DuneNews
Duneland School news for parents, students and teachers
February 8, 2024 Vol. 58 No. 24
NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
There will be no school for all Duneland School students on Friday, February 16 and Monday, February 19 to observe a winter break and the Presidents' Day holiday.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
DSC 2nd Quarter Honor Rolls
Duneland School Board Recognitions
The following students were recognized by the Duneland School Board members at their Monday, February 5 meeting.
CHS 2024 Rising Stars of Indiana
Above, front row, left to right, CHS Juniors Kaitlyn Downs, Quinn Fleming, Luke Sparks and Alaina McGrogan. Back row, board members Alayna Lightfoot Pol, Brandon Kroft, Kirk Redman, Beth Mehling and Tim McGinty.
Congratulations to four Chesterton High School juniors who were selected as Rising Stars of Indiana. The Indiana Association of School Principals’ Rising Stars of Indiana is a non-competitive recognition program, designed to honor high school juniors for their academic achievement. By allowing schools to identify outstanding scholars during their Junior year, we hope to increase their visibility and scholarship opportunities. Each Indiana high school can recognize up to four individual students.
Liberty Elementary Perfect IREAD Scores
Front row, left to right, Houston Key, Kenzie Stephenson, Benjamin Hamstra, Matthew Willis, Adam Ibrahim and Aiden Feero. Row 2, Hendrex Herrera, David Forsythe, Dominik Broadstone, Robert Schmiedl and Daniel Wojtaszek. Back row, Liberty Elementary Principal Heidi Hennigar, Superintendent Dr. Chip Pettit, school board members Beth Mehling, Brandon Kroft, Kirk Redman Tim McGinty and Alayna Lightfoot Pol. Absent from the photo is recipient Caleb Curiel.
Congratulations to 12 Liberty Elementary students being recognized for perfect IREAD scores on the Spring 2023 IREAD assessment at Liberty Elementary School.
CHS Winter Guard Captures First Place Honors
Above, front, left to right, Haley Martinez, Danica Sessions, Katie Radliff. Back row, Alina Summers, Caprie Wilson, Abigail Krueger, Lucy Rutkowski, Vanessa Godinez, Addie Mason and Bri Manning. Absent from photo is Lyric Brown.
The Chesterton High School Winter Guard competed in its first competition of the season capturing first place honors in the Midwest Color Guard Circuit’s (M.W.C.G.C.) 2nd Invitational of the 2024 season this past weekend in Naperville, Illinois. The event was hosted by Naperville Central High School and featured 18 units from three Midwestern states, including Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
The CHS team captured first-place honors in the Scholastic AA division, the largest of the four competitive classes at the event. Chesterton’s 2024 production is entitled “Solstice”, and features a novel and fun percussion arrangement of “Winter” from Baroque-era composer Antonio Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons'. The group’s next competition is scheduled for Sunday, February 18 at Schaumburg High School in Schaumburg, Illinois. Members of the Chesterton Winter Color Guard include: Lyric Brown, Vanessa Godinez, Abigail Krueger, Bri Manning, Haley Martinez, Addie Mason, Katie Radliff, Lucy Rutkowski, Danica Sessions, Alina Summer, Caprie Wilson. The CHS Winter Guard is under the direction of Kylene Mitchell and Lisa Scheiber.
TG Fall Season Awards Night
Top Awards: Above, left to right, Michael Livovich - Outstanding Contribution to TG, Emma Comfort -Outstanding Contribution to Auxiliary, Danica Sessions - Outstanding Trojan Guardsman, Haley Martinez - Outstanding Auxiliary Member, and Matthew Haubold - Outstanding Contribution to TG.
Students from Chesterton High School’s Trojan Guard Marching Band were honored for their outstanding achievements and performances during the fall season this past Tuesday evening February 6. With an impressive 2nd Place finish at State, the students, parents, and staff consistently put forth great effort and were frequently rewarded with supplementary awards such as Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Effect.
Honors for this year’s Trojan Guard members include:
Most Improved Freshmen: Tyler Cichocki and Jasper Kniola
Most Improved Sophomores: Vincent Mueller and Hazel Ann Santos
Most Improved Juniors: Jasper Britzke and Archer Lohman
Most Improved Seniors: Toby Ison and Madysen Vergon
Most Improved Auxiliary Members: Lucy Rutkowski and Caprie Wilson
Outstanding Musical Contribution: Adrian Dooley and Kyle Pazdur
Outstanding Marching Contribution: Isabella Muzzalupo, Mike Schwab, and Nick Shade
Outstanding Leadership: Makayla Erickson and Mary Toms
Outstanding Attitude: Ally Novreske, Katie Radliff, and Rosalie Salentine
Section Leaders: Makayla Erickson (Flute), Matthew Haubold (Clarinet), Mary Toms (Bassuba aka bass clarinet & Tuba), Rosalie Salentine (Alto & Tenor Saxophone), Logan Snyder and Madysen Vergon (Trumpet), Michael Livovich (Mellophone), Michael Schwab (Baritone), Kyle Pazdur (Batterie), Adrian Dooley (Pit Percussion), Emma Comfort and Danica Sessions (Color Guard)
Senior Recognition: Sarah Bennett, Jillian Boster, Emma Comfort, Lydia Comfort , Adrian Dooley, Abigail Elliott, Matthew Haubold, Toby Ison, Michael Livovich, Haley Martinez, Kelsey Mason, Isabella Muzzalupo, Ally Novreske, Kyle Pazdur, Aiden Peschke, River Przygoda, Katie Radliff, Rosalie Salentine, Mike Schwab, Danica Sessions, Nicholas Shade, Logan Snyder , Joshua Spence, Mary Toms, Addisyn Torres, and Madysen Vergon.
Exceptional Contribution to the Trojan Guard: Peytin Ellis, Logan McVicker, and Alina Summer
Drum Major Awards: Lydia Comfort and Kelsey Mason
Outstanding Section of the Year: Pit Percussion
Jasper Britzke, Adrian Dooley, Lacei Kuckuck, Archer Lohman, Logan McVicker, CeCe Post, Noah Roberts, and Aubree Williams
Outstanding Contribution to the Auxiliary: Emma Comfort
Outstanding Contribution to the Trojan Guard: Matthew Haubold and Mike Livovich
Outstanding Trojan Guard Auxiliary Member: Haley Martinez
Outstanding Trojan Guardsman: Danica Sessions
Outstanding Musical and Marching Contributions:
Left to right, Isabella Muzzalupo, Mike Schwab, Adrian Dooley, Nick Shade, and Kyle Pazdur
Outstanding Leadership & Attitude Contributions:
Left to right, Ally Novreske, Katie Radliff, Rosalie Salentine, Mary Toms and Makayla Erickson.
Most Improved:
Front row, left to right, Hazel Ann Santos, Tyler Cichocki, Madysen Vergon and Noah Roberts - Outstanding New Member; Aubree Williams - Outstanding New Member; Jasper Britzke. Back row, Caprie Wilson, Toby Ison, Vincent Mueller, Jasper Kniola, Archer Lohman.
Outstanding Section of the Year:
PIT PERCUSSION
Front row, left to right, Aubree Williams and Lacei Kuckuck. Back row, Adrian Dooley (Section Leader), Noah Roberts, Cece Post, Archer Lohman, Jasper Britzke
Drum Major Awards
L-R, Kelsey Mason and Lydia Comfort
Exceptional Contributions to TG:
L-R, Peytin Ellis and Alina Summer. Absent from photo is Logan McVicker.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Fun at ALLEY-OOP for AWARENESS Event
Chesterton High School hosted its 10th annual ALLEY-OOP for Awareness event last Saturday evening after the Boys' JV basketball game. Students from the Applied Skills Classroom played a fun scrimmage game to show off their teamwork, enthusiasm and positivity. This fundraising event also brings our community together and encourages support and awareness for individuals with exceptional needs.
(Photos compliments of Pete Hokanson)
ONWARD TROJANS!
STAFF RECOGNITION
Tsugawa Named Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship Recipient
Chesterton High School Japanese World Language teacher Aki Tsugawa, is the recipient of a 2024 Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program grant, and one of 104 grants awarded in 2024. Her grant is entitled: “Life Comes Full Circle: My Physical and Mental Journey Through Yoga”
Tsugawa plan to go to Rishkesh, India, the "yoga capital of the world" to immerse herself in yoga, learning about her body, mind, and meditation. She will go to a 7-day yoga and meditation training at an ashram. To further understand the relationship between Indian culture and meditation, she would like to visit inspirational and historic places in India in the Summer 2025.
The Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program (TCFP) is one of the Endowment’s longest standing programs, launched in 1987 to help Indiana public school teachers renew their commitment to teaching. Today, this program continues to support Indiana educators by providing resources for them to take time for meaningful renewal. The Endowment believes that through new experiences, exploration and reflection educators can generate renewed energy in their careers, innovative approaches to teaching and educational leadership, and thoughtful ways to encourage students’ creative thinking.
National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day
Help us celebrate our DSC School Resource Officers on Thursday, February 15 - National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day.
SROs are full-time law enforcement officers with sworn law enforcement authority, trained in school-based policing and crisis response and assigned by an employing law enforcement agency to work with schools using community-oriented policing concepts.
Our school resource officers serve as important bridges between youth, law enforcement, and the communities they serve. The Duneland Schools recognizes the important role these individuals play in our schools and school community.
INSPIRE | ENGAGE | EMPOWER
Online Enrollment Now OPEN
Kindergarten Round-Up
ONLINE ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN for incoming Duneland Kindergarten students for the 2024-2025 School Year. Families are asked to complete online enrollment prior to attending Kindergarten Round-Up on Thursday, February 29, 2024. To get started please visit: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/domain/440.
DSC Summer School 2024
Duneland School Corporation is announcing the 2024 Summer School Dates. Summer school will consist of two sessions with Session 1 from June 10-28 and Session 2 from July 8-26. Session 1 will host classes for students in grades PreK-12 while Session 2 is only for students currently in grades 8-12.
Students currently in grades K-7 will have access to courses in Reading and Math. Students in grades 8-12 will have courses in Physical Education, Government, Economics, Health, as well as the ability to retake courses not passed during the school year. KinderCamp, for incoming Kindergarteners, and the K-4 High Ability Summer School will also be offered.
Interested families should look for applications for summer school in the coming weeks with enrollment opening in March.
WDSO to Expand of Coverage
In the fall of 2022, Chesterton High School’s WDSO Radio moved its tower from Chesterton Middle School to its new location at the WBEZ Radio tower on US Route 20 in Chesterton causing a minor dip in power and a shift in range.
About a year ago, WDSO’s Radio Manager Emily Fletcher began researching on how to gain back WDSO’s power and coverage with help from the station’s radio consultant Larry Langford. He proposed changing to a directional antenna allowing for an increase in power and range of coverage; as well as working with Systems with Reliability (SWR), a radio frequency subcontractor for technical specifications, and the FCC.
WDSO is happy to announce that it will now be getting its initial coverage range back, plus even more range and power. Communities like south Valparaiso, west Gary and Hobart will now be able tune-in to WDSO’s unique content.
WDSO will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2026. “We are excited that this increase will be in place for the 50th anniversary of the station,” said Fletcher.
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
Students, former students, parents, colleagues, administrators, or members of the community may nominate DSC teachers and/or classified employees. There is no limit to the number of teachers or classified employees a person may nominate. Please complete a separate nomination form for each teacher and/or classified employee you wish to nominate. Click here to read the rules and to access the nomination forms
2024-2025 School Start & End Times
At the January 8th School Board meeting, the following school start and end times were approved for the 2024-2025 school year.
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.
2024 CHS Family Theatre Production
Chesterton High School will host the 25th annual Family Theatre Production, "Puss 'N Boots A Tale of a Tail," on Friday and Saturday, February 23 & 24 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 25 at 2:00 p.m. in the CHS Auditorium at Entrance 31.
"Will the princess find love? Will the miller's sons inherit wealth beyond their wildest dreams? Will Fluffkin be reunited with her family? Will Snot the Ogre live happily ever after? Who is Puss in Boots, really? Join the cast of the 25th Annual CHS Family Theatre Production on a rollicking escapade filled with intrigue, adventure, and mistaken identity to find out!"
Click the image above to purchase tickets in advance.
CMS Drama Club Production
The Chesterton Middle School Drama Club has come together for their final production before the school closes this summer. This year, students will be performing Don Zolidis's, "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" This play can best be described as a retelling of all 209 Brothers Grimm fairy tales in one continuous narrative. It's sort of like... "Once Upon a Time" meets "Into the Woods" meets "The Three Stooges". The students have had so much fun putting this show together, and we're sure that the audience will have as much fun watching it!
Student cast and crew members are:
Anthony Alvarez, Kennedy Bisher, Caitlin Brosas, Elizabeth Bugajski, Avi Burke, Sam Carper, Noah Chavez, Stuart Deiters, Abby Demsich, Julia Depew, Sam Else, Anastasia Florczyk, Emelia Franco, Keighan Harmon, Aidan Harris, Chloe Herbert, Rosemary Hundt, Donovan Iler, Morgan Iolana Millis, Louis Jobgen, Sydney Johnson, Jane Lewis, Azalea Long, Aubrey Lorenz, Kam Lutrick, Vladmir Lutterman, Victoria Manning, Sammy Matthys, Audrina McCance, Finley McCready, Holden McCready, Callum McKiddy, Madison Moore, Olivia Muzzalupo, Henry Pfeiffer, Destiny Rollins, Emma Salentine, Jacob Sessions, Aditi Shiggavi, Landan Smith, Eva Solmos, Ace Stewart, Adam Tenbarge, Maddy Welborn, Zenon Wiatrowski, Gemma Wiatrowski and Kayla Willis. Chesterton High School volunteer directors are Anthony Crum and Abi Carper.
CHS FRESHMAN FOOTBALL
Callout Meeting
Chesterton High School will host an incoming Freshman Football Callout Meeting (in-person) on Monday, February 26 at 6 p.m. at the Chesterton High School Large Group Instruction Room (LGI). Use CHS Main Entrance #1 on the west side of the high school building.
All current eighth graders and parents of eighth graders that are interested in playing high school freshman football in the fall of 2024 should plan to attend. Both parents and players should be attending this meeting.
Information that will be covered:
- 2024-2025 Athletic Physical Documentation protocols / Final Forms
- Pre-season workouts -Dates and times
- Summer practice schedule -Dates & Times
- Two-a-day Practice schedule in August
- Please contact Coach Peterson if you have any questions.
DSC Band and Orchestra Recruitment!
JOIN Band!
Current 5th graders, this is what you have been waiting for! Beginning Band information for Summer 2024 and next school year is ready!
Join the band and learn to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. This opportunity is available to all fifth grade students.
- In Person Instrument Try-Outs are March 12 (LIS) and 13 (WIS) at CMS
- Summer Band is August 5-8.
- Registration Forms are due February 29. Join us and be a part of the Band!
JOIN 5th Grade Orchestra!
Calling all 4th graders, the fun is about to begin! Be a part of something special with Chesterton Orchestras next year in Intermediate School. Make lifelong friends, and join a fun team!
Join the orchestra and learn to play a violin, viola, cello, or string bass. This opportunity is available to all 4th grade students.
- In Person Instrument Try-Outs are March 12 (LIS) and 13 (WIS) at CMS
- Summer Orchestra is August 5-9
- Registration Forms are due February 29. Join us and be a part of the Orchestra!
Duneland Early Learning HUB
This Week at the HUB
At Music and Motion, we used maracas, snowballs, bubbles and snowflakes while dancing to music during our class. Music and Motion is on Monday’s at 9:30, 10:30 and 12:00. We have a Tiny Trojan Music and Motion class on Monday’s at 8:45.
During Trojan Tykes we read Jan Brett’s The Mitten and participated in mitten and valentine areas. Trojan Tykes is a family story time and centers on Tuesday’s at 9:00, 10:00 and 12:00.
Mini-Movers is on Wednesday’s from 9:00-9:30 in our HUB gym. The children visited the LOVE centers in the gym and participated in an obstacle course. The centers were walking on the balance beam, throwing scarves, walking through the tunnel, up the ramp and down the stairs and hopscotch jumping with their feet in and out.
During Kinder Kids, we did calendar, read Ruby Valentine Saves the Day and were involved in stations covering math, art, reading, phonics and writing. Kinder Kids is for 4-5 year olds that will attend Kindergarten during the 2024-2025 school year. Come join us from 9:00-10:30 on Thursday if you are 4-5 years old for Kinder Kids.
Young Explorers is every Thursday from 11:00-11:30 outside at the Chesterton Park shelter. We will always have our nature based class as long as it FEELS like 25 degrees or more. We read Deep in the Forrest and participated in a Winter scavenger hunt.
At PALS, Tonya Earle: Swim Instructor at Shoreline Infant Aquatics taught our community about water safety. PALS (Play And Learn Session) is for 0-5 year olds and their caregivers. We meet in the multipurpose room, where children stay with our HUB staff and PLAY, while Mrs. Allison leads caregivers into the HUB classroom to LEARN from a community member teaching the HUB about various subjects.
This Friday, we have HUB in the NeighborHOOD at the Hageman Library. We have an 11:00 and 12:00 trip to the library as a HUB community.
If you have children ages 0-5, come join in the fun M-F at the HUB. Check us out at our DSC website.
IMPORTANT PARENT RESOURCES
INCLEMENT WEATHER INFORMATION 2023-2024 Procedures for Delaying/Closing Schools
Please review the DSC Procedures for Delaying/Closing Schools in case of inclement weather.
eLearning Guidelines
Guidelines for Students 2023-2024 School Year
Follow the links below by grade level to find the appropriate Unplanned (Virtual - Synchronous) eLearning Day Plan for your student.
Please note the update to the 5-6 Synchronous Plan for Liberty Intermediate School only.
Nutrislice App / MENUS
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.
NEW! DSC 2024-2025 Calendar
The new 2024-2025 Duneland School Corporation Calendar has been adopted by the Duneland School Board of Trustees. Click the link above to see all the date for next school year.
DSC 2023-2024 Calendar
The Revised 2023-2024 Duneland School Corporation Calendar is available on our website. Click on the link above to open or visit our website at Resources > Documents and Forms
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
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
CHS Athletic Tickets 2023-2024
ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
The goal of the Duneland School Corporation district school newsletters is to inform students, parents and the school community about school-related information.
The Duneland Schools share information that pertains to opportunities our students may be interested in and 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.
Want your event/activity/camp posted on this page? Submit a request by email with the flyer/information to the Duneland Schools Administrative Center to ahicks@duneland.k12.in.us and bmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us.
DSC SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS / CAMPS / ACTIVITIES
For more information on ALL the current Camps being offered at CHS visit Athletic Camps/Events on the CHS Athletics webpage.
CHS Band Boosters Fundraiser
Saturday, February 10 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
MS Athlete Development Camp
Click the image below to register.
AUDITIONS!
Duneland Exchange Club Talent Showcase
The Duneland Exchange Club is proud to present the 32nd Annual Youth Talent Showcase on April 20, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at Chesterton High School Auditorium. Auditions for the Talent Show will be held on March 6 and March 7, 2024 at the Chesterton Middle School Auditorium. You must complete and submit an audition application by clicking the image at the right.
Little League Baseball / Softball
State Park Little League 2024
Online registration is now open for State Park Little League Baseball 2024. New or Returning players may register by clicking the State Park Little League logo at left.
Liberty Rec. Baseball and Softball
Online registration for 2024 Liberty Rec. Baseball and Softball is now open through Feb. 5. Register by clicking the Liberty Rec. Baseball and Softball logo at left.
Class of 1974 - 50 year Reunion
The CHS Class of 1974 will host a 50-year reunion on Friday, June 21 beginning at 5 p.m. at Gelsosomos Pizzeria, 371 Indian Boundary #8, Chesterton. A second event will be hosted on Saturday, June 22 beginning at 6 p.m. at the SPA (reservations and prepayment required), 333 N Mineral Spring Rd., Porter, IN.
Members of the Class of 1974 can follow this LINK to update their information and RSVP for this event.
'SAY SOMETHING' Tip Line for Grades 5-12
The Duneland School Corporation has adopted the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System for all grade 5-12 schools this year. 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.
Tip Line for Grades K-4
The established Anonymous Safe Schools Tip Line for students in grades K-4 will remain the same. The link to this tip line for Grade 5-12 can be found on the DSC website, each DSC elementary school website, and on the DSC Safety and Security page located under Programs and Services.
DuneNews
The district newsletter, DuneNews, is published each Thursday afternoon throughout the school year. Each weekly issue can be found on our website at www.duneland.k12.in.us/dune-news along with archived issues for review.
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
LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Yost Campus
Bailly Campus
Brummitt Campus
Jackson Campus
Liberty Elem. Campus
LIS Campus
WIS Campus
At the DSC School Board meeting on Monday, February 5, school board members and the public were updated by Chris Muvceski of The Skillman Corporation on the work that has been completed in the last four weeks at each of the current worksites, as well as what will be happening in the upcoming weeks.
The most current information regarding the DSC Long-Term Capital Improvement projects, such as current concept drawings, information and preliminary timelines, are available on the DSC website. The information on the website will be continuously updated as we move forward with the process.
Community members may review the current Long-Term Capital Improvements information that will be continuously updated on the DSC website.
Did you know that Duneland Schools has an online Spirit Wear Store where you can buy your Duneland all school spirit wear? Apparel for all ages, stadium seats, accessories and more. CHECK IT OUT!
NorthShore Clinic for All DSC Students
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