Liberty Link
February 17th, 2023
In the Dune News this week, you will see communication regarding Standards Based Grading, and I've included this same letter below, as well. Our district is front-loading parents with information about this change so that you have a good understanding of what the implications are for that in the next school year. I, for one, could not be more excited about this change~ it is truly what is best for students and parents, as it truly communicates exactly what your students know and don't know. I can't wait to hear your thoughts & questions going forward- please contact me at any time, or just stay tuned for more information each month on SBG for the 23-24 school year.
Warmly,
Mrs. Heidi Hennigar
219-983-3650
Standards Based Grading
Dear Duneland Elementary Parents,
Our K-4 teams have been exploring different ways to measure student performance, and we wanted to take some time over the remainder of this school year to bring you up-to-speed on our discoveries and where we are headed with regard to student grading at the elementary level. The Indiana Department of Education has adopted challenging standards over the years. Teachers in Duneland classrooms have been building curriculum and using instructional strategies designed to promote student mastery of each standard. During this process, it has become clear that we need to update how we assess student learning so that it supports student mastery of these standards.
As we work to make these adjustments, we have been investigating ways to best communicate student progress to families. Currently, our grading practices do not fully support the responsive teaching and learning that is happening in our classrooms. As a result, we have found that a Standards-Based Grading approach may best align with our goals.
What is Standards-Based Grading (SBG)?
Standards-Based Grading is an approach to grading that highlights students’ strengths and areas of improvement by individual standard. This approach measures how well a student understands the material and how they are progressing with their learning goals. The focus is on what a student currently can do, not how long it takes them to get there. Through this approach, we will build consistent grading practices for grades K-4 throughout our school district.
There are four key elements to SBG:
Student performance is clearly communicated with numbers
The focus is on true student understanding rather than completing tasks
Students have multiple opportunities to prove they have met learning goals
Learning is specific and purposeful
Why use Standards-Based Grading (SBG)?
Standards-Based Grading helps to create a more meaningful and fair learning environment. Students learn criteria they need to meet in order to show they have mastered specific skills. Student learning is measured by how well they meet these criteria (rather than by averaging scores for the entire grading period). Additional factors, such as behavior, are communicated separately. In short, Standards-Based Grading is used to provide clarity on progress towards specific skill development on a standard.
Will Standards-Based Grading (SBG) eventually be used in Grades 5-12?
DSC teachers will continue to use some Standards-Based Grading strategies in all grades, but we will still use traditional letter grades (A, B, C, D, or F) in Grades 5-12. This is due to credit attainment and grade point average reasons that are specific to the secondary level.
Over the next four months, messaging on Standards-Based Grading will be shared with K-3 families for the purpose of developing familiarity with the process before implementation in grades K-4 during the 2023-24 school year.
Yours in education,
The Department of Teaching & Learning
New Spirit Wear is Here!
Happy Valentine's Day, Liberty Families!
Dojo & Dismissals Reminder
Our teachers utilize Dojo for messaging on a regular basis. However, please do not send communication about a change in dismissal solely through the Dojo app. Be sure to contact the office. Teachers sometimes are not checking Dojo during the day or may have a substitute. It is important for our office to be aware of dismissal changes for these reasons. Thanks for helping us keep your kids safe!
Jump Rope for Heart Update
Liberty kids have raised $5,155.22 so far, surpassing our goal of $5,000! Way to go, Liberty Leaders!
Teacher & Employee of the Year Nominations
Nominations are now OPEN!
Help the Duneland School Corporation celebrate the outstanding teachers and employees that make up this district. Each year, DSC conducts the Teacher and Employee of the Year Recognition Program with the mission of inspiring and celebrating those in the education industry. Nominations will be accepted for the following categories:
- Elementary Teacher- Grades K-6
- Secondary Teacher- Grades 7-12
- Employee of the Year- Classified Staff Employee
Thank you, Liberty Drivers!
Snapshots of School Happenings
Taste of Testing was a great success!
Ms. Embry talked to families about Edmentum
Mrs. Duda provided information about test taking tips
The winners of the Taste of Testing drawing
PTO Updates
Upcoming PTO & School Events
Friday, February 17th & Monday, February 20th
- No School- Presidents' Day
Tuesday, February 21st
- PTO "Everything Bundt Cakes" Fundraiser begins
Wednesday, February 22nd
- Bus Driver Appreciation Day
Friday, February 24th
- ROAR Assembly
- Spirit Wear Order Forms due
- Reading Challenge Reward: February Favorite Friday (see flyer below)
Wednesday, March 1st
- Bundt Cake Order Forms due
Thursday, March 2nd
- Author visit- Adam Rex
- Learn more about Adam Rex's books here!
- PTO Meeting 2:45
- Kindergarten Round-Up 3:30-6:30
Monday, March 6th
- IREAD testing window opens (more information on this later)
Wednesday, March 8th
- Variety Show Dress Rehearsal
Friday, March 10th
- Variety Show @ 5:00 - Chesterton Middle School
Tuesday, March 14th
- Body Safety Program
- Cookies & Canvas (Time TBD)
Thursday & Friday, March 16th-17th
- Spirit Wear Order Pickup (Time TBD)
Tuesday, March 21st
- PTO Bundt Cake Pickup (Time TBD)
Friday, March 24th
- PTO Read-A-Thon order forms go home
Monday, March 27th- Friday, March 31st
- Spring Break (No School)
Get involved!
Your PTO Officers:
President: Mandee Pollock
Co-Vice President: Mike Myers
Co-Vice President: Nicole Forsythe
Co-Secretary: Amber Andrews
Co-Secretary: Jill Rainbolt
Treasurer: Jessica Decker
Interested in getting involved? Contact them!
February Reading Challenge
The Challenge Reward:
Staff Spotlight
Mrs. Lisa Draves
Mrs. Draves has worked here at Liberty for four years as an instructional aide. She is well known and loved by our students and staff! Mrs. Draves loves Liberty because she loves the kids she works with and all of her coworkers. She loves to see the kids growth throughout the year.
At home, she enjoys spending time with her kids (Kennedy is in 7th grade and Brayden is in 3rd), and her husband of 15 years, Mike. She also loves to go on walks, and spend time at the lake and pool. She spends a lot of time traveling from sporting event to sporting event, so when she is able to travel for pleasure, she's thrilled!
Mrs. Draves' favorite quote will not be a surprise to anyone who knows her:
"Well behaved women seldom make history."
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Lunch this Week
- Monday: No School
- Tuesday: Beef Soft Taco w/Lettuce and Cheese, Salsa Cup, and Broccoli w/Cheese
- Wednesday: Mac & Cheese w/Breadstick, Buttered Carrots, and Choice of Fresh Veggies w/Ranch
- Thursday: Chicken Patty on Bun, Tator Tots, and Choice of Fresh Veggies w/Ranch
- Friday: Bosco Sticks w/Marinara Sauce, Seasoned Corn, Fresh Veggies w/Ranch and Cookie
Lost & Found
Lots of items looking to be found! Come get your lost items!
Information from previous newsletters
If your child is tired of worksheets...
SCHOOL MEALS ARE NO LONGER FREE
School meals are no longer free for all students during the 2022-2023 school year unless you qualify for free meals through the free or reduced-price meal benefit.*
Please note: Parents/Guardians who owe money for their child(ren)’s meals, will receive an email each day with the amount owed. Those emails will be coming from the cafeteria computer software and will show up with Solana as the sender. Excessive negative balances can be turned over for collections.
Current Meal Prices:
Elementary/Intermediate Breakfast Price - $1.45
Elementary/Intermediate Lunch Price - $2.55
Middle/High Breakfast Price - $1.60
Middle/High Lunch Price - $2.95
Parent/Guardians can also put money on their child’s meal account through the following link: MyPaymentsPlus
*To see if you qualify for free or reduced price meals you must fill out an application. Applications can be found on the DSC Child Nutrition webpage or by calling your child’s school.
Athletic Hall of Fame
Mission statement:
The Chesterton High School Hall of Fame Committee has developed a program of recognition designed to honor those individuals who through their commitment, sacrifice, and dedication to the Chesterton High School Athletic Program have brought pride and distinction to our school community as a player, coach, administrator, or active supporter.
If you are interested in nominating someone for the Hall of Fame, please download and complete the form below or submit the online form below.
Deadline:
The deadline for nominations is Monday, February 27th. The 2023 Hall of Fame Class will be announced in June and honored at halftime of the Trojan football game against Warsaw on Friday, August 24th. In addition there will be a dinner banquet held on Saturday, August 25th to celebrate these outstanding individuals and their success.
All submissions must be completed and submitted via this form below and submitted to the Chesterton High School Athletic Department or completed online with the link below.
In case of inclement weather...
We have the following schedule also available in an attachment below. This is in case we have an e-learning day due to an unexpected event or inclement weather.
Unexpected/ Unplanned E-Learning Days
Pre-planned E-Learning Days
We currently have one more day on our school calendar in which students are scheduled to have an e-learning day: May 3. Teachers will have blocks of time available for 'office hours', where they will be available to students for questions, but the majority of this day the students will be completing Canvas activities on their own. Teachers generally have professional development scheduled on these days, so they are not available all day long. This method of instruction is referred to as asynchronous. I have linked the guidelines and differences between the two of these days below.
When the weather outside is frightful...
We will occasionally need to have indoor recess. We determine this when looking at wind chill as well as regular temperature, and take into account blowing snow or sleet. Third and fourth grade students now have the option of remaining indoors to work on quiet activities at recess time. Kindergarten, first and second grade students will be kept inside at recess time if they do not have appropriate clothing for the weather. This generally includes a winter coat (not a hoodie), gloves or mittens, and a hat or a hood. When it is snowing, students will need to have boots and snow pants on in order to go in the snow.
Note: Although we see many students with nice, warm scarves, we have a playground rule against students wearing scarves. This is due to safety concerns of the scarves getting tangled in equipment and inadvertently choking students. Thank you for your understanding.
Reminder
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. If a parent is sending someone else to pick up their student or drop something off for them, they must not only present identification, they must also be on the list in Skyward as family or an emergency contact. This is also the case for attending any class parties.
DuneNews
The goal of the Duneland School Corporation district school newsletters is to inform students, parents and the school community about school-related information.
This year, the Duneland Schools will share information that pertains to opportunities our students may be interested in 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.
Liberty Elementary School
Website: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/liberty
Location: 50-1 West 900 North, Chesterton, IN, USA
Phone: 219-983-3650
Facebook: Liberty Elementary