Yost Weekly Update: August 11, 2023

Yost will celebrate Grandparents' Day on Friday, Sept 13. Yost grandparents of students in grades K-2 are welcome at 8:00-9:00 and students in grades 3 & 4 are welcome from 9:15-10:15. Grandparents and students will work on a short craft/activity in class and visit the school.

Hi, I am the new nurse here at Yost. I previously worked at Franciscan Hospital in Michigan City where I worked as a pediatric medical nurse. I look forward to meeting everyone as I get settled into my new position here!

Accidents with books will happen. Books can be replaced, kids' feelings about books are harder to repair. I want to assure the parents at Yost that I understand books may get wet, chewed, written on or lost. If a book can be returned to the library even in part, please put it in a bag and have your child return it. I can then let them check out a new one (because it was returned) and contact you about replacement. This lets kids get past the worry over a harmed book and back to being excited to choose new things to read. If you ever have questions about books or our school library I can be reached through dojo, email (kborrelli@duneland.k12.in.us) or by calling school. Thank you for all your assistance.

Thank you for all the support during our Mum Sale!! The funds we raised will go directly to the classrooms and student resources, such as,

Classroom & Support Staff Stipends, Birthday Books, School Assemblies/Family Events.

The final amount sold will be shared next week.

FALL SPIRITWEAR ORDERS: NEW ITEM - PLUSH BLANKET

Orders Due back SEPT 6

https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/80c18e1b-052a-4451-ad9e-32d6e44f7b72

STUDENT DIRECTORY/SURVEY sign up:

Add your student TODAY

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJrzuLscgjNuu6PYUeJ-NStvzxlXLwNnOD5xLaEJUXf4S2FA/viewform

PTO POP-IN:

TUES, SEPT 10 4:30-5:30 PM

While enjoying a DIY Popcorn Treat Bar, meet other Yostie families and learn about the Upcoming PTO funded Projects & Events

Children are always welcome ... without them, none of us would be here

Reach out with any questions by EMAIL YOSTPTO@GMAIL.COM

Doors Open- 7:10

Warning Bell- 7:27

School Begins- 7:30

Dismissal Begins- 2:15

Office Hours- 6:45-3:15

Please refer to the video for updated traffic patterns.

https://youtu.be/sVQEas2ZlOA

Yost has been designated as a Family Friendly School by the IDOE.

Congratulations to Bailly, Jackson, Liberty, Yost and Westchester for being recognized as 2023-24 PLTW Launch Distinguished Schools! PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs.

9/2 Labor Day (no school)

9/10 Yost PTO Meeting, 4:30

9/12 Yost Community Welcome Night, 5:30-7:00

9/13 Grandparents' Day

9/21 Yost PTO Mum Pick-up

9/26 Yost PTO Izaak Walton Family Nature Night, 6:00-7:30

10/2 Yost Picture Day
10/17 Yost PTO Silly Safari Family Night

10/18 Quarter 1 Ends

10/24 & 10/25 Fall Break (no school)

The first step to maximizing academic growth throughout the year is getting to school as much as possible. This year, we have a goal of a 95% attendance rate for the year. We will celebrate class winners and share our school attendance rate for the week.

In an effort to improve attendance which directly positively impacts student growth and achievement along with adhering to the new state law regarding attendance, Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 282, Duneland School Corporation has developed a new Attendance Policy.

A few important changes:

• Parent/Guardian Verified Absence: This is a new category of student attendance. It is used when an absence does not meet the criteria to be considered "Excused" or "Unexcused." There will only be four (4) Parent/Guardian Verified absences allowed a semester. Additional absences called in by a parent or guardian not meeting the definition of "Excused" will be considered "Unexcused."
• Parents only have one (1) week to verify an absence or provide documentation for an "Excused" absence.
• A student who is absent from school for five (5) days within a ten (10) week period without the absences considered "Excused" will be deemed a student in need of truancy prevention.

1. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school.
2. Chronic absence appears to have doubled by the end of the 2021-22 school year. We estimate that it now affects nearly one out of three students (or 16 million vs. 8 million students in the 2018-19 school year).
3. Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back.
4. By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
5. Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. Chronic absence is considered two days a month.
6. When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances of graduating.
7. The most important thing to track is not just how many are missing school without an excuse but how many are missing so many days in excused and unexcused absences that academics are off track.
8. Missing one (1) day of school every two (2) weeks, adds up to almost a year and half of school from kindergarten to senior in high school.

Yost: 96.8%

1: Mrs. Smith's Class- 98.9%

2: Mr. Diaz's Class- 99%

3: Ms. Toth's Class- 96.2%

4: Ms. Taylor & Ms. Hasselberger's Class- 97%

Below is information regarding Ready, Set, Kindergarten. The program is hosted at Yost as well as the other elementary schools.

Below is information regarding the universal screener for dyslexia. This link connects you to information from the IDOE.

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

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.

Below are lists for student success.

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.

Email: jhuwig@duneland.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/Domain/12
Location: 100 West Beam Street, Porter, IN, USA
Phone: 219.983.3640