As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the incredible Chesterton High School community. This season reminds us of the importance of reflecting on the many blessings we share and the people who make a difference in our lives.

To our students, thank you for your hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment to learning and growing each day. Your accomplishments inspire us, and your kindness and leadership strengthen our school.

To our parents and families, your unwavering support and involvement are invaluable. You play a vital role in fostering a positive environment where students can thrive, and we deeply appreciate your partnership.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with joy, peace, and the company of loved ones. Let’s carry the spirit of gratitude and community forward as we continue to work together for the success of every student.

Happy Thanksgiving and remember If you Believe it, You can Achieve it!

Chesterton High School is looking for donations for the annual Westchester Food Drive. You can help by sending in non-perishable food items, toiletries, or cash with students to school between December 2-11. You can drop off these items at the main office at CHS. All items will be donated to the Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry for distribution in the Duneland community.

We would like to invite all upcoming seniors and their parents/guardians to an Internship Information Night on Monday, December 2, 2024 at 6:00pm in the LGI. The Class of 2026 will begin scheduling for their senior year on December 5, 2024, and as your student looks at scheduling courses for next year, please think about encouraging him/her to consider the value of experiencing a potential career field through an internship. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Kristen Peterson, Associate Principal at (219) 983-3730 x7103.

The Interact Club attended the World Affairs Conference last Friday and represented CHS well. We learned about AI and got to hear from professors from VU and PNW on the positives and negatives of the technology and even had discussions about how schools might develop policies for AI use.

Chesterton High School Science Olympiad had a great day at the Northridge Invitational.

Alaina McGrogan and Nicholas Carpentier placed 5th in Anatomy.

Izdel Huerta and Nicholas Carpentier placed 8th in Chem Lab.

Abby Vidt, Mia Tsugawa, and Oliver Appel placed 5th in Tower.

Elizabeth Uehling and Ria Kashyap placed 5th in Fossils.

Congratulations to the entire team on their 8th place finish overall!

We want to take a moment to share how much we value your presence at school each day. Your attendance not only supports your academic success but also plays a vital role in creating a vibrant, positive school culture. Each student brings unique talents, ideas, and energy that enriches our community and makes a difference in our classrooms, hallways, and beyond.

When you’re here, you’re part of a team that values growth, kindness, and achievement. We are thrilled to see you each morning, ready to learn, connect, and make memories. Together, we build a stronger, more connected school where everyone has a place to thrive.

Thank you for your commitment to being here and for contributing to the wonderful atmosphere at our school. Let’s make this year one of connection, success, and positivity. We are so glad you’re here with us!

A round of applause to the three Chesterton High School students participating in this weekend's INASTA All-Region Orchestra! Hosted at Franklin Central HS, this was a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their musical skills, as well as perform with other top students from the region. Left to right, Mackenzie Griffith (10), Madeline Jakel (12), and Ella Bolinger (11) did a great job representing Chesterton Orchestras!

Check out the five Chesterton High School Band students accepted into the IJEA All-District Honor Jazz Band! Their top skills in jazz performance earned them a place in this ensemble where they learned from professionals and performed advanced music at last weekend's event. Congratulations to above, left to right, Abigail Vidt (10), Dri White (10), Liam Gray (11), Lyric Brown (10), and Evans Frassine (10).

As we approach the end of the first semester, we would like to take a moment to inform you about the upcoming final exam schedule and set some expectations to ensure a smooth and successful conclusion to the semester.

Final Exam Schedule: (See Below)

The final exam schedule has been carefully crafted to provide ample time for students to review and prepare for their exams. Please find the detailed schedule below. We encourage both parents and students to review the schedule and take note of the dates and times of each exam.

Preparation and Study Tips:

To optimize performance during the exams, we recommend that students:

• Create a Study Schedule: Plan study sessions well in advance, covering all subjects with a focus on challenging topics.

• Review Class Notes: Go through class notes, textbooks, and any provided study materials to reinforce key concepts.

• Practice Past Papers: Utilize past exams or practice questions to familiarize yourselves with the exam format and time constraints.

• Healthy Lifestyle: Ensure proper sleep, nutrition, and regular exercise to support overall well-being and concentration.

Exam Day Expectations:

On the day of the exams, we request your cooperation in ensuring the following:

• Punctuality: Arrive at the examination venue on time. Late arrivals or absences will negatively impact your child’s grade on this exam.

• Materials: Bring all necessary materials, including pens, pencils, school issued computer device, and any approved resources.

Attendance:

All students are expected to participate in final exams for their classes. Students will not be dismissed from a class for a scheduled appointment until all students in that class have finished the exam. If you have any questions please contact your child's Assistant Principal.

Our faculty and support staff are here to assist and guide students through this period. Should you or your child have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the respective teachers or the school administration.

We appreciate your continued support in fostering a positive and focused exam environment. Together, we can ensure that our students finish the semester on a high note and enter the well-deserved break with confidence.

Best wishes to all students as they prepare for their final exams. We believe in their abilities and are confident in their success.

Final Exam Schedule:

Tuesday, December 17

Wednesday, December 18

Thursday, December 19

Friday, December 20

On Monday, October 7, 2024, the Duneland School Board approved a K-12 addendum for all school handbooks. This addendum addresses how school administration responds to threats of violence made by students. It is important that students know of the potential repercussions of their words. The schools will be addressing this addendum with students prior to it going into effect on Monday, October 14, 2024. This addendum, is also available in each of the school handbooks under Student Code of Conduct/Specific Rules of Behavior.

November 27, 28, 29: No School - Thanksgiving Break

This past July, the Town of Dune Acres gifted Chesterton High School with a donation towards drug awareness and education for students and families. Duneland School SROs have worked closely with Chesterton administration to cultivate educational opportunities, using materials purchased through Human Media Relations, to help students who may struggle with vaping and drug pressures.

Deferment course materials, in tandem with family conferences, are aimed towards giving students more knowledge about the dangers of vaping and controlled substances, as well as establishing trusted working relationships between the school, SROs, and families.

In our efforts to prepare every student for life after high school we have an opportunity for your student to learn what we believe are the most important traits to help them be successful. At Chesterton High School every student has the opportunity to sign up to participate in our Work Ethic Certification program. We will be giving every student the opportunity to sign up to work toward earning a Work Ethic Certification during their Advisory period on Tuesday, September 17. This credential can be used in potential interviews for jobs, college admissions, and scholarship opportunities. If you have any questions please contact Doretta Kurzinski at dkurzinski@duneland.k12.in.us or Brent Martinson at brmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us.

Why Work Ethic Certification?

• Employers have indicated that mastery of Work Ethic Skills is one of the top characteristics needed in employees.

• One of the fundamental goals of Northwest Indiana Workforce Board is to produce an emerging workforce that has the 21st Century Skills needed to face the challenges of a global marketplace.

What is the Work Ethic Certificate?

• A filter for employers when hiring or selecting candidates

• A common identifiable metric of work habits

• A credential demonstrating knowledge of skills, abilities and commitment to work

• Development of needed behavioral characteristics in emerging workforce

Who is eligible to earn a Work Ethic Certificate?

• High school students who demonstrate mastery of 10 employer expectations (See below)

Top 10 Employer Expectations

1. Show a positive attitude

Encourages & assists others when needed, sees the best in situations, responds positively to authority, demonstrates willingness to learn new tasks

2. Work well with others

Sees different perspectives, collaborates/cooperates with others, communicates effectively, encourages others to participate,

3. Be honest and have integrity

Is trusted by others, is truthful/does not lie or cheat, acknowledges one's own work, shows up, follows through on tasks

4. Arrive to work on time

Arrives on time, anticipates and adjusts for potential delays, meets deadlines

5. Follow directions

Follows rules and procedures, clarifies directions, completes assignments

6. Recognize problems and find solutions

Thinks critically, accepts challenges, considers choices, finds alternative solutions

7. Apply good listening skills

Values and respects other opinions, knows when to speak & when not to, demonstrates patience, asks questions for clarification

8. Manage time effectively

Routinely plans and prioritizes, sets realistic and attainable goals

9. Maintain a safe work environment

Understands the need for healthy lifestyle, laws, & regulations in the workplace, is aware of purpose of passing drug & background checks

10. Respect diversity and exercise tolerance

Recognizes and respects others’ differences

Thank you to all of our students and parents for helping us get off to a good start regarding our arrival and dismissal procedures! We will continue to make adjustments to effectively get our buses out and on their routes. When we work together then we can accomplish anything!

Key Changes:

• Morning Drop-Off: All students being dropped off before 8:10 AM must be dropped off at Door 34 or Door 31.
• Afternoon Pick-Up: All students being picked up after 3:10 PM must be picked up at Door 34 or Door 31.

This change is being made to ensure that our buses can enter and exit CHS safely and on time.

We appreciate your cooperation in following this new policy and helping us maintain a smooth and efficient arrival and dismissal process for all students.

Thank you for your continued support.

In efforts to help with our arrival and dismissal procedures at CHS the following procedures will be implemented for all student drivers.

All student drivers must purchase a student parking pass and display visibly to park at Chesterton High School. You can pick up a student parking application in the main office. All students need to have a complete application and student parking pass by the end of the day on Wednesday, August 21. There will be no fee for the student parking pass.

Parking Guidelines:

• Students are only allowed to park by Door 31, Door 34, and in the back of the school by the tennis courts.
• Students are NOT allowed to park in the front of the building (west side), which includes the faculty lot and the visitor lot.

Failure to follow this policy could result in disciplinary action and/or loss of driving privileges.

Thank you for your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines.

CHS currently offers 67 Dual Credit courses! Our goal at CHS is for 75% or more of our students to earn dual credit while they are in high school and 40% of our seniors to earn 1 years worth of college credit. We have dual credit partnerships with Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue Northwest, Ball State University, University of Southern Indiana, Vincennes University, and Indiana University. Ivy Tech is our main partner for dual credit opportunities. We offer many courses through our Dual Credit partnerships that are part of the Indiana College Core (ICC) Transfer Library. This means that students who take these FREE courses will be able to transfer those college credits to any state funded institution. The current cost of a year of college at a state funded school (ex. IU or Purdue) is approximately $10,000 for tuition plus room and board. By earning these credits at CHS you could save A LOT of money!

To be eligible for dual credit, students need to apply to Ivy Tech AND earn a score of 70 or higher on both English and Math STEM Knowledge Assessments BEFORE registering for a dual credit course.

Scan the QR Code below for the steps to apply for Ivy Tech Dual Credit courses. Once you apply, you will be able to register for dual credit courses. If you have any questions or need assistance contact Mrs. Tiffany Hawkins, CHS Assistant Principal, at 219-983-3730 or thawkins@duneland.k12.in.us.

On July 1, 2024, the Indiana Legislators enacted a new law for all K-12 schools in Indiana. The law reads as follows:

Electronic Devices (P.L. 108-1994, HEA 1202): Wireless Communication Devices

Per IC 20-26-5-40.7: the use of wireless communication devices, including but not limited to cellular telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, gaming devices, smartwatches, etc., is strictly prohibited during academic class periods unless explicitly authorized by the teacher for educational purposes.

Students are permitted to use a wireless communication device in the event of a health or safety emergency or to manage health care as specifically defined in the student’s Individualized Health Plan (IHP), Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and/or Section 504 Plan.

A wireless communication device is defined by Indiana law as any portable wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two (2) or more parties.

Chesterton High School’s new policy regarding wireless communication devices includes cell phones, earbuds/headphones, smartwatches, and any other auxiliary device that can be paired with a cellular phone. When a student is directed by a teacher or staff member to follow the established classroom phone/wireless communication policy, noncompliant students will be referred to the office and are subject to disciplinary action for insubordination.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us create a focused and productive learning environment at CHS.

Learn more about the Duneland Early Learning Classes at the the HUB. Click on the image below to enroll.