DuneNews
Duneland School news for parents, students and teachers
Thursday, July 16, 2020 Vo. 54 No. 47
Message from the Superintendent
Final Reentry Plan Approved
DSC Families,
On Monday evening, the School Board approved the updated 2020-21 DSC Reentry Plan. This plan and a one-page summary was sent to each of our families and staff members via SchoolMessenger email.
Based on feedback received from families and staff members, there were numerous changes to the draft that was sent to staff and families on July 1st. All updates are highlighted in green.
Thank you to all of our families and staff members for their comments and suggestions. In addition, thank you to the 91 staff members who served on the reentry plan development team.
A determination about our level of operation for the start of the school year will be released in early August.
Dr. Chip Pettit
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ALL CLASSES BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12
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As part of the Registration process this year, each family will be asked to select an instructional model (in-person or remote) for their student(s).
2020-2021 School Calendar
Reentry Plan 2020-2021
School Supplies Lists K-8
5 'Grab and Go' Meals - Once a Week through July 31, 2020
Duneland Schools Child Nutrition and Wellness 'Grab and Go' meals have moved to a once-a-week pickup schedule to lessen the burden of daily trips that families have to make to pick up Grab and Go meals. DSC will now distribute a week's worth of meals on Thursdays each week from 11:00 a.m.-Noon. 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.
Class of 2020 Graduation set for July 24
The 130th annual Chesterton High School commencement exercises are scheduled to be hosted on Friday, July 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the CHS Football Stadium. In the event of inclement weather, the graduation ceremony rain date will be Saturday, July 25 at 7 p.m.
Student Government officers are Alyssa Heilmann, Student Government President and Sofia Winski, Vice President of Student Affairs.
Senior class senators are Faith Hallas, David Sharp, Brooke Gifford, Mackenzie Simmons and Josh Sweet.
Teacher Adam Tenbarge will present the Commencement Address.
The class song: "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield
The class motto: "It matters not what you are thought to be, but what you are" - Publilius Syrus
Other events of the day include...Presentation of honor students by Brent Martinson, principal; awarding of the diplomas by Dr. Chip Pettit, superintendent of schools; Robert McDermott, assistant superintendent, and the officers and members of the DSC Board of Trustees; and the traditional turning of the tassels and closing by Alyssa Heilmann, Student Government President.
Due to the need to social distance, admission tickets are required for this event. Each senior has been issued four tickets for his/her family members to attend the ceremony. Gates to the CHS Stadium open at 5 p.m.
Special tickets are required for those guests who are physically unable to climb the bleachers. Special handicapped parking is available. Up to two regular seating tickets can be exchanged for up to two handicapped tickets in the main office. It is recommended that seniors and those with mobility limitations be dropped off while other family members park the vehicle elsewhere.
Follow this link to read more and to see an updated list of CHS 2020 graduates
Updates on Upcoming CHS Events
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
2020 CHS Graduate Dylan Draves named National Merit Scholar
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced over 650 additional winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities.
Dylan A. Draves, 2020 Chesterton High School graduate, now joins the other eight CHS 2020 graduates who were recognized in May and June as National Merit Scholars. He has been named a winner in the final group of college and university sponsored scholarships announced by National Merit Scholarship Corporation today. He is the son of Vivian and Richard Draves of Porter.
Draves has received a college-sponsored Indiana University Bloomington National Merit Scholarship in the area of Neuroscience.
Indiana University Bloomington, one of America's great teaching and research universities, is known worldwide for outstanding programs in the arts, business, sciences, humanities, social sciences, education, journalism, informatics, nursing, optometry, public and environmental affairs, health, physical education and recreation. Students bring diverse beliefs and backgrounds from all 50 states and 136 countries. Time Magazine has recognized IU as having excellent programs to help students' transition to college.
Attention: All Duneland School Athletes Planning to Participate in School Sports
Chesterton High School Athletics has begun summer workouts for various sports. To learn more information, contact the head coach at the following website:
https://chestertontrojans.com/head-coach-information/
Practice times for July 6 - July 17 are listed below (times are subject to change so contact a coach prior to attending):
Boys Cross Country M-F 6:30-8:00 a.m.
Girls Cross Country M-F 7:15-9:00 a.m.
Volleyball M-Th 6:30-8:30 a.m.
Football (11th-12th grade) M-Th 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Football (9th-10th grade) M-Th 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Boys Soccer M-F 11:00 am - 1:00 p.m.
Girls Soccer M-F 7:30-9:00 a.m.
Boys and Girls Swimming M, W 9:30 - 11:15 a.m. and/or 11:30 am - 1:00 p.m.
Boys Basketball T, Th 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Girls Basketball T, Th 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Wrestling M, Th 10:00 am - 12 Noon (Revised time)
In order to participate the student athlete must have a physical on file (or waiver with a physical from last year) along with a Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest form and Code of Conduct form. All of the paperwork can be found at the following website:
https://chestertontrojans.com/2020-2021-physical-packet/
Please print and fill out the proper forms and bring them to practice if you would like to participate.
Chesterton Middle School students can also visit the CHS Athletics website for more information on the proper paperwork to become eligible to participate in middle school sports.
Student Personal Property Pick-up and Curricular Material Return
- Intermediate
- LIS & WIS – Building Open
- Thursday, July 16th from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- CMS
- 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.
If you are experiencing symptoms of illness or fever, or have recently been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus, please do not return items at this time. Arrangements can be made for another date.
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