October 18, 2024

Dear Westchester Middle School Families,

As we close out the first quarter of the school year, I want to commend our students for their incredible efforts and dedication. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our amazing staff and teachers for their unwavering support and commitment to our students’ success. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed!

In the past couple of weeks, we have been treated to wonderful musical performances from our talented choir, band, and orchestra students. Their hard work truly shone through, and it was a joy to see our students share their gifts with families and the community. Thank you to Ms. Marquez, Mrs. Malott, and Mr. Christensen for your hard work and dedication to our music programs at WMS!

Please mark your calendars for the following important dates:

• Picture Retakes: Monday, October 21st
• 8th Grade PSAT: Wednesday, October 23rd
• Fall Break: No school on Thursday, October 24th and Friday, October 25th
• WMS Halloween Dance: Tuesday, October 29th from 4-6pm @ WMS

Thank you for your continued support. Let’s keep the momentum going as we head into the next quarter!

Respectfully,

Mrs. Lauren Seiss, WMS Principal

Reminders:

• 48-Hour Attendance Policy for Call Off(s) - Parents/Guardians will have 48 hours to excuse their students absence, after which time it will be considered unexcused.

• Parents who are picking up their child or dropping something off for their child must present a driver's license or state ID to our office staff in order to do so. Also, if a parent sends someone else to pick their student up or drop something off for them, they must not only present identification but must also be on the list in Skyward as a family or emergency contact.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

10/18 End of Grading Period

10/21 Picture Retake Day

10/23 PSAT Testing - First Period

10/24 & 10/25 NO SCHOOL Fall Break

10/29 Halloween Dance 4:00 - 6:00 PM in Cafeteria

10/29 Report Cards released via Skyward Portal at 3:00pm

10/31 Happy Halloween!

11/5 eLearning Day - NO SCHOOL

11/11 Veterans Day Program 9:00 - 9:30am in Gym B

Upcoming ATHLETIC Dates to Remember:

10/22 Football vs. LMS at 6:00pm @ CHS

10/23 Boys Basketball Open Gym at 4:05pm- 7:00pm in Gym B

10/24 Boys Basketball Open Gym at 5:00pm - 7:00pm in Gym B

10/26 Boys Basketball Open Gym at 9:00am - 11:00am in Gym B

10/28 Boys Basketball Tryouts at 4:00-5:30pm in Gym B

10/29 Boys Basketball Tryouts at 6:30-8:00pm in Gym B

Please call our main office at 219-983-3780 to report your student absent with in 48hours.

Attendance questions should be directed to Amanda Ray amray@duneland.k12.in.us

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.

There will be no school for all Duneland School students on Thursday and Friday, October 24 & 25 for fall recess. Classes will resume on Monday, October 28.

The first grading period will end on Friday, Oct. 18 and report cards will be available on the Skyward Family Access Parent Portal on Tuesday, October 29 at 3 p.m. Parents have the option of printing out their student's report card. Parents needing access assistance to their Parent Portal on Skyward, should contact their child's school directly.

Westchester Middle School 7th grade Math students and Liberty Middle School 8th grade ELA students will be participating in the ILEARN Checkpoint pilot this year. Assessments will be condensed and focus on limited standards during each of the three checkpoints

The DSC Child Nutrition Department is now utilizing NutriSlice as its new 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 items at any of the Duneland Schools. This program will be developed further incorporating images of food items being served at each of the schools.

Breakfast $1.60

Lunch $2.95

ATTENTION!!!

2024-2025 ALL ATHLETES MUST HAVE A CURRENT PHYSICAL ON FILE TO PARTICIPATE!

Middle School Physicals will need to be turned in to coaches or the athletic department, prior to open gym, tryouts, or practices in order to participate.

There are a total of 6 forms that need to be completed. The actual physical is completed by the Dr. and the rest of the forms are completed by the parent(s) and the student. Physicals will not be accepted if there are forms missing!

*Physical Checklist*

• Final Forms Online parent and student
• Physical Examination from the Dr.
• History Form (It is 2 pages)
• Consent and Release Certificate (Make sure insurance information is complete)
• Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Form
• Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities Code of Conduct

Cell Phones, Smart Watches, Earbuds, & Earphones Usage:

7th and 8th 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. Middle school curriculum is designed to utilize iPads for lessons and enrichment activities.

CONTACTING IT SUPPORT

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

Internet Connectivity

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

Parent Observer Account

Parents are encouraged to set up their Canvas observer accounts to monitor their students' progress. Parents can click this link to view how to set up their Parent Observer Account

Link to the Canvas Log In

WE WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO RIDE THE BUS HOME WITH FRIENDS THAT DO NOT SHARE THE THE SAME DESIGNATED BUS ROUTE. THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE UTMOST CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR STUDENTS.

n the Fall of 2023, a strategic planning team was formed to review and update the current four-year strategic plan into a five-year plan that will be used to guide the Corporation from 2024-2028. The new Strategic Plan will guide DSC for the next five years in the areas of Student Achievement, Safety & Operations, People & Culture, and Finance & Facilities.