DuneNews
Duneland School news for parents, students and teachers
Thursday, May 7, 2020 Vo. 54 No. 37
Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week
This week, we are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week. In these difficult times, the dedication and commitment we are observing from our teachers is inspiring. School closings and the implementation of Remote Learning has stretched everyone to their limits. DSC and PCES teachers have responded (as they always do) with passion, creativity and a desire to do ‘whatever it takes’ to support our students. Our teachers are the backbone of the school corporation. Please consider letting them know how important they are by sending an email, card, virtual award, shout-out on social media, video message or letter to show your appreciation.
Thank you, DSC and PCES teachers!
Dr. Chip Pettit
Superintendent of Schools
Celebrating our School Nurses this week
CHS is a 2020 Best High School
Chesterton Senior High School is a 2020 Best High School, based on rankings that U.S. News & World Report published in April. Here is the school’s updated U.S. News profile page, with its new National, metro-area, and school-district rankings: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/indiana/districts/duneland-school-corporation/chesterton-senior-high-school-7182.
Chesterton High School Seniors Receive Cap and Gowns
"We wanted to personally hand out the cap and gowns to the Class of 2020 because we know that it has been as difficult for them as it is for the faculty at CHS," said Brent Martinson, principal at CHS. "This gives the faculty and staff the opportunity to actually see our senior students and make this a more memorable moment despite the unprecedented situation impacting their lives."
Above, Counselor Michele Dailey, Principal Brent Martinson and Assistant Principal Dan Caudle preparing for the hand-delivery of cap and gowns to seniors.
Below, just a few of the students that were home to receive their gowns and announcements, top row, left to right, Jaela Landon, Matthew Hardin, Abigail Gemeinhart and bottom row, Jordan Killosky, Abigail Palmer pictured with her mom Jill, and Matthew Anderson.
Student Device Update 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.
Grade Level in 2019-2020
Student Device Plan - Summer 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.
K - 8 Summer School Remote Learning Programs
Click on any of the links below for more information and to register your child for one of the Duneland Schools K - 8 remote learning summer school programs.
Make sure to register by May 20!
Remote Learning Summer School Grades K - 5
Remote Learning High Ability Summer School Grades 1-4
Remote Learning Summer School Grades 6-8
Chesterton High School - Remote Learning Summer School
Chesterton High School is now accepting applications online for Summer School 2020.
Due to COVID-19, all summer school courses will be online for this year only. CHS Summer School 2020 is FREE for all students. Parents can enroll their student(s) in both sessions of summer school at one time.
UPDATE--PLEASE NOTE: BOTH sessions of the newly added summer Physical Education are now FULL. Please email CHSsummerschoolinfo@duneland.k12.in.us if you would like to be placed on a waiting list.
For more information and to register online visit https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/domain/46
Questions about CHS Summer School can be directed to Assistant Principal Kristen Peterson at kpeterson@duneland.k12.in.us
Duneland Schools K-12 Student and Parent FAQs
Have questions about your child's education and learning process during the COVID-19 distance learning? Duneland Schools has prepared and updated this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document on the website for your convenience. Visit K-12 Student and Parent FAQs
UPDATED Duneland Schools 2019-2020 Calendar
CHS Scholarship Information
Scholarship information can always be found on the CHS College and Career Center site: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=786
Assistance for Families in Need
Club Connect: The Duneland Boys and Girls Club has available resources for Club members and parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information visit https://www.bgcgreaternwi.org/club-connect/
Geminus Community Partners program, part of Regional Health Systems, has limited funds available to assist families who have been affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. This funding can assist with rent, utilities, baby needs, food, etc. for our families in Porter County.
Those in need may call the 24hr hotline at 888-357-4264. Someone will return the call during regular working hours.
Ready, Set, Kindergarten Offered in Collaboration with Duneland Schools
Ready, Set, Kindergarten (RSK)
Parents as Teachers of Porter County (PAT) in collaboration with the Duneland School Corporation is offering Ready, Set, Kindergarten (RSK) at Duneland Schools in September 2020. The program is for children ages 4-5 who will enter kindergarten in August 2021 (age 4 by Ausgust 1, 2020).
- RSK is designed to teach children the skills needed to do well in the classroom. Experienced PAT Educators work with the children in areas of academics, motor skills, social skills and listening skills to ensure they are ready to enter school and to succeed.
- The children meet with the Educators one time per week for two hours in a classroom at their future home school. Activities each week include writing, cutting, listening, turn taking, and early reading. It starts with basic skills and progresses through the year to meet all kindergarten entry standards. The children are also screened with reading and developmental tools to determine if there are areas that are of any concern.
- Parents will also have the opportunity to be in the classroom at times to help out and to observe your child.
- This is a GREAT opportunity for your child and your entire family. Supplies and weekly take home practice will also be provided. THE PROGRAM is FREE due to the commitment from the Duneland School Corporation and United Way Porter County.
Registrations are being accepted now. Don't delay - spots will fill
Questions? Text or call 219-617-8861
or email dunelandrsk@gmail.com to learn more.
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: https://www.internetessentials.com/
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: https://frontier.com/resources/discountprograms/lifeline-program
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 Freshservice ticket here: https://duneland.freshservice.com/support/tickets/new
- 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.
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.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
End of the School Year: The end of the school year is quickly approaching. The last remote learning day for all Duneland students is Friday, May 22.
Report Cards for the 4th quarter will be available on your student’s Portfolio Tab on your Skyward Family Access Parent Portal by Friday, May 29 at 3 p.m. Parents will have the option of printing out their student’s report card. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your child’s school. Please contact your child’s school if you are having problems accessing your Skyward site.
Don't Forget to Complete the 2020 Census
Here is the link to the 2020 Census: https://my2020census.gov/
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
Child Nutrition Services
To check out our school lunch menus click here
Not familiar with our Child Nutrition Services account payments and charging policy? Click here to view it now.
Have you read this month's publication of Nutrition Nuggets? This publication, a parent's guide to food and fitness for a healthy child, is available free on our Child Nutrition Services webpage.
'Grab and Go' Meal Distribution Schedule
Duneland Schools Child Nutrition and Wellness 'Grab and Go' meals are distributed at Chesterton High School from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday for the remainder of the school year. Meals consist of a lunch for the current day and breakfast for the following day; except on Thursdays when families can pick up meals for both Thursday and Friday. Vehicles will enter the CHS parking area through the entrance by the CHS Football Stadium. Follow signs to the distribution area and pull up to the curb for meal pick-up. Exit onto 1050 North.