Community e-Newsletter
July 12, 2020
In Photos: Summer Fun
Student News
Outdoor opportunities
Physical Education Teacher Nancy Krocak has been visiting Lakeaires Elementary Extended Day students multiple times a week to work on the Community Garden! Nancy is spending time sharing their love of gardening with the students who have been excited to water, weed and yield the results! In other exciting result-related updates, congratulations to the top academic achievers of the White Bear Lake Area High School Class of 2020!
Several students will be working with Industrial Technology Teacher Dan Rossiter to build a shed this summer at WBLAHS - North Campus. This will be a great way for students to get hands-on experience, learn more about construction and explore their interest in Career Pathways opportunities. In other outdoor fun, baby cousins Beau and Crew had fun posing in their Bearified onesies, as they are excited to represent WBL Early Childhood Where Bears Begin!
Moving and grooving
Three WBLAHS graduates recently didn’t let COVID-19 stop them from making music together virtually. The grads worked on recreating the song “The Crane Wife 3” by The Decemberists in this impressive video.
Lakeaires Extended Day students have been sliding into summer 2020 with smiles, social distancing and sunshine! They recently had a blast cooling off and playing on a Slip ‘N Slide on a hot summer day. In other summer updates, occupational therapists at Lakeaires Elementary have been having fun with students by participating in social emotional activities. They have been focusing on helping students recognize their emotions and have even been making calm down boxes. This opportunity has come to the district through a partnership with St. Catherine University. These occupational therapists are completing their practicum hours because they didn't get to during the spring because of COVID-19. This is a great opportunity for White Bear students and programs, as they are teaching district students critical skills that are especially needed during this very unusual time in life.
Exciting accomplishments
Students recently were recognized for their success at National History Day! Seventh grader Annika Hellmark finished 2nd place with being a silver medalist for their individual exhibit “Clarence Walton Lillehei: Breaking Barriers Surrounding Open Heart Surgery". Additionally, eighth grade student Noura Rezk finished 6th place for their individual performance of "JoAnn Morgan: Breaking NASA's Gender Barriers During the Launches of the Apollo Program". The Awards Ceremony can be found in this video. Next year's theme is "Communication in History: The Key to Understanding." In other creative news, Lakeaires Elementary Extended Day students recently had fun getting creative and celebrating the 4th of July. Students worked on making American flags with red, white and blue designed popsicle sticks. Go Bears!
During Distance Learning, high school students Morgan Gustafson, Ethan Keu and Yileng Vang took the Aviation Class and participated in a Federal Aviation Administration-sponsored challenge to design an airport in the video game program Minecraft. More than 350 teams across the country and three other countries participated. The WBLAHS Minecraft Boys team designed the Lake Elmo Regional Airport and the students were finalists in the 7-12 category and earned second place! Their accomplishments were highlighted in this FAA Airport Design Challenge Awards Ceremony video (starting at 20:15). The students worked hard on this project, as they collaborated remotely for five weeks while learning all of the details involved in airport design, construction and management. In other exciting news, district students recently received grand prize accolades from the nation-wide Lead4Change Student Leadership Program, earning the honor for Race to Reduce initiatives.
Activities Update
The White Bear Press recently covered spring sports athletes' reflections on a season lost due to the pandemic. A recent UMD Bulldog Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Program Update highlighted incoming freshman Maddie Verkerke, a WBLAHS grad. WBLAHS grads Dominic Smith and Will Flemons were recently announced as recruits to the Mayville State (ND) Comet Football program. Go Bears!
Please contact the Communications Department (651-407-7695) to submit Student News for inclusion in future publications.
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