DuneNews
Duneland School news for parents, students and teachers
Thursday, June 18, 2020 Vo. 54 No. 44
Five 'Grab and Go' Meals - Once a Week through July 31, 2020
Duneland Schools Child Nutrition and Wellness 'Grab and Go' meals will have a schedule change beginning next week. This is in an effort to lessen the burden of daily trips that families have to make to pick up Grab and Go meals.
DSC will now be distributing a week's worth of meals on Thursdays each week from 11:00 a.m.-Noon.
Beginning next week meal distribution will be normal Monday through Wednesday, June 15 - 17, and then on Thursday, June 18, students will begin receiving five (5) days of meals and will continue to get five (5) meals on every Thursday through July 31.
Just as the Summer Feeding program is able to feed all children ages 18 and under, the 'Grab and Go' meal program that Duneland Schools is currently running is able to feed any Duneland School student regardless of their economic status.
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.
Duneland Schools 4th Quarter Honor Rolls
CHS Class of 2020 Graduation set for July 24
The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 continues to be scheduled for Friday, July 24th at 7 p.m. on the CHS football field. We have been monitoring the situation closely and have been in direct communication with the Porter County Health Department to determine what is an acceptable number of patrons for this event. In efforts to try and ensure the safety of our students and families during this ceremony we believe that we can safely allow each student to bring four (4) guests to this ceremony. Students will be able to pick up their four (4) tickets next week when the seniors are allowed to return to CHS to bring back CHS materials and pick up their personal belongings. More information regarding the social distance guidelines during the graduation ceremony will be released next week.
We are excited that we are allowed to increase the number of tickets for the graduation ceremony per student from two to four, however this plan will be dependent on the guidance and direction from the Porter County Health Department at the time of the event.
In the event of inclement weather, the graduation ceremony rain date will be Saturday, July 25 at 7 p.m.
Attention: All Duneland School Athletes Planning to Participate in School Sports
Because schools are closed until July 1 and there are many CHS athletes who need to turn in their information, Chesterton High School is providing a digital way to turn in information ahead of time. This will enable the CHS staff to gather and organize a great deal of information prior to the July 1 date.
Chesterton Middle School students can also visit the CHS Athletics website for more information on the steps to complete and upload paperwork and become eligible to participate in middle school sports.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Two CHS Students earn Honorable Mention in NPR Student Podcast Challenge
Two Chesterton High School International Baccalaureate freshman students, Saanya Agarwal and Gretta Burke, earned an honorable mention in the 2020 National Public Radio (NPR) Student Podcast Challenge for their NPR podcast submission. Click here to view their podcast entitled, "We Must Take Sides." Congratulations!
A Sneak Peek at Student Remote Learning Summer Session
Duneland Adventures in 1st grade is about learning the differences between insects and bugs while focusing on reading and math. However, the theme of insects opens many avenues to cover writing, science, art, and music too! The students are learning so much and having fun! This course is being taught by Mrs. Angie Karagiannakis, 5th grade teacher at Westchester Intermediate and Mrs. Angie Lawrence, 4th grade teacher at Liberty Elementary.
This week, students studied butterflies and learned about symmetry. In journals, students wrote from the perspectives of insects discussing what they see, hear, taste, and smell. Below are some snapshots of the things/books shared with the students.
In addition, these teachers meet face-to-face with their students one hour a day via Google Meet. Google Meet is a video conferencing app that allows teachers to interact with their students live. "We have been super impressed about the excitement and willingness of the students wanting to share things like insects they have found, journals, and assignments from the previous meeting," said Karagiannakis.
Photo above: Just one of several visuals being shared with students - A giant centipede that is one man's pet. Below, books and visual images of bugs and insects share with students.
Duneland Explorations - 6th Grade Math with Mr. Burke and Ms. Sutton
The theme of Duneland Explorations math for 6th grade this summer is all about travel to locations near and far, and creating engaging lessons centered around each new place we visit. Session 1 of this course is being led by Mr. Ezra Burke and Session 2 will be conducted by Ms. Megan Sutton, both teachers at Westchester Intermediate School.
During the first few weeks, students had a chance to visit the Rio Grande River and look at fractions, decimals, and percents while exploring the region surrounding the river. They practiced conversion factor ratios while in Japan, after discovering average lengths of the most common fish used in preparing sushi. In addition, the group got a chance to practice geometry skills, specifically triangle formations, while touring the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
In the final weeks of Session 1 there will be an exploration of populations of Central African countries, while reviewing measures of central tendency as well as a flyover of the Andes Mountains while completing a lesson on integers and absolute value. In Session 2, students will also visit the Galapagos Island and discuss how sea levels relate to integers. Students will challenge themselves to spend as close to $100, without going over while shopping virtually at Albanese Candy Factory. This lesson will include calculating with decimals as well as assigning a sales tax rate.
Students are in the process of compiling a virtual passport, to be shared in the final session, which will highlight important facts and details from each location that they have traveled to during the course. The students should pick up a few fun facts from each destination.
Teaching Remote CHS Physical Education
This summer session has been unique for those taking and teaching physical education (P.E.). Chesterton P.E. teachers have had to create an online program to find ways to keep kids physically active. So how do they do that?
Teaching the CHS PE Summer Session 1 is being taught by Mr. Mark Anderson, Ms. Jamie Anselm, and Mr. John Snyder. In order to keep kids physically active, these teachers are requiring their students to physically complete a daily workout. These workouts vary from cardio videos, to bodyweight exercises that develop the entire body. One day may focus on the upper body, while the next day may work the core, and then the next day may focus on the lower body. Along with these workouts students are required to do an additional 60 minutes of physical activity. This can range from walking your dog to participating in sport practices. They are encouraged to mix it up each day. Try something new! Hike the Dunes, go kayaking, water ski, or walk nine holes of golf. This expands the opportunities for students beyond what the traditional classroom was able to provide. Each week the students will also test themselves on a fitness assessment to evaluate their improvement, or progress, over the course of the summer PE session.
In addition to the physical aspects students are expected to spend some online time by reading articles that relate to sport, games, or swimming. In addition to articles, there may be videos to watch...or videos that the student produces. One aspect of the class this week is the students have to pick five (5) different dance steps and combine them into a dance video. Similar to the popular Tic Tok videos everyone sees on social media.
Students are assessed on what they learned. This is done through quizzes, text entries, short essays, self-reflection or video productions.
The PE teachers have had many positive responses from parents about the PE session. Some parents actually physically participated along with their son or daughter in workouts. A win-win outcome!
Public Schools: Learning Never Stops
Student Personal Property Pick-up and Curricular Material Return
- Elementary
- All K-4, curbside pickup:
- Tuesday, July 7th, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 8th, Noon - 2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, July 9th from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
- Intermediate
- LIS & WIS – Building Open
- Wednesday, July 15th from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.;
- Thursday, July 16th from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- CMS
- Monday, July 13th
- 8th graders with last names beginning with letters A-L from Noon- 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 14th
- 8th graders with last names beginning with letters M-Z from Noon - 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 15th
- 7th graders with last names beginning with letters A-K from Noon - 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, July 16th
- 7th graders with last names beginning with letters L-Z from Noon - 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- CHS
- June 15th - 18th: Seniors are involved. All 12th grade students will be allowed to return all CHS materials and pickup their personal belongings on the following days and times:
- Monday, June 15th: Last name A-I (8:00 - 11:00 a.m., Noon - 3:00 p.m.)
- Tuesday, June 16th: Last name J-S (8:00 - 11:00 a.m., Noon - 3:00 p.m.)
- Wednesday, June 17th: Last name T-Z (8:00 - 11:00am, Noon - 3:00 p.m.)
- Thursday, June 18th: Students who cannot come on their scheduled time (3:00-7:00 p.m.)
- Students are asked to park in the front of the building and enter through door 1. All students will sign in upon arriving and sign out when departing. All students are to practice social distancing by staying 6 feet apart from each other and masks are encouraged but not required.
- July 6-10: Grades 9-11 (alphabet breakdown and times forthcoming)
- Students will enter the building to drop off materials and pick up personal belongings. All students will enter and exit door 1. Social Distancing stressed. Masks are optional but encouraged.
Highlight on Duneland Support Staff: Grounds Maintenance
Duneland Support Services include custodians, mechanical maintenance, grounds maintenance, and transportation, as well as Child Nutrition and Wellness. All of these teams continue to work in the summer months to prepare for the new school year.
Each week we will highlight one of these areas. These teams do everything from cleaning, mowing, performing maintenance on our buildings, repairing and maintaining vehicles, planning new bus routes, feeding students, ordering food and planning menus, as well as department development training.
This week will focus on the DSC Grounds Maintenance team.
The DSC grounds maintenance team is made up of seven working team members. Each are responsible for maintaining a variety of processes at each of our nine school buildings and other service locations. They are an integral part of the school corporation team.
Throughout the year, these team members are responsible for mowing and grooming over 125 acres each week during the growing season; weed control of turf and garden beds; trimming trees and bushes; snow removal and salting of parking lots, drives and sidewalks; servicing equipment; trucking throughout the district for food services and for inter-school mail delivery as well as school supplies. This group also does platform set-up for graduation and other corporation events as well as delivery of chairs, tables, bleachers, etc.
Many additional construction, upgrading and repairs are done to school playgrounds and equipment and irrigation systems on the athletic fields during the summer months so that the schools are ready to go for the next school year.
Student Device Updates 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.
Student Device Plan - Summer 2020
Grade Level in 2019-2020
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.
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 this Comcast link
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 this Frontier link
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 new Freshservice ticket:
- 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.
Device Repair
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.
Duneland Schools Spirit Store
Did you know that Duneland Schools has an online Spirit Wear Store where you can buy your Duneland spirit wear?
Purchase your CMS/CHS student P.E./Strength Training uniforms (shorts and t-shirts) online and arrange to have them delivered to your home or pick up at the store.
Join the CHS Alumni Association!
Have you been thinking about joining the Chesterton High School Alumni Association, but just haven't gotten around to it? Would you like to help support the enhancement of the Duneland School Corporations' educational processes and scholarships for graduating seniors at Chesterton High School. Your dues in the organization and support of our fundraising efforts will help the group to continue to grow and present more and more of our graduates college assistance.
Visit the Duneland School Corporation's website at this link: Download an application to join today.
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
Duneland School Corporation
Inspire | Engage | Empower
Email: bmartinson@duneland.k12.in.us
Website: www.duneland.k12.in.us
Location: 601 West Morgan Avenue, Chesterton, IN, USA
Phone: 219-983-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dunelandschools/
Twitter: @dunelandk12