Community e-Newsletter

August 31, 2025

At White Bear Lake Area Schools, providing safe, nurturing learning environments is central to our mission. Safety continues to be a top priority across our district. Our staff are trained in comprehensive safety protocols, and we regularly practice emergency drills with students to ensure everyone knows how to respond in a crisis. In addition, we’ve made important updates to our building security systems to help us monitor and respond to potential concerns more effectively.

We are also fortunate to have strong partnerships with our local law enforcement and first responders. This summer, they conducted training exercises in our buildings to support their preparedness and strengthen our shared commitment to safety.

Families can learn more about district wide efforts to provide safe and secure learning environments, including the Standard Response Protocols, at our Safety & Security web page.

As we look ahead to the start of the school year, there’s so much excitement in the air. You’ll see our staff warmly welcoming students in key areas around our schools and members of our district leadership team will be on-site as well, offering extra support during the first week to ensure a smooth, positive start for everyone.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. We’re looking forward to a safe and successful year ahead.

In Photos: Go Bears!

ParentVUE is our system for student information like demographics, schedules, attendance, grades and more. It will be used for the 2025-26 Annual Family Update.

Synergy Annual family Update Instructions

Student News

Ready for the New School Year

New educators gathered together for a 2-day orientation that included time at their buildings, sessions with district leaders to get to know White Bear Lake Area Schools, and (of course) an opportunity to practice their "Go Bears" cheer! Welcome to White Bear, new educators!

Staff members from throughout the district gathered at the WBLAHS Stadium to kick off the 2025-26 school year last week's Opening Convocation event! Attendees enjoyed a variety of booths with helpful information, reconnected with their coworkers through meaningful conversations, student performances and brief remarks from their colleagues.

WBLAS Nutrition Services hosted their annual back-to-school staff event in partnership with North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Nutrition Services. Over 150 nutrition services staff attended. They spent the morning covering topics like safety training with Kevin Klecker, Civil Rights training, and Sanitation training provided by the Ramsey County Health Inspectors. They finished the morning with a very funny motivational speaker, Amy Dee, who got everyone energized and ready for the school year! Meanwhile, our Elementary Spanish Dual Immersion program staff were hard at work training and preparing for the new school year. The program, launching this fall, will be offered at Matoska International and Otter Lake Elementary. Learn more about the program here.

Speaking of our Nutrition Services staff, they are gearing up for another year of providing and serving students and staff delicious and healthy lunches! Last week, high school staff invited Chef Rebecca Polson to stop by the kitchen to learn a few new recipes and tested out their rotisserie oven, cooking local turkey from Ferndale Farms in Cannon Falls, MN! Through hands-on practice, our high school cooks honed their skills in knife work, pickling, marinading, creating authentic spice blends and more. Their hard work culminated in a fun, scratch-made Mediterranean menu served to our high school staff.

When we begin school in September, families, staff and community members are invited to share back-to-school pictures (along with why they are excited for the school year) on Facebook and Instagram with a #BackToSchoolBears hashtag for a chance at being featured in a September Community e-Newsletter. Photo entries may also be emailed to us at communications@isd624.org. Don't forget to check out the Back to School page of the district's website, which contains important reminders for families as we begin the 2025-26 school year.

Mark Your Calendar

Families and community members are invited to enjoy Homecoming events the week of September 21 starting with the Homecoming Carnival! Attendees can enjoy a bounce house for all ages, carnival booths and prizes, live music, food and so much more! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the event which is taking place from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21 at WBLAHS in the Bald Eagle Parking Lot near the Stadium. Looking for new or more Bear Wear apparel? Check out the online ROAR store to find a variety of clothing options for Bears of all ages! The store closes September 24.

Get ready to bike ride for a great cause! The Bear Bike Ride is happening on Sunday, September 21. Starting from White Bear Lake Area High School, choose from 9, 25, or 50-mile routes, plus a kids' ride around the middle school and high school campuses! Donations are welcomed but registration is free. All proceeds go directly to youth sports and activity scholarships, helping students with registration fees. Can't ride? You can still make a difference by donating! Register today or click here for additional details.

The White Bear Lake Area High School's Fall Musical production has been announced! Students will perform "Cinderella," Nov. 14-15 and Nov. 20-22 at the White Bear Lake Area High School Performing Arts Center (PAC). This will be the first high school Fall Musical production performed in the PAC. Those who wish to audition for the Fall Musical can find information here.

Speaking of productions, Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts is performing the play Annie Jr. at White Bear Lake Area High School. Show dates are Sept. 11-14. Find tickets and additional information here.

Outdoor Fun

Students at Otter Lake Elementary will have some new playground equipment to enjoy this school year! The school's playground underwent renovations this summer to accommodate a new inclusive playground which opened earlier this month.

Players and coaches from the White Bear Lake Area High School Varsity Football Team welcomed local youth football players and their families for a Unity Night. The younger players learned new exercises and participated in drills with the older players. Following a group photo, the varsity players enjoyed meaningful conversations with the younger players and signed a few autographs!

Our staff members are terrific at capturing the moment and sharing their pics with our Communications Office. THREE district staff members captured striking photos of the high school (in front of a beautiful backdrop!) last week.

Bears in the News

White Bear grad and local lawmaker Elliott Engen's passion for baseball, and his time at the plate for WBLAHS, were highlighted in a recent White Bear Press article. For the past four years, Engen has played for White Bear Township while serving District 36A in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He was quoted in the paper saying, “I’ve loved the competition and the camaraderie of baseball at every level,” said Engen, who suits up for WBT whenever he can. Duty frequently intervenes: “We get called in for special sessions, and there’s town halls, market tests, and hearing from constituents. And (the legislature) is my first priority.”

Jen Sexauer has been named the next principal of Willow Lane Elementary. Jen comes to White Bear from Lincoln Center Elementary, where she has served as assistant principal since 2023. She is also an adjunct professor at Concordia University’s Department of Education master’s program. Find the full press release here and get to know our new principal by watching this introductory video!

The White Bear Lake Rotary Club has a new president - White Bear grad Derrek Skeie. In a White Bear Press article, Skeie told the paper, “What I would like is to get out our message: what we’re doing in our community and what we’re doing across the planet to help others,” he said. “At the same time, I’d also like to try to grow our membership and expose others to what we’re doing. It’s finding that group of individuals that are willing to give the time, money and all things that go along with it.”

Activities Updates

The Girls Swim & Dive Team opened their season with a win over Park High School 96-82. Find highlights here. The Football Team also won their home opener against Park. Read game play-by-plays here. The Girls Volleyball Team defeated Hutchinson 3-2. Learn more here. The Girls Tennis Team won their match over Totino-Grace 4-3. Find highlights here. The Girls Soccer Team won their first two games of the season before tying Mahtomedi 1-1. Read more game details here.

Hudl Ticketing will be the exclusive provider of online tickets for all of your White Bear Lake Area High School home regular season athletic ticketing needs. Find games and purchase tickets 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.

School Board News

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Past Meeting Highlights

Aug. 25 Work Session

Aug. 11 Regular Session

Jul. 14 Regular Session

School Board News stories

District News

General Information

Family Notices

Spring MCA Results - Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) results were released last week. Overall, White Bear Lake Area Schools scores remain above statewide proficiency levels in reading and math. See the District News post here.
MDH Radon Poster Contest - The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is hosting the 2025 Radon Poster Contest! Students in grades 4-8 can submit posters now through Friday, Nov. 14. This is a great way for kids to get creative and learn about radon. Find contest rules, prizes and how to submit here.
2025-26 Transportation Opt-Out Form - To help improve service for all students, we’re working to identify those middle school students who will not be using bus transportation next year (2025-26). If your middle school student(s) will not ride the bus – whether in the morning, afternoon, or both – we ask that you complete and submit the 2025-26 Transportation Opt-Out Form.
2024 Graduation Rates - The 2024 graduation rate at White Bear Lake Area High School is 96.5%, topping the state rate by 12.3 percentage points and up three percentage points from last year, in data released yesterday by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Read the full press release here.
Hosting an International Exchange Student - During the 2025-2026 school year, White Bear Lake Area High School will be hosting international exchange students sponsored by the White Bear Lake Rotary Club. The Rotary Club is looking for two more host families to help create an unforgettable experience for these students! If you are interested in hosting or learning about the program, find more information here or contact Tim Wald at 651-238-2484.
Screen at Three - The District's Early Childhood Program has free "Screen at Three" screening dates available this spring and summer. This important step is required for all children and supports readiness for kindergarten while promoting health and development. Find additional information in this Screening flyer.
2025-26 Preschool Registration - Preschool registration is now open! We offer a safe and nurturing environment for a child’s first school experience away from home in our four star (highest possible rating) Parent Aware rated programs! Find more information on the Early Childhood page of the website.
2025-26 Kindergarten Registration - Registration is open for students entering kindergarten in Fall 2025! We offer strong neighborhood school programs and district-wide options with IB and dual immersion. Find more information on the Kindergarten page of the website!
Community Education and Recreation Summer Catalog - Registration for Community Education and Recreation classes is now open! Enjoy activities and events for Bears of all ages from arts and crafts to youth sports to STEAM based learning opportunities. Find more information here.
Educational Benefits Application - The Educational Benefits Application may help your student qualify for benefits including reduced sports/activity fees, discounted internet access, discounted AP test registration fees and college application fees! Also, applications help our school receive extra state and federal funding.publications. Find complete information here.
Bear Care Clinic - The Bear Care Health and Wellness Clinic is located at WBLAHS but available to all district families. Find more information about their services and to make an appointment here.
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.
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, Instagram 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!

Awards and Honors

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

Recognitions - The following school- and employee-related recognition days are happening in September:

September - Minnesota School Board Recognition Month
Sept. 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month begins
Sept. 21-27 - Homecoming week

Community Services

The WBLAS Community Education 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, with multiple opportunities for community members of all ages, can be found here!
Digital Backpack - The Community Education 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
- We've Moved! - The Senior Center is now located at District Service Center offices at Sunrise Park, 2399 Cedar Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110.
- 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.

We've Moved! - The Senior Center is now located at District Service Center offices at Sunrise Park, 2399 Cedar Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110.
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

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.

The Closet at Sunrise - The Closet, located at the newly renovated District Service Center at Sunrise Park (2399 Cedar Avenue, WBL) is officially open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. by appointment only. If someone would like to access The Closet, they need to contact a building principal, social worker, psychologist, or nurse who is able to contact the Foundation to line up a time to visit. New or gently used donations will be accepted beginning September 8 and can be dropped off Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Find more information and a complete list of items needed here or email info@wblaef.org.

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.