DuneNews
Duneland School news for parents, students and teachers
Thursday, July 25, 2024 Vol. 59 No. 1
2024-2025 Curricular Fees and Items for Student Success
INSTRUCTIONAL FEES
Following the passage of legislation on textbooks/curriculum materials in 2023, Duneland no longer collects textbook and instructional supply fees for the upcoming school year. Instead, funding for these items come from state reimbursement and local school funds. This includes textbook, software, and hardware costs as well as other items required for educating our students
ITEMS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
DSC now provides Items for Student Success documents to answer your questions and offer recommendations so that families can prepare for the first days of school. Please check out the links to information below for your student’s needs:
K-4 Items for Student Success
5-6 Items for Student Success
7-8 Items for Student Success
Optional Ways to Receive School Communications
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
Weekly District Newsletter - DuneNews
The district newsletter, DuneNews, is published each Thursday afternoon throughout the school year. Each weekly issue can be found on our website at https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/news/dune-news-online along with archived issues for review.
The next issue of the district newsletter, DuneNews, will be published on Tuesday, August 13. The DuneNews will resume its regular Thursday afternoon release schedule throughout the school year.
2024-2025 School Start & End Times
The new daily schedule for the 2024-2025 school year will be:
- Elementary (K-4) 7:30 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.
- High School (9-12) 8:10 a.m. – 3:10 p.m.
- Intermediate/Middle (5-8) 8:50 a.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Say Something Anonymous Reporting System
The Duneland School Corporation has adopted the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System for all grade 5-12 schools. The link to the Say Something Tip Line can be found on the DSC website, on the middle and high school websites, and on the DSC Safety and Security page located under Programs and Services.
Back-to-School Open Houses
Back-to-School Open Houses are hosted at each child’s respective school building. Families may use this opportunity to visit the student's classroom, learn important information about the upcoming school year, and meet the student’s teacher. Look for information closer to each event from the respective buildings for details.
ELEMENTARY GRADES K-4
(at respective buildings)
Tuesday, August, 13, 2024
4:00-6:00 p.m.
INTERMEDIATE GRADES 5-6
(at respective buildings)
Monday, August, 12, 2024
4:00-5:30 p.m.
MIDDLE GRADES 7-8
(at respective buildings)
Monday, August, 12, 2024
6:30-8:00 p.m.
CHESTERTON HIGH SCHOOL 9-12
2125 S 11th Street, Chesterton, IN 46304
Thursday, August 15, 2024
6:00-7:30 p.m.
CHESTERTON HIGH SCHOOL
INCOMING 9TH GRADE ORIENTATION
(TROJAN CHARGE)
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
NORTHWEST INDIANA ONLINE SCHOOL K-12
(All students must complete annual onboarding to complete enrollment in the online school option) - Location: 651 Morgan Avenue; Door 4 (Former Chesterton Middle School Music Entrance).
Monday, August, 12, 2024 - 1:00-2:30 p.m. - New Families Onboarding Session
Monday, August, 12, 2024 - 4:00-5:30 p.m. - Returning Families Onboarding Session
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - 9:00-10:30 a.m. - Returning Families Onboarding Session
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - 5:00-6:30 p.m. - Returning Families Onboarding Session
CLASSES BEGIN AUGUST 14, 2024
Duneland School Corporation students will begin the new school year on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
DSC 2024 -2025 Calendar
CHS Maroon & Gold Calendar/Bell Schedules
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
CHILD NUTRITION: 2024-2025 School Meals
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.
DUNELAND TRANSPORTATION
Information regarding student bus transportation for the 2024-2025 school year is available on DSC website under the Transportation Department.
BUS ROUTING and BUS STOP TIMES
Tentative bus routes and bus stop times for this school year will be available for viewing on Skyward beginning on Friday, August 2. Parents should keep in mind that Transportation is continuing to work on live routing, so these bus routes and bus stop times are subject to change as they make necessary adjustments. Check back on August 12-13 for finalized bus routes and bus stop times for your student.
TRACK STUDENT'S BUS WITH MYSTOP APP
The DSC Transportation has MyStop available for our families.
My Stop is a web-based application which allows 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.
How do I find out my student's teacher / class schedule?
Many parents inquire about their student's class placement for the new school year. Schedules for students in grades 9-12 and class assignments/schedules for grades K-8 will be available on Friday, August 9. This information can be found in your Skyward Parent Portal.
DSC Strategic Plan 2024-2028
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.
CONTACTING IT SUPPORT
Contact the Duneland School Corporation IT department via one of these methods:
- Open a IncidentIQ ticket by sending an email to: helpdesk@duneland.k12.in.us
- 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
DEF Welcome Back Luau - August 16
The DEF Welcome Back Luau includes entertainment, dinner, and a cash bar. Help us welcome our new teachers to Duneland! Click the image below.
NorthShore Clinic for All DSC Students
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/
Duneland School Corporation
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