November 15, 2024

Dear Westchester Middle School Families,

I hope you’re having a wonderful week! Here’s a quick update on the exciting events and important announcements happening at WMS:

This week, we hosted our first annual Veterans Day program, and it was an incredible success! A heartfelt thank-you to Sergeant Alfaro for sharing his inspiring story with our students. We are so proud of our band, choir, and orchestra students for their outstanding performances that made the event truly special.

Don’t miss our Drama Club’s first play, “The Mouse That Roared,” debuting tonight at 7:00 PM in the WMS auditorium. There’s also a second showing on Saturday at 2:00 PM. We can’t wait to see you there to support our talented students!

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to our food drive! We are still collecting non-perishable food items and cleaning supplies through next week. Your generosity will make a big difference in our community.

PSAT scores for our 8th-grade students are now available in Skyward under the Test Scores Section. Students can also access more detailed information about their individual scores in the Big Futures App. Please encourage your student to explore their results and take advantage of the resources available to them.

Thank you for your continued support of WMS and our students. Let’s keep up the amazing work as we head into the holiday season!

Respectfully,

Mrs. Lauren Seiss, WMS Principal

Reminders:

• 48-Hour Attendance Policy for Call Off(s) - Parents/Guardians will have 48 hours to excuse their students absence, after which time it will be considered unexcused.

• Parents who are picking up their child or dropping something off for their child must present a driver's license or state ID to our office staff in order to do so. Also, if a parent sends someone else to pick their student up or drop something off for them, they must not only present identification but must also be on the list in Skyward as a family or emergency contact.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

11/15 The Mouse that Roared at 7:00pm

11/16 The Mouse that Roared at 2:00pm

11/22 Kona Ice during lunch

11/27-11/29 Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL

Upcoming ATHLETIC Dates to Remember:

11/16 (H) WMS 7A Basketball Invite at 8:30am @ WMS

11/16 (A) Wrestling Meet at Pierce Super Dual at 8:3am @ Pierce MS

11/18 (A) 7/8 A Team Boys Basketball Game vs. Morgan Twp. MS at 5:00pm @ Morgan Twp. MS

11/19 (H) 7/8 A Team Boys Basketball Game vs. Barker MS at 5:00pm @ Barker MS

11/19 (A) Wrestling Meet vs. Fegely MS at 5:00pm @ Fegely MS

11/20 (H) Wrestling Meet vs. Willowcreek at 5:00pm @ WMS

11/25 (H) 7/8 A Team Boy Basketball Game vs. Grimmer at 5:00pm @ WMS

11/25 (H) Wrestling Meet vs. Barker MS at 5:00pm @ WMS

11/26 (A) 7th Gr. Boys Basketball Game vs. Kankakee Valley at 5:00pm @ Kankakee Valley MS

11/26 (H) 8th Gr. Boys Basketball Game vs. Kankakee Valley at 5:00pm @ WMS

11/26 (A) Wrestling Meet vs. Taft at 5:00pm @ Taft MS

12/2 (H) Wrestling Meet vs. LaPorte MS at 5:00pm @ WMS

12/2 (H) 7/8 A Team Boys Basketball Game vs. Washington Township at 5:00pm @ WMS

12/3 (A) 7th Gr. Boys Basketball Game vs. Ben Franklin at 5:00pm @ Ben Franklin MS

12/3 (H) 8th Gr. Boys Basketball Game vs.Ben Franklin at 5:00pm @ WMS

12/4 (H) 7th Gr. Boys Basketball Game vs.LaPorte MS at 5:00pm @ WMS

12/4 (A) 8th Gr. Boys Basketball Game vs. LaPorte MS at 5:00pm @ LaPorte

12/5 (H) Wrestling Meet vs. Ben Franklin at 5:00pm @ WMS

12/7 (H) 8th Grade A Team Basketball Invite at 8:30am @ WMS

12/9 (A) 7th Gr. Boys Basketball Game vs Taft at 5:00pm @ Taft MS

12/9 (H) 8th Gr. Boys Basketball Game vs. Taft at 5:00pm @ WMS

12/10 (H) Wrestling Meet vs. Thomas Jefferson at 5:00pm @ WMS

Q: Deliberately discourteous & a "raw" grade of oil before refining

A: Rude & Crude

Please call our main office at 219-983-3780 to report your student absent with in 48hours.

Attendance questions should be directed to Amanda Ray amray@duneland.k12.in.us

All Region Orchestra students, above, left to right, Natalie Hargarten, Makenzie Soto, Aubrey Forsythe, Madison Skafgaard, Ryan Seaman, Job Hennigar, Hunter Mayer, Daniel Vidt, Liam Nieves, and Claire Rogers. Absent from photo is Isaac Higgins.

Congratulations to 11 Westchester and Liberty Middle School orchestra students who were accepted and participated in the Indiana ASTA North All Region Honor Orchestra event at Taft Middle School this past Saturday! These students rehearsed all day with students from other Northern Indiana schools and performed a beautiful final concert at the end of the day. Although one student was unable to perform due to an injury, he still came to the final concert to support his fellow musicians. Chesterton Music is so proud of all of these students!

Click below to download our first edition of the WMS Trojan Times!

Westchester Middle School 7th grade Math students and Liberty Middle School 8th grade ELA students will be participating in the ILEARN Checkpoint pilot this year. Assessments will be condensed and focus on limited standards during each of the three checkpoints

The DSC Child Nutrition Department is now utilizing NutriSlice as its new 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 items at any of the Duneland Schools. This program will be developed further incorporating images of food items being served at each of the schools.

Breakfast $1.60

Lunch $2.95

ATTENTION!!!

2024-2025 ALL ATHLETES MUST HAVE A CURRENT PHYSICAL ON FILE TO PARTICIPATE!

Middle School Physicals will need to be turned in to coaches or the athletic department, prior to open gym, tryouts, or practices in order to participate.

There are a total of 6 forms that need to be completed. The actual physical is completed by the Dr. and the rest of the forms are completed by the parent(s) and the student. Physicals will not be accepted if there are forms missing!

*Physical Checklist*

• Final Forms Online parent and student
• Physical Examination from the Dr.
• History Form (It is 2 pages)
• Consent and Release Certificate (Make sure insurance information is complete)
• Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Form
• Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities Code of Conduct

Cell Phones, Smart Watches, Earbuds, & Earphones Usage:

7th and 8th 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. Middle school curriculum is designed to utilize iPads for lessons and enrichment activities.

CONTACTING IT SUPPORT

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

Internet Connectivity

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

Parent Observer Account

Parents are encouraged to set up their Canvas observer accounts to monitor their students' progress. Parents can click this link to view how to set up their Parent Observer Account

Link to the Canvas Log In

WE WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO RIDE THE BUS HOME WITH FRIENDS THAT DO NOT SHARE THE THE SAME DESIGNATED BUS ROUTE. THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE UTMOST CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR STUDENTS.

n 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.