NOVEMBER 3, 2024

• Did You Change Your Clocks?
• Sophomore: Learn ABout CTE Classes on November 7
• Senior News: Required Naturaliation Exam on December 3
• Upcoming Events
• Community Events

Dear NWI Families,

Did you remember to “Fall Back” and adjust your clocks? This time of year is a good opportunity to also replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, too.

Thank you for choosing Northwest Indiana Online School for your child(ren).

Sophomores enrolled in Northwest Indiana Online and who reside in Porter County, plan to join the Porter County Career & Technical Education (PCCTE ) as they share information about Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes.

When: Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 6:00 pm

Where: Chesterton High School Auditorium at the High School for an exciting event about adding Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses to your 2025-2026 schedule!

What are CTE classes? CTE offers hands-on learning and career-focused courses. Applications open on November 1, 2024.

In addition, on December 3 and January 23, you'll have the chance to attend preview nights at the different CTE locations to explore specific classes and see what they have to offer! (See attachment)

Indiana Code 20-30-5-7 requires public Indiana high schools to administer the naturalization examination, provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to each student enrolled in a U.S. Government course where credit is awarded for General, Core 40, Core 40 with Academic Honors, or Core 40 with Technical Honors designation.

Test Materials and Process:

General information regarding the naturalization examination can be found here. Students will participate in the naturalization examination, which contains 100 items. Students participating in the naturalization examination complete 20 of the 100 items. A student score of 60% (12/20) is considered passing on the student’s first attempt.

To help NWIOS students get ready for the assessment, Mr. Chris Richardson, DSC teacher, will hold two virtual study sessions:

• Friday, November 15 from 9:15 am - 9:45 am
• Monday, November 25 - 1:15 - 1:45

A link to the study sessions will be added as we get closer to November 15, 2024.

NWIOS Students will take the Naturalization Exam IN-PERSON on December 3, 2024.

Time: 10:30 am -12:30 pm

Location: Duneland School Corporation ANNEX 411 S 10th Street, Chesterton IN 46304

If you have any questions regarding the Naturalization Exam, please reach out to me or to Mr. Richardson (crichardson@duneland.k12.in.us)

Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - ACADEMIC SUPPORT SESSION

• In-person 10:30am -12:30 pm
• Please RSVP
• NEW Location~ Duneland School Corporation ANNEX 411 S 5th Street, Chesterton IN 46304

Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - ACADEMIC SUPPORT SESSION

• VIRTUAL 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
• RSVP and we will send you a link to join the virtual support session.

Monday, November 18,2024

• NWIOS Enrollment for the second semester opens
• If you're already enrolled, you do not need to do anything--except to tell your friends to enroll 😀

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

REMOTE: Grades 3-8 ILEARN Checkpoint #2 -- Watch for specific details in November.

Friday, November 15, 2024

Grade 12 Naturalization Exam VIRTUAL study session

• 9:15 am -9:45 am
• Watch for an email from Mr. Chris Richardson, DSC Teacher

Monday, November 25, 2024

Grade 12 Naturalization Exam VIRTUAL study session

• 1:15 - 1:45 pm
• Watch for an email from Mr. Chris Richardson, DSC Teacher

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

• Picture Retakes
• Grade 12 REQUIRED ONSITE 10:30 am -12:30 pm Naturalization Exam (Location: 411 S 5th Street, Chesterton IN 46304)
• REMINDER- Grades K - 8 WILL NOT have an onsite testing day

Monday, December 16, 2024 by 11:59 am

• All assignments due in EdOptions Academy for NWIOS Students

Don't miss out on our in-person and virtual support days! Students attending these sessions are getting one-on-one or small group help from our skilled team. They receive guidance on using resources, academic support, and help catching up on classes, plus help creating schedules to stay on track. Use the button below to sign up or click here.

Our next in-person Academic Support Session will be on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024, from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm.

LOCATION:

Duneland School Corporation ANNEX

411 S 5th Street, Chesterton IN 46304

Then, our first virtual Academic Support Session will be on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2024 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm.

RSVP and we will send you a link to join the virtual support session.

For more information, call 219-983-3743.

For any NWIOS Student who did not get their picture taken or is otherwise interested in retakes, they are scheduled for December 3rd.

More information will be forthcoming as the date gets closer.

The Indiana Purple Star School Designation honors schools that have displayed a significant commitment to service members, veterans, and students and families connected to our nation's military.

The NWI Online School Office is located at Duneland's Trojan Learning Center at 601 W Morgan Avenue, Chesterton, IN 46304 -- Please use Door 9.

Call 219-983-3473 to reach Mrs. Palko and the NWI Online Office

Instructional EXL Aide - Preschool

Duneland School Corporation's Developmental Preschool is looking for staff to work in an instructional aide capacity. If interested, please visit the DSC website for more information.

https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/administration/employment-opportunities

Once again, Hurst Orthodontics, PC will collect Halloween candy in our schools to be donated to a non-profit organization called Supporters of the Military (SOM). For the last 22 years, the candy has been shipped to US soldiers serving both domestic and abroad. This year, many Indiana veterans will also enjoy the candy. Many of the candy recipients have been Indiana National Guard members, as well as members of the US Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines.

Last year Hurst Orthodontics, PC, with the help of local schools, other community organizations and the public collected a total of 632 pounds of candy for the troops.

Candy donation boxes will be placed in each school beginning on Tuesday, October 29 - November 7. Donations from the public are welcome. Letters and cards for the troops from the students would be very welcome as well.

Located within the Duneland School Corporation, the Trojan Learning Center (TLC) offers a wealth of learning opportunities for young children and their families. The TLC is also home to the offices of the RISE Academy (Alternative Education) and DSC's Northwest Indiana Online School.

Did you know? Our early childhood programs feature FREE Birth-to-School activities for caregivers and children! Duneland School Corporation provides preschool options for children ages 3-5, including two classrooms for children with developmental delays and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), as well as two additional preschool rooms operated by our community partner, the Duneland Family YMCA. All of the preschool classrooms utilize a proven curriculum that helps children grow in thinking, social skills and emotional well-being ensuring each child has a fun and supportive learning experience. Additionally, all preschool students participate in engaging and enjoyable activities together!

The TLC also hosts speech services for children aged 3-5 who qualify. Families can bring their children to learn and work one-on-one with a speech pathologist at our center.

Best of all, the DSC preschool and walk-in speech services are free for qualifying children, while the Duneland Family YMCA preschool offers a nominal fee and is the only local preschool that includes swim classes!

Join us at the Trojan Learning Center, located at Door 9 on the south side of the Duneland School Corporation Administration Building, and take advantage of these amazing early learning opportunities.

Do you have questions?

Are you ready to come learn with us?

Explore all that TLC has to offer!

Call 219-983-3743.

Learn more about the FREE Duneland Early Learning HUB Classes at the Trojan Learning Center

Click on the images below to enroll.

While not an inclusive list, but rather a short list of common NWIOS support needs. If you're not sure who to contact? Call 219-983-3743. Mrs. Palko, Administrative Assistant, will help guide you in the right direction.

1. Questions about classroom work:

1. Your Edmentum Teacher

2. The DSC NWIOS Success Coaches (Coach Sara and Coach Gabby)

3. Special Education Teacher, if applicable

2. Questions about technology support:

1. If it’s a Duneland issued device: https://duneland.incidentiq.com/requestor/dashboard

2. If it’s an Edmentum login issue: Edmentum Support or Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Palko mpalko@duneland.k12.in.us

3. Looking for parent or guardian login information: Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Palko mpalko@duneland.k12.in.us

3. Questions about scheduling:

1. Email: nwionline@uneland.k12.in.us

4. Questions about pacing status:

1. Success Coaches (Coach Sara and Coach Gabby)

2. Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Palko mpalko@duneland.k12.in.us

3. Director, Mrs. Jarka cjarka@duneland.k12.in.us

5. Questions about attendance:

1. Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Palko mpalko@duneland.k12.in.us

2. Director, Mrs. Jarka cjarka@duneland.k12.in.us

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

The new 2024-2025 Duneland School Corporation Calendar has been adopted by the Duneland School Board of Trustees. Click the link above to see all the date for next school year.

The goal of the Duneland School Corporation district school newsletters is to inform students, parents and the school community about school-related information.

This year, the Duneland Schools will share information that pertains to opportunities our students may be interested in outside of school on a special page on our website. These available opportunities are offered by not-for-profit partnerships and organizations within our school district boundaries and local communities. Follow this link to Community Opportunities.

Want your event/activity/camp posted on this page? Submit a request by email with the flyer/information to the Duneland Schools Administrative Center to ahicks@duneland.k12.in.us and bmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us.

For more information on ALL the current Camps being offered at CHS visit Athletic Camps/Events on the CHS Athletics webpage.

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.