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In Photos: Celebrating Achievements

Student News

Creative Mindset

At Area Learning Center, MAAP Stars students are thinking about their values and their goals related to careers as they prepare for the Spring Leadership Conference. As part of the process, students created inspirational word projects using pieces of license plates. The unique project was captured in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

Students at Lakeaires Elementary hosted a Glow Show in the art room for their classmates, families and district leaders. Art teacher Ms. Gregor taught each class the value of neon paint and paper when mixed with uv light. Students created various works of art based on their understandings. Some classes made sculptures while others painted the solar system or made jellyfish and monsters out of paper and other materials. Several classes also worked on "non-glow" projects which were displayed in the hallway. 

In other art news at Lakeaires, second graders in Ms. Humphrey’s class worked together and had fun using creativity to showcase their knowledge. They demonstrated their understanding of a recent CKLA lesson about nature, insects or U.S. History by sketching with paint markers or using modeling clay. All materials were gifted through the White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation’s Ryan Art Grant. Watch this lesson come to life in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

White Bear Lake Area High School, in partnership with Light in the Well, proudly presents A Day of Hope - a free, multi-sensory orchestra performance celebrating inclusivity and community. The White Bear Press recently highlighted the upcoming event, which is taking place from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, May 5 in the White Bear Lake Area High School Performing Arts Center. Please click here for more information. 

Several White Bear Lake Area High School students were highlighted in the White Bear Press for being named award winners of the White Bear Center for the Arts (WBCA) visual arts competition and the “WriteNow!” writing competition. The contests are open to northeast metro students in grades 9-12 and all works are on display at WBCA through May 16. 

Dr. Kazmierczak and district leaders hosted the final Middle School Student Advisory group meeting of the 2024-25 school year at WBLAHS. During the lunchtime meeting, students participated in a taste-testing activity and had discussions about next year school year and other student-based interests. The group also toured the high school, which was especially exciting for the eighth graders who will attend school there this fall. 

Exciting Recognitions

White Bear Lake Area High School seniors enjoyed a special lunch hour on May 1 for Decision Day: a fun event where students had the opportunity to showcase their future plans! Seniors took part in fun activities including taking selfies with Bear, enjoying a sweet treat and watching for their names to appear in a slideshow. Congratulations Class of 2025, and Go Bears!

Thirteen students from Otter Lake Elementary participated in the Math Masters of Minnesota Challenge. The problem-solving competition included both individual and team components. Jack McNeely placed second in the individual rounds and Roman Scherer placed seventh. Roman also placed second in the individual fact-drill portion of the competition. Lizzy Levin, Jack McNeely, Nathan Kruczek, and Aiden Souter placed sixth in the team event. Haley Levin, Ella Long, Roman Scherer, and Lukas Lee were on the ninth team and Tenley Knutson, Kara Stamp, Lucas Gohman, Gabe DeWitt, and Dash Baumler placed 21st. This year’s event included 135 student participants with 29 teams competing. 

WBLAHS student Jacob Pasiuk made it to the final cut for the technical theater career pathway, a prestigious award similar to the Triple Threat Award that is meant to highlight members of the Tech teams. Jacob is in the running for a trip to New York to cultivate his technical theater skills with Hennepin Theater Trust.

Mariner Middle School Language Arts teacher Carla Triggs was named White Bear Lake Area Educators' 2025 Teacher of the Year at an April 29 celebration and recognition ceremony. Triggs was chosen from an impressive slate of  finalists from throughout the district: Lubna Abu-Sharkh, Multilingual Educator, Willow Lake Elementary; Kelly Humphrey, Grade Two, Lakeaires Elementary; Katie Solem, Grade Four, Oneka Elementary; Kyle Lewis, Special Education, Otter Lake Elementary; and Sarah Treanor, Grade Four, Matoska International.

The WBLAHS Girls' Golf Team hosted the White Bear Lake Invitational last week at Oak Glen Golf Course. The team took second out of 12 teams! The top scorers for the Bears were Maddy Vang who shot 83, tying for seventh place and Elaine Eddicus who shot 87, placing 13th. Find more team highlights in this White Bear Press article. 

Mariner Middle School has been named a Gold Star Winner—the highest distinction—in the 2024-25 Star of Innovation Awards presented by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). The award honors schools across Minnesota for developing and supporting exemplary, innovative educational programs. Mariner earned the top recognition for its “Building Circle” initiative, a school-wide decision-making model that invites all staff members to serve as collaborative partners in problem-solving. Providing an alternative to the traditional leadership-level Building Leadership Team, Building Circle fosters inclusive dialogue, shared ownership, and a broad range of perspectives in shaping school decisions. Read more about this achievement here.

Earth Day Activities

Students from the WBLAHS Environmental Club visited the Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center. This field trip provided opportunities for teamwork and leadership development along with access to additional classes to further their knowledge of the environment. Students also took part in fun activities such as an obstacle course and and nature walk.

Students in the district's Transition Education Center and Project SEARCH programs attended the Saint Paul Saints game on Earth Day, April 22. Project SEARCH students practiced using public transportation by taking the light rail to the game, while all students had the opportunity to apply real-world skills in a fun, community-based setting. Students practiced ordering food and drinks, budgeting their money, navigating the stadium, and engaging in positive social interactions with peers and the public. The beautiful spring weather made it a perfect day to celebrate Earth Day outdoors, and the baseball game provided a meaningful way to build independence, confidence, and community awareness in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Speaking of Earth Day, students at Vadnais Heights Elementary participated in a variety of activities which were highlighted in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". Fifth graders learned about an environmental project happening near their building and in Bear’s Backyard, while first and third graders listened to a presentation and were given saplings to bring home and plant in their yards.

Alumni in the News

WBLAHS grads Astrid Scharff and Celia Fuhram were awarded a $1,000 scholarship for being named the winners of the annual Fashion Without Fabric runway show at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Their creation “Nature’s Recourse", was inspired by the Forest of Knives, a region of Madagascar notable for its knife-like limestone spires. They created a helmeted warrior armed with a shield and spiked flail, its back bearing a jagged model of the Forest of Knives’ topography. The fashion extravaganza featured wearable, sculptured costumes created by 120 teams composed of 258 students from 3D design classes. Each team was randomly assigned a phenomenon – natural or human-made – as a creative launching point. 

2012 WBLAHS grad Dylan Rugh, who plays Hans in the Children's Theatre Company’s (CTC) upcoming production of "Frozen," was recently highlighted in the White Bear Press. During his interview with the paper, Rugh said "I started doing shows right away my freshman year at White Bear Lake Area High School. I really have my mom to thank for getting my career in theater started, because she basically forced me to audition for the fall musical." 

Two WBLAHS grads are making names for themselves in the world of collegiate gymnastics. Lily Pederson was a key member of the University of Oklahoma Women's Gymnastics Team that claimed the 2025 NCAA National Championship. Find additional details here. On the men's side, Charlie Larson and his teammates from the University of Michigan took home the men's 2025 NCAA National Championship trophy. Read more about Larson's journey here. 

Also in the world of collegiate sports, 2024 WBLAHS graduate Jaeda Jensen was recently named to the Women's Lacrosse All-Freshmen Team by the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as they released their postseason awards. During her rookie year on the University of Detroit Mercy Women's Lacrosse team, Jensen was fifth on the team with 19 points and 15 goals, scored goals in four straight games and netted a hat trick during a match up against Presbyterian. Read more about her successful freshman season here. 

Igniting Passions and Learning New Skills

Transition Education Center students in the Work-based Learning program have been visiting their job sites throughout the semester. The program was highlighted in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". Some of their responsibilities include stocking shelves, checking expiration dates and rearranging products. This program teaches students important job skills such as customer service, communication and working with others.

Speaking of preparing for the future, high school students in the Education Pathways program are gaining new skills outside the classroom. The students, who are members of the Future Bear Educators group, are working with the district’s Extended Day program at Elementary and Middle School buildings. This opportunity, which was captured in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds", allows students to explore a career in education while earning college-level credits and receiving real-world experience. 

Birch Lake Elementary students eagerly laced and buckled up their rollerblades for a skating lesson in their gym class. They learned how to put on safety equipment, practiced balancing and skating with proper form all while smiling, laughing and encouraging each other as they mastered a new skill. See the exciting activity come to life in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

High school chamber orchestra students hosted a children’s concert and carnival on April 26! Community members enjoyed various carnival style games and prizes along with a performance from orchestra students in the Performing Arts Center. Attendees also had the opportunity to chat with the students about the program and learn about the different instruments in orchestra. Watch a sneak peek at their rehearsals in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

Youth Enrichment Classes

Looking for your child to experience a fun, skill-based sports class? DASH Sports has the perfect opportunity for you! Join one of our upcoming Soccer Skills classes! These fun, skill based classes will cover basic sports fundamentals and will include fun skill drills and games! . Participants will be active and involved in daily skill activities led by coaches with a passion for sports and working with children. So if you are looking for a fun, active sports experience, come and learn how to dribble, pass, shoot, and score! Find registration information here.

 Activities Updates

The Girls and Boys Lacrosse Teams both defeated Forest Lake during their recent match ups. The Girls Track & Field Team took home first place at a quad meet hosted at the WBLAHS Stadium. Find meet highlights here. The Boys Track & Field Team placed second at a 5-team home meet. Read more about their successes here. Kendall Kotzmacher hit a grand slam to help the Bears Softball Team win their recent game against Irondale. Find additional game information here. The Boys Tennis Team clipped North Branch 7-1. See how the individual and doubles partners competed in this article. The Girls Golf Team finished second at their home invitational. Read highlights 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.

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