Duneland Schools Update, September 15, 2017

Duneland Schools Update, September 15, 2017

Students, Staff and Community Partner for 'Westchester Wings'
Each school year, Westchester Intermediate School (WIS) celebrates its Going Green Week. This special week was created to as a way to bring fifth and sixth grade students and teachers together as one and to work together throughout the year to learn more about our local resources and to learn different methods to become more “green.”

This year, the school chose a new name, ‘Westchester Wings,’ for their annual kick-off event. “We are trying to make the students aware of our greater community and the natural world,” said WIS Principal Shawn Longacre. “Birds are everywhere and this event provided one of the more exciting ways for our students to connect with nature and the natural resources available in our area,” Longacre added.

The Westchester Wings event included a whole school visit to the Westchester Bird Sanctuary, located across the street from the school grounds, and a visit from the Moraine Ridge Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. “It is great having these local resources in our own backyard where students can learn how we partner with local groups and organizations to accomplish our educational goals,” said Longacre. “After this event, we hope our students will encourage their families to visit and support the local Westchester Migratory Bird Sanctuary.”

At the Sanctuary, half of the student groups were able to watch a bird banding presentation, hike the trails, learn about native birds and participate in bird-themed games. Simultaneously, the other half of the student groups were watching a presentation at the school involving a screech owl and a red-tailed hawk conducted by representatives of the Moraine Ridge Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Students also made recycled bird feeders at the school to hang outside of their homes as a way to better view native birds.

Community group representatives and volunteers that partnered with Westchester Intermediate to make this event a success were the Westchester Bird Sanctuary, Isaak Walton League of America, Porter Co. Chapter (PCC); Moraine Ridge Wildlife Rehabilitation Center; the Indiana Audubon Society, Inc., and the Westchester Township History Museum.

Six CHS students named Merit Semifinalists in the 2018 NMSC Competition
Six Chesterton High School seniors are among the nation’s 16,000 Semifinalists announced in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) competition. These students have completed the first step in the competition for some 7,500 Merit Scholarships, worth more than $32 million, to be offered next spring.

Based on selection index scores on the 2016 PSAT/NMSQT, the CHS students cited in the 63rd annual competition are Raymond “CJ” Connors, Tristan Dooley, Karlyn Layman, Bryan Pamintuan, Nolan Poczekay and Kristina Stevenson.

Connors is the son of Chris and Heather Connors of Westville. He is in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program and his school activities include Spanish club and National Honor Society (NHS). He plans to study engineering at Stanford University.

Dooley is the son of Joseph and Lesley Dooley of Westville. His school activities include Trojan Guard Marching Band and orchestra. He plans to study mathematics at University of Notre Dame.

Layman is the daughter of Chris and Jeff Layman of Valparaiso. Her school activities include the French and Japanese clubs, fish club and NHS. She plans to study biology and/or chemistry and Purdue University.

Pamintuan is the son of Hilda Tsai and Al Pamintuan of Chesterton. His school activities include Trojan Guard Marching Band. He plans to study engineering at Stanford University.

Poczekay, is the son of Tom and Jamie Poczekay of Westville. His school activities include Trojan Guard Marching Band and Japanese club. He is undecided at this time as to his field of study and what school he will attend.

Stevenson, is the daughter of Doreen and Bill Stevenson of Chesterton. Her school activities include softball, Spanish club and NHS. She plans to study business at Villanova or Indiana University.

Duneland-Schools-Update-09-15-17_02 Liberty Cares 2017
Last week, Liberty Elementary School participated its eighth annual walk-a-thon in celebration of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month in September. This events is part of a community service learning project for the school.

Liberty Elementary student representatives from all grade levels, and staff members formed a leadership team to organize this year’s annual event. The school raised over $3143.31 for for Rusty’s Hope, Inc. established to bring hope for a cure for pediatric brain cancer patients and their families by funding pediatric brain tumor research at Ann and Robert H. Lurie’s Children’s Hospital in Chicago, IL. Anyone wishing to know more about Rusty's Hope or if you would like donate to this cause, please visit http://www.rustyshope.org/

“Part of our school mission statement is Liberty Leaders will lead our community, said Principal Christy Jarka. “Helping others is a great way to help our community. I am proud of the dedication and continued support that the families of Liberty Elementary give toward this cause every year.”

In addition this year, the student leadership team also chose to purchase toys and craft items for young patients at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, as well as writing and sending them cards of encouragement.

DSC selects school district in Pasadena, Texas for its district wide Hurricane Harvey relief effort
The Duneland School Corporation has selected the Pasadena Independent School District (ISD) in Pasadena, Texas as part of its district wide Harvey Relief effort.

Many of the students/families have lost everything and need our support. Student clothing, shoes, and school supplies are in great demand. Along with the students, many of the teachers and staff have lost their homes and their personal property at their schools.

Each of our schools are collecting monetary donations for the students and teachers affected by the hurricane in the Pasadena ISD. Donations of cash or checks will be accepted. Checks should be made payable to your child’s school. All of the funds will be collected and one check written to the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation. If anyone from the community is interested in donating, please take your monetary donation to your neighborhood school.

Thank you for your support of this humanitarian effort to assist school children and teachers affected by Hurricane Harvey in Pasadena, Texas.