope you are excited to have a wonderful year.

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.

9/2 - No School, Labor Day

9/5 - Picture Day

9/11 - PTO Meeting at 4:00 in Liberty Campus Media Center

9/16 - Liberty Campus Community Open House and Site Tours

9/20 - Purchase Kona Ice During Lunch

Our Trojan Cafe has a new look! Our kitchen and serving areas will be ready for students when they arrive on the first day of school. Each grade level will have their own lunch and recess time with their classmates.

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:

Intermediate/Middle Breakfast Price: $1.60

Intermediate/Middle Lunch Price: $2.95

For more information about our Child Nutrition Department and school menus, please visit the link below.

The State of Indiana requires 6th grade students to be immunized with Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine) and Meningitis vaccine. The Tdap and Meningitis vaccines must be received after the student turns 11 years of age and not before, to be considered valid. Please make an appointment with your physician or the health department as soon as possible to get started on this process if you have not done so already.

If your child is 11 years old and has already received these immunizations please send in a copy of their immunization record or email a scanned copy to the school nurse.

Please contact the LIS nurse, Mrs. Erika Judy, with any questions or concerns.

219-983-3690

ejudy@duneland.k12.in.us

DuneNews

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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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