Hello Students and Families,

As we approach the end of the school year, we want to take a moment to remind everyone that ILEARN state testing will be taking place next week, from April 22nd through April 25th, finishing up on Tuesday April 29th. This is an important time for our students, as it provides a chance for them to demonstrate their learning and growth over the course of the year.

We understand that testing can be a stressful experience for both students and families, so we’d like to offer some helpful tips for supporting your child during this time:

1. Ensure Restful Sleep: A good night’s sleep is essential for your child’s well-being and focus. Encourage them to get plenty of rest the night before each test to help them feel alert and ready.

2. Healthy Breakfast: A nutritious breakfast is key to helping students stay energized and focused. A well-balanced meal will give them the fuel they need to perform their best.

3. Stay Positive: Help ease any test anxiety by talking with your child about the importance of doing their best, not stressing over the test, and knowing that it’s okay to take their time.

4. Stay Organized: Help your child prepare their testing materials the night before. Ensure they have everything they need, including headphones or earbuds and a water bottle to stay hydrated.

5. Be Supportive: Let your child know you are proud of their efforts and that their best is enough. Positive reinforcement can go a long way in boosting their confidence.

We are confident that our students will rise to the occasion, and we’re excited to see all the hard work they’ve put in this year pay off. As always, thank you for your continued support in helping make this testing experience as positive as possible for our students.

Together we shine brighter!

Have a wonderful week,

Mrs. Hardwicke

Principal

The LIS PTO is seeking donations to help stock our staff lounge with snacks to show appreciation for the hard work of our incredible staff. If your family would like to contribute, please sign up through the link below. Every little bit helps, and your support means so much!

What a beautiful day to take learning outside! Today they were working on a coordinate plane mystery picture.

Summer School Registration Is Now OPEN.

Registration for DSC 2025 Summer School programs is now open. Anyone can sign up to attend. New this year is the ability for parents to register for summer school via the Skyward Family Access. For directions on how to register your child please follow the links below based on the current grade level of your student.

Instructions for Grades K-7 - Registration Open March 17 - April 15

Instructions for Grades 8-12 - Registration Open March 17 - May 2

Note: Students in grades 8-12 who are interested in taking PE should review the additional information on the Flex PE Credit and reduced diploma requirements prior to registering.

Grades PreK-7 Summer School will take place at Liberty Elementary School from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in Session 1 Only. Grades 8-12 Summer School will take place at Chesterton High School from 7:30 a.m. - 12:55 pm for both Session 1 and 2.

Separate invitations will be provided for families interested in KinderCamp, our Pre Kindergarten Program.

Need Skyward Support? If you need support in registering for summer school within the Skyward Arena Scheduling please call your child’s school and the Skyward/Office Administrative Assistant can provide support.

Should you have any questions about summer school programming please contact the following:

Grades PreK-7 - Call the Department of Teaching & Learning at 219-983-3656

Grades 8-12 - Contact the CHS Counseling Office at 219-983-3730

New this year to the Liberty Campus is a Refresh Room in our counseling suite. The Refresh Room is a designated and structured space designed for all students to be able to have a few minutes to “refresh” and regulate themselves in a quiet, calm, safe, and comfortable environment, when they are dealing with difficult emotions that are distracting them from learning.

In the refresh room are tools such as puzzles, coloring pages, fidgets, breathing tips and much more. Students are able to access the refresh room by getting a pass from their teacher. The room is monitored by the Liberty campus counseling staff with the goal of giving students time to regulate their emotions and then get them back to class ready to learn.

Dear Families,

We are excited to announce that we have adopted a new form of school-to-home communication at called ParentSquare for the 2025-2026 school year. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with [school or district name]. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:

• Send and receive school and class information

• Share pictures and files

• See calendar items

• Sign up to volunteer

• Schedule parent-teacher conferences

• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Parents—Getting Started Video

All district and school, grade level and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).

Have questions? Click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.

The "Something to Smile About" Scholarship aims to support Duneland students aged 10-18 who need braces but face financial challenges in obtaining them.

Initiated through the collaboration of a local family and orthodontist, this scholarship provides an opportunity for parents or guardians to ensure their child receives professional orthodontic care, ultimately enhancing their confidence and promoting a positive self-image through a healthy smile.

General Eligibility Requirements:

• Your child is between 10 and 18 years old.

• Your total family income is 200% of the poverty level or less.

• Your child receives regular dental care and has good oral hygiene.

• Your child is not currently in orthodontic treatment or in between phases of treatment.

• Your child has not received previous orthodontic treatment.

• The family contribution is $500.

Downloadable Something to Smile About Application

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

4/17 General Music Musicals Today

4/22-4/29 ILEARN Testing

4/23 Porter County Spelling Bee

4/25 Kona Ice (purchase during lunch)

4/29 6th Grade “Welcome to Middle School” Presentation during Trojan Time

4/29 Drama Club Performance 7:00 pm at CHS Auditorium

5/2 Fun Night

5/5 Happy Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week!

5/10 South Bend Cubs Reading Challenge Game

5/14 Kona Ice (purchase during lunch)

Find resources and learn ways to support your child as they learn to navigate the digit world provided by Common Sense Media. Click the pictures below to take to you online resources.

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 spring, students can participate in Middle School Track and Field. Mr. Nick Bamber is the athletic director for Liberty Campus. Please reach out to Mr. Bamber with any questions.

Chesterton High School will host its 6th annual Porter County Disability Resource Fair on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. The 2025 Porter County Disability Resource Fair, featuring over 40 vendors from Northwest Indiana, will offer information and feature local support services for people of ALL ages with disabilities. Chesterton High School is located at 2125 S. 11th St., Chesterton, IN. Attendees are asked to use Door#31 on the north side of the building. For additional information, contact Ezra Burke at eburke@duneland.k12.in.us.

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.

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.

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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