This Week at Jackson
August 5th
Friday, September 15th
Pictures from This Week
Looking Ahead: Standards-Based Grading
We are already seeing the benefits of standards-based grading in terms of the specific feedback teachers are able to provide to students about their learning. That said, we know this shift is a large paradigm shift for students, staff, and parents. Our experience has taught us that students are the first to adapt to major changes in their lives; it can take us, as adults, much longer to get used to the changes.
The great majority of us grew up experiencing only traditional grading using the A-F scale. If you think about it, many of our teachers, even those without many years experience, are likely bringing at least two decades experience--including their time in the K-12 education system, their college degree, and their years as a teacher--with traditional grading. The same is true for most of our parents: it is likely the only system of grading we have ever known.
To help us all become more comfortable with standards-based grading, we are sharing the following documents that show, in greater detail, what it means to use standards-based grading at each grade level.
Reflection Sheet Process to Begin Monday, September 18th
Starting on Monday, September 18th, we will begin experimenting with a new process to address when students display inappropriate behaviors at school. As you are aware, one of our major focuses this year has been to improve how we teach and respond to student behaviors. Thus far, this has been most evident to parents in the form of the behavior matrix (linked further down in this newsletter). We are now going to begin layering in reflection sheets.
When students display inappropriate behaviors at school, we want to make sure that our staff is taking the time to thoroughly address the behavior with the student individually. To this end, students will work with our staff members to complete reflection sheets on specific behaviors. For us, the conversation that occurs between the student and the staff member is crucial, as we want to understand what the child was thinking, address the inappropriate behavior that was displayed, then discuss how other choices in the future could lead to displaying the appropriate behavior.
Depending on the student's needs, the reflection sheet may have the student's handwriting or it might have a staff member's handwriting, if they choose to scribe for the student based on the conversation they are having together. Whenever a reflection sheet is completed, we will share a copy of it with you, as parents/guardians, so that you can reinforce at home, as well. We know that only by working together can we achieve the best outcomes for the students.
Given that it can be difficult for our teachers to get to the office to make copies before the students leave to go home, you will most likely receive an electronic copy through ClassDojo or email.
We are excited about this new process, and we hope that it is beneficial for students, staff, and families in ensuring our school remains a safe, learning-friendly environment for everyone.
DSC Strategic Planning 2024-2028
In the Spring of 2020, a team of 42 Duneland School Corporation (DSC) stakeholders, including: students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, board members and community members helped create a new Strategic Plan for the district. The plan has provided the focus and alignment for the district over the past four years by taking stock of what is going well, where improvements are needed, and how new initiatives will be developed for the future. Now it is time to revisit the DSC Strategic Plan to prepare for the next five years. Over the next month, district leaders will be putting together the new 40-50 member team to develop the 2024-2028 Duneland School Corporation Strategic Plan. The team will consist of the following:
School Board Members (2)
Students (2)
District Administration (12) - Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Teaching & Learning, Director of Exceptional Learning, Director of Human Resources, Director of Technology, Director of Support Services, Director of Transportation, Director of Child Nutrition, Director of Trojan Learning Center, Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning
Building Administrators (6) - (2) high school, (2) intermediate/middle school, (2) elementary school
Support Staff (2)
Community Members (6)
Parents (8) - (2) elementary, (2) intermediate/middle, (2) high school, (2) exceptional learner
Teachers (15) - (5) elementary, (5), intermediate/middle, (5) high school
The 2024-28 Duneland School Corporation Strategic Plan will be developed over a series of four evening meetings from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm on the following dates:
Wednesday, October 4
Wednesday, October 25
Tuesday, November 7
Tuesday, November 14
Those persons interested in participating in the development of DSC’s next Strategic Plan, please contact Amanda Hicks, DSC Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, ahicks@duneland.k12.in.us by Friday, September 22, 2023. Due to the possibility of there being more interest than spots available on the team, not everyone expressing interest will have the opportunity to serve. Team members will be notified the week of September 25th with confirmation of meeting dates and times.
Friday Story with Mr. Marshall
We read Calvin Can't Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Keith Bendis. The students from Mrs. JP's class joined us as our live studio audience and led the school in singing "Onward, Trojans," while the rest of the school joined virtually from their classrooms.
Reminder: New Behavioral Expectations for Students
Our rules are: be safe, be respectful, and be responsible. A copy of our rules and how they apply in different school contexts is below. Because it is designed to be printed on 11x17 paper, the font is very small in this format.
School Pictures
Picture Day for Jackson Elementary School is scheduled for Thursday, Sep 28.
This event's Order Code is 80466BF.
Online ordering is available before and after Picture Day. Shipping and handling charges may apply to orders placed after Picture Day.
eLearning Information
There are two types of eLearning days: planned, asynchronous eLearning days (11/7/23 and 5/7/24) and unplanned, synchronous eLearning days. Should we have to close schools due to an emergency or inclement weather, we would be having a synchronous eLearning day. The graphics below provide more information about how this works.
Spirit Wear Sale--Due September 29th
PTO Calendar
Lunch Menu
Related Arts Rotation
With the exception of the first four days of school, our students rotate through their related arts classes every two days. The below charts will help you to know what is happening with your child each day.
DSC 2023-2024 Calendar
CHS Athletic Tickets
Chesterton Basketball, K-6
Duneland School Clinic
Duneland Transportation
Information regarding student bus transportation for the 2023-2024 school year is available on DSC website under the Transportation Department.
Track Student's Bus with MyStop App
The DSC Transportation has My Stop available for our families.
My Stop is a web-based application which allows 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.
Child Nutrition: 2023-2024 School Meals
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 2023-2024 school year will be available on the DSC Child Nutrition website beginning Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
MyPayment Plus for School Meals
Need to add money to your students school meal account on MyPaymentsPlus? Click on the image below to access
Duneland Community Opportunities
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.