Community e-Newsletter

Ending 2020-21 on a positive note

Thank you to those who shared with us reflections of the positives that have come from weathering the unique challenges of the 2020-21 school year. Enjoy a visual representation of the submissions below.

word cloud arrangement of words

Have a terrific last week of the academic year!
Dr. Kazmierczak, Superintendent

 

Student News

Getting outside

Lakeaires students have enjoyed some time in the sunshine, and in the dirt, recently. Kindergartners partnered with third graders to plant a garden. The students, who planted tomatoes, kale, lettuce, squash, and cucumbers, have begun to see the fruits of their labor coming up in the raised beds.
 
elementary students with raised vegetable garden
A student-led Community Water Walk took place this weekend along Lake Ave, with the group heading back to the park for activities and some local vendors. The students have a podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify (search Water Warriors United) and pages on Facebook and Instagram. Water Warriors United is a group of high school and middle school students who share the mission: To create a culture of water conservation and to inspire our community to take actions to solve the global water crisis.
 
The district's Bear FUNdamentals programs celebrated the end of the school year with graduation ceremonies last week. The experience for Lakeaires students, which took place on the lawn for students and their families, was covered in Friday's issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds." In late-May, another set of pre-K students were featured in the weekly video as they celebrated the end of the school year. The students at the district’s North Oaks little preschool location celebrated with bubbles and fun outside time with family and friends. Students also went home with plants, buckets, books, and balloons. See the video highlight here.
 

Busy times

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, with larger meal packages available for pick-up next week to cover the span of time. Find complete information about the summertime schedule and locations in the update email sent to all families on June 4 (here). 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 WBLAS Meal Order Form registration website
 
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.
 
Craft Fair flyer
High school students who are artists in a musical sense took to the stage recently for North Campus Idol. The event, which has been enjoyed in person in the past, looked a bit different this year - but the student talent displayed on stage kept up the fun for which the annual event has been known. A video of the competition event can be found here.
 
student performing on stage before 3 judges
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 will soon be open again, with groups re-starting the week of June 14. 
 
screenshot of The Voice newsletter
The district's oldest graduates will be celebrated this coming week as the 2020-21 school year comes to a close. Students in the Transition Education Center will be honored at a mid-day ceremony on Thursday, June 10. Later that day, Area Learning Center students will graduate in an evening ceremony.  The White Bear Lake Area High School Commencement Ceremony will take place on the evening of Friday, June. 11. Those who wish to show their graduation pride, either as a graduate or as a family member of a grad, can share their excitement about the upcoming accomplishment with profile frames available on Facebook. Frames can be found here (for grads) and here (for families/friends of grads). Go Bears!
 
2021 Grad Facebook frame
Love Our 2021 Grad Facebook frame

White Bear write-ups

White Bear Lake Area Schools students have found themselves featured in recent issues of the White Bear Press for a variety of fun highlights. WBLAHS softball pitcher Chloe Barber was highlighted for throwing a no-hitter against Roseville and hitting her eighth homer. Matoska International student Manny Casselman's success was in the sport of fishing, with a recent highlight with the "catch of the week."
student softball player and two students holding fish
Some of the families of graduating seniors have gotten into the spirit of celebrating in print as well. This week's White Bear Press includes three pages of  "Then & Now" photos of area seniors. The juxtapositioning of the baby/toddler photos against what the graduates look like today brings a fun element to the tradition of sharing "senior photos!"
 
screenshot of toddler/senior photos Then and Now listings in newspaper
Alumni have gotten in on the printed action as well. Grad Susan (West) Bracken was recently highlighted in MilleLacs Messenger article, on the eve of retirement from a long career leading the Early Childhood Family Education program in the Onamia School District.
screenshot of article with adult and two small children reading together
Paul Nakasone's induction into the White Bear Lake Area High School Wall of Fame was covered in local publications. Nakasone was pictured with his family at the event, and with an iconic Rec t-shirt that was gifted to him during the ceremony. See the article here.
 
adult holding Rec t-shirt at ceremony
The last of the alumni-in-print news is an article highlighting WBLAHS grad Wyatt Newpower, who recently signed an entry-level contract with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. Read the NHL article here.
 
hockey player
 

Activities Update

WBLAHS Softball pitcher Chloe Barber was recently highlighted in the White Bear Press for throwing a no-hitter against Roseville and hitting her eighth homer.

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 Meetings

The May 10, 2021 School Board Work Session Meeting will be conducted in person at District Center, with social distancing measures being put in place.

The remainder of the 2020-21 School Board meetings will continue to be viewable via electronic means. Livestream links are available on the district's online calendar and will be posted on the Meeting Materials page the week prior to each meeting.

School Board Regular Meeting Subscribe to Alerts
Community Room 112, District Center
School Board Regular Meeting Subscribe to Alerts
Community Room 112, District Center
School Board Regular Meeting Subscribe to Alerts
Community Room 112, District Center

Past Meeting Highlights

May 24 Work Session

May 10 Regular Meeting

District News

General Information