Community e-Newsletter

April 7, 2024

In Photos: Exciting Opportunities

Student News

Movin' and Groovin'

North Star Elementary students enjoyed the sights and sounds of Scooter City in gym class last week. They scooted through the obstacle course filled with tunnels, a car wash and raced through the speedway! Students also stopped by the movie theater, fishing spot and played a game of hockey! Get a closer look at the exciting activity in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

The spring sports season is underway across the district with students participating in a variety of activities. The adapted softball team and varsity baseball team faced off during an indoor scrimmage at South Campus which was captured in this video. The two teams used the friendly competition to help each other prepare for upcoming games. Find the adapted softball team's schedule here and the baseball team's schedule here. All spring sports and activities schedules' can be found on the district's Activities website.

Speaking of spring sports, the Girls' Softball team opened season play with a 6-1 win over Mounds View. Find additional highlights in this article. The Boys' Track and Field team placed fourth out of 26 teams at an indoor meet in Mankato. Caleb Anderson placed second in the 200 dash as well as Easton Miles in long jump. Tomi Animasaum was third in the 60 meter hurdles with Femi Animasaun finishing fourth. Luke Williams placed third in the 1600 while Keith Johnson was fifth in the 400. The 4x400 and 4x800 relays both placed second. Read more about their successful meet here.

Middle School students are movin' and groovin' across the stage, practicing their lines and rehearsing choreography ahead of their production of Disney's “Descendants: The Musical”. The play follows children of some of the most infamous villains as they venture off their island to attend school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes. Check out a sneak peak at rehearsals in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". Performances take place at the District Center Community Auditorium April 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 8.

At Lakeaires Extended Day, students and staff are jumping into spring in full force! They're ready for that sunshine, green grass and birds chirping in the sky. Meanwhile, students at Vadnais Heights Extended Day have been enjoying indoor activities! Using their creative energy, students built various structures and works of art with blocks and other connective materials, enjoyed a few new reads, and played with different musical instruments together.

elementary students enjoying different activities

Classroom Collaborations

Lincoln Elementary students in the Explorations Program teamed up with ninth graders for an exciting, hands-on activity. After studying momentum and impulse, students collaborated together to build egg impact devices. They engineered their designs to keep the egg safe when dropped from various heights, which was put to the test through various trial runs. Watch their project come to life in this video.

Transition Education Center students explored 3D technology. Their lesson was highlighted in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". Students learned about the history of 3D printing before getting creative with 3D pens using them to make different shapes and objects.

Fourth and fifth graders at Lakeaires Elementary were visited by a special guest. Author Drew Brockington shared with students his inspiration for one his most popular book series, “Catstronauts” and answered questions about his career as an author. Students were also given a drawing demonstration and learned how to draw one of his characters. The interactive presentation was captured in this video.

WBLAHS - North Campus students in the Career Investigations class participated in career exploration utilizing Virtual Reality (VR). This opportunity was in partnership with Washington County and their CareerLabs VR Headsets. Students were able to experience and practice hands-on skills and activities in areas such as carpentry, line prep cook, nursing and more.

New Beginnings

Elementary schools across the district have been hosting Kindergarten Roundup events to prepare the class of 2037 for school this fall. The photos below were taken during the Vadnais Heights Elementary event. Families and students toured the buildings, met with staff members, asked questions about enrollment and took part in exciting arts and crafts projects!

White Bear Lake Area Schools consists of nine neighborhood schools that are assigned attendance boundaries throughout the district. Eight of our elementaries offer a traditional elementary curriculum, while Matoska International is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. Find more information about enrolling in White Bear Lake Area Schools on the district's website.

Before Matoska International students start their new CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) unit, they wrapped up their current unit: Astronomy, Our Solar System and Beyond with a celebration! They enjoyed fun activities, new reads and an escape room themed adventure! Students discovered facts about the sun and our moon, the planets, gravity, and other celestial bodies, and some significant historical figures connected to space exploration including Nicolaus Copernicus and Mae Jemison.

Sunrise Park Middle School eighth graders stayed after school for an 8th grade dance, complete with a DJ, a dodgeball competition and a popular concession stand. This is the last dance of the year for Sunrise Park, as sixth and seventh graders had their own events in December and January respectively. Families were also welcomed into the building during an AVID Family night! Staff and students have spent the year celebrating a sunset on Sunrise as they prepare to move to Mariner Middle School next year which is currently the WBLAHS - South Campus building.

Career Pathways sponsored two tables at the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation's inaugural Community Health Fair. Students from HOSA (Future Health Professionals) and the Career Pathways Coordinator informed the local community about the robust career and technical classes and pathways offered through White Bear Lake Area High School. HOSA students also provided complimentary blood pressure checks for all attendees, allowing the students to practice and engage with the community.

As we prepare for White Bear Lake Area High School to come together to begin the next school year, the district and Music Boosters are collaborating to purchase a state of the art piano for the new Performing Arts Center. Those who wish to help make this a reality for our community are invited to consider supporting the music program by donating to this opportunity. The total need is for 200 donations of $150 ($30,000) to reach our goal. Donors will be recognized for their financial support. Donate here.

In the News

White Bear Lake Area High School alumni Jill Defiel is creating movie magic in Hollywood as a mix technician. She told the White Bear Press, “When a movie comes to us, all the audio — voices, effects, everything — is up front. It’s a wall of noise. We take that wall and wrap it around the room. We do everything we can to make it immersive.” Jill also thanked her WBLAHS teachers in the article, for encouraging her to pursue the arts.

The White Bear Press highlighted WBLAHS grad Lleyton Roed who signed an NHL contract with Seattle Kraken in late March. He will finish out the remainder of the 2023-24 season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL). In a Bemidji State University article, Roeds was quoted saying, "I just want to say how grateful I am for the coaching staff and my teammates. Tom and the staff gave me an opportunity and helped me get to this point. I also want to thank my teammates for pushing me and supporting me every single day. It obviously is a dream come true to sign an NHL contract and especially with such a great organization! And finally I want to thank my family for being there for me my entire life! I am proud to say I am a Beaver for life!"

The White Bear Press recently highlighted WBLAHS Wresting Coach Craig Nasvik, who announced his retirement after 39 seasons coaching the Bears (35 of them as head coach). In the article, Coach Nasvik commented on some of his career highlights mentioning, “Having the privilege of coaching individuals to state, and having many of those wrestlers 'place' at state.”

A hockey team photo from the 1945 White Bear Lake Yearbook accompanied a recent Press Publications story that wove together the stories of families with ties to hockey and state tournament teams over the years. Read the full article here.

The WBLAHS History Club was recently highlighted in the White Bear Press for its thriving membership, with varied opportunities for students to make connections and be invested in the community. Club Director Rheanna O’Brien says they have 50 students on their roster who participant when they can. Some of their past projects include the Yearbook Archive Project and the Fillebrown House maintenance project.

The district’s 2024 class of WBLAE Teacher of the Year nominees were recently named. In accordance with Education Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year Program, eligible nominees, who are members of White Bear Lake Area Educators - Local #7286, now have the opportunity to submit written responses to a series of questions regarding teaching and learning as well as their personal educational philosophies for consideration by a panel of readers. From those responses, six finalists will be selected to interview with members of the community, administration and their fellow teachers later this spring.

Anita Ukpokolo, Speech team assistant coach, was named the 2024 Central Minnesota National Speech & Debate Association New Coach of the Year.

According to nominator Zach Prax: "It takes a special talent to achieve success as a speaker, but it takes a true gift to share those talents as a coach. I have a special appreciation for students that "come back" to coach for their alma mater, and in Anita's case, she hasn't just 'come back,' she has helped establish White Bear Lake as a dominant force in Minnesota (and national-level) Speech...

More important than coaching, Anita has attributes that make her an important member of our community. She is kind, she is thorough and constructive in her critiques of those she judges, and she ensures that each student and coach she meets feels welcome and valued. Though Anita just became an official member of the NSDA in June 2023, she has an outstanding coaching record that many veteran coaches can't claim."

Activities Updates

Three members of the WBLAHS Speech Team are heading to the State tournament after placing first in their respective categories at the MSHSL Section 4AA Speech Tournament: Sanyu Mwassa was the Dramatic Interpretive Champion, Praise Oyekunle finished first in Poetry and Mariam Elias Danjuma topped the podium in Prose. Alex Her also placed sixth in Informative Speaking. The Bears Softball Team defeated Mounds View 6-1. Find additional highlights in this article. The Boys Track & Field Team finished fourth out of 26 teams during a meet in Mankato. Read more here. The Adapted Softball Team and Varsity Baseball Team was seen in this video competing in a friendly indoor scrimmage.

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

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

Mar. 25 Work Session

Mar. 4 Regular Session

Feb. 26 Work Session

District News

General Information

Family Notices

WBLAS 2023 Graduation Rate - The district’s most recent four-year graduation rate, released by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), shows White Bear Lake Area Schools topping the state’s graduation rate by 5.7 percentage points, with 89.0% of 2023 seniors earning their diploma within four years. Read the full press release here.
2024 Manitou Days Student Button Contest - Kindergarten through fifth grade students are invited to participate in the 2024 Manitou Days Student Button Contest by creating artwork using this "ALL BEARS UNITE" template. A first place winner and two runner-up winners will be determined. First place winners receive a prize in addition to participation in the Manitou Days Grande Parade. Completed entries should be emailed to manitoudays@gmail.com by Friday, April 12. Please remember to keep the originals in case they are selected.
2024 WBLAE Teacher of the Year Nominees - Congratulations to the district’s 2024 class of WBLAE Teacher of the Year nominees. In accordance with Education Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year Program, eligible nominees, who are members of White Bear Lake Area Educators - Local #7286, now have the opportunity to submit written responses to a series of questions regarding teaching and learning as well as their personal educational philosophies for consideration by a panel of readers. From those responses, six finalists will be selected to interview with members of the community, administration and their fellow teachers later this spring.
Golf Tournament - The 24th Annual White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation Golf Tournament is scheduled for June 17th at Oak Glen Golf Course in Stillwater. Find registration information and more here.
Enrollment Info - As middle school and high school students are deciding on their classes for next year and have been attending Welcome to White Bear registration activities, incoming kindergarten students are getting signed up for their K-12 career as Bears... including the excitement of knowing they'll receive an "I'm a Bear" t-shirt in the mail after they're officially enrolled! Find enrollment information here.
Bear Care Clinic - Bear Care School-Based Health Center has extended their hours! Find information about the Bear Care Health and Wellness Clinic, located at WBLAHS - North Campus but available to all district families, here. Bear Care now also offers Nutrition Counseling. See a flyer for this new service here. See a new Bear Care flyer here.
Community Services & Recreation Winter/Spring Catalog - Registration is open for a variety of different winter/spring activities and programs through White Bear Lake Area Schools Community Services & Recreation. Find more details here.
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
Asynchronous E-Learning - Find information about the Communication and Student Responsibilities that would take place in the situation that an Asynchronous E-Learning day must happen at the bottom of the Emergency School Closings page of the district website.
DHS Announcement: Re-Enrolling in Health Care Coverage - The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that the Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare (Medicaid eligibility) renewals, which were paused post-pandemic, are now restarting the final timeline for annual renewals in public health care programs. View the full timeline. Please visit DHS's Renew My Coverage communications toolkit for resources in multiple languages.
SchoolCafé Automatic Payments - With school meals free to students this year, automatic payments through SchoolCafé have been removed in order to avoid unwanted charges from those families that used the automatic service in the past. If a family would like to set up automatic payments for extra entrees or ala carte purchases, they will need to log into School Café and re-set up that information. Instructions to do so can be found here. Those who have questions may contact the Nutrition Services Office at nutritionservices@isd624.org or 651-407-7515.
2023-24 Annual Notifications - Click here to find a variety of annual notifications, including notices related to: pest management pesticides, asbestos, indoor air quality and lead-in-water.
Bears Boards and More - Bears Boards and More is a student operated school-based business selling customized cutting boards and tumblers housed at the district's Transition Education Center. Find examples of student work here. Information on how to order can be found here.
Application for Educational Benefits - Our school offers healthy meals each day. We are a part of Minnesota’s Free School Meals Program, which means that all students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school. Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Application for Educational Benefits is still important because children may qualify for other benefits such as reduced sports/activity fees, reduced internet access and utility bills, reduced AP test registration and college application fees, reduced drivers training and more! Complete the Application for Educational Benefits online at www.schoolcafe.com/isd624. Paper applications can be requested by contacting Nutrition Services at 651-407-7515.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan - The health and safety of our school community is a top priority. White Bear Lake Area Schools will continue to partner with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for guidance and planning regarding COVID-19. To maintain a healthy and safe environment for all, the following protocols will be implemented for the 22/23 school year: The details of our plan can be found at isd624.org/programs/health-services. As required by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, school districts who received funds as part of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds must maintain a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services plan through the 2023-24 school year. Every six months, the district must review and revise as necessary. If you have any questions or comments that you’d like to share, please do so through this form.

Awards and Honors

WBLAHS Coaching Honors:
- WBLAHS Speech team assistant coach Anita Ukpokolo was named the 2024 Central Minnesota National Speech & Debate Association New Coach of the Year.
2024 WBLAE Teacher of the Year Nominees - Congratulations to the district’s 2024 class of WBLAE Teacher of the Year nominees. In accordance with Education Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year Program, eligible nominees, who are members of White Bear Lake Area Educators - Local #7286, now have the opportunity to submit written responses to a series of questions regarding teaching and learning as well as their personal educational philosophies for consideration by a panel of readers. From those responses, six finalists will be selected to interview with members of the community, administration and their fellow teachers later this spring.

Recognitions - The following celebrations and holidays are ongoing/upcoming in April:

April - National Poetry Month and Math and Statistics Awareness Month
April 9-10 - Eid Al-fitr
April 22-26 - National Library Week, Assistant Principals Week, Public School Volunteer Week, Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week and Administrative Professionals Week
April 25 - National Library Workers' Day
April 26 - Administrative Professionals Day

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

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 Winter/Spring Catalog, with multiple opportunities for community members of all ages, can be found here.
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.
- Resources Guides - View our updated Resource Guides: Senior Services and senior housing; The Directory.
- 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.

The Voice - Stay informed about the latest community offerings for seniors in the community through The Voice.
Resources Guides - View our updated Resource Guides: Senior Services and senior housing; The Directory.
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

Middle School Musical - Tickets for Disney's “Descendants: The Musical” go on sale Monday, April 8. Performances take place at the District Center Community Auditorium April 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m.
WBLAHS Performing Arts Center Piano Dedication Donation Fund - The WBLAS District and WBL Music Boosters are collaborating to purchase a state of the art piano for the new Performing Arts Center! We need YOU to help make this a reality for our community. Please consider giving back to our music program by donating to this amazing opportunity. Our total need is for 200 donations of $150 ($30,000) to reach our goal. Donors will be recognized for their financial support. Donate here.
Bears Boards and More - Bears Boards and More is a student operated school-based business selling customized cutting boards and tumblers housed at the district's Transition Education Center. Find examples of student work here. Information on how to order can be found here.
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.
- We are in need of volunteers to assist at The Closet. If you are a parent that has a flexible schedule and would like to help our district families in need, please contact info@wblaef.org. More information about The Closet can be found HERE.
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.