Community e-Newsletter

In Photos: Exciting Learning Opportunities

Student News

Exploring Interests

Third, fourth and fifth graders at Matoska International IB World School are enjoying an afterschool club in their Makerspace. Once a week, the students meet to work on a project of their choosing. Some of the projects recently created were a pillow, a bowling set, a marble run and jewelry. See the student's creations come to life in a video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". 

Students in the entrepreneurship class at Transition Education Center operate a class-based enterprise called “Bear Boards and More”. This class builds employment skills as students mark and sell custom cutting boards using a laser engraver which you can see in this video. 

To accompany their life cycle unit, third graders at Otter Lake Elementary are studying the life cycle of chickens. Normally, they would have chicken eggs in their classrooms to study. But this year, one of their teachers is hatching nearly a dozen eggs at their house and set up a webcam for students to watch in their classrooms.

Through the district's Career Pathways Program, high school students have the opportunity to explore their interests when it comes to future career options. The April Career Pathways newsletter highlights educational opportunities students received including in-person visits from STEM professionals. It also features several WBLAHS seniors who were awarded apprenticeships from Minnesota businesses. Read about these student experiences and more here. 

newsletter featuring student activities

At Central Middle School, seventh graders took part in a hands-on lesson. They dissected frogs in their science class. The students did a great job identifying all the organs and drawing their own diagrams of their frogs.

Working Together

A group of students at WBLAHS-North Campus organized and led a Women Empowerment Seminar that was offered during Bear Time. The event was designed to bring the student community together to discuss a variety of topics from self-love to conformity and their own personal experiences. It was also highlighted in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". 

The spring high school sports season is underway, with students participating in a variety of activities. The varsity baseball squad and the adaptive softball team took part in a friendly, but competitive indoor scrimmage at WBLAHS - North Campus to help each other prepare for upcoming games.  

The Wednesday Morning Music Group at Central Middle School played for staff and students in the commons area. The students performed several compositions they've been working on throughout the year. Their performance was captured in this video.

Speaking of working together, the White Bear Lake Middle School Players are dancing and singing away in preparation for their spring musical, "The Spongebob Musical". The production brings the undersea world of Spongebob Square Pants and his friends to the stage. A preview of rehearsals can be found in this video. Performances are happening April 28 and 29 at 7 p.m. and April 30 at 2 p.m. at the District Center Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased here.

Fourth graders at Otter Lake Elementary are learning about hurricanes in connection with U.S. Geography. As part of their lessons, students built structures to withstand a hurricane storm surge. They spent a few days testing and retesting the strength of their buildings by measuring how much water it would take to "flood" them. The lesson was captured in this video.

Community Interactions

Fourth and fifth graders at Oneka Elementary received important lessons from law enforcement officers from nearby departments who are training for their D.A.R.E. certification. The learning opportunity was captured in a video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". Fifth graders will soon start their D.A.R.E. program with an officer from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

First graders in Ms. Ostman's class at Hugo Elementary are giving back to their community through a service project. They made tie blankets and donated them to Keystone Place, a senior living center. Students also wrote letters and notes to the residents who received the blankets. 

Earth Day was recently celebrated, so it's fitting to share students involved in the WBLAHS Environmental Club spent April 23 distributing and planting tree saplings! The club partnered with national nonprofit Tree-Plenish. They sold around 400 saplings to families around the community. Those who purchased saplings had the option to request a student volunteer to plant them in their yard or do it themselves. You can learn more about the club's mission here. 

Middle school students who are members of the Superintendent's Middle School Advisory Committee joined district leaders on a tour of WBLAHS - North Campus. The building is set to become a single, unified grades 9-12 high school by the 2024-25 school year. Students were able to see the construction happening up close and ask questions about the projects taking place. Heading north on Highway 61, construction of the new North Star Elementary School in Hugo is moving along nicely. Staff members who will be working in the building this fall were invited to tour the school for the first time to see the progress being made. You can follow along in the district’s Building Our Future Facilities Process to see all the projects happening right now, what's been completed and the projects still to come.

This future Bear and her stuffed bunny are enjoying spring by showing off their Bear pride! We're always looking for "Born to be a Bear" photos! Email photos to us here and you may find your little one featured in District publications!

baby models Born to be a Bear onies

Special Recognitions

Education Minnesota announced the 11 finalists for the 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Matoska International kindergarten teacher Kendall Gonzalez is among the field who will continue the process. The winner will be announced at a banquet on May 1. In other staff recognition news, Sunrise Park Middle School science teacher Samantha James was selected as KS95's Teacher of the Week. James was nominated by a student and personally recognized on air on April 15.

WBLAHS seniors Ernie Mattson and Kylie Petty were selected as White Bear Lake Area School's nominations for the Triple A Award, a Minnesota State High School League program recognizing excellence in arts, academics and athletics.  

Another WBLAHS student making waves in the world of sports is Lily Pederson. She who won all four events and set three state records in Level 10 at the Optional Minnesota State Championships meet for club gymnastics. Her impressive accomplishments were highlighted in the White Bear Press.

In our final special recognitions story, congratulations to WBLAHS students Cora Donoghue, Miriam Elias-Danjuma and Sanyu Mwass who recently competed in the MSHSL State Speech meet. 

Add To Your Calendar

Food Truck Friday's are returning to the Senior Center parking lot on April 29, May 20, June 24, July 22 and August 19. They'll take place from 4:30-7 p.m. with a dine-in or to-go option. 

 

The White Bear Lake Middle School Players are performing "The SpongeBob Musical" at the District Center Auditorium April 28-30. Showtimes and ticket information can be found here.

 Activities Updates

The Softball Team is 4-0 after beating Forest Lake in a recent game. Chloe Barber fired a no-hitter against the Rangers. Read their article here. The Baseball Team also won their recent game against Forest Lake. Read their article here. The Boys Lacrosse Team is starting their season 2-0 after defeating Woodbury and St. Paul. Read their article here. The Boys Track and Field Team recently won a home meet consisting of eight Suburban East Conference teams. 

Along with season passes and punch cards, the WBLAHS Activities office is now offering digital ticketing to all regular season, home athletic events. Information is available 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.

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