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Three Mariner Middle School students demonstrated tremendous math skills during a state-wide competition held at St. Cloud State University on April 9. Chase Cortus placed first out of 281 seventh graders who participated. Eleanor Corrow and Brecken Humphrey also finished in the top 10% of seventh graders. As a team, they placed fourth out of 25 schools.

During the Minnesota State High School League Section 4AA Speech tournament on March 26, two WBLAHS students advanced to the State competition. Aryanna Charles was the Section Champion in Original Oratory and Valina Gatzke placed second in Discussion. The State tournament will take place on April 24 at Park Center High School. 

The following team members also qualified to compete at the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions (NIETOC) May 8-10 at Shakopee High School. To qualify, students must earn at least two bids by making it to the final round during specific NIETOC bid tournaments.

• Aryanna Charles - Original Oratory
• Elodie Dikeman - Dramatic Interpretation
• Mayar Musa - Original Oratory

The WBLAHS Speech Team is hosting their annual Showcase from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14 in the Mariner Middle School Auditorium. Come see the team in action and celebrate their state and national achievements!

2025 White Bear Lake Area High School graduate Andrew Klier earned second place in the college division of the Minnesota SkillsUSA Automotive competition. The contest assesses a wide range of automotive skills, including technical reading comprehension, diagnostic ability, and hands-on application. Andrew competed on behalf of White Bear Lake Area High School last year and built upon skills learned during his time in the Automotive Career Pathway to showcase his growth, perseverance and commitment to the trade to earn his impressive placement this year.

The White Bear Lake Area High School Robotics Team competed at the North Star Regional competition. The Bright Bears were awarded the Innovation in Control Award. The criteria for this team award looks at student responsible for developing the coding and controls the robot.

White Bear Lake Area High School senior Madelyn Lee was highlighted in the White Bear Press for her part in helping her team win the National USA Hockey Tier 1 19U Championship. The tournament took place at the end of March in Amherst, New York. Madelyn scored two goals and made three assists during the six-game series. 

Taking Center Stage

Vadnais Heights Elementary students also took center stage for their production of Shrek Kids: The Musical at Hanifl Performing Arts Center. Students had so much fun improving their public speaking and acting skills while learning what it takes to put on a musical performance. 

Lakeaires Elementary hosted students, staff and families during their annual Creativity Fair on April 1. The event , which was captured in a video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds", highlighted various works of art along with science and research projects. Several students also stepped onto the stage to showcase their musical talents.

Speaking of talented students, Oneka Elementary students and staff were treated to a music concert! Fourth graders showcased their many talents through singing and playing the recorder and xylophones. Before playing, students explained the techniques and skills they practiced in music class to learn and perform each piece. Watch their concert come to life in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". 

North Star Elementary students enjoyed the sights and sounds of Scooter City in their physical education class. 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! Check out the exciting activity in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

Paying it Forward

Student Ambassadors at Otter Lake Elementary completed a service project. They worked in groups putting together birthday bags to donate to the White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf. Each one contains cake mix, candles, frosting and a gift! See their project come to this in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". 

High school students and district staff members took on the Cool School Polar Plunge challenge, where proceeds from the fundraiser are donated to Special Olympics Minnesota. As part of the experience students and staff took turns jumping into the freezing cold mobile plunge tank which was captured in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". Over $23,000 was raised during the fundraiser. This activity was part of many that took place during Inclusion Week at the high school. 

Planning for the Future

Elementary schools across the district welcomed incoming kindergarten families for kindergarten celebration events last week. Families and students had the opportunity to meet staff and tour their future school buildings. Incoming students were also encouraged to “sign” a simple Letter of Intent—pledging to be kind, curious, and hardworking Bears—and take a photo at a themed signing station with a backdrop and “Class of 2039” sign! Those families who haven’t yet done so are encouraged to get enrolled today.

Dr. Kazmierczak hosted the final Middle School and High School Student Advisory group meetings for the school year. During the lunchtime meetings, which was highlighted in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds", students participated in a taste-testing activity and had important discussions with Dr. K and other district leaders. Meanwhile, Superintendent Kazmierczak's "Movers and Shakers" article, covering remarks shared by Dr. K at the conclusion of a comprehensive Building Our Future & Facilities Update presentation to the School Board, was recently published in the White Bear Press.

The White Bear Lake Area High School Career Pathways Program hosted the Interactive Army Medical Exhibit. Nearly 400 students visiting the exhibit to get a firsthand look at the intersection of medicine and technology. The exhibit provided a unique, hands-on environment. From exploring advanced field trauma equipment to engaging with sophisticated medical simulators, participants were able to see exactly how cutting-edge science is applied in high-stakes, real-world scenarios. Students were also able to learn about the diverse career pathways available in the medical field, ranging from nursing and surgery to research and army medicine. 

The Career Pathways program also partnered with the Construction Careers Foundation to participate in the WeBuild Initiative, a dynamic program designed to connect the next generation of builders with industry leaders. Students gained first hand insight into the vast world of construction and the skilled trades. They moved through stations learning and practicing the skills of drafting, framing and sheetrock, and electrical. Students got to learn from industry professionals at Opus, Horwitz, and Gardner about the variety of roles in construction, from management to specialized skilled trades. 

 Activities Updates

The Spring Sports and Activities Season has officially begun! Game times and schedules can be found on the Activities Page so you can cheer on all of our teams! Speech Team members Aryanna Charles was named Section Champion in Original Oratory and Valina Gatzke placed second in Discussion which qualified both to compete at the State torunament. Aryanna Charles, Elodie Dikeman and Mayar Musa are also competing at the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions. The Softball Team took home a win over Woodbury 4-3. The White Bear Press highlighted team achievements. The Boys' Tennis Team secured their first win during their season opener against Hill-Murray. Read match recaps written by the White Bear Press.

Hudl Ticketing is the exclusive provider of online tickets for all of our White Bear Lake Area High School home regular season athletic ticketing needs. 

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.

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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