This Week at Jackson
April 2nd
Congratulations to Mrs. White!
Mrs. White will move forward in the selection process with all of the other excellent finalists from throughout the DSC. For more details, please see the Duneland Announcements section below.
Arts-A-Budding Virtual Art Show
We would like to congratulate the following Jackson students who had work selected for the showcase: Abbey Wilke, Amelia Montes, Ethan Kidder, Adrianna Clemons, Michelle Holmgren, Rocco Romero, Jacob Deneen, Alexandria Hardsock, Crew Chudy, Brynn Law, Brooklyn Hardsock.
As always, Mrs. Calkusic has come up with some great projects for our students and the students have done a masterful job with their work!
Adjustment to Car Line Procedure
If you utilize our car line, I appreciate your flexibility and cooperation as we have sought solutions to our increased traffic this week. Currently, our morning line is functioning well. As a reminder, please do not block the buses at any point with your vehicle. It is both a safety concern and an issue of timing as the buses move through their scheduled routes.
In the afternoon, I am requesting your help in tweaking our procedure. For most of the year, the car line has formed by the gazebo in our main parking lot before snaking down our driveway toward Route 6. With our latest transition, we are getting reports that the line is backing up onto Route 6, which is a safety concern for everyone.
To remedy this, if you are at the front of the car line, please form the line starting at the light pole at the north end of our main parking lot. Please see the image below. Once bus 36 has parked, the car line may move forward to wait behind it. I would also ask that cars in line not leave large gaps in between each other while waiting in line; the more cars we can fit inside our lot and our driveway, the more we lower the risk of anyone sitting on Route 6.
We would like to thank Officer Joe Christian, one of our school resource officers, and Mrs. Forszt and Mr. Armstrong from Transportation for their help in brainstorming potential solutions.
3rd and 4th Grade Families: ILEARN Testing
We are rapidly approaching the opening of the ILEARN testing window. For 3rd grade students, the assessment will include an English/Language Arts and math portion. For 4th grade students, there will be a science portion, in addition to English Language/Arts and math.
This is an exciting time for us to see how much our students have learned this school year. As with all standardized testing, students may feel nervous, especially since our 4th grade students missed out on all the standardized testing last year when we were closed. If your child talks with you about the assessments, please remain positive and encourage the child to do their best.
For in-person students, it is our intention to concentrate much of the testing on Mondays and Tuesdays to avoid fatiguing the students. For the weeks of April 19th, April 26th, and May 3rd, please make every effort possible to have students present and ready for the assessments after a full night's rest and a good breakfast. If your child feels ill or if there is an emergency that requires an absence, please know that there will be make-up sessions for testing. However, students often feel most comfortable and therefore do their best when taking assessments when their peers do.
For remote students, we are asking that the child come in for a half-day on April 14, a full day on April 21, and a half day on April 28. Students in 4th grade will come an additional half day on May 5.
We believe that our students are ready, and we're excited to see how well our students do!
Looking for Something Exciting to Do this Summer?
5th Grade Orchestra Recruiting
Beginning orchestra information for summer and fall 2021 is ready! Learn to play the violin, viola, cello, or orchestra bass in person or remote and be a part of the orchestra.
* In Person Fittings are April 28 and 29 at CMS (virtual fittings available)
* Summer Orchestra is August 2-6
* Sign-Ups are due April 16. Be a part of the Orchestra!
Kindergarten Sign Up
If you were not able to attend our Kindergarten Sign-Up event on March 3 and you have a child who will be five years old on or before August 1, 2021, you may still sign your child up for kindergarten by following the link below.
If you need help, please give our office a call at 219-983-3680.
If Your Family Needs Help
Chesterton Pop Warner Football & Cheer
DSC Announces Teacher and Employee of the Year Finalists 2021
The Duneland School Corporation (DSC) will continue to celebrate excellence in education by selecting a Teacher of the Year at both the elementary and secondary level and a classified staff member as Employee of the Year.
Selection Process
Outstanding teachers and employees were nominated for recognition by students, parents, colleagues and Duneland community members in the month of February. In March, finalists were selected from those nominated by principals, supervisors and the Duneland Teachers Association.
A selection panel representing students, parents, community members and district administration will interview and then select the Teachers of the Year and the Employee of the Year from those recognized as finalists during the month of April.
2021 winners will be recognized at the May 3, 2021 School Board meeting, Beginning of the Year Programs in August, in DSC publications, website, and social media and on a plaque displayed at Central Office. Winners will also receive a classroom/office door banner along with a monetary stipend of $500. Thank you to 1st Source Bank, McColly Real Estate - Paul Boyter and Ellis Electric for continuing to sponsor the recognition program. In addition, both the elementary and secondary winner will represent Duneland teachers in the Indiana Department of Education’s statewide Teacher of the Year Program.
2021 DSC Teacher of the Year Finalists
Secondary Teachers:
Doug Adams - Chesterton High School
Kaylene Arizzi - Chesterton High School
Rachel Blythe - Chesterton High School
Liz Gyure - Chesterton High School
Anne Stark - Chesterton Middle School
Akiko Tsugawa - Chesterton Middle School
Elementary Teachers:
Elissa Dortmund - Brummitt Elementary School
Dave Lashenik - Liberty Intermediate School
Nancy Moats - Bailly Elementary School
David Mueller - Liberty Elementary School
Tammy Socausky - Yost Elementary School
Kaitlyn Toweson - Westchester Intermediate School
Marquita White - Jackson Elementary School
2021 DSC Employee of the Year Finalists
Classified Employees:
Chris Hall - DSC Maintenance
Lynne Jenks - DSC Human Resources
David Nawotka - DSC Technology
Mark Singer - DSC Maintenance
Leslie Tarnowski - DSC Teaching and Learning
Deeann Witek - DSC Technology
Long-Term Capital Improvement Preliminary Determination Hearing - Monday, April 5
At the March 1 Duneland School Board meeting, Dr. Chip Pettit, Superintendent of Schools, presented solutions to identified student learning environment needs and objectives.
The Board of Trustees unanimously voted to accept the recommendation and have advertised the 1st Notice of Preliminary Determination Hearing as required by statute for April 5th.
This hearing will be hosted at:
Chesterton Middle School Auditorium, 651 W. Morgan Avenue in Chesterton.
April 5th - 6:30 p.m.
Community members may review the presentation and an FAQ document that will be continuously updated throughout the Spring at the DSC website.
DSC 2020-2021 Calendar Changes
ATTENTION PARENTS:
The Duneland School Corporation has made TWO (2) changes to the 2020-2021 DSC Calendar.
- Since there are no elections scheduled in Porter County on Tuesday, May 4, the eLearning day that was previously scheduled on May 4 will be moved to Wednesday, May 5.
- In order to provide time for teachers to submit student grades, the eLearning day that was previously scheduled on Wednesday, June 2 will be moved to the last day of the school year for students on Friday, June 4.
DEF to host Family-Fun Virtual Cooking Class Fundraiser
Do you want to do something FUN with the whole family?
The Duneland Education Foundation (DEF) will host a virtual cooking class on Sunday April 11, 2021 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. Gina from Nana Claire's Kitchen in Valparaiso will be the chef host. She specializes in children's cooking classes.
The menu will be:
Chicken parmesan, side of pasta, roasted vegetables and angel food cake.
What a great way to end your weekend with the family, have dinner ready to go after class and support the DEF in providing educational experiences for K-12 students!
Click this link to buy the tickets for this virtual cooking class.
The Duneland Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides financial resources to enhance opportunities for educational experiences for all K-12 students of the Duneland community.
1:1 Devices for Students in Grades K-8
DSC will enter into a four-year lease agreement with Apple for new iPads for all students in grades K-8. These new, latest generation iPads will include rugged keyboard cases and accidental damage protection. This accidental damage protection will allow DSC to remove the cost to K-8 parents for device insurance. Students will exchange their current device with a new device prior to the end of the school. Students will be able to take new devices home over the summer.
School Meals TO GO! - Beginning on Jan. 6, 2021
Meals will continue to be free for all children through the end of the school year. Beginning January 6, 2021 there will no longer be daily meal pickup. Meal pickup will be as follows:
IN SCHOOL LEARNERS
Students who participate in the In-School Hybrid Model will be eligible for Free Breakfast and Free Lunch each day while in school. An order form will be available online to preorder 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch to be picked up on the Wednesday E-Learning day each week. Meals can be picked up between the hours of 9:30am and 10:30am each Wednesday. The form must be submitted online by 9am each Tuesday to receive meals.
Wednesday Meal To Go Order Form
FULLY REMOTE LEARNERS
Free Meal Pickup for Fully Remote Learners will consist of 5 breakfast and 5 lunch meals with instructions to be prepared at home and will be distributed once a week on Wednesdays between the hours of 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm. (Child must be fully remote to receive the weekly meals.) An order form will be available online to preorder meals. The form must be submitted each week by Monday at 9am to receive meals.
Remote Learner Weekly Meals To Go Order Form
MEAL PICKUP SITES
Yost Elementary - 100 W. Beam St., Porter
Enter parking area from Beam St. Go left down the hill. Stay left of cones and follow drive around to back of the building for meal pickup at the Food Service Pickup Window.
Chesterton High School - 2125 S. 11th Street
Enter parking area from 11th Street by the Football Stadium and follow signage to back of the building for pickup.
Please pick up meals for all children in the household at one of these two locations.
PLEASE NOTE: In the event of a cancellation of activities/programs on a Wednesday due to inclement weather, meal distribution will be conducted the following day, Thursday.
If picking up meals for a child with food allergies, please contact the Child Nutrition Director, Tammy Watkins, at 219-983-3700 for detailed information.
Visit this link to see the Remote Meal Menu with Heating Instructions
Summer Camp at Sunset Hill
Celebrate Your Favorite Duneland School Teacher Teachers of Excellence
Kenneth J. Allen Law Group supports Northwest Indiana teachers who go above and beyond for their students and honors them for their outstanding contributions to education. To learn more about the educators who are Teachers of Excellence or if you know of someone who should be recognized as a Teacher of Excellence, please nominate him or her by following this link.
After-hours Technical Support
After-hours IT Support hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - until 7:00pm
Call: 219-983-3759
Minutes from the February PTO Mtg
Fundraising Opportunities
Jackson Elementary School
Email: smarshall@duneland.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.duneland.k12.in.us/Domain/10
Location: 811 North 400 East, Valparaiso, IN 46383, USA
Phone: (219) 983-3680
Facebook: facebook.com/JacksonElementaryDSC