Community e-Newsletter

January 14, 2024

In Photos: Spot A Bear!

Welcome back from Winter Break, Bears - we are excited to have students back in the buildings for 2024! Thank you to our students and families who were able to answer the call put out during our Winter Break Video, with Bears being spotted near and far. One of our submissions made it to us from as far away as Paris!

Student News

New Year, New Opportunities

Students at Lincoln Elementary are tackling a school-wide project which was highlighted in this video. While visiting the media center, classes are taking turns writing their favorite books on notecards and adding them to the “Books that bring me Joy” wall! Students are having fun discovering different books and learning what students throughout their building love to read!

boy in black snow pants writes on paper next to a bulletin board

Eighth grade band students and high school students who are members of the group, North Winds, practiced together before their concert which took place on January 9. Their rehearsal was previewed in this video. Students worked through their modern and contemporary pieces as well as a composition called “Due North” that was composed solely for Minnesota band students. Meanwhile, eighth grade choir students from both middle schools were introduced to high school choir.

middle school band students play in a group

WBLAHS - North Campus geography students worked on a global economy map last week. Students researched their favorite brands and companies that sell items like clothing, electronics and food, learned where the items are manufactured and distributed from, and mapped out the path it takes their items to reach stores closest to our community. This unique lesson was featured in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

teacher talking to students in a classroom

Members of the WBLAHS Black Student Union will lead a local program tomorrow morning (Monday, Jan. 15) as a part of Parkview United Church of Christ’s “Martin Luther King Jr. Community Event for the Northeast Metro”. Students of the Black Multicultural Society at Century College will join our students for the program, which will include music, personal stories, poetry, skits and a panel discussion led by Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt. Find more information here.

flyer for an event on Martin Luther King jr. day

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. Meanwhile, WBLAHS grad Jessica (Nadeau) Miehe '03 was highlighted in a recent White Bear Lake Magazine issue for her efforts with the Bear Care Clinic located at WBLAHS - North Campus.

flyer for a school-based health center called Bear Care

Registration is open for Youth Enrichment classes. There are opportunities for students of all ages to enjoy activities such as coding, acting, chess and so much more! Find more information here.

brightly colored flyer featuring a children

Service In Our Schools

Oneka Elementary student council members are working on a school-wide project. For the month of January, they are focusing on taking care of their building! Students were seen in this video creating posters and slideshows to present their ideas to classes around the school to encourage them to participate. Some of their ideas include: picking up trash, cleaning up the lunchroom and cheering for classmates.

photo collage of elementary school children working on computers and art projects

Central Middle School students in Ms. Ruddy's classes used their time before Winter Break to conduct a service project. They channeled their inner artist to decorate paper placemats for residents of Cerenity Care in White Bear Lake. The director of Cerenity mentioned to Ms. Ruddy that the residents loved seeing the winter-themed designs the students drew.

girls and boys smiling while sitting at a table

Lakeaires Elementary students spent time making cat and dog toys for the animals at The Bond Between (formally secondhand hounds) before Winter Break. The staff at The Bond Between appreciated the handmade toys so much, they even shared these photos of PK the cat and Rocky the dog playing with them! Students used felt and t-shirts to make the pet toys.

girl in pink holds animal toys next to a photo of a cat and dog

Speaking of animals, Area Learning Center and Insight students and staff were visited by Ollie the therapy dog. As seen in this video, Ollie attends classes regularly to connect with students while promoting positivity and confidence. Students and staff love having him near to reduce stress during the school day. Ollie also spreads smiles around the building when he greets students in the hallway.

In The Spotlight

The White Bear Lake Area High School Varsity Cheerleaders and middle school team both took first place in their respective division at the University of Minnesota Cheerleading Championship. The Varsity team placed first out of seven competitors and the middle school team placed first out of five. The White Bear Press highlighted the competition. Meanwhile, the Bears Varsity Competition Cheerleaders are preparing for their trip to Nationals which is being held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida in February.

article of a high school cheerleading team

White Bear Class of '75 member Steve Chapin was recently highlighted in the White Bear Press for his involvement as a master boat builder consultant for the sports drama "The Boys in the Boat" based on the events of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Chapin is the exclusive boat builder of the Pocock classic rowing shell, a boat famous for its delicate but solid, steam bent cedar hull. The design was originally created by legendary boat builder George Pocock who was a member of the University of Washington rowing team who won gold in the 1936 Olympics.

WBLAHS grad Jessica (Nadeau) Miehe '03 was highlighted in a recent White Bear Lake Magazine issue for her efforts with the Bear Care Clinic located at WBLAHS - North Campus. Read the article here. The school-based Bear Care Health and Wellness Clinic is located at WBLAHS - North Campus, but is available to all district families. Learn more here.

Several Bear Wrestlers placed in the top eight during the Rogers Holiday Matness tournament. Christian Carlson advanced the furthest finishing second in his respective division. As a team, the Bears placed 16th out of 32. The White Bear Press highlighted the team's recent success.

four high school wrestlers stand together in a group wearing medals

Exciting Lessons

Preschoolers across the district took part in a clothing unit last week. Students at Tamarack learned how clothing is made and had the opportunity to sew their own neck warmers to keep them warm when playing outside. This fun lesson war featured in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". They also learned how different animals stay warm in the winter.

children learning to sew and two children smiling at a camera

Our youngest Bears and their families in Normandy Park's Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes were moving and grooving during their Winter Wonderland event. Students explored themed sensory materials and enjoyed different craft stations all while playing and learning together. Find more information about our Early Childhood Programs on the district's website.

It's not just students and staff having fun in our Extended Day programs, families are also getting involved! Family Nights are being held across the district. At Lakeaires, families decorated cookies in the cafeteria and painted art magnet tiles in their makerspace. Elementary schools plan to host similar events later this spring.

photo collage of people smiling for photos

Community Happenings

As we prepare for more snow flakes to fly, we want to remind families that if winter weather is so severe that schools need to close, alerts will be sent to families in three ways as soon as a decision is made:

A SchoolMessenger phone message and email will be sent to all guardians. A text message will be sent to those who have opted in to receiving texts from the district. (Instructions for opt-in here.)
A message will be posted on the homepage of www.isd624.org.
Messages will be posted on the District's Facebook and Twitter pages.

For school closings, early dismissals and late starts, call the School Closing Hotline at (651) 407-7540 or watch/listen for information on these media outlets:

With the snow and cold weather comes a reminder of the invitation to join us to use the WBLAHS - North Campus Field House walking track. The facility is open for community use from 6-9 p.m. each Monday through Thursday. The opportunity is free, and we ask that those who join us wear clean, dry shoes. Meanwhile, the district's Hippodrome Indoor Open Skating opportunities (6:45-9 p.m. on Saturdays and 1-3 p.m. on Sundays) were recently highlighted in the White Bear Press "Around The Lake" section.

two people walking on an indoor walking track and an article about people ice skating

The field house was one of the many projects completed as part of the district's Building Our Future Facilities Process. A video was recently created and shared out to the community. This fourth annual update video provides an overview of progress that has been made across the district since the comprehensive facilities review and planning work began in 2018 and the community supported the Building Our Future Bond Referendum in 2019. Community members can follow along in the district’s Building Our Future Facilities Process to see all projects happening right now, what's been completed and the projects still to come.

aerial view of construction happening to a building

Activities Updates

The Boys and Girls Nordic Ski Teams Teach placed 35th in the Mesabi Invitational, which had 52 boys teams and 48 girls teams. Find additional details here. The Bears Gymnastics Team placed fourth out of nine teams with a season-high score of 135, in the Princeton Invitational. Read more about the meet here. The Boys Swim & Dive Team won their home opener against Forest Lake. Find highlights here. The Bears High School and Middle School Cheer Teams took home first place at a recent competition. Find details here. Several Bear Wrestlers placed in the top eight during a recent tournament. Learn more here. The Girls Basketball Team remains undefeated in the SEC following a win over Park. Read more here.

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

Thank you, Gray!

During the January 8 School Board meeting, district leaders and school board members showed their appreciation for Gray Seever. Gray has served the district behind the scenes by videotaping School Board meetings, and helping with other video projects through the district and the local community cable channel, for the last 25 years. As he heads off into retirement, we wish him well and thank him for his decades of service to the district and the community.

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Past Meeting Highlights

Jan. 8 Regular Session

Dec. 11 Regular Session

Nov. 27 Work Session

District News

General Information

Family Notices

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.
Youth Enrichment - Registration is open for Youth Enrichment classes. There are opportunities for students of all ages to enjoy activities such as coding, acting, chess and so much more! Find more 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.
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.
BEAR Legacy Breakfast - The BEAR Legacy Breakfast fundraiser will take place from 8-9 a.m. on Friday, January 26 at WBLAHS - North Campus. This event is free. Tours of the newly renovated building will also be offered for all who attend. Find more information 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.
School Resource Officer (SRO) program resumes - The White Bear Lake Police Department (WBLPD) has resumed the SRO program that had been suspended in our secondary schools. The continuation of the program has come after the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General provided a revised opinion related to a new law passed by the 2023 legislature that placed certain restrictions on safety interventions school employees and agents, including SROs, can use when intervening with students. We value the relationship we have with our local law enforcement agencies and appreciate the work they have done to partner with us to keep students and staff safe. We recognize that the step of providing additional clarification about the new law is a short-term solution and that only through legislative action will this issue be permanently resolved.
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

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

January - Welcome to White Bear activities
Jan. 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School, District Center closed)

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.
Youth Enrichment - These classes allow students the chance to try something new or dive head first into activities they love while connecting with other like minded students who share similar interests. There are a wide variety of activities to meet the needs of the our entire community:
- Acting
- Basics of Fencing
- Camp Invention
- Chess
- Coding
- D & D
- Youth Tennis

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

Community Event - Members of the WBLAHS Black Student Union will lead a local program next Monday morning as a part of Parkview United Church of Christ’s “Martin Luther King Jr. Community Event for the Northeast Metro”. Students of the Black Multicultural Society at Century College will join our students for the program, which will include music, personal stories, poetry, skits and a panel discussion led by Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt. Find more information 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.