Hello Students and Families,

This week, we will be administering the second ELA and Math ILEARN Checkpoint to our students. Please be aware that your child will probably encounter several skills and problems that they have not yet seen this year due to this being a pilot assessment. Your child will not be penalized for their scores this year, as we are participating in this pilot as a learning opportunity for our educators. ILEARN Checkpoints are short assessments that will be given three times during the school year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Each checkpoint contains 20-25 questions designed to measure students' understanding of critical skills and concepts as outlined in the Indiana Academic Standards. These checkpoints will provide teachers with valuable information to guide instruction in order to support each student's learning journey.

Please make sure your child is at school both Tuesday and Wednesday this week. All students should have a pair of headphones with them as an item for student success. If they do not have headphones, we will provide them with a pair of earbuds.

Together we shine brighter!

Have a wonderful week,

Mrs. Hardwicke

Principal

Fifth grade families, help us provide a sweet surprise for our teachers and sign-up to donate an item to stock the teachers' lounge. Drop off items on February 7th.

The next PTO meeting will be held after school on Wednesday, February 5. All families are welcome to join. We hope to see you there.

Liberty Intermediate School has recognized 372 students on the honor roll for earning at least 3.0 grade point average for the second nine weeks’. Of those, 235 students are listed on the Principal’s Honor Roll for earning a grade point average of 3.66 or higher for the second nine weeks' grading period.

The 198 sixth graders cited on the varying honor rolls are . . .

Principal’s Honor Roll: Julian Aguilar, Mariana Alicea, Alexis Alvarado, Jaxon Anthonijsz, Landon Baiers, Benjamin Balassone, Owen Baudler, Mateo Bernal, Bradley Berry, Charlotte Biron, Porter Blythe, Myles Bock, Kate Bonez, Aubrey Boyanski, Gianna Brandon, David Brosas, Valerie Buford, Maddalyn Burgos, Kellan Cashmer, Ian Chase, Elinor Chmielarz, Alex Cibak, Braelyn Cooper, Vivian Dado, Norah Dalbey, Cooper Darnell, Kyla Davis, Claire Deiters, Harper Delacruz, Reagan Dempsey, Jacob Deneen, Evelyn Depew, James Dietrich, Grayson Dzugas, Peyton Edmonds, Brady Egan, Stella Eli, Cailyn Feero, Sharlott Fierros Tellez , Oliwia Fink, Louise Fischer, Jordyn Floyd, Emmalyn Forney, Caleb Frauli, Camille Fryer, Gavin Garza, Vincent Gast, Alana Gentille, Lila Guljas, Alexandria Hardsock, Brianna Hargarten, Josiah Harris, Fiona Haynes, Harriet Hennigar, John Hoffman, Michelle Holmgren, Tristan Huffmaster, Aiden Johnson, Muhamed Kamara, Nora Kellstrom, Brianna Kidder, Emelia Kincaid, Natalie Knopf, Audrey Lakia, Nathan Lam, Oliver Leach, Hannah Link, Scarlet Love, Liam Mahoney, Ashley Marin, Jaxon Martin, Kaylynn McKeague, Jackson Miles, Austin Murzyn, Elijah Neal-Darden, Cameron Nicholas, Micah Nieves, Ian Olson, Russell Olson, Layne Osan, Casey Pablo, Mia Pack, Emelia Palm, Evelyn Palm, William Paris, Alejandro Patino Jr , Lucas Pendowski, Selena Perez, Davis Perryman, Kayleigh Peterson, Reese Ramker, Jackson Rebac, Charlotte Reynolds, Carson Riesenberg, Carlee Riley, Molly Rippel, Maxwell Roach, Joseph Rodeck, Rocco Romero, Charlotte Rossi, Janielys Salas, Eliana Sauceda, Amogh Saxena, David Schacht, Malina Simms, Henry Smich, Jacob Smoot, Daniel Snyder, Rubie Soto, Isaiah Spanburg, Benjamin Spiess, Olivia Stanley, Orion Stegenga, Kenzi Suppa, Isabelle Szemes, Brayden Tarin, Michael Tarnow, Tristan Teeter, Ti Thy Sr , Kendall Trumbo, Grace Urban, Jules Valois, Abigail Vickers, Isabella Villa, Salma Villarruel, Jacoby Wallace, Colyn Ward, Zachary Wheatley, Emily Williams, Giuliana Yankauskas, Kaitlyn Yarosz

Honor Roll: Camille Alvarez, Izabel Barrios, Caiden Batey, Emily Bugajski, Olivia Cano, Calvin Clemons, Leland Coppler, Bailey Crane, Kailey Davis, Ava Delapaz, Addison Drangmeister, Dalton Duncan, Aubrey Fancher, Emma Firestone, Bradney Freeman, Matthew Garcia, Mason Glinski, Colt Hayes, Patricia Horton, Faith Joers, Jaxon Keefover, Brayden Kinder, Adalynn Lamb, Maverick Maupin, Peter McCrovitz, Jacob Mills, Carson Murchek, Anahlyse Rivera, Ava Rocha, Jace Rohrer, Brent Roop, Alexander Rubens, Ava Schmidt, Gavin Schnarr, Cormac Sheehan, Dallas Sibert, Arthur Sills, Carter Smith, Lexi Tarin, Xiomara Taylor, Greer Torres-Regnier, Louise Welborn, Landon Wisneski

The 174 fifth graders cited on the varying honor rolls are…

Principal’s Honor Roll: Lukas Adamopoulos, Seth Adams, Connor Alonzo, Isaac Anderson, Lindan Anderson, Celia Arizzi, Addison Bailey, Taylor Balon, Jameson Bane, Mya Berryman, Madeline Bonez-Shepherd, Leylon Briner, Dominik Broadstone, Nolan Bruce, Maci Carmichael, Ellie Cherkis, Myles Clark, Leighton Cohen, Tucker Connelly, Caleb Curiel, Sydney Danforth, Zachary Demsich, Pushkar Deshmukh, Madelyn Dietrich, Eliana Dimiele, Adelynne Dzugas, Quinn Ellis, Gunner Fausset, David Forsythe, Olivia Franco, Nicholas Garcia, Alice Gast, Lucille Givens, Molly Gordon, Daniel Guerrero, Abigail Guzzo, Benjamin Hamstra, Owen Hardwicke, Elijah Harris, Laila Hill, Audrey Hoffman, Tyson Huwig, Adam Ibrahim, Anthony Johnson, Kennedi Kalberer, Ethan Kidder, Avery Koprowski, Saraanna Kozaczka, Ezequiel Krause, Bradley Lakia, Ashneer Lasher, Cameron Law, Elijah Lendof, Calvin Loew, Mackenzie Lohse, Landon Long, Tristan Mantai, Elliana Marshall, Avery McClelland, Kaci McGuffey, Emily Mercon, Aiden Minogue, John Mize, Ian Mundt, Lucian Murray, Liam Myers, Lennox Nagel, Kamden Nevills, Alaina Newbury, Lucas Osorio, Gavin Pack, Terry Pappas, Angela Pesevski, Mazie Polite, Melia Polite, Nory Prow, Cole Rager, Ryker Rainbolt, Jaelynn Reno, Jordan Richards, Ethan Robinson, Grant Rogers, Hannah Schmiedl, Robert Schmiedl, Thea Schwab, Aria Scott, Lucas Seiss, Jacob Seydel, Collin Smits, Haley Snyder, Owen Solomon, Micah Spanburg, Isabella Stark, Brennan Steuer, Lincoln Swindle, Ashton Taylor, Lucas Trout, Olivia Trumble, Anthony Underwood-Paz, Alexander Vandaveer, Johannah VanVleet, Juliette Wegerich, Matthew Willis, Daniel Wojtaszek

Honor Roll: Jason Ales, Agata Allyn, Jorel Atherton, Matilda Basich, Sarah Beaudoin, Raepheala Berumen, Ariannah Berumen-Owens, Meckenzie Boatright, Elyn Bradley, Lucas Brown, Cole Carney, Christina Carter, Zachary Casko, Brandon Castro, Daphne Clemens, Abraham Dedrick, Taylor Dobosz, Brayden Draves, Aiden Feero, Julian Fulkerson, Emma Galloway, Aiden Galvan, Von Giese, Gianna Gilbert, Avery Gonsiorowski, Natalie Good, Adalyn Grant, Scarlett Green, Madelyn Hacker, Story Henrichs, Evelyn Herbert, Hendrex Herrera, Rachel Higginbotham, Adalynn Howton, Henry Jonas, Otto Jonas, Angelina Kamstra, Ava Kane, Rosaleigh Kaplan, Adalyn Knoll, Gabriella Lawson, Seth Lhotak, Luke Lozanovski, Myron Maddex, Quinn Mahoney, Noah Marquez, Cal Martinez, Raegan Matthews, Cooper Mchargue, Gunnar McMahan, Jeffrey Moon, Hailey Moskalick, Alexander Myers, Tobias Napier, Jaxson Newsome, Cameron Oblea, Remy Pagels, Eleanor Palmisano, Gracie Panagopoulos, Nora Patterson, Molly Pearson, Anabella Pesevski, Olivia Pritchard, Dominik Pullen, Jaxson Rarick, John Richmond, Layla Riley, Gage Rocha, Ivy Rodriguez, Jackson Sajdyk, Aedan Sancya, Easton Schott, Elia Schott, Sebastian Schwei, Hailey Siegmund, Chael Steege, Kenzie Stephenson, Olivia Stoneberg, Olson Stoneberg, Kian Suleski, Cade Surane, Elijah Thatcher, Grady Tibbs, Liam Trumble, Alejandro Vega, Amelia Vuko, Garrett Vuko, Bryce Ward, Aubrey Whelchel, Olivia White, Brooke Whiteside, Elliana Williams, Zeke Wilmington, Colsten Winkoff.

The following Liberty Intermediate School students and staff members were recognized by the Duneland School Board members at their Monday, January 13 meeting. During the 2024-25 school year, each school will be celebrating and honoring the work of its students and staff through recognition aligned to the three tag words identified in the Strategic Plan: Inspire, Engage, and Empower. LIS will continue to recognize students and staff throughout the year with these awards and highlight the amazing things happening around our school.

EMPOWER Award

The EMPOWER award is based on Trojans who demonstrate exemplary growth and/or achievement. This is demonstrated by resilience and excellence in the pursuit of academic success.

Three Liberty Intermediate School students and one Liberty Middle School student were awarded with the EMPOWER Award for achieving a perfect score on their ILEARN assessment last year while attending Liberty Intermediate School.

Congratulations to Porter Blythe, Michael Tarnow, Micah Nieves, and Isaac Holmes for their outstanding achievements!

Also, receiving EMPOWER awards were students, Audrey Hoffman, Julian Fulkerson and Gabriella Lawson.

In addition, Mrs. Nicole Bell was recognized with the EMPOWER Award.

• Liberty Intermediate is incredibly fortunate to have Mrs. Bell as its Reading Specialist. As a key member of the Liberty team, Mrs. Bell plays a crucial role in analyzing student data and identifying individual student needs.

INSPIRE Award

The INSPIRE award is based on Trojans who demonstrate exemplary leadership. These leadership qualities embody the mindsets, behaviors and skills to succeed in school and beyond.

Tonight we are honoring Quinn Ellis and Emelia Kincaid and with the INSPIRE Award.

Also recognized with the INSPIRE award was Mrs. Sarah Smenyak, our school counselor, for her exemplary leadership with our SAVE Promise Club.

ENGAGE Award

The ENGAGE award is based on Trojans who demonstrate exemplary behaviors. These behaviors include using your unique talents to respectfully connect to the school and community.

Liberty Intermediate School students honored with the ENGAGE Award were Ian Mundt, Alex Cibak, Malina Simms and Lila Guljas.

Liberty Intermediate and Middle schools are proud to share that we have received a heart safe school designation from Project ADAM. They join Chesterton High School and Westchester campus, who have also received this designation.

Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory) is a nationally recognized program dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in schools. Named in honor of Adam Lemel, a high school student who tragically lost his life to SCA, the initiative focuses on raising awareness, training staff, and providing schools with necessary tools to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies.

Chesterton High School Nurse Brittany Smith, RN, completed the high school designation alongside CHS Nurse Marie Kirchner. Smith assisted in the coordination of the program at both the Westchester and Liberty campuses. The initiative was supported by the school district and will be implemented throughout all Duneland schools in the next two years. Smith stated, “Implementing this initiative throughout the district promotes cardiac awareness and provides a strategic plan in the event of a cardiac emergency for Duneland’s staff, students, and community.”

Additional AEDs have been placed throughout LIMS and WIMS campuses as well as directional signs making access to life saving equipment readily available. Chesterton Police Dept. Sergeant Chris Swickard serving CHS coordinated efforts with the Chesterton Fire Dept. Chief Sean O’Donnell and Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Brian Duncan were both present while the drill was conducted at both campuses. Collaboration by both parties was needed in order to be successful with implementing emergency cardiac plans.

Liberty Intermediate School will begin intramural girls basketball on Monday, February 3. There will be no charge for the intramural program and it is open to all girls in grades 5 and 6. Those participating do not need a physical, but they must fill out the sign-up form on the LIS Canvas Student Page.

Basketball will take place at LIS on select days (no Fridays) in February BEFORE school from 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM. We have to have intramurals before school this year because the middle school basketball teams will be using the gym after school. Please check the schedule on the bottom of this sheet to see the exact days of basketball. Doors will open at 6:45 and will be open until 7:15. We will use door 15 on the west end of the building. Practice is over at 8:00. Players will stay in the gym or go to the cafeteria for breakfast before school starts.

Please sign up using the link below. If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Lashenik.

Mrs. Sutter is looking for students who are interested in joining Art Club. Please complete the application if you are interested.

The Duneland School Corporation will continue to improve current facilities to enhance the student experience with the following capital improvements in 2025: playground replacements at Bailly, Brummitt, Jackson, and Liberty elementary schools and soccer stadium renovations and carpet replacement at Chesterton High School. This presentation below provides additional details on the scope of each project. Concept drawings and timelines regarding 2021-2025 capital improvement projects are available on the DSC website.

PTO has opened up a spiritwear shop online. Orders can be placed throughout the year.

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.

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 in Middle School Cross Country, Westling, and Track and Field. Below is a link to the Liberty Winter Sports page. This winter, students can participate in Middle School Wrestling. Mr. Nick Bamber is the athletic director for Liberty Campus. Please reach out to Mr. Bamber with any questions.

Do you want to earn money but still be home with your family?

Does the cost of childcare hinder your plans to work?

Does your child participate in the many afterschool opportunities?

Would you like to spend quality time with your kids during spring, summer and winter breaks?

https://www.applitrack.com/dune.../onlineapp/default.aspx...

1/27 Teacher Professional Development Day - No School for Students

1/28-1/29 ILEARN Checkpoint 2

2/5 PTO Meeting in the Media Center at 4:05

2/6 Group and Club Picture Day, Class Pictures for 5th Grade and 6th Grade Panoramic Picture Day

2/14 Snow Make-Up Day - No School Unless Snow Day

2/17 No School - Winter Break

2/20 Cabin Fever Family Fun Night 5:30-7:00

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.

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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