Community e-Newsletter

In Photos: Bears Working Hard

Student News

Embracing Community and Service

Students, staff, alumni and community members gathered for a pre-game reception and packed the game gym at White Bear Lake Area High School prior to the first Boys' Basketball game in the space for a special event. Long-time coach, teacher, and community member Jim Galvin was honored at a dedication event naming the WBLAHS gymnasium as “Galvin Court.” Galvin began his teaching and coaching career at White Bear in 1970. He served as head basketball coach from 1972 to 1998. Under Galvin’s guidance, the success of the White Bear basketball program was unparalleled. His 1984 and 1985 teams won 52 consecutive games and earned back-to-back Class AA State Championships. 

The WBLAHS Gymnastics Team hosted a youth night event at their recent home meet against Roseville High School. Younger students were welcomed onto the floor where they learned team cheers and took a group photo with the older Bears before the meet started. In other gymnastics news, the team won their home opener against Stillwater. Find meet highlights in this White Bear Press article. The also hosted their Interstellar Invite earlier this month. This year's theme was "Stick it to Cancer" to honor a teammates mom who is currently battling breast cancer. Every team invited was asked to wear pink to show support. They raised more than $500 dollars and 40 blankets to donate to local chemo centers and breast cancer research.

Creativity is flowing at the Senior Center! With knitting needles in hand, members of the Yarn B’s worked on their different projects including hats, scarves and sweaters, all of which they donate to various charities and organizations. See them in action in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". The group also visits district elementary schools throughout the year teaching students how to knit and crochet.

Senior leaders transformed the high school into a winter wonderland last week! Students and staff enjoyed themed dress-up days as well as activities and performances during lunch which was captured in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds"! Students are also taking a moment to help those in need by donating toys, winter gear and essential items for local organizations. The White Bear Press highlighted their efforts in this article.

Matoska International second grade teacher Shannon Sullivan, was recognized by the 4th District Veterans of Foreign Wars as The Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year. Her essay is advancing to the state level. In addition, three Central Middle School students were recognized at the event: Piper Wilding, the recipient of the Patriot's Pen award, along with Adiba Ahmady and Emmett Weaver also received recognition for their essays. 

Talented Bears

A mural is coming to life inside the art room at Area Learning Center. The project, which was captured in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds", started when senior Sophia Luna expressed determination to her art teacher to challenge herself and her classmates to produce a large-scale masterpiece. Sophia explained the vision for the mural was to design something that represents everyone at ALC. She incorporated different ideas suggested by students in the building when creating drafts of what the mural would show.  

Lakeaires Elementary fourth and fifth graders organized and hosted a Poetry Coffee House for their classmates and families! Students read their favorite original poems and selected a famous poet to share one of their written works. The event celebrates the end of their Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) Poetry Unit where students learned about different poetic devices and researched famous poets to get inspired when writing their own poems. The activity was highlighted in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

Willow Lane Elementary fourth graders are learning the basics of computer coding. Students applied their skills to design their own video game characters, animated them and built a video game world to play in! Get a closer look at the exciting lesson in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

Birch Lake Elementary third graders performed a history lesson for their classmates and families. Students showcased their understanding of their current literacy unit about ancient Rome and Julius Caesar. Their play was called "Betrayal at the Forum" and highlighted the final days of Julius Caesar. Students also answered questions from audience members about the ruler and time period. Their performance was highlighted in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

WBLAHS grad Mia Binsfield was highlighted in The Quad for her role in illustrating local author Kyle Manley's children's book "Skipper Finds Home." Manley told the paper, " Without Mia’s captivating and adorable illustrations, there would be no “Skipper Finds Home”. The way she adds texture, color, and emotion to Skipper is critical. The perspectives and depth in her illustrations really bring out the contrast and story." Read the full article here. 

The WBLAHS Performing Arts Center's stage was packed with middle and high school orchestra students as they joined together for a rehearsal ahead of their December 12 concert. The next performance in the PAC is set for Monday, December 16 when several choir groups take center stage for their concert.

Bears in Motion

White Bear Lake Area School Community Services and Recreation youth volleyball team, The Sassy Spikers, took home first place in the Northeast Youth Metro Volleyball League for grades 3-4. The group defeated various teams in the end-of-the-season tournament from White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi, Oakdale and Stillwater. 

Mr. Feirn and Mr. Nyrens Architectural Design and Civil Engineering Classes visited VAA Engineering in Plymouth. The high school students toured the engineering facility and learned firsthand the role of Architects and Engineers. They were given presentations on many local and global projects the company had designed. Students learned about education requirements and certifications needed to work at this level. Students used virtual reality goggles to walk through a few designs. They were also given a demonstration of a 360 scanner that measures actual room dimensions from one point of view.

High school juniors were in the driver's seat, exploring future possibilities. During the Test Drive Reality Fair, hosted by the Career Pathways program and Royal Credit Union, students learned how to maneuver through financial decisions for items like housing, insurance and food based on a career field and salary they chose. Students left the activity with a new understanding of how to navigate different real-world situations and insights about which direction they want to go after high school. Get a closer look at the activity in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds" and get a glimpse of the WBLAHS Career Pathways program here.

Kristie Holman, a Spanish teacher at Matoska International and Brita Larson, a Spanish teacher at North Star and Oneka Elementaries, presented at the MCTLC (Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures) fall conference. It took place at the University of Minnesota campus. Their session was titled Elementary Language Engagement and Language Input. It was very well received and the conference provided a great opportunity to connect with other elementary language teachers in Minnesota.

Speaking of impactful programs, White Bear Lake Area School's BARR (Building Assets Reducing Risk) program was recently highlighted in the White Bear Press. ISD624 is just the second district in the nation to have implemented the proactive program at the high school and middle school levels down to K-5 and Pre-K programming at three of the district's elementary buildings. Also, the Star Tribune recently highlighted the district's Elementary Spanish Dual Immersion Program, which is launching with kindergarten students next fall. Find information about the program here.

Mariner Middle Schoolers enjoyed a hands-on lesson in their Spanish class. Students demonstrated their understanding of several winter themed vocabulary words by listening to their teacher use it in a sentence and then attempting to draw it out! For an added challenge, students drew the words without looking at the paper!

The White Bear Senior Center hosted The Elves Workshop, featuring over 10 local Girl Scout Troops and Craft Corner Consignees. During the event, the Girl Scouts exhibited their entrepreneurial skills by selling handmade items such as baked goods, holiday decor, and bath scrubs from individual booths. The event provided a fun shopping experience, showcasing the importance of community support and the valuable skills gained by the Girl Scouts, including teamwork, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

 Activities Updates

The Boys Wrestling Team placed fifth of nine teams at the Tonka Turkey Tussle Tournament. Find more highlights here. At the Coon Rapids Invite, the Girls Wrestling Team saw Janet Demanou place first and Calli Lacktorin third in their respective divisions. Find additional information here. The Girls' Hockey Team defeated Wayzata 3-2 in overtime. Carlie Griffin scored the game winning goal and it was her first career goal as a Bear. Find game highlights here. The Boys Hockey Team left their matchup against Wayzata in a tie 1-1. Read more here. The Gymnastics Team won their season opener against Stillwater. They also placed fifth out of nine teams at their home invitational. Read more here. The Girls Basketball Team is 3-1 after defeating Irondale in a recent game. 

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.

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