WIS Weekly
September 12, 2022
April 24, 2023
It's all about OUR KIDS!
- Who needs our support at home, in school, and in the community? ... Our Kids!
- Who needs our guidance, attention, and patience today and everyday? ... Our Kids!
- Who will shape the future of our world tomorrow and in the years to come? ... Our Kids!
DSC Teacher of the Year....Mr. Ezra Burke
Smiles, hugs, and celebration all around as family, faculty, and administration congratulate Mr. Ezra Burke for being awarded Teacher of the Year. Mr. Burke was one of many excellent staff members nominated for the 2023 award. His commitment to students, staff, Westchester, and the Duneland Mission made him the ideal selection for this year's title. Please join in recognizing Mr. Burke by sending him an email of thanks and support for his steadfast dedication and unwavering advocacy for Our Kids (eburke@duneland.k12.in.us).
The selfless act of inspiring other people to be better is exactly why teachers like Mr. Burke are exceptional. Congratulations on your Teacher of the Year recognition.
Respectfully,
Mr. Longacre
Mrs. Kowalecki, Mrs. Whelan, and Mrs. Michaels THANK YOU for all you do!
Help us celebrate Administrative Professionals Day this week by showing your appreciation to all of the Administrative Assistants here at WIS. Administrative Professionals Day (also known as Administrative Assistant Day, Secretaries Day or Admin Day) is a day to highlight the important role of secretaries, assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support personnel. This year, Administrative Professionals Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
ILearn Theme Days...Wednesday and Thursday this week!
Wednesday, April 26
Put on your thinking cap! It’s Hat Day!
Wear your favorite hat to help you think clearly, just make sure it’s not a *huge* distraction.
Thursday, April 27
It’s lights out for Math iLearn! PJ DAY
Wear your comfy pajamas, and settle into the test.
A look into WIS classrooms...
5th Grade Curriculum
Language Arts
This week in class, when we weren’t ILEARN testing, we had a great time watching the entertaining but very different City of Ember movie. There was a lot of interesting discussion and lists made comparing and contrasting these two mediums of one story. We also read two IRAs this week on the themes of determination and fighting for a cause. These stories focused on true stories of discrimination and the fight for equal rights.
Next week we will start our final novel for the year on Monday. We are going to be reading Holes by Louis Sachar. This is going to be fast paced and we will be finishing this novel in just 4 weeks time.
Math:
Last week, students completed many review activities to refresh skills.This week students will take the Math ILEARN test on Wednesday and Thursday. At the end of the week, classes will watch, and discuss, the movie Hidden Figures.
Social Studies
- Students continued reviewing for ILEARN. This week’s focus was Native Americans and European exploration.
Science
- Last week, we concluded the PLTW Robotics and Automation module. The students ended the week competing to see which group could move the most blocks to the "collection" zone in 2 minutes. We saw some awesome driving skills! This week, we will move on to our unit over Ecology.
6th Grade Curriculum
Language Arts
Sixth grade ELA students will continue with their very first novel of the year, The Westing Game. This book is a mystery novel with many characters. Students will take notes and work together as they piece the puzzle together.
Sixth grade HA classes will continue with King Arthur and His Knights of the Round the Table.
Math
- This past week students finished up the unit on data analysis. Students also spent a lot of time and energy taking their English/Language Arts ILEARN test. This week is math ILEARN. Students have been reviewing skills in preparation. IXL, Get More Math, and Exact Path have provided great sources for review. Testing for math will begin on Wednesday. Students should come to school with a fully charged iPad, pencils, and earbuds.
Science
- This week, students will build a small scale roller coaster during science. We will continue to review concepts for science iLearn the remainder of the week. Science iLearn is May 4th. Students can always review science skills using IXL.
Social Studies
- This week students will learn about Mayan Civilization. We will focus on Mayan art, achievements, and how they were similar to and different from other ancient civilizations.
Related Arts
Art
- Students in art will continue working on their One Point Perspective, Through the Keyhole projects. This week students will create a color scheme and add color to their designs.
PE
- In PE this week, we are starting our football unit. We will be working on skills with small lead-up games. By the end of this week, we will be playing flag football.
Music
- This week in music class, students are learning to perform songs that are written in 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures, and they are also learning to play dotted rhythms correctly. We are also learning to perform some of the music written by the great film composer John Williams.
Duneland Choral Festival Concert
Mark your calendar...
Friday, April 28th
Kona Ice for sale at recess
Bring $3-$5
Tuesday, May 2nd
Planned Asynchronous eLearning Day
April 4th - May 12th
Run Club meets on Tuesdays & Thursdays
Parents please pick up at 4:15
April 18th - May 12th
ILearn testing window
Please make sure your student brings a fully charged iPad and earbuds daily
Scheduled eLearning Day on May 2
The Duneland School Corporation will participate in a scheduled eLearning day and will follow the 2022-2023 eLearning Guidelines for a scheduled Online eLearning day - PLANNED ASYNCHRONOUS. During the eLearning day, time for office hours will be available.
Parents and Guardians, check out April's edition of Helping Children Learn
Chesterton Middle School Gymnastics
Are you interested in competing for a Chesterton Middle School Gymnastics team in the Fall of 2023? All skill levels welcome!
Classes are available for girls entering 6th-8th grade in the Fall of 2023 who are interested in competing against other middle school teams around the conference.
A spring session will run from April 4-May 25. Practices will be held from 5:00-7:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the CHS Fieldhouse. During the class, girls will work on learning new skills and requirements for routines following the NFHS Gymnastics rules that will be used to judge the fall competitions.
Questions? Contact Lauren Poncsak at lponcsak@duneland.k12.in.us
Chesterton Gymnastics Club
Join the Chesterton Gymnastics Club! Classes are open to current K-8 students. Classes are an hour long, offered four days a week. These classes will provide age level appropriate training on all four events. Student athletes will be coached by the CHS Gymnastics staff and High School gymnasts.
Our spring session will be held in the Chesterton High School Fieldhouse. The 8 week session starts Monday, April 3rd and runs through Thursday, May 25th.
Choose which days you would prefer for classes Monday-Thursday nights from 5:00-6:00 PM or 6:00-7:00 PM.
Questions? Contact Christy Dzierba at chestertongymnasticsclub@gmail.com
CHS Summer Basketball Camps
Lady Trojans Basketball Camps
The Lady Trojans Basketball Program will be hosting a basketball camp for players in grades K through 4 and grades 5-8. Click on the links or the images below for more information on dates and times of the specific camps and to register.
K-4th Camp Link: K-4th Basketball Camp Registration Link
5th-8th Grade Link: 5th-8th Basketball Camp Registration Link
CHS Summer Youth Football Camps
Helpful Links
2022-2023 Duneland School Calendar
(REVISED 6/6/22)
Skyward
Class schedules, grades, bus routes, ILearn, and lots more!
eLearning 2022-2023
Teachers will post schedules by 9:00 A.M. on the eLearning day. Click the image to download the pdf.
2022-2023 Procedures for Delaying/Closing Schools
Please review the DSC Procedures for Delaying/Closing Schools in case of inclement weather.
Westchester Campus
Westchester Intermediate School
WIS Mission:
WIS provides a safe and engaging environment where students are empowered to explore their talents, build on their curiosity, embrace high expectations, and become responsible, caring citizens.
WIS Vision:
WIS inspires learners to become independent, critical thinkers collaborating in an environment where responsibility, adaptability, and reflection are modeled and developed.
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/