Community e-Newsletter
January 26, 2020
In Photos: Winter Adventures
Student News
Embracing expression
High school students' hard work is paying off as the One Act Play, "Sleepless in Siena," has been a great success. Recently, the Minnesota State High School League 4AA One Act prelims were hosted at White Bear Lake Area High School - North Campus. This consisted of six high schools, including WBLAHS, competing for three spots to advance onto finals. Congratulations to these hard-working Bears for qualifying for the section 4AA Finals, which will be held on Thursday, Jan. 30 at Hill Murray High School. Public performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1 at the WBLAHS - North Campus Theater (5045 Division Ave., White Bear Lake). "Pay as you can" tickets can be picked up at the door. Learn more.
Speaking of performance skills, WBLAHS - North Campus tenth grade students were able to enjoy mock interviews recently with industry partners. The WBLAHS - North Campus Language Arts Department teamed up with WBLAS Career Pathways to offer the inaugural Mock Interview Project. More than 50 local industry partners interviewed an estimated 250 students in one day! Throughout the first semester, tenth grade students have been learning more about themselves and their work styles. Staff members explained how an understanding of “self” connected to Language Arts is an excellent way for students to practice their expressive, receptive and language skills. The Mock Interview Project helped students take what they learned in their required Language Arts class and apply their skills to real-world scenarios. Staff members received great feedback from students, with some even receiving job offers! Go Bears!
Memorable trips
Area Learning Center students recently have been learning about social justice where they studied wrongful convictions by reading the book “Just Mercy”, going on a field trip to see the movie and having a discussion about equal justice. Check out the great learning opportunity in this video. The adventures continued as high school students were also able to enjoy a Construct Tomorrow experience where they could get hands-on with learning about opportunities in the construction industry.
From Career Pathways to the Science Museum of Minnesota, high school students who were chosen as grant recipients for the Race 2 Reduce initiative were able to participate in an important Student Summit. Students strategized and planned their sustainability projects for communities that will promote resource conservation and protection of resources, which will be shared to inspire others. Students could even tour the Science Museum of Minnesota and learn about their energy efficiency and saving. Check out the opportunity in this video. In other fun news, families recently bundled up and had a great time outdoors at the Bundle Up Bears event!
Love for learning
Entrepreneurship students recently presented five-minute business pitches for four local business advisors at WBLAHS - South Campus. The fun opportunity can be seen in this video. Speaking of getting down to business, Lakeaires Elementary students enjoyed a learning experience where a reptile expert visited their classroom. The second grade students enjoyed the learning fun where they touched and held several different reptiles including a gecko, turtle and different kinds of snakes, including a boa constrictor. Check out the exciting learning in this video.
In other exciting news, the White Bear Lake Area School District was invited to participate in a round table discussion with Governor Tim Walz about the impact of Youth Skills Training (YST) Grants on district Career Pathways programming. White Bear was represented by Assistant Superintendent Sara Paul, Career Navigator Michael McGarthwaite, and Mitchell Loberg, a student in the Healthcare Career Pathway. The event was hosted by Teamvantage, a manufacturing company that partners with White Bear for their GenZ summer internship program. YST Grants have provided significant funding for Manufacturing and Healthcare Career Pathways, and Governor Walz and the district representatives discussed the success and ongoing development of these pathways programs.
Books, games and bees
Hugo Elementary first grade students recently had fun during a classroom Read Aloud where they learned about the importance of friendship and inclusivity. The students read the book called “Making a Friend” where they learned how a beaver and raccoon came together to go along with their Second Step curriculum while embracing the theme of friendship. The great learning experience can be seen in this video. In other fun learning news, Central Middle School students recently participated in a Geography Bee, which is a competition for all eighth grade students in trivia style. Check out the excitement in this video.
Sunrise Park Middle School students have been embracing being indoors this winter with their fun Gaming Club. Students are able to play whatever games interest them whether it is chess, board or electronic games. Check out the gaming fun in this video. From one fun opportunity to the next, Willow Lane Elementary fifth graders are taking over Donatelli's during the lunch hour (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ) each Tuesday in February (Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25) and March 3. Stop in for a terrific meal and great service! Learn more. This is just after Willow Lane Elementary students recently had fun giving back to others by making Brownies in a Jar after reading the book "The Tree of the Dancing Goats" by Patricia Polacco. To complete the project, they partnered with their fourth grade buddies and took their jars home and decided who to give the gift to in hopes of spreading cheer. The giving continued, as North Campus students recently did a class project where they made fleece scarves to donate to residents at Cerenity Senior Care.
Back in the classroom, Matoska International students recently had a fun musical adventure with experiencing history coming alive! Two musicians who run a non-profit called Discover Music, where they create lessons based on Minnesota state history standards, stopped by for some musical excitement. The Song of the Trail Program the visitors and students enjoyed together was high energy, engaging and hands-on. They taught Minnesota state history through songs, stories and drama. The visitors worked with students on expressing themselves musically through a lesson about the Voyageurs and how they used waterways to create maps while discovering new lands and trading with Native Americans. The students were able to practice how to use a compass and understand what it was like trying to life a 90 pound bag to simulate how much equipment voyageurs carried for miles.
Activities Update
WBLAHS boys' hockey coach Tim Sager was recently interviewed on WCCO radio, providing a great update on the Bears' team and ending with the requisite "Go Bears!" (interview starts at 20:45). The Bears were well represented at a recent Mite Winter Blast Tourney, hosted for the first time at the outdoor rink adjacent the warming house at Podvin Park in White Bear Lake. Check out this feature in the White Bear Press. 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 January 13 School Board Meeting, the School Board congratulated the students who were selected as WBLAHS Fall Musical “Outstanding” award recipients for their work in "Aida" and the adults that were a vital part of their success.
Check out the experience in the January 17 edition of The Week in 62.4 Seconds video.
Also, during the January 13 School Board Meeting, new and returning School Board members Scott Arcand, Angela Thompson and Margaret Newmaster took the Oath of Office.
Upcoming Meetings
Past Meeting Highlights
December 9 Regular
January 13 Regular