WIS Weekly
October 11, 2021
A Message From Mr. Longacre
Honor Roll Party!
Friday, October 15th, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Honor Roll: 3.00-3.65 GPA
Principal’s Honor Roll: 3.66-4.0 GPA
WIS Families,
Students who earned Honor Roll for the 1st grading period will be invited to our Honor Roll Party this Friday, October 15th. The party lasts from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., and students will need to be dropped off at Entrance 6 (South Side / Gym B). At the conclusion of the party, each student will need to be escorted to the family’s vehicle by a masked family member. Each masked parent/guardian may enter the building at 7:00 p.m. via Entrance 6. The party will include the following features:
Val’s pizza
inflatable interactive games
open basketball
movie room
listening / dancing to a DJ
Kona Ice ($2.00 - $6.00)
On Thursday afternoon, families will receive an invitation to the Honor Party via email and automated call.
Masks will be required for students, staff, and any family member entering the building. Also, students may not bring their cellphones.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Respectfully,
Mr. Longacre
This Week at WIS
5th Grade
Language Arts
Last Week:
- IRA theme was Power of Knowledge
- We studied many biographies that gave us more knowledge about Palentoloty, Hieroglyphs, and what it would be like to Climb Mt. Everest.
This Week:
- IRA theme will continue to be Power of Knowledge
- We will also compare 5 very different versions of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Math
End of Quarter 1:
- We finished the quarter with lessons on exponents, numerical expressions and order of operations. Friday, we took a Quarter 1 Assessment.
Starting Quarter 2:
- We will be easing into division and long division this week.
Social Studies
- We will continue learning about European exploration of the Americas. This week as a mini-project, we will make an explorer trading card. Can your child tell you why people explore or name some explorers?
Science
- Virtual Challenger missions start this week. All students who have access to earbuds/headphones need to bring them to school.
6th Grade
Sixth grade math will continue working with fractions this week. Look for students to be making equivalent fractions in order to add and subtract. Students will have a quiz this week.
Language Arts
- Students will continue to use their class novel, Tuck Everlasting, as an anchor for their review of plot and characterization. Students will continue to apply the RACE strategy when making connections with what they read and annotate in the text.
Social Studies
- Last week, students learned about the Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire. They were amazed to see the Greek influence spread throughout Roman culture. This week we will compare the Greek and Roman governments while learning more about tyranny, oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy.
Science
- This week in science we will be exploring populations, carrying capacity and invasive species. Students will be doing virtual labs as well as activities to demonstrate these concepts. We will continue working on literacy by completing daily bell ringers that help with scientific writing and data analysis.
Author Mark Marimen will visit WIS on October 19, 2021
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, fifth grade will be welcoming local author, Mark Marimen, to Westchester Intermediate School. Mr. Marimen will speak to our students about his love of listening to spooky stories around campfires as a child, and how these childhood stories inspired him to become a writer. His stories are based on local legends and folklore. Mr. Marimen will spend time in fifth grade classrooms helping students write a spooky story of their own. We feel that this visit will help instill a love of reading and writing in our fifth grade students. The titles of the books Mark Marimen has written are listed below. The books were not originally written for a fifth grade audience; however, Mr. Marimen’s presentation will be grade level appropriate and enjoyable for your child. If you would prefer that your student not participate in this presentation, please notify their ELA teacher prior to October 19th and an alternate assignment will be given to them during this time.
Haunted Indiana Volumes 1-4
Haunted Travels of Indiana
School Spirits: College Ghost Stories of the East and Midwest
Weird Indiana: Your Travel Guide to Indiana’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets
Club Information
Chesterton Basketball Club
Trick or Treat at CHS
Skyward Family Access Quick Guide
Need some help in navigating your Skyward Parent Portal? Here is a Quick Guide with helpful videos attached to guide parents in familiarizing and utilizing Skyward.
Nurse Tina's Note
Dear Parent/Guardians,
Starting soon, Health Services at WIS will be conducting Vision and Hearing screenings. All 5th grade students and new incoming 6th grade students, according to Indiana Law are required to have their vision checked. Hearing testing will only be performed on 5th and 6th grade students that are new to Duneland School Corporation.
We are asking that if your student wears glasses that they have them on their person daily so that there will be no delay in getting their testing completed. If you have any questions, please contact WIS School Nurse, Tina Sosby, R.N. at 219-983-3710 or via email at
DSC COVID-19 Response Plan - Level Change
On Wednesday, Governor Holcomb released Executive Order 21-24 which directed the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) to modify quarantine requirements for K-12 schools who mandate masks. The new guidelines indicate that when all individuals are masked, students and staff who are close contacts of a COVID-19 positive individual do not need to be quarantined unless experiencing symptoms. Instead, close contacts will monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days while they continue to attend school.
Reducing the number of quarantines is essential to preserving 5-day per week, in-person learning and co- and extra-curricular activities during the pandemic. Since school started, over 450 students have been in quarantine (3,600+ days of missed school). At this pace, DSC will quarantine more than 4,800 students this year (38,000+ days of missed school).
In an effort to keep schools open and minimize learning disruptions related to mandated quarantine rules, the Duneland School Corporation will move to the “Quarantine Caution” level in the DSC COVID-19 Response Plan and require masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status for all students, staff and visitors, effective Tuesday, September 7, 2021. The goal will be to remove the mask requirement as soon as it is plausible to do so.
This change follows an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the school community and a significant increase in the number of students placed in quarantine. DSC schools are required to follow quarantine protocols established by the ISDH as outlined in the Governor’s executive order. By requiring masks, DSC looks to eliminate quarantines which will increase the likelihood of preserving 5-day per week, in-person learning and co- and extra-curricular activities during the pandemic.
Staff will provide students opportunities, as is allowed by state health protocols, to remove masks at appropriate times when eating, when 6-feet of social distancing is possible and while outdoors, as well as when participating in athletics.
The DSC COVID-19 Response Plan will remain a fluid document and can and will be changed as new information becomes available during the pandemic. DSC administration will continue to consult with Porter County Health Department, monitor active cases and adjust protocols as necessary.
NorthShore Clinic
Consent paperwork needs to be completed prior to an office visit. The paperwork is attached and can be completed prior to the visit to save time. If you choose this option, the consent paperwork needs to be on file beforehand. If returning paperwork via email, please send to: Shawn Kroft, skroft@northshorehealth.org.
Help us Nominate WIS Teachers of Excellence today!
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
WIS PTO
If you are interested in helping with the WIS PTO please visit our Facebook page to let us know. The Facebook page is also a great place to find out the happenings of the WIS PTO:
Job Opportunities in Duneland
The Duneland School Corporation is seeking candidates for the following positions:
CHILD NUTRITION
Child Nutrition associates provide nutrition services to students and staff. Benefit-eligible positions available. Apply online at Click to apply online
TRANSPORTATION
Duneland School Corporation Transportation positions (Bus Drivers, Sub Bus Drivers) require eligible persons to operate all school vehicles or (Sub Bus Aides) to assist in the transportation of all special students needing additional attention. These positions are highly responsible roles in transporting and dealing with students and staff on a regular basis. Transportation personnel interact with individuals both inside and outside of the corporation and therefore, must have the ability to present a professional and organized image at all times. Benefit-eligible positions available. Click to apply online
CUSTODIAL
Duneland School Corporation Custodians are required to clean and sanitize all corporation facilities. This position has a highly responsible role in providing custodial services and dealing with students and staff on a regular basis. Custodians interact with individuals both inside and outside the corporation and therefore, must have the ability to present a professional and organized image at all times. Custodians may be required to work in other Duneland School Corporation facilities. Benefit-eligible positions available. Click to apply online
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Seeking substitute teachers for all grade levels. To apply for a substitute teaching position, please apply in person at the Duneland Administration Center, 601 W Morgan Ave. in Chesterton to complete an application.
Westchester Intermediate School
Email: slongacre@duneland.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/Domain/14
Location: 1050 South 5th Street, Chesterton, IN, USA
Phone: (219) 983-3710
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westchesterintermediate/
Twitter: @WIS_DSC