DuneNews

Chesterton-Porter Rotary recognized CHS 2024 graduate Aryaman Aghashe as its Student of the Month for June. “Aghashe exemplifies the qualities that social studies teachers value in their students,” according to the department. “He understands the importance of studying history/social sciences and is committed to becoming a more educated and informed citizen within our democratic society. His dedication to learning and his diligent work ethic make him a standout student in the classroom. He is an incredibly mature young man that is dedicated to making himself and others better. He is an outside-the-box thinker that is constantly striving for mastery. He is kind, understanding, focused, and highly inquisitive.”

“We are fortunate to meet and honor these fine students,” says Bonnie Hawksworth, Director of Youth Services. For information about Chesterton-Porter Rotary and its Student of the Month program, contact Bonnie at Bonniehawksworth@atproperties.com or call 219-309-7638.

Over the summer months, two more 2024 graduates have joined Payton Whalen as National Merit Scholars.

On June 5, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced over 2,900 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities. One Chesterton High School finalists named scholar was Matthew D. Haubold. Matthew joins fellow CHS senior Payton Whelan who was also named a corporate-sponsored National Merit scholar earlier this spring.

Matthew Haubold, son of Jeremy and Jennifer Haubold of Valparaiso, has received a college-sponsored Purdue University National Merit Scholarship in the area of Pediatrics.

On July 15, Jai Barath was one of an additional group of over 800 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities. Jai received a college-sponsored Purdue University National Merit Scholarship in the area of Software Engineering. Jai is the son of James and Phuong Barath of Chesterton.

Congratulations!

The Chesterton High School Building Trades class completed this house at the end of the second semester. The house is modern style, around 1,000 sq feet, 3 full baths, all metal siding, and concrete floors throughout. It is located in Burns Harbor off 149 on Boo Rd. This is the third house Building Trades has completed in its collaboration with A1 Construction. The house project was started in September and completed in mid-May. in order to help deaden the sound from I-94, all the exterior walls are concrete, we used ICF forms (insulated concrete forms). The roof is a rubber roof and is not completely flat, it has a slight pitch so water doesn't accumulate. The concrete floors have been sealed with a high gloss finish.

Officer Chris Swickard presented in CHS teacher Christine Bullock's Government class this past summer. Swickard discussed the 4th Amendment with the class, helping to reinforce the Government curriculum.

Congratulations to Duneland School Corporation teachers Todd Basich, Yost Elementary Physical Education, and Cheryl Marrs, Bailly Elementary first grade, for both being selected as 2024 Teachers of Excellence!

Kenneth J. Allen Law Group supports Northwest Indiana teachers who go above and beyond for their students and honors them for their outstanding contributions to education. To learn more about the educators who are Teachers of Excellence or if you know of someone who should be recognized as a Teacher of Excellence, please nominate your favorite by following this link.

View all DSC Teachers of Excellence on our website.

The Duneland School Corporation is committed to communicating with students and their families.

Families have the opportunity during the registration process to choose from a variety of methods, including phone, email and text (SMS) messages, to receive non-emergency communications from the district and schools. Be sure to check out the available options and choose what is right for you and your family.

What is a Non-Emergency Communication?

NON-EMERGENCY communications include Principal/district newsletters, reminders (e.g. field trip, picture day, testing), school functions/events, delayed start/school closings.

Keep this in mind...

UNSUBSCRIBING from a communication will unsubscribe from ALL Duneland School non-emergency communications no matter the delivery method. Families may change their communication preferences at anytime by logging into the Skyward Parent Portal.

Not receiving school communications?

The district and schools send out weekly communications. Parents that are not receiving weekly communications should contact their respective school Main Office or email Bridget Martinson at bmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us

• Liberty Middle - August 24
• Westchester Middle - August 24
• Chesterton High - August 29 & 30 (Order before Picture Day to receive free shipping to the school)
• NWI Online School - September 3
• Liberty Intermediate - September 5
• Westchester Intermediate - September 5
• Bailly Elementary - September 19
• Brummitt Elementary - September 11
• Liberty Elementary - September 12
• Jackson Elementary - September 26
• Yost Elementary - October 2
  
• Early Learning Preschool - October 8 (Day 1) and October 9 (Day 2)

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

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.

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.

Spring 2024 ILEARN reports are now available. Student score reports for English, Math, and Social Studies for grades 3-8 are now available in the Skyward Parent Portal.

Here is how you can find the reports.

1. Log on to Skyward - Skyward Link

2. Select “Portfolio” from the menu options on the right

3. Click on files that begin with “23-24 ILEARN” to see reports for each subject.

If you have not had a chance we might also recommend checking out the NWEA reports from last spring as well. Our teams will be using the results of these assessments to determine goals and plans for improvement with students as we head into the upcoming school year. We look forward to continuing to partner with you to support your child’s success.

Science (grades 4 and 6) and Biology (grades 8 and 9) reports will be released later this fall.

The school meals program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Duneland School Corporation will process free or reduced-price meal benefit applications for those students who apply and are approved. Those students not qualifying for free or reduced-price meals will be charged the paid meal price for breakfast and/or lunch.

Meal prices for the 2024-2025 school year are available on the DSC Child Nutrition website.

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

Duneland School Corporation offers MyPaymentsPlus, a state-of-the-art online service that provides you the convenience and information you need to manage your student's meal account. This system speeds up serving lines in the cafeteria, eliminates the need to send physical payments to school or worry about lost or forgotten lunch money and ensures that your child will receive a nutritious meal.

At no cost, MyPaymentsPlus allows any family to: Create a FREE, secured account to manage all your student’s accounts, check your student's current account balance, and create settings to receive email notifications when the account reaches a low balance.

Also, at no cost, MyPaymentsPlus allows any family to make a prepayment into your student's meal account using a check, credit card, or debit card at MyPaymentsPlus or by calling 1-866-441-9125. Funds deposited through MyPaymentsPlus are usually available for student use within a matter of minutes. Create settings to automatically replenish your student's account when it reaches a low balance.

The Duneland School Corporation encourages all parents (even if you do not prepay for your student's meal account) to create an account at no cost. To create a new account, follow the on-screen directions and register your student using their Student ID number. Student ID numbers can be obtained by contacting customer support at: 1-877-237-0946.

DSC Health Services and 2024-2025 School Immunization Requirements

Information regarding student bus transportation for the 2024-2025 school year is available on DSC website under the Transportation Department.

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.

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

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.

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/

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