DuneNews
Duneland School news for parents, students and teachers
Thursday, July 23, 2020 Vo. 54 No. 48
Important Message from the Superintendent
DSC Families and Staff,
We are continuing to work on the DSC Reentry Plan for the 2020-21 school year. Student registration is now open and we ask that families designate a preferred delivery option for their student(s) as soon as possible. This will help us plan for different staffing scenarios.
We plan to make a determination as to how we will reopen in early August (no later than August 5th).
To that end, it is likely that we will be at Level 3 (in-person learning will require face coverings at all times, even when social distancing can be maintained) or Level 4 (all schools/students will participate in remote (at-home) learning) when school opens on August 12th. This is based on recent guidance from Governor Holcomb and the Porter County Health Department. With the possibility of being in a remote learning environment for parts of the school year, please know we will stay committed to pursuing in-person learning opportunities while following safety protocols and minimizing risk for students and staff to COVID-19.
It is also important to note that remote learning in 2020-21 will be different than in the spring of 2020. While 1:1 device implementation and eLearning opportunities over the past few years positioned DSC to deliver instruction in a virtual environment, we continue to learn and improve as we move forward. Students and parents can expect remote coursework to be aligned to the same standards and accountability measures being provided in the in-person delivery model. While instructional strategies may differ from time to time, students in a remote setting can expect to attend and participate in lessons at a designated time as determined by the teacher.
Thank you for your support.
Dr. Chip Pettit
Superintendent of Schools
CHS to host 2020 Graduation Parade and Drive-Thru Ceremony on Friday
Last evening, Chesterton High School (CHS) Principal Brent Martinson announced with great disappointment that the planned CHS 2020 traditional graduation ceremony has been cancelled. In lieu of this, the school is now planning to host a graduation parade and drive-thru ceremony for CHS 2020 graduates.
Graduates and their immediate family members only will proceed in cars beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24 from the Chesterton Middle School Parking Lot. The procession will wind through the town of Chesterton and end at the CHS campus.
Each graduating senior will follow this parade route in their family’s car: North onto 8th Street to Broadway, east on Broadway to Calumet, south on Calumet to Porter Avenue, west on Porter Avenue to 5th Street, south on 5th Street to 1050N and into the south entrance at the back of CHS following a car processional to the front of the school. Once at the front of the school (Door 1), the graduate only will exit the car, walk across the prepared outdoor stage at the front of the school, and receive their diploma from Superintendent Dr. Chip Pettit and CHS Principal Brent Martinson. Graduates will then return to their car and exit the CHS campus.
Seniors and their parents should check their email regarding specific information and instructions regarding these two events.
'Grab and Go' Meals - Summer Meals EXTENDED to Aug. 6
Duneland Schools Child Nutrition and Wellness 'Grab and Go' meals summer pickup has been extended! There will be additional pickups on the following dates:
Thursday, July 23
Thursday, July 30
Thursday, August 6
Meal pickup will be available each Thursday from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Curbside pickup will take place at CHS in the back of the building. Enter from 11th St., follow the drive around back just past the tennis courts and line up along the curb.
The 'Grab and Go' meal program that Duneland Schools is currently conducting is able to feed any Duneland School student regardless of their economic status.
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ALL CLASSES BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12
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As part of the Registration process this year, each family will be asked to select an instructional model (in-person or remote) for their student(s).
PLEASE NOTE: If you are having issues with the online registration process, please contact your student's school beginning on Monday, July 27.
2020-2021 School Calendar
Reentry Plan 2020-2021
School Supplies Lists K-8
Student Personal Property Pick-up and Curricular Material Return
Jackson Elementary:
Parents who have not yet had the opportunity to pickup their student's belongings from the previous school year and/or need to pickup items from the Art to Remember fundraiser, may do so Monday-Thursday, from approximately 6:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Please remember that the bag of your student's belongings contains your student's yearbook, if you purchased one.
If you are experiencing symptoms of illness or fever, or have recently been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus, please do not return items at this time. Arrangements can be made for another date.
In Memoriam
An integral part of Chesterton High School’s WDSO radio family will be remembered fondly and missed by many.
Michele Stipanovich passed away peacefully on July 19, 2020. She began working for Duneland Schools in 1971 as an instructional aide at Liberty Middle School. She worked in many capacities before finding her true home at CHS’s WDSO in 1981. Michele assisted with activities and scheduling at the station and enjoyed working with all the students and staff. “She was the heart of the radio station,” said Matt Waters. Students and staff members will miss her greatly.
Student Device Updates for DSC Families
As Duneland School Corporation (DSC) prepares a variety of instructional plans for the 2020-2021 school year and beyond, the intent of this message is to provide clarity on our current 1:1 device plan and provide insight into how DSC may transition into a sustainable long-term model over the next couple of years. This summer, students will keep their current learning device (iPad or PC) for continued use during the 2020-2021 school year (see chart at the end of this document organized by current grade level). Current filtering practices and security software will remain active over the summer.
DSC will continue to implement and expand best practices in face-to-face learning, remote learning, blended learning, and online course content development. As we move forward, DSC will be working to increase our understanding of personalized learning for students while ensuring equity for all students when it comes to accessing content, resources, and learning opportunities whether in person, remotely, or in a hybrid way.
Reliable learning devices will be crucial for our continued development and equitable access for all students. With that in mind, DSC intends to allow students to keep devices year round in 2020 and beyond. This is likely to impact family decisions on purchasing a computer for student use at home, in addition to a computer issued by DSC. While students will still be able to bring a device from home to school, they will be required to always have their DSC issued device in their possession while on campus.
Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, DSC will include a device protection plan as part of student fees to aid families in guaranteeing needed access. This protection plan is expected to be in the $20 range depending on the device. At the end of the 2020-21 school year, devices purchased when DSC implemented the 1:1 initiative will have reached their end of life. At the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, most students will receive new tablets or PCs. Over the next year, DSC will be exploring different sustainable long-term funding models for student devices. DSC will also continue to re-examine curricular resources at all grade levels and courses to best support student achievement while keeping costs reasonable for families.
Thank you for supporting your child's learning needs now and into the future.
Student Device Plan - Summer 2020
Grade Level in 2019-2020
Kindergarten
- Students will keep their iPad over the summer
- Students will use the same device in 1st grade
1st grade
- Students will keep their iPad over the summer
- Students will use the same device in 2nd grade
2nd grade
- Students will keep their iPad over the summer
- Students will use the same device in 3rd grade
3rd grade
- Students will keep their iPad over the summer
- Students will use the same device in 4th grade
4th grade
- Students will keep their iPad over the summer
- Students will use the same device in 5th grade
5th grade
- Students will keep their iPad over the summer
- Students will use the same device in 6th grade
6th grade
- Students will keep their iPad over the summer
- Students will use the same device in 7th grade
7th grade
- Students will keep their iPad over the summer
- Students will use the same device in 8th grade
8th grade
- Students will keep their iPad over the summer
- As 8th graders enter 9th grade for the 2020-2021 school year, students will be required to return their iPad in order to receive their new CHS device. Information will be sent out over the summer.
9th, 10th, 11th grade
- Students in 9th, 10th and 11th grade will keep their Duneland Windows device over the summer.
- Students that have been issued a Chromebook will be required to return the device at the start of the 2020-21 school year to be replaced with a Windows device.
- Students that have never been issued a device will be given a Windows device for summer school or at the start of the 2020-21 school year.
12th grade
- Students that have a Duneland student device will be required to return the device. Students and parents will receive communication regarding device return.
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 for as low as $9.95 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
Contacting IT Support
The Duneland School Corporation IT department is committed to making this extended eLearning period as successful as possible. To get your problems solved as fast as possible:
- Open a new Freshservice ticket:
- AV number is typically located on a sticker on the back/bottom of the device
- Serial number is also acceptable
- AV number is typically located on a sticker on the back/bottom of the device
- Open a Freshservice ticket by sending an email to: helpdesk@duneland.k12.in.us
- Please be sure to include email address, student or staff name, and a description of the problem
- Due to the closure, the IT Support hotline is not operational. Please use the above methods to contact the DSC IT Department.
Device Repair
It is understandable that there may be issues that cannot be resolved remotely. If you have a device that has sustained physical damage (i.e. cracked screen, broken keyboard), please fill out the form below. A drive-up IT service station will be opening up soon. After submitting the form, a member of the IT department will contact you to schedule your service appointment.
Duneland Schools Spirit Store
Did you know that Duneland Schools has an online Spirit Wear Store where you can buy your Duneland spirit wear?
Purchase your CMS/CHS student P.E./Strength Training uniforms (shorts and t-shirts) online and arrange to have them delivered to your home or pick up at the store.
Join the CHS Alumni Association!
Have you been thinking about joining the Chesterton High School Alumni Association, but just haven't gotten around to it? Would you like to help support the enhancement of the Duneland School Corporations' educational processes and scholarships for graduating seniors at Chesterton High School. Your dues in the organization and support of our fundraising efforts will help the group to continue to grow and present more and more of our graduates college assistance.
Visit the Duneland School Corporation's website at this link: Download an application to join today.
Duneland School Corporation 2020-2021 Calendar
The 2020-2021 Duneland School Corporation Calendar is available on our website. Click on the link above to open or visit our website at www.duneland.k12.in.us
Duneland School Corporation
Inspire | Engage | Empower
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