Community e-Newsletter
February 23, 2020
In Photos: Embracing Explorations
Student News
Important learning
Third through twelfth grade students recently participated in an important Defining Equity conversation. This was a time for students voices to be heard where they brainstormed how they hope the future of the district will look with equity. The experience can be seen in this video. From conversations to meditation, Sunrise Park Middle School students are able to enjoy their "Mindfulness" space weekly where they recently relaxed with meditations, a lavender diffuser, soft lights, cushions and exercised mindfulness to help embrace calmness. Check out the calming experience in this video.
Transition Education Center students were also able to recently enjoy experiences, as they learned from Community Dental Care guest speakers. After a presentation on oral health, students participated in a service learning project, packing 432 oral hygiene kits. These kits are being distributed to patients in need, at area clinics. In other project news, students and staff members recently met about their Big Sleuth ideas, which can be seen in this video. The Big Sleuth is a crowd-sourced innovation initiative designed to improve White Bear Lake Area Schools. This was an opportunity for teams to bring their ideas to life. Projects are now in the design phase and continuous updates can be found on the district's website. In other exciting student news, Teaching Today MN recently published an article about White Bear's Automotive Career Pathway program (page 11).
Turning the page
Students and families throughout the district continued to enjoy "I Love To Read" Month celebrations. Birch Lake Elementary invited staff and community members to be readers at their school to have a fun literacy experience together while they have also been working on projects to help them reach their reading goals! From one book to the next, Lincoln Elementary students put their listening ears to the test as they had fun with their Read Around Lincoln event. Students were able to pick a buddy and visit different rooms to hear a variety of guest speakers read fun and engaging books. They also recently just enjoyed an assembly to wrap up their readathon with the theme of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” where they let books take them on exciting new adventures. Check out the literacy fun in this video.
While some students had fun with books, Hugo Elementary students recently enjoyed a special treat when Nutrition Services staff members took the time to cut brownies into heart shapes. In other food-related news, South Campus students recently have been busy getting trained in for School Grounds. This will be a student-run and self-sustaining coffee shop business that students get to have fun with while gaining hands-on experience. The shop will open in March and students have been preparing for the grand reveal by learning how to brew up delicious drinks, complete transactions and learn how to best meet their future customers' needs. The training experience can be seen in this video. Other high school students were enjoying a fun experience as ten students represented White Bear when they participated in the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota's 9-10 Honor Choir, singing with the best of the best from Minnesota!
Exciting happenings
Fourth grade students at Vadnais Heights Elementary have recently been working on creating their very own Project Based Learning Escape Rooms. Students worked together to create background stories and scenarios to introduce their escape room concepts, created a series of math problems from past math units covered and created 3D models complete with artifacts. Classrooms presented their Project Based Learning Escape Rooms to their homerooms and votes were casted. The project that received the highest amount of votes was turned into a real life escape room that was attempted by all classrooms recently. In other exciting student achievement news, congratulations to Fiona Wiltse for being selected as a Certificate of Distinction (CoD) honoree by the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). Fiona will be recognized for their success at an event in April!
Early childhood students recently embraced the winter weather, bundled up and had fun with snowshoeing. They explored Tamarack Nature Center's trails and enjoyed getting to learn more about the outdoor activity, which was featured in this video. The early childhood fun continued as families were able to enjoy hands-on interaction and exploration with a wide variety of sensory materials at their Messin’ & Movin’ event. Students were excited to get messy exploring with their senses. They could even climb up and down obstacles, paint and play with sand. The excitement can be seen in this video. The fun continued, Paige Kazak's Lakeaires kindergarten students recently dressed up as 100-year-old scholars to celebrate the 100th day of school!
Upcoming opportunities
Happy birthday to Matoska International! The school recently turned 10 years old and students had fun celebrating by enjoying white, orange or black cupcakes. From cupcakes to lunch, students have been having fun with their Donatelli's takeover experience where they are working as cooks, servers and hosts at the restaurant. KARE 11 was on-hand to cover the inaugural "Donatelli's takeover" by Willow Lane Elementary fifth graders, a lunchtime experience happening for two more Tuesdays, including Feb. 25 and March 3. In other winter news, February is Black History Month and all are invited to attend the Black Excellence Showcase, complete with cultural dances, skits, speeches, poems and music, that is taking place 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27 at WBLAHS - South Campus. Learn more.
A FREE Community Baby Shower, for parents of new babies birth to six months old, is taking place Wednesday, April 22 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Call the Early Childhood Program at 651-653-3100 to RSVP, reserve free childcare for siblings or get more information. Learn more. In other exciting early childhood news, families are participating in a Hoppers Supply Drive to help animals! The goal of the drive is to collect 100 cans of dog food and 100 bath towels to help injured and orphaned animals being cared for by the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota throughout February. The important early childhood initiatives continued, as families and staff members took a trip to the Capitol recently advocating for early learning. They conversed with representatives and talked about supporting access to quality early learning programming. In other adventurous news, ten fourth grade Otter Lake students recently presented their fall science investigations at the University of Minnesota's Ecology Fair. The projects all used the Otter Lake restored prairie in their investigations and focus on pollinators. In other Bear related news, rumor has it Bear made an impromptu visit recently at the Hippodrome Open Skate, sporting a USA jersey in honor of the historic USA Men's Hockey Olympic Team win 40 years ago today! Check out this fun video of Bear to share the exciting news about the event.
Activities Update
Mike Williams was a 2016 White Bear graduate and Mike just finished up their senior year on the UW-River Falls Football team and received a couple of outstanding honors. One was being named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team and the other was the Don Glover Character Education Award. The All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. The Don Glover Character Education Award is presented once a year to a current UWRF Health and Physical Education Major in their junior or senior year who has shown strong character and leadership in their program. The award includes funds to attend the 2020 National SHAPE Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mike played football at White Bear starting in fourth grade through their senior year, played at UW-River Falls for four years and was an Offensive Lineman. Central Middle School seventh grade percussionist Adina Klawiter was selected as one of only 89 students throughout the state to participate in the Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) 6-8th grade state honor band! More than 260 students auditioned for the group, and most of those selected are eighth graders. The students participating will have the opportunity to work with some of the finest music educators in the state as their section coaches, and will be conducted by Verlene Stotts, Band Director at Discovery Middle School in Fargo, ND. The students will rehearse with Ms. Stotts and will then perform a concert at the Schwann’s Performing Arts Center in April. WBLAHS sophomores Grace Squires and Laney Gunderson competed at the State Gymnastics Meet. WBLAHS Nordic skier Lauren Loppnow recently qualified to compete at the State Meet. Go Bears!
Find a complete list of all WBLAHS Activities, Athletics and Fine Arts here.
Please contact the Communications Department (651-407-7695) to submit Student News for inclusion in future publications.
The Week in 62.4 Seconds
Enjoy The Week in 62.4 Seconds videos highlighting weekly district activities throughout the school year.
School Board News
School Board Recognitions
Before the February 10 School Board Meeting, the School Board congratulated vocal students who earned spots in Honor and State Choirs and instrumental students for earning spots in the Honor and All-State Bands and Orchestras! The audience clapped and cheered for the students and the staff members who were a vital part of their success! Go Bears!
Check out the experience in the February 14 edition of The Week in 62.4 Seconds video.
Upcoming Meetings
Past Meeting Highlights
January 27 Work-Study
February 10 Regular