Faculty and staff from the Duneland schools gathered on Thursday evening at The Allure on the Lake to join in a time of reflection and appreciation from the community. The Duneland Schools get-together was the perfect way to show how strong they have been through the different periods of time this year.
One important factor that was highlighted at the gathering was the power of a caring community. The Superintendent of Duneland Schools, Dr. Ginger Bolinger, explained why the school board decided to host the event.
“Our school board members wanted to be able to gather with our administrators, and their spouses, and have a family-style event,” Dr. Bolinger said. “We wanted to be able to say thank you for all of their hard work that they do in our schools and communities.”
The event not only celebrated the hard work of the staff, but also the great students of Duneland schools. An Assistant Principal at Chesterton High School, Judy Malasto, shared her experiences working in the school.
“It is hard to pick one thing that summarizes how I feel about my experiences working at Duneland Schools,” Malasto said. “We have a lot of events going on this year and we really have great kids. I think it’s nice to be able to celebrate that.”
The Duneland School Board President, John Marshall, explained why this was so important for the school board members.
“Throughout the year, we do not get much of an opportunity to interact with our administrators or department heads,” Marshall said. “As a school board, we really want to maintain a close working relationship with our staff.”
The gathering showed how committed the school board is to excellence in the classroom, but also outside of it as well. Marshall continued to explain the bond between educators.
“This is an event for us to be able to get together, have a good time, and think about anything other than school. In today’s culture, we spend so much time worrying about our students and the educational process,” Marshall explained. “We do not get enough opportunities to interact together on things that are important to us, like family and the issues we are facing on a regular basis.”
The event also showed the school board's appreciation for their staff. Working in the school district is not an easy job, but Thursday night provided a chance to say "thank you."
Dr. Bolinger gave a special thanks to everyone who shows up day in and day out to give their all for the community's youth.
“Everyone has difficult jobs in our communities, whether it is leading organizations or teaching in our schools,” Dr. Bolinger said. “This is just one small way to say to one small group that we appreciate what they are doing, and we want you to love being part of our school corporation. We want you to continue to remain with us for a long period of time, serving the children and our community.”
The event was a success through the sponsorship of Lakeside Wealth Management, Harris Welsh and Lukeman, Anton Insurance, and the Duneland School Board of Trustees. All of these companies are proud to support their local community and school systems.