WIS Weekly
September 27, 2021
A Message From Mr. Longacre
WIS Families,
This week is College Week at WIS. The goal of College Week is to educate our students about college. Students will learn about the different types of colleges in advisory, celebrate the different geographic locations of colleges through Spirit week, and end the week with a drawing for college spirit wear. Below are the Spirit Day themes.
- Tuesday, September 28th: Professional Sports Team Day (There are colleges near every professional sports team.)
- Wednesday, September 29th: Western Day (There are many colleges in Texas and Arizona)
- Thursday, September 30th: Hawaiian Day (Yes, there are colleges in Hawaii)
- Friday, October 1st: College Day - (Wear your favorite college gear.)
In the spring, we will have Trades Week where our students will learn about the different trades.
Respectfully,
Mr. Longacre
This Week at WIS
Band/Orchestra Fall Concerts
- Orchestra Concert: September 28, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
- Band Concert: September 29, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
5th Grade
Language Arts
This Week:
- IRA-finished the text set of Conflict Resolution
- We researched and created a slide show presentation of famous people.
Next Week:
- IRA- we are discussing the text set of Family.
- Throughout the week we will be working on a 5 paragraph persuasive essay complete with an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The following week we will be presenting our persuasive essays.
Math
- We had a great week learning about and practicing multi-digit multiplication. We finished the week by looking at the Distributive Property.
- Coming up: We will do even more multiplication practice with word problems and then prepare for the 4th quiz of the quarter which will be on Thursday. There will be a Quarter 1 Assessment on Friday, October 8 with plenty of review opportunities beforehand.
Social Studies
- Students are completing a Winter Count, which is a Native American calendar or record-keeping tradition. The chapter 1 test is on Tuesday. To study for the test, students should play Quizizz. The information is in the module.
Science
- Students kicked off the Earth and Space unit by creating a scale of the solar system using Play-Doh.
6th Grade
- In math we will be reviewing operations with decimals. On Thursday students will test over this unit. This will be the last test grade for this quarter. Please check your student's grades and be sure to get any make up work turned in.
Language Arts
- Sixth grade ELA students will be wrapping up their first Amplify unit and continuing their study of memoirs. Last week, students completed their very first book club study. Students are eager to start another one.
Social Studies
- Last week we finished the Canada chapter with an assessment on Friday. This week, we will be diving into Ancient Greece.
Science
- This week In science, we completed the catapult lab and launched paper airplanes using designs recommended by the world record holder for the farthest paper airplane. We had several student throw almost the entire length of the basketball court !!!!
Author Mark Marimen will visit WIS on October 19, 2021
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, fifth grade will be welcoming local author, Mark Marimen, to Westchester Intermediate School. Mr. Marimen will speak to our students about his love of listening to spooky stories around campfires as a child, and how these childhood stories inspired him to become a writer. His stories are based on local legends and folklore. Mr. Marimen will spend time in fifth grade classrooms helping students write a spooky story of their own. We feel that this visit will help instill a love of reading and writing in our fifth grade students. The titles of the books Mark Marimen has written are listed below. The books were not originally written for a fifth grade audience; however, Mr. Marimen’s presentation will be grade level appropriate and enjoyable for your child. If you would prefer that your student not participate in this presentation, please notify their ELA teacher prior to October 19th and an alternate assignment will be given to them during this time.
Haunted Indiana Volumes 1-4
Haunted Travels of Indiana
School Spirits: College Ghost Stories of the East and Midwest
Weird Indiana: Your Travel Guide to Indiana’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets
Club Information
WIS Choir
Dear Families:
We are starting our after-school Westchester Choir on Tuesday, October 12. It is open to all 5th and 6th graders. It meets every Tuesday from 3:15-4:15. There are no auditions required. A $10.00 donation toward choir is expected at the beginning of each semester to order music. I will be accepting the first 40 students to turn in their permission slip and money to me.
Families are responsible for the prompt pick-up of your child after each rehearsal. If students are picked up late more than 2 times, then they will no longer be allowed to participate in choir. Students will exit out the Gym A doors on the south side of the building. Please park your car in the lot and wait for them. We will begin rehearsals on Tuesday, October 12. A schedule will be given out at that time. We will perform in the Holiday Concert on Thursday, December 2, so that is an important date to put on the calendar if you join choir this semester.
Being in choir is both educational and enjoyable! Students should make an honest effort to attend all rehearsals. Students will not be asked to leave the choir for missing rehearsals. However, if you miss more than 3 rehearsals, you will not be permitted to perform in the semester concert. We will follow all Duneland School Corporation COVID-19 safety guidelines, which currently require masks for all students and staff while indoors.
Please sign the permission slip below and return it by Monday, October 4. I will be accepting the first 40 students to turn in their permission slip and money. A $10.00 donation toward choir is expected at the beginning of each semester. If you have a financial burden at this time, please let me know and we can work it out.
Thank you. I look forward to being your child’s choir director, as well as their music teacher!
Sincerely,
Ms. Rachel Krieg
CHS Cheer Camp
Chesterton Basketball Club
Title I Night
Westchester Intermediate School is now a Schoolwide Title I school. With this in mind, we will be holding our annual Title I meeting for parents on Monday, September 27, 2021, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that each Title I School hold an annual Title I meeting for the purpose of: informing families of your schools participation
in Title I, explaining the requirements of Title I, and explaining the rights of parents/families to be involved.
We appreciate your attendance. Each student will choose a book from an abundance of books at the end of the presentation to add to his or her personal library at home.
Panorama Survey Parent Information
Skyward Family Access Quick Guide
Need some help in navigating your Skyward Parent Portal? Here is a Quick Guide with helpful videos attached to guide parents in familiarizing and utilizing Skyward.
Nurse Tina's Note
Dear Parent/Guardians,
Starting soon, Health Services at WIS will be conducting Vision and Hearing screenings. All 5th grade students and new incoming 6th grade students, according to Indiana Law are required to have their vision checked. Hearing testing will only be performed on 5th and 6th grade students that are new to Duneland School Corporation.
We are asking that if your student wears glasses that they have them on their person daily so that there will be no delay in getting their testing completed. If you have any questions, please contact WIS School Nurse, Tina Sosby, R.N. at 219-983-3710 or via email at
Voluntary COVID Vaccine Clinic available at Chesterton High School on Sept. 28
The Duneland School Corporation will host a voluntary vaccination clinic at Chesterton High School on September 28 from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. for students, parents and staff members.
Vaccines will be administered by the Porter County Health Department in the CHS Fieldhouse. Vaccinations will include Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Below is a link to the Parent consent form for students under the age of 18.
DSC COVID-19 Response Plan - Level Change
On Wednesday, Governor Holcomb released Executive Order 21-24 which directed the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) to modify quarantine requirements for K-12 schools who mandate masks. The new guidelines indicate that when all individuals are masked, students and staff who are close contacts of a COVID-19 positive individual do not need to be quarantined unless experiencing symptoms. Instead, close contacts will monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days while they continue to attend school.
Reducing the number of quarantines is essential to preserving 5-day per week, in-person learning and co- and extra-curricular activities during the pandemic. Since school started, over 450 students have been in quarantine (3,600+ days of missed school). At this pace, DSC will quarantine more than 4,800 students this year (38,000+ days of missed school).
In an effort to keep schools open and minimize learning disruptions related to mandated quarantine rules, the Duneland School Corporation will move to the “Quarantine Caution” level in the DSC COVID-19 Response Plan and require masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status for all students, staff and visitors, effective Tuesday, September 7, 2021. The goal will be to remove the mask requirement as soon as it is plausible to do so.
This change follows an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the school community and a significant increase in the number of students placed in quarantine. DSC schools are required to follow quarantine protocols established by the ISDH as outlined in the Governor’s executive order. By requiring masks, DSC looks to eliminate quarantines which will increase the likelihood of preserving 5-day per week, in-person learning and co- and extra-curricular activities during the pandemic.
Staff will provide students opportunities, as is allowed by state health protocols, to remove masks at appropriate times when eating, when 6-feet of social distancing is possible and while outdoors, as well as when participating in athletics.
The DSC COVID-19 Response Plan will remain a fluid document and can and will be changed as new information becomes available during the pandemic. DSC administration will continue to consult with Porter County Health Department, monitor active cases and adjust protocols as necessary.
NorthShore Clinic
Consent paperwork needs to be completed prior to an office visit. The paperwork is attached and can be completed prior to the visit to save time. If you choose this option, the consent paperwork needs to be on file beforehand. If returning paperwork via email, please send to: Shawn Kroft, skroft@northshorehealth.org.
Help us Nominate WIS Teachers of Excellence today!
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
WIS PTO
If you are interested in helping with the WIS PTO please visit our Facebook page to let us know. The Facebook page is also a great place to find out the happenings of the WIS PTO:
Job Opportunities in Duneland
The Duneland School Corporation is seeking candidates for the following positions:
CHILD NUTRITION
Child Nutrition associates provide nutrition services to students and staff. Benefit-eligible positions available. Apply online at Click to apply online
TRANSPORTATION
Duneland School Corporation Transportation positions (Bus Drivers, Sub Bus Drivers) require eligible persons to operate all school vehicles or (Sub Bus Aides) to assist in the transportation of all special students needing additional attention. These positions are highly responsible roles in transporting and dealing with students and staff on a regular basis. Transportation personnel interact with individuals both inside and outside of the corporation and therefore, must have the ability to present a professional and organized image at all times. Benefit-eligible positions available. Click to apply online
CUSTODIAL
Duneland School Corporation Custodians are required to clean and sanitize all corporation facilities. This position has a highly responsible role in providing custodial services and dealing with students and staff on a regular basis. Custodians interact with individuals both inside and outside the corporation and therefore, must have the ability to present a professional and organized image at all times. Custodians may be required to work in other Duneland School Corporation facilities. Benefit-eligible positions available. Click to apply online
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Seeking substitute teachers for all grade levels. To apply for a substitute teaching position, please apply in person at the Duneland Administration Center, 601 W Morgan Ave. in Chesterton to complete an application.
Westchester Intermediate School
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/
Twitter: @WIS_DSC