DuneNews

Above, Seniors and directors at State Finals

An exciting season comes to an end with accolades and even a few recent records for the Chesterton High School Trojan Guard Marching Band. The Indiana State School Music Association’s (ISSMA) Scholastic State Finals were held at Franklin Central High School this past Saturday, with 16 bands competing for a top five placement and championship.

The Trojan Guard’s competition class was stacked this year with 16 bands from all over the state of Indiana, including the 2023 state champions Warren Central. Coming off of a first place record-setting Prelims performance on October 5, the Trojan Guard had their best run of the season, beating 14 of the top scholastic bands in the state to capture a 2nd place finish! This placement matches last season’s 2nd place runner-up standing, matching the highest placement in ten seasons! The Trojan Guard’s final score was also exemplary, the highest point total the band has received in the past 20 seasons.

Director Jon Flodder couldn’t be more proud of the band this year. “This was an amazing group to work with from the beginning to the end of the season,” Flodder remarks. “They’re an incredibly hard-working team, worthy of all the recognition they received this season!” Assistant Director Vince Arizzi was equally impressed by the parent and community support. “Getting a 92-member competitive marching band on the field every week takes a lot of work, not only from the staff but also the parent volunteers,” Arizzi explains. “So much time and effort goes into this activity, but it’s all worth it to watch the Trojan Guard perform like they did throughout the season and especially at State Finals!”

Like every marching band show, the 2024 Trojan Guard Production “¡VIVA!”, was a creative design collaboration by many individuals. The music was composed and arranged by Vince Arizzi, with percussion writing by Elliot Borg. The drill design was by Eric Berger. Color Guard choreography was written by Ryan O’Dell and Jeffory DeHenes.

The 2024 Trojan Guard was under the direction of Jon Flodder, Matt Christensen, and Vince Arizzi. The Percussion was taught by Lana Wordel and Colin Campbell, while the Color Guard was instructed by Jeff DeHenes and Katie Radliff. Additional assistance included CHS student teacher Abby Pintoy and DCI World Finalist Skylar Peffers. Sound engineering was designed by Michael DePasquale.

There are 92 students in the Trojan Guard this season, comprises of 56 woodwinds and brass players, 20 percussionists, 14 color guard members, and two drum majors.

Members of the 2024 Trojan Guard include: Samantha Ames, JJ Ames, Jacob Anderson, Cody Brewer, Jasper Britzke, William Brizendine, Alex Brown, Lyric Brown, Chase Brum, Madison Buckley, Logan Bullard, Tyler Cichocki, Saul Coronado, Holly Decker, Abigail Demsich, Giacomo DePasquale, James Drury, Samantha Duncan, Uriah Elliott-Halinski, Peytin Ellis, Makayla Erickson, Elsa Estridge, Rylan Fields, Ava Garland, Miles Gast, Vanessa Godinez, Oliver Good, Sierra Grant, Liam Gray, Chloe Hall, Lilly Hardwick, Hershel Hardwick, Addison Huffmaster, Jayden Hughes, Logan Hutchinson, Madison Jackson, Aleks Kantowski, Andrew Kazmierczak, Jasper Kniola, Abigail Krueger, Leah Krzan, Lacei Kuckuck, Kevin Landers, Natalie Leensvaart, William Liles, Archer Lohman, Allison Lopez, Kira Lopez, Rowen Love, Brianna Manning, Addison Mason, Addison Matthews, Logan McVicker, Morgan Millis, Vincent Mueller, Elizabeth Navarro, Katherine Newbanks, Natalie Newman, William Newman, Kenzie O'Daniel, Lauren Orsburn, Nate Pace, Cameron Pace, Nathanael Palmer, Baylee Parrott, Lilyanne Peschke, CeCe Post, Noah Roberts, Amiya Roedel, Ashton Rospierski, Lucy Rutkowski, Zavier Santiago, Hazel Ann Santos, Alice Scharp, Soren Schott, Maverik Simmons, Mady Street, Alina Summer, Olivia Sundquist, Adam Tenbarge, Gage Teso, Claire Thomas, Noah Torres, Lucas Torres, Caryss Vandiver, Abby Vidt, Andria White, Natalie Williams, Aubree Williams, Destiny Williams-Najzer, Caprie Wilson, and Lauren Yarosz. The Drum Majors for the Trojan Guard are Makayla Erickson and Mady Street.

For additional information regarding the Trojan Guard or any band activity, please contact the CHS Music Department at 983-3758.

This past weekend, seven CHS students were selected based off of their audition into the Indiana All State Show Choir. This group was comprised of the top 48 students from across the state and Chesterton had the highest representation of any other school. Big congratulations to Ava Cunningham, Emme Curran, Mara Huneryager, Bella Kelly, Jane Maddex, Jeremy Schmidt, and Sam Smith!

On Tuesday, October 22, the CHS Tri-M Music Honor Society inducted 16 members. This international program is dedicated to the recognition of exceptional music secondary school students that meet the music, academic, leadership, and character criteria. Students can join after completing a minimum of two semesters of a high school music ensemble, have a minimum 3.5 GPA in the music program, and a minimum 3.0 GPA overall to be considered for membership into the organization.

Tri-M is a program of the National Association for Music Education, which is the largest arts education association in the world. The ceremony was attended by friends, parents, administrators, and led by chapter sponsors Kristin Morris, Jonathan Flodder, and Brian Grenier.

Tri-M inducted a total of 32 members, welcoming 16 new members: Ella Bolinger (11), Emma Bondra (12), Ava Bozak (10), Ava Cunningham (11), Giacomo DePasquale (10), Megan Hadenfelt (12), Madeline Jakel (12), Lauren Kroft (11), Allie Longacre (10), Chloe McGowan (12), Maeci Mullet (11), Katherine Newbanks (11), Karleigh Pawlyszyn (11), Emily Ponce (11), Emma Wahl (10), and Lauren Yarosz (11).

Congratulations to all new and returning members who have been accepted into this prestigious society!

The first grading period has ended 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.

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 Duneland School Corporation will participate in a scheduled eLearning day on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and will follow eLearning Guidelines for a scheduled Online eLearning day for K-12 students - PLANNED ASYNCHRONOUS.

Teachers will be available during office hours for questions regarding eLearning assignments. All schools will communicate teacher availability for office hours.

Parent-Teacher conferences this year for grades K-4 will also be hosted on Nov. 5.

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.

Come check out the Duneland Early Learning HUB!
The HUB is Duneland's birth to school program free to any family with 0-5 year olds that live within the Duneland School Corporation district.
We have the following classes:
Music and Motion
Trojan Tykes
Mini Movers
Calm Crew
Kinder Kids
Young Explorers
PALS
Trojan Time
Open Gym
Multipurpose Room Open Play

Happy fall y’all! The HUB started our fall books, centers, songs, etc. this week. We will continue learning about apples, pumpkins, Halloween, 5 senses and more with our HUB families for October.

If you have children ages 0-5, come join in the fun M-F at the HUB. Check out this FREE program at our DSC website.

https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/programs-services/duneland-early-learning-hub

PICTURE RETAKES:

• Liberty Elem. - Nov. 6
• LIS & WIS - Nov. 8
• Jackson & Yost Elem. - Nov. 14
• Northwest Indiana Online School - Dec. 3

The goal of the Duneland School Corporation district school newsletters is to inform students, parents and the school community about school-related information.

The Duneland Schools share information that pertains to opportunities our students may be interested in and 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.

Want your event/activity/camp posted on this page? Submit a request by email with the flyer/information to the Duneland Schools Administrative Center to ahicks@duneland.k12.in.us and bmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us.

Chesterton High School will again host their annual inside Trick or Treat event at the school on Tuesday, October 29. Mark your calendars for this annual tradition!

Ready to make a difference in the lives of students? Interested in a fulfilling and rewarding position with no required evening or weekend work? Looking to enjoy the same summer and holiday schedule as your kids? The primary responsibilities of Exceptional Learning (EXL) Instructional Aides range from sharing smiles, making connections, building confidence, encouraging learning, supporting students with instruction in & out of the classroom, and assisting children with self help & self management skills.

DSC is currently searching for select individuals to serve as EXL Instructional Aides. Available positions can start at $19.00, $17.00 or $15.00 per hour. Opportunities exist at elementary, intermediate and secondary levels and can:

• be full-time/benefit-eligible
• be part-time and follow the student school day
• involve sharing the day with a single student
• involve engaging with multiple learners in a classroom setting
• 
  

The Chesterton High School Alumni Association is seeking nominations from the community to be considered for the CHS Alumni Association Hall of Fame for 2024.

“Many accomplished and dedicated individuals are not necessarily in the public eye; they are the unsung heroes and quiet warriors among us impacting students and staff every day,” said Mike Anton, CHS Alumni president. “The 2024 recognition committee invites alumni, community members, parents and others throughout the Duneland community to submit their nominations.”

Please consider nominating a candidate for Alumnus, Teacher, Administrator, and Support Staff based on the following qualities:
Excellence
Leadership
Respect
Exceptional Contributions
Citizenship
Giving Back
Collaboration
Courageous Acts
Advocacy

The CHS Alumni Association is accepting nominations for 2024 now through Friday, November 1 at 3 p.m.

Learn more about the past Hall of Fame recipients and about the CHS Alumni Association at the CHS Alumni Association website.

Did you know that Duneland Schools has an online Spirit Wear Stores where you can buy your Duneland all school spirit wear? Check out our Spirit Wear Store platform at: https://dunelandschoolsopenstores.itemorder.com/shop/home/

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.

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.

Menus will be posted on Thursday, Aug. 1

In 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.

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

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

Email: bmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us

Website: www.duneland.k12.in.us
Location: 601 West Morgan Avenue, Chesterton, IN, USA
Phone: 219-983-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dunelandschools/
Twitter: @dunelandk12