Community e-Newsletter

Mariner Middle School

At the February 13, 2023 School Board Regular Meeting, the White Bear Lake Area School Board approved a committee’s recommendation to change the name of Sunrise Park Middle School when it moves from the Sunrise Park neighborhood to the current White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus building in the fall of 2024. The new name, Mariner Middle School, is a nod to the District’s past. See the full press release here.

In Photos: Exciting Happenings

Student News

Working Together

Lincoln Elementary held an all-school assembly with special guests, Minnesota Wild Mascot Nordy and current and former Minnesota professional hockey players. They helped students learn about “ The Faceoff For Fitness School Program” which emphasizes the game of hockey, physical fitness, nutrition and healthy choices. This exciting event was featured in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

Members of the WBLAHS - South Campus Environmental Club worked together to bake special treats for their bake sale. Students sold their delicious sweets during lunch hours on Valentine's Day in an effort to raise money for their tree sale initiative. They plan to plant 440 saplings on April 22 to offset the school’s energy consumption from the past academic year. Community members can order a sapling to be planted in their yard or sign up to volunteer to plant saplings on the day of the event. Saplings are $5 and the options are Common Chokecherry, Paper Birch, and Red Maple saplings. See complete information here. Order a sapling by March 22. here.

Elementary students from across the district were highlighted in this video working on basketball drills and techniques with former WBLAHS basketball coach Jim Galvin. These Community Services youth camps help promote an interest in basketball while learning the necessary skills to play the sport.

High school band students worked extra hard to perfect the classic tunes they performed during the annual Jazz Night Club event. It took place on Saturday, February 25 at the North Campus Commons. Current students were joined by White Bear alumni and special guests The Century Jazz Ensemble for a night of dancing and fun. Listen to the student's rehearsals in this video.

District Kudos

Two school records were broken by members of the boys swim and dive team during the Section 4AA meet. Senior Amarre Zalazar re-broke his 100 backstroke record with a time of 56.48 while freshmen Benedict Hoefer broke the 500 freestyle record with a time of 5:08.78. Sophomore Tony Parada-Romero and junior Sam Lomoro qualified for the State diving tournament by placing third and fourth over all. The Bears finished fifth out of eight teams.

Transition Education Center graduate Micheal Engebretson has been awarded his first solo art exhibition. His pieces in his collection, Transdimensional Multiversal Nonlinear Cosmic Traveler,  will be on display at Interact Gallery from March 1 through April 14.   

The White Bear Varsity cheerleaders placed in the top six at the National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, FL. The Bears competed against 24 other teams in the Small Varsity Non-Tumbling Division I division to earn fifth place. In the Small Varsity Non-Tumbling Division I Game Day division, the team earned sixth-place against 36 other programs. This event is the pinnacle of cheerleading competitions for high school cheerleaders across the country.

The WBLAHS Boys' Hockey team claimed the Suburban East Conference champions title after defeating Cretin-Durham Hall 4-3 in overtime.  The Bears are 17-5 overall and finished 10-2-0 in conference play. Find more highlights about the game here.

White Bear Lake Area High School junior, Lily Pederson, scored a perfect 10 on bars during a club meet last weekend. This is the first perfect 10 ever given in Minnesota for club gymnastics. She is committed to Oklahoma University on a full athletic scholarship. Her accomplishment was also highlighted in the White Bear Press.

The Bears Varsity Gymnastics Team placed second at the Section 4AA meet. The Bears racked up 136.625 as a team which was also their best score of the season. Junior Graclyn Lehner qualified for state in four events.

The Boys' and Girls' Alpine Ski teams wrapped up their season with a great showing at the Section 7A meet. The boys' team  placed 10th and the girls' 12th among 20 schools. Freshmen Angus Levins placed seventh individually which qualified him for the State tournament.

White Bear's skating history was recently highlighted by the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society and White Bear Press. The article includes tidbits about the district's Hippodrome and the launching of the WBLAHS hockey team.

Hands-on Learning

First and second graders at North Star Elementary learned about coding and computers. Students worked in groups to program two different robots to move in a certain pattern which they designed with tape on the floor. This exciting classroom lesson was featured in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

Students at Area Learning Center took part in a hands-on, applied physics lesson in their science class which was highlighted in this video. They built a lead screw, which is a mechanism used in many contraptions including car jacks.

Lakeaires Elementary students were dreaming of warmer weather! They traded ice and snow for sand and water. Students discussed how seashells are made and where they come from. They also learned about ocean waves and made their own ocean in a bottle. 

Students at Lakeaires Elementary made special Valentine's Day theme gifts for their parents to show their love and appreciation. They also took part in another crafty project; decorating heart shaped cookies to have for a snack.

Students in the Healthcare Career Pathways program went on a field trip to the University of MN visible Heart Lab. The Visible Heart Laboratories were created in collaboration with Medtronic. The labs are a premiere place to perform translational systems physiology research which ranges from cellular and tissue studies to organ and whole body investigations. Students were able to observe a research lab, tour the heart library, and learn about the history of cardiac surgeries and collaboration with Medtronic.

 

Love of Reading

Birch Lake Elementary kicked off their One School, One book initiative last week. Members of the Birch Lake Critter Crew made a special announcement, revealing the school will be reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Students were also surprised with a sneak peak performance of the school musical, Willy Wonka Jr.!

excited students pose for photo

Matoska International IB World School has been celebrating Rally 4 Reading all month long. Students have participated in different activities like a Bears Book Exchange, Reading Challenge BINGO and they have helped build a Matoska's Favorite Books Display. Local author V.T. Bidania visited and read to students. Bidania is from Laos and grew up in St. Paul. She is the author of Astrid and Apollo, a chapter book series that follows 8-year-old Hmong American twins on all sorts of adventures. Five READ Dogs also stopped by Matoska to visit with students.

author presenting to elementary students

Otter Lake Elementary wrapped up their month long read-a-thon and fundraiser with a school-wide rock concert. The theme of this year's reading event was "rock on". Students were treated to performance from Bear, the high school dance line and drum line, and staff sing-a-longs!

 Activities Updates

The Boys Swim & Dive Team are sending two divers to the State tournament. Two school records were also broken in the 100 backstroke and 500 freestyle. The Bears Varsity Cheerleaders placed fifth and sixth at Nationals. The Bears Wrestling Team won four of six matches in recent meets. At their Section meet, the Girls Nordic Ski Team finished fifth out of ten teams while the Boys Nordic Ski Team finished ninth of out of 11 teams. The Girls Hockey Team ended their season with a loss to Gentry Academy in the quarterfinals game of Section 4AA tournament. The Boys Hockey Team won in overtime against Blaine. Find highlights here. The Boys Basketball Team defeated Cretin-Derham Hall during a recent game. Find highlights here. The Girls Basketball Team took down Woodbury. Read their article here. The Bears Speech Team had a terrific showing at their first meet.  Holly Flood finished in 6th place in Novice Poetry Reading, Reina Yates finished in 5th place in Novice Storytelling, Shahd Hagelsafy finished in 5th place in Novice Creative Expression, Mariam Elias-Danjuma finished 1st place Varsity in Prose and Sanyu Mwassa finished 1st place Varsity in Dramatic Interpretation. They also competed well in yesterday's Centennial Mark Quinlan Legacy Speech Tournament. Senior Shahd Hagelsafy finished 2nd Next-in in Creative Expression, Senior Brian Kum finished 1st Next-in in Storytelling, Junior Alexander Her finished 1st Next-in in Informative, Junior Captain Sanyu Mwassa finished 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation and Junior Captain Mariam Elias-Danjuma finished in 1st place in Prose. The team took home their first team trophy in 3 years, 3rd place-Limited Division. 

This year White Bear Lake Area High School, along with every school in the Suburban East Conference (SEC) is going to online-only ticket sales for all varsity sporting events. All conference schools have partnered with Hometown Ticketing to make it easier for spectators. The easiest way to access our online tickets is by downloading the Hometown Ticketing App or you can access and purchase tickets to our home events by clicking here. An alternate way to view home games is by purchasing adult and/or student pass(es). 

Senior community members (age 65+) who live in the District are invited to participate in the Senior Activities Pass program and enjoy complimentary admission to most school activities. Find out how to receive your free pass here.

Please contact the Communications Department (651-407-7695) to submit Student News for inclusion in future publications. 

The Week in 62.4 Seconds

School Board News

School Board Student Recognition

During the February 13 School Board regular meeting, School Board members recognized WBLAHS Fall Musical students who received accolades from Hennepin Theatre Trust’s SpotLight Music Theatre Program, which honors high school musicals and students by recognizing extraordinary achievements and working to develop young talent in Minnesota’s high school musical theatre programs. Watch the Student Recognition video here.

Upcoming School Board Meetings

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

Feb. 13 Regular Session

Jan. 23 Work Session

Jan. 9 Regular Session

White Bear Lake Area School District - ISD 624 Logo

At December’s Regular School Board Meeting, representatives from the Be SMART awareness campaign and local law enforcement leaders presented information about a program developed to bring together parents and all adults concerned about kids, guns, and safety. The White Bear Lake Police Department, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and White Bear Lake Area Schools are teaming up to share an important message about proper gun storage and safety.

Calendars approved

At the November 13, 2023 School Board Regular Meeting, the School Board approved the following calendars:

  • 2024-25 Academic Calendar
  • 2025-26 Academic Calendar
Board approves “Mariner Middle School” beginning Fall 2024

At the February 13, 2023 School Board Regular Meeting, the White Bear Lake Area School Board approved a committee’s recommendation to change the name of Sunrise Park Middle School when it moves from the Sunrise Park neighborhood to the current White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus building in the fall of 2024. The new name, Mariner Middle School, is a nod to the District’s past.

Updated Strategic Plan Approved

At the August 8, 2022 School Board meeting, the Board heard an update of the District's Strategic Planning process and approved four updated strategies.

District Logo (Multi)

At the March 28, 2022 School Board Work Session, the White Bear Lake Area School Board unanimously approved a Resolution Supporting Commitment to Equity and Inclusion.

District News

General Information