Community e-Newsletter

June 20, 2021

Student News

Celebrating students

The unforgettable 2020-21 school year has come to an end, which brings with it celebrations of student successes. Perhaps one of the most unique celebrations is the graduation walks White Bear Lake Area High School students do at their former elementary schools, with current students in grades K-5 lined up on either side of the graduate line to cheer on the Class of 2021. The experience was captured by the White Bear Press in this article.

graduates walking through elementary students

During the last few days of school, the district's oldest students were also honored with graduation ceremonies. The last Thursday of the school year saw Transition Education Center students honored during the day, with the Area Learning Center graduation ceremony following that evening. Special highlights that were enjoyed during the ceremonies included a student address by TEC graduate Kayla Scott and individual stories shared about each of the ALC grads.

student being honored at graduation ceremony

The White Bear Lake Area High School commencement ceremony took place on Friday evening, with family and friends once again gathered at Aldrich Arena to celebrate students. The video of the ceremony can be found on the Suburban Community Channel's YouTube page here.

Send-offs

Students ended the school year with a video in their inbox that contained messages of thanks and support from staff members throughout the district. Although the signs were made by different individuals, the messages shared a common theme of being proud of the strength and resilience students and families have shown this school year - along with wishes for a terrific summer! See the full video here.

The White Bear Press recently offered a "Then -&- Now" section with photos of members of the Class of 2021, along with notes from family members who submitted the photos.

newspaper layout of %22then and now%22 graduate photos

"Then and Now" looked a bit different when three members of the Class of 2021 stopped by Matoska International and remade a fun photo Principal John Leininger that had been taken long ago as a thank you during a read-a-thon. It's safe to say that all those who participated had fun with the remake.

elementary students posing with principal

The district's 2021 retirees were sent off in style, and in a new way, last week with a "Luncheon on the Lawn" in their honor. The celebration honored the employees for their 1525 years of service to the district and the community. This year's retirees were joined for the casual event by 2020 retirees, who missed out on an in-person retirement event last year due to COVID-19. Find a program honoring this year's retirees here.

group of adults in front of District Center

Making a name for themselves

During the June Regular School Board Meeting, district students were honored for state-level honors in academics, activities and the arts. Our Student Recognition video shown at the meeting highlighted district students who represented the district in the following activities: MAAP Stars State Conference, Speech State Tournament, Boys' Golf State Meet and MBDA 6-8 State Honor Band. See the video here.

District grads have been given a lot of attention recently. White Bear Lake Area High School alumnus Donny Longendyke was highlighted in this week's White Bear Press for his silver medal earned in the Pan Am Games, wrestling Greco-Roman in a competition the USA dominated in all areas - men's freestyle, folk style and Greco-Roman and the women's team. Read more about Longendyke's success in this article.

WBLAHS grad Maggie Meyer was recently highlighted as a 2021 inductee into the UW Athletic Hall of Fame. Her induction came as a result of her successes as a member of the swimming and diving program, which included a NCAA individual title win. Read more about Maggie's accomplishments and most recent honor here.

WBLAHS grad Emmah Mardaus was recently highlighted by Minnesota State University - Mankato for a scholarship they received to study abroad next year. Mardaus, a junior economics major, will spend 2021-22 at the University of Seoul. See the full article here.

Add to your calendar

Free meal pick-up is available this summer to any child age 18 and under. Summer meal pick-up runs on Wednesdays from June 23rd through August 18 at locations throughout the district. Families should remember to sign up each week using the NEW and improved Meal Order Form or by calling 651-407-7524 or emailing nutritionservices@isd624.org so Nutrition Services knows what to prepare. All sites are first come, first serve.

screenshot of summertime free meal pick-up information

This Thursday, June 24, is the first of four monthly White Bear Lake Area Community Conversations on Race sponsored by Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area. The series is presented by Many Faces and the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the City of Vadnais Heights, the City of White Bear Lake and White Bear Lake Area Schools. Find additional information about the events and register here.

We are excited to be back at Marketfest for six weeks of fun starting July 1. Find our orange tented booth to say hello, pick up a pencil and enjoy this Thursday evening summertime tradition with us again.

adult and two children at an outdoor event booth

The Senior Center is hosting its first ever Manitou Art & Craft Fair on July 9, and they are looking for artists who would like to participate. Join us with your sculptures, carvings, weavings, paintings, drawings, glassworks, pottery pieces, photography and more! Find additional information about how to register as an artist here.

Those who are looking for events to add to their calendar can check out the recently-published issue of Senior Voice, a publication of the district's Senior Program. The piece includes important information about the Senior Center as well as a calendar of events and classes, information about area resources, and a few fun brain teasers. The opening story in the publication shares the exciting news that the Center is open with groups re-starting last week.

Those planning to enroll for the 2021-22 school year are invited to do so on the district's website here. Enrollment options include traditional in-person school and participation in the district's Distance Learning Academy, a virtual school option for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Bear mascot holding sign of enrollment info

Activities Update

WBLAHS Track and Field team members were recently highlighted in the White Bear Press for earning spots at the State Meet. The Girls' team has three section champs and four state entrants. See the article here. The Boys' team made it to state in five events and placed second in the section. See the article here. Girls' Softball had a great season that ended recently in a game vs. Woodbury. Find additional information 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

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Past Meeting Highlights

June 14 Regular Meeting

May 24 Work Session

District News

General Information

Family Notices

Summer Meal Pickups - Thanks to the US Department of Agriculture, Nutrition Services is able to extend free meal pickup this summer to ALL children 18 and under. Summer meal pick up begins June 23. Families should remember to sign up each week using the NEW and improved Meal Order Form or by calling 651-407-7524 or emailing nutritionservices@isd624.org so Nutrition Services knows what to prepare. All sites are first come, first serve. Find complete information about the summertime schedule and locations in the update email sent to all families on June 4 (here).
Vaccine Opportunity from Ramsey County Public Health
- Student Vaccination Clinic at WBLAHS - South Campus June 10:
  - 2:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 10 at White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus (3551 McKnight Rd N, White Bear Lake, MN). Register here.
  - The Pfizer Clinic is meant for students 12 years and older. The appointment reserves the client a dose. Those who are running late and miss their appointment time should still come to the clinic.
  - Participants will register for their second dose, which will be administered on July 1, during observation time after they have their first dose.
  - Same-day registration may be possible on-site depending on availability. Other vaccine options open to the public are listed at ramseycounty.us/covidvaccine.
Updated Calendar - The White Bear Lake Area School Board approved a revised 2021-22 Academic Calendar at the May 10, 2021 School Board meeting. The calendar can be found linked at www.isd624.org/about/calendar.
School Start Time Change - At the April 16, 2021 School Board Special Session, the School Board approved the School Start Time Change proposal to be implemented in the fall of 2021-22. The recommendation that has been discussed in recent months aligns with the District’s Strategic Plan and research on adolescent sleep. Complete information can be found on the School Start Time Change informational page of the district website, www.isd624.org/SchoolStartTimeChange.
Info about changed quarantine requirements - White Bear Lake Area Schools will now be offering three quarantine options. The newest addition includes a 7 day option with a negative molecular test. If you do not want to get your child tested, they will still be able to do a 10 or 14 day quarantine. Please note that if the exposure occurred within your household, the only quarantine option is 14 days. Those families who have a child currently on quarantine and who wish to consider a shortened quarantine option are asked to contact their child’s health office to discuss options. You may find it helpful to order a Vault test to have on hand in the event your child is identified as a close contact. Vault saliva tests are molecular tests, free to all Minnesotans, and can be ordered here
School Linked Mental Health Services - Find information about School Linked Mental Health Services available to our families here.
Support Hub - The District's Support Hub provides families with resources to address barriers & enhance well-being. This comprehensive resource gives families and community members access to information for essential services including crisis response, basic needs, mental health and wellbeing, physical health, social emotional learning and more.
Receiving district messages - District-level emails are being sent from the communications@isd624.org email address. If you are not receiving emails from this account, it is possible that the email address is currently blocked in your email account. Find instructions to unblock the communications@isd624.org email address in different email platforms here.
Distance Learning Meal Pick-Up Information:
- Free meals are available for all children ages 18 and under through June of 2021. Weekly pick-ups are available at locations throughout the district on Wednesdays, with both morning and evening time slots available, and on Friday mornings.
  - Meal pick-up times and locations are available here.
  - To take advantage of the opportunity, families should pre-order meals each week using the Meal Order Form for distance learning pick-up so Nutrition Services staff know what to prepare.
  - Menus are available online at https://isd624.nutrislice.com/
- Contact the Nutrition Services Department at NutritionServices@isd624.org or 651-407-7524 with any questions.
Free or Reduced Applications - Even though free meals are available to all for this school year, it is still very important that families who may qualify for free or reduced-price meals complete the meal application as soon as possible. The meal applications not only qualify your family for free meal benefits, but also provide additional benefits that may include discounts for: internet access, college application fees, sports/activities fees, and AP test registration fees.Please check out this flyer for more information. Contact the Nutrition Services Department at NutritionServices@isd624.org or 651-407-7524 with any questions.
COVID-19 information:
- Vaccines for 16 and 17 year olds -The ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves, MN’ vaccine outreach campaign is focusing on Minnesotans aged 16 and 17. There are a few vaccine options available to 16 and 17 year olds that have been recently announced. Complete information can be found on the White Bear Lake Area High School website here.
- Contact Tracing - In order to facilitate the district’s COVID-19 contact tracing, it is important that families and staff members let us know through this form of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Please also call your school’s attendance line (for students) or submit an absence in Skyward (for staff) if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Dashboard - The district's COVID-19 Info & Dashboard page lists the 14-Day Case Rate By County, District COVID-19 Cases Weekly Reporting, and Process for Individual Notifications. We have recently added local information to the dashboard, including by-school numbers of students and staff members who are confirmed cases of COVID-19 and who are quarantined as close contacts.
- Notifications - White Bear Lake Area Schools will continue to ensure that all who are directly affected are appropriately notified in accordance with health department guidelines and privacy laws. A close contact notification and request to quarantine will be sent to all identified close-contacts. A general notification of a positive case in the building will be sent to: all building staff (including traveling and classified staff members) and all students attending the same school.
- Bears Protect Bears - Find information about the White Bear Lake Area Educators’ “Bears Protect Bears Commitment” here. Remember the important steps of social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands, and staying home when sick.
- Mail order saliva test information from MDH - The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has asked that we share that the state’s mail order pilot test is now open for anyone in Minnesota to access. Staff and families can use the mail order form to access the saliva tests. Testing is free for every Minnesotan, whether or not you have insurance. If you do have insurance, you will need to provide your information so your insurance company can pay for your test. If your insurance does not pay for COVID-19 tests or does not pay enough, the state will cover the cost. If you do not have insurance, the state will pay for your test. You will not receive a bill.
- Community Testing Sites - Find COVID-19 Testing Locations on the MDH website here.
Bear Care Health and Wellness Clinic Appointments - The Bear Care Health and Wellness Clinic located in North Campus (5045 Division Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110) is now offering online appointment scheduling. Use this link to schedule an appointment. The clinic is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2-6 pm. All health services are FREE and available to all children in the White Bear Lake Area School District.
- See a video about the services available at the Bear Care Clinic here.
- Call us at (651) 653-2923 or email BearCare@BearCareClinic.org. Click here to schedule an appointment.
- Available services include:
  - Health assessments and sports physicals
  - Influenza vaccines
  - Rapid strep throat testing
  - Ear infections and pink eye
  - Rapid mono testing
  - Urinary tract (bladder) infection testing
  - Mental health counseling
  - Teen health
  - Chronic illness management and referrals
  - Family health support
  - Curbside COVID-19 rapid tests (must make appointment)
Equity Action Plan - The Office of Equity and Engagement has been working this year on an Equity Action Plan. See information here.
Many Faces - Check out Many Faces events that are happening this fall that will focus on building community through conversations.
Career Pathways Newsletter - Please enjoy the April 2021 Career Pathways Newsletter!
Requesting an interpreter - Find more information about requesting a call with an interpreter in the language your family speaks.
We Are Hiring! - White Bear Lake Area Schools is hiring for a variety of positions, offering both school-day and out-of-school-time hours. Full- and part-time options are available, and many positions offer flexible hours if needed to accommodate family schedules. The district is seeking paraprofessionals, community services and recreation staff and coaches, and more. Find the online application page here.
Stay connected! - Join White Bear Lake Area Schools' social media circles - Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Calling all baby models - We're looking for "Born to be a Bear" photos! Email photos to us here and you may find your little one featured in District publications!

Awards and Honors

Community Services

The WBLAS Community Services and Recreation Department provides a wide range of services and opportunities that enhance the quality of life for all members of ISD 624.

Seasonal Catalogs - Seasonal catalogs are available now! The Community Services Summer Catalog is currently available online, with multiple opportunities for community members of all ages. The printed piece will be arriving in residents' mailboxes soon.
Digital Backpack - The Community Services Department distributes electronic flyers on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Flyers include announcements from the school district, as well as local organizations. Those who wish to request distribution of a flyer should email the files to Director Tim Maurer at tim.maurer@isd624.org.
Senior Program
- Check out the latest edition of The Voice.
- Stay informed about the latest community offerings for seniors in the community with these three guides:
Community Bridge - Check out opportunities here. The Community Bridge Consortium is an adults with cognitive disabilities program supported by the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, South Washington County, Roseville, White Bear and Mahtomedi School Districts.

Senior Program Updates

The White Bear Area Senior Center is a program of the White Bear Lake Area Schools Community Services & Recreation Department.

General Update re: Senior Program following Governor's Executive Order (see complete post here)
- Meals on Wheels will continue, following COVID-19 safety guidelines and social distancing measures
- Footcare Service & Driving Safety Training courses will continue, following COVID-19 safety guidelines and social distancing measures
- Social classes/clubs/gatherings suspended until January 4, 2021
The Voice - Check out the latest edition of The Voice to learn about exciting upcoming opportunities.
Resources Guides - Stay informed about the latest community offerings for seniors in the community with these three guides:
FREE Activity Pass for Senior Community Members (age 65+) - White Bear Lake Area Schools offer a variety of activities - home athletic contests, concerts, and theater productions to name a few. Join us! Please fill out this application and you will be sent the pass in the US Mail. If you have questions, please contact Rachael Markuson at 651-407-7563 or rachael.markuson@isd624.org.
Be a Bear! The district currently has many staff openings available! Find the online application page here.

Support WBLAS Students

Visit the WBLAHS online store - The WBLAHS online store offers a variety of fun Bear Wear items for purchase, including apparel and accessories.
The White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation (WBLAEF) is an independent, non-profit corporation promoting excellence in education in White Bear Lake Area School District 624 schools.
Be a Bear! - White Bear Lake Area Schools is hiring for a variety of positions, offering both school-day and out-of-school-time hours. Full- and part-time options are available, and many positions offer flexible hours if needed to accommodate family schedules. The district is seeking paraprofessionals, community services and recreation staff and coaches, and more. Find the online application page here.

Please contact the Communications Department (651-407-7578) to submit District News, General Information, Opportunities or Awards & Honors for inclusion in future publications.

Partnership Updates

The White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation (WBLAEF) is an independent, non-profit corporation promoting excellence in education in White Bear Lake Area School District 624 schools.
- WBLAEF Golf Tournament - The 21st Annual Golf Tournament is only a few months away! This year's event will take place on August 16 at Oak Glen Golf Course in beautiful Stillwater! We are eagerly planning the event and are positive that it will be a momentous day for all who attend! The Tournament is filling up quickly and we are anticipating a sold out event! We wanted to remind you that all registrations received by June 11 are eligible to be part of the $100 Early Birdie drawing! You can send payment ($160) to the address on the registration form or register online HERE. If you choose to submit payment via mail, please submit with this REGISTRATION FORM.
Ramsey County
- Medical Reserve Corps - Ramsey County is looking for volunteers for their Medical Reserve Corps. Find information on the Ramsey County website.
- Free Meals - Meals on Wheels of Ramsey County is providing free home-delivered meals to Ramsey County adult residents who are impacted by COVID-19. Learn more.
- Emergency Assistance - Learn more about receiving help with rent/mortgage and utilities during COVID-19 through Ramsey County.

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