Civil Municipal - Oct 2023

252 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 10 programs and services that attract students and, equally importantly, the best teachers and staff.” Co- and extracurricular activities play a significant role in the Duneland experience. “The wide ranging extracurricular opportunities available for students have been a long standing cornerstone of the district. At Chesterton High School, we have nationally ranked teams in speech and debate and swimming. Marching band, show choir, gymnastics, boys’ soccer, wrestling, dance, cross country, and boys’ basketball have all won state championships or been state-runner up in recent years,” Pettit proudly states. Beyond sports, the district provides an array of extracurricular activities addressing varied interests. Pettit mentions that they maintain strong programs in areas like speech and debate, show choir, and robotics. He notes that many of these teams participate in competitions at both state and national levels. Biggs highlights another unique aspect of the Duneland experience, “A significant point of pride for us is our focus on supporting the needs of all students. We’ve established an internship program at our high school, where over 50% of our seniors participate in community- based internships. This allows them to explore potential careers before making decisions about college, trades, or the military.” He emphasizes the comprehensive approach Duneland takes, “Our commitment starts at the kindergarten level, focusing on career exploration, and culminates in high school, where students can put their knowledge into action.” Building Tomorrow: Duneland’s Vision and Commitment In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the Duneland School Corporation is a symbol of unwavering commitment to growth, community engagement, and excellence. Biggs encapsulates this sentiment, stating, “We are fortunate to be in a community where we are supported by our community members and have dedicated teachers and students