WIS Weekly
September 12, 2022
May 8, 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!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
I am continuously impressed with the amount of time, energy and care the staff at WIS puts into making sure all students at WIS are successful. They are an incredibly talented group of teachers who want nothing but the best for our students and families. Thank you for everything you do each and everyday that makes WIS a place where students want to come to learn.
I encourage all of you to email a current or past teacher this week!
Respectfully,
Mr. Longacre
May 8th-12th....Teacher Appreciation Week
So what can we do to celebrate teachers? We can start by helping clear WIS Teachers Amazon list and providing snacks and supplies that will bring a smile to their faces all week long. Thank you for your donations and also please consider writing your student's teacher a letter of thanks. :)
Clear here to donate!
Thank you Nurse Sosby for all you do everyday at WIS!
A look into WIS classrooms...
5th Grade Curriculum
Language Arts
Last week we had our first Holes quiz on the elearning day. We continued to read our novel (Chapters 16-30) and began the final IRA unit focusing on tall tales. Just a reminder that for any absences, the chapter read-alouds are available to listen to in our weekly Canvas module.
This week we will be completing our end of year NWEA testing on Thursday 5/11 and Friday 5/12. This is the opportunity for students to show their growth since the start of the year!
Math:
Last week we worked on solving numerical expressions, reading different types of graphs and calculating measures of central tendency - aka Mean, Median, Mode (and Range) - aka MMM&R. Students took a quiz on MMM&R on Friday - the last quiz of the year in Math.
This week, students will work on individualized skills independently and complete a Restaurant Project in pairs. Students will create a restaurant menu and menu prices, take orders and calculate total cost of dining out for a party of three.
All 5th grade students will take the NWEA test on Monday, May 15th.
Social Studies
- This week students completed the social studies ILEARN test. Students worked very hard and earned a movie reward for working so hard.
Science
- Last week was a busy week in science! Students worked to create a beast with adaptations to allow it to survive in its environment. Then, the beast had to mutate in order to survive the catastrophe. Encourage your student to share the drawings. There was a lot of creativity!
This week, we will review ecosystems, and take our walk to the bird sanctuary. If your student has not returned the permission form, please get it returned by Tuesday. In addition, we will be taking part in a unique activity to learn about the various trades that have been busy building the new Westchester.
6th Grade Curriculum
Language Arts
- Sixth grade ELA students will continue with The Westing Game and take notes and work together as they piece the puzzle together. Students have been focussing on characterization and setting.
- Sixth grade HA classes will continue with King Arthur and His Knights of the Round the Table.
Math
- Students continued to review skills previously taught. This review was extremely helpful as students finished their ILEARN testing. Mrs. Hall's students took their final (end of year) NWEA. Other math classes will take their final NWEA tests in the next two weeks.
Science
- This week in science, we will begin the week by doing the end of year NWEA on either Monday or Tuesday depending on the block your student has science. We will continue blocking on Wednesday and Thursday, and students will have periods on Friday. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, students will participate in two experiments as we begin to wrap up the year. On Wednesday or Thursday, your student will do a bottle flipping experiment using various volumes of liquid to determine the best ratio of air to water to flip a water bottle. On Friday, students will use the information they learned about gravitational potential energy to apply to a ping-pong ball experiment.
Social Studies
- This week we will learn about the Caribbean Islands with a focus on its geography and culture. We will also discuss the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Related Arts
Art
- Art students this week will continue drawing their One Point Perspective (realistic or fantasy) rooms. The students will apply their knowledge of linear perspective to create their 3D drawings. The students will also conduct a mid-project critique, allowing them to self-assess their work thus far.
PE
- In PE this week, we will be continuing our Flag Football unit. We will be playing lead-up games to work on skills, and then finish the unit with a Flag Football game.
Music
- This week in music class, students are learning to perform songs that are written in both 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures, and they are also learning to play dotted rhythms correctly, such as dotted quarter notes, dotted eighth notes and dotted half notes. Students will have a Playing Test on one of our songs. We are also learning to perform some of the music written by the film composer John Williams.
Attention 5th grade families...May 11/12 upcoming visit to the bird sanctuary!
Dear WIS Families….
As part of our study of ecology, ecosystems, and plant/animal adaptations, we are planning to walk with our students to the Westchester Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The Bird Sanctuary is located just across the street from WIS, at 1150 South 11th Street.
Students in science periods 1, 4, and 7 will go on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
Students in science periods 3, 5, and 8 will go on Friday, May 12, 2023.
We will be out of the school building for approximately 60 minutes (or less) for each class. Students will be walking approximately 1.5 miles, round trip. While at the bird sanctuary, students will walk on gravel, dirt, and mulch paths, conducting a “scavenger hunt” of various concepts that were learned during our unit of study. They will bring their iPads and take pictures of what they find. Upon returning to WIS, students will be adding their photos to a Google Doc, which will be submitted via Canvas.
Traveling with students will be Mrs. Buhring, Mrs. Steinbeck, and Officer Joe Christian. In addition, Mrs. Hurst, Mr. Longacre, and Mrs. Seiss may also join the groups.
Students should dress appropriately for the weather, and wear comfortable walking shoes. They may also bring a hat to wear, if they wish.
Please fill out the bottom portion of the handout your student has brought home TODAY and return it to school with your student no later than Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at:
Sincerely,
Mrs. Buhring
Mrs. Steinbeck
Join the 8:15 AM Club
Are you a 5th grader interested in being part of the 2023-2024 Westchester Intermediate School morning news team? If so. please fill out this form and return it to Mr. Doolin by Friday, May 12th. More information regarding try-outs will be sent out to those students that respond. This is a year long activity, so please only sign up if you plan on being a member for the entire year. As this activity is an optional part of the school day, it also requires that you do your best in class and in the school to be a good representative.
Click here to sign up!
Mark your calendar...
May 8th-12th
Teacher Appreciation Week
Thursday, May 18th
Orchestra Spring Concert
7pm @ WIS Gym A
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
Parents and Guardians, check out April's edition of Helping Children Learn
Red Cross Blood Drive at Yost Elementary...May 10th
Duneland School Corporation Camps
CHS Basketball Camp
Lady Trojans Basketball Camp
Chesterton Soccer Camp
We are excited to announce our dates and times for this summer Chesterton Soccer Summer Trojan Camp. We will be running the camp the week of July 24-27. The camp will be divided into three different age groups and run for one hour for second grade and under and one and a half hours for 3rd grade and above each evening.
CHS Summer Youth Football Camps
Football Call-Outs / Summer Camp
CMS Football Callout Meeting
All current 6th and 7th grade students and parents attending LIS /
WIS / St. Pat's and Discovery who are interested in Playing Football at CMS or Pop Warner in the Fall of 2023!
Click here to see the flyer!
Chesterton Football Position Camps
Intermediate and Middle School students entering Grades 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 in the Fall of 2023 (each camp is limited to the first 35 kids that sign up for that camp date)
Click here to sign up!
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/