Community e-Newsletter

January 4, 2026

In Photos: New Year, New Activities

Student News

Welcome to White Bear Month

It's January, and we're excited to welcome families in for "Welcome to White Bear" activities! Special events are planned for incoming early childhood, kindergarten, middle school and high school students. Find additional information on the Welcome to White Bear events page of the district's website.

Registration is now open for students entering kindergarten in Fall 2026! White Bear Lake Area Schools offers strong neighborhood school programs, and district-wide options for International Baccalaureate (IB) and Elementary Spanish Dual Immersion. Families who would like to experience our elementary schools in person are asked to join us at open house tours happening this week for incoming kindergarten families:

5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at Birch Lake Elementary, Oneka Elementary, Otter Lake Elementary and Willow Lane Elementary
4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at Matoska International
5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8 at Lakeaires Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, North Star Elementary and Vadnais Heights Elementary

RSVP FOR TOURS

Find complete information on the district's kindergarten webpage.

The district’s Building Our Future website page has a new addition – the 2025 video update. These project highlights have been pulled together each year, going back to 2020. The set of videos showcases the construction journey we’ve taken - and it’s fun to see just how far we’ve come! Speaking of our facilities, you can get a different view at all these updates in action by watching our early childhood, elementary, middle school and high school Experiences videos. Each video showcases the unique learning opportunities and activities Bears of all ages can take part in as they move through their educational journey in WBLAS. And as we prepare to return to school, we hope everyone enjoyed the wholesome advice shared in our Winter Break video - and were hopefully able to take part in a few of the tidbits offered up.

Mark Your Calendar

The 44th Annual Jazz Night Club event is taking place on Saturday, February 21st in the high school student union. Tickets will be available tomorrow, January 5, through February 10th on the Hudl app, which can be found linked on the Activities website under the Ticketing/Passes tab. This is always a terrific night to enjoy live music while supporting our students.

students and families dancing to live music

The White Bear Lake Area High School Danceline is hosting a clinic for elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade on Saturday, January 17. Students will learn what it’s like to practice with the Danceline and perform at a home basketball game that same evening! Follow these registration instructions. Participants must be signed up by January 8 for a guaranteed t-shirt.

screenshot of a flyer for an elementary danceline clinic

Speaking of fun activities, the Senior Center's January "TGIF - Thank Thank Goodness It's Food" lunch (featuring a lasagna meal from Donatelli's!) is happening on Friday, Jan. 23. Seniors should secure their spot by calling 651-653-3121 before January 16.

screenshot of a flyer for a food event at the Senior Center

Very soon, it will once again be the time to celebrate professional excellence as part of the White Bear Lake Area Educators’ Teacher of the Year program. Community members, families, students and colleagues are invited to submit nominations, which will open on Monday, Jan. 12 and will close at 4 p.m. Monday, February 9th. Once open, you can find complete information and the nomination form on the district’s website.

Wintertime Information

Now that we are well into winter, it is important to remember the emergency school closing information in case there is a need for it. If winter weather is so severe that schools need to close, start late or dismiss early, the news will be shared through local media outlets and district families will be alerted through:

A ParentSquare phone message and email. Those who have opted in to receive text messages will be alerted in that way as well.
A message will be posted on the district homepage.
Messages will be posted on the district's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Please make sure you don’t miss the notification. If you’ve had a recent change in your email or phone number, contact your child’s school to provide the updated information.

The recent snow and cold weather is a reminder to once again invite the community to use the high school field house walking track, which is open from 6-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The opportunity is free, and we ask those who participate to wear clean dry shoes.

Activities Updates

WBLAHS grad Wyatt Newpower was recently interviewed by TheAHL.com for an article that covers the Iowa Wild hosting the Milwaukee Admirals for a Jan. 23 game as a part of Hockey Day Minnesota 2026. The Boys Basketball Team defeated Champlin Park in a recent matchup. Find additional game highlights from the White Bear Press. The WBLAHS Danceline is hosting a clinic for elementary student on Saturday, January 17. Follow these registration instructions to secure your spot by January 8.

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. 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.

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

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Past Meeting Highlights

Dec. 8 Regular Session

Nov. 24 Work Session

Nov. 10 Regular Session

School Board News stories

District News

General Information

Family Notices

"Welcome to White Bear" - It's January, and we're excited to welcome families in for "Welcome to White Bear" activities! Special events are planned for incoming early childhood, kindergarten, middle school and high school students. Find additional information on the Welcome to White Bear events page of the district's website.
Calling all incoming 2026-27 kindergarten Bears! - Registration is now open for students entering kindergarten in Fall 2026! White Bear Lake Area Schools offers strong neighborhood school programs, and district-wide options for International Baccalaureate (IB) and Elementary Spanish Dual Immersion. Families who would like to experience our elementary schools in person are asked to join us at open house tours for incoming kindergarten families in January. RSVP for a tour here.
2025 Building Our Future Video - The 2025 update of the district’s Building Our Future facilities projects – made possible by our community’s support of the 2019 bond referendum – is now available on the district’s YouTube channel. This marks our sixth annual video update to the school community. This year’s video highlights work completed last summer at our middle schools and showcases ongoing construction that will allow the Early Childhood and Transition Education Centers to be housed at Sunrise Park beginning in Fall 2026. Additional updates and information about the Building Our Future facilities projects can be found at isd624.org/BuildingOurFuture.
New Registration System for Community Education & Recreation - As of December 1, registrations for White Bear Lake Area Schools Community Education & Recreation programs have moved to Arux, our new and improved system for account management, payments, and enrollment. Be sure to save our new web address: whitebear.arux.app. Find additional details here.
Academic Calendars - At the November 10, 2025 Regular School Board Meeting, the White Bear Lake Area School Board approved the following calendars. More information on the decision can be found in this news story.
- 2026-27 Academic Calendar
- 2027-28 Academic Calendar
ParentSquare "Digest" settings - Are you overwhelmed with the number of emails, texts and app notifications you are getting from ParentSquare? Set your notifications to Digest and you will receive one email and/or one text and/or one app notification providing access to all ParentSquare information at the end of the day. Note: If you receive notifications by email, you'll receive a daily digest email from your district and schools separately if there are posts that day.
- Set Your Notification Method in a Web Browser:
  - Go to www.parentsquare.com and log in.
  - Click your name in the upper right and select Manage Account.
  - Click Notification Settings.
  - Select Off, Instant or Digest for each type of notification (Email, Text, App), and for each school or district if there is more than one.
- See a video outlining this information here.
Bear Boards and More! - Bear Boards and More is now taking orders! The student-operated business based at the Transition Education Center, specializes in customized cutting boards and tumblers. Check out the links below to view some examples of finished products and to place an order.
- Examples of Cutting Boards
- Examples of Tumblers
- Cutting Board Order Form
- Tumbler Order Form
Application for Educational Benefits - Has Your Family’s Income Recently Changed? Many families are feeling the impact of furloughs, job losses, reduced federal contracts, or cuts to SNAP (food assistance) funding as a result of the federal government shutdown. Families can apply or re-apply for educational benefits at any time during the school year.
While school meals are free in Minnesota, educational benefits may help qualify your family for discounts and reduced fees on:
- Sports and Activity Fees
- College Application Fees
- Driver's Training
- Internet Access and Utility Bills
- AP Test Registration Fees and more!
  Apply today! Visit the Educational Benefits page of our website or contact nutritionservices@isd624.org for more information.
Emergency School Closings - If winter weather is so severe that schools need to close, families will be alerted in three ways as soon as a decision is made:
- A phone message and email will be sent to all guardians. A text message will be sent to those with texting capabilities.
- A message will be posted on the homepage of www.isd624.org.
- Messages will be posted on the District's Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Information will also be available on local media outlets.
  Make sure you don’t miss the call. If you’ve had a recent change in your email or phone number, contact your child’s school to provide the updated information.
  Find complete information here.
Quarter-Century of Finance Awards for White Bear Lake Area Schools - White Bear Lake Area Schools has once again earned top honors for financial reporting, marking the 25th consecutive year the district has received both the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting. See the press release here.
2026-27 FAFSA Form is Live – Don’t Miss Out on Aid! - The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is now open at fafsa.gov. Completing the FAFSA form is a key to accessing federal, state, and institutional financial aid that can help cover the cost of college or career training. We strongly encourage all students to complete the form as soon as possible. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of maximizing aid. If you need help or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your school counselor or college advisor.
Winter Farmers Market - The White Bear Lake Winter Farmers Market is moving from its location at Normandy Park to White Bear Lake Area High School. Stop by for locally grown produce and products, food trucks and more! Each market runs from 9 a.m - 1 p.m. and are taking place on January 10 and February 14. Find additional information here.
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.
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.
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!
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.

Awards and Honors

Community Education

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.

New Registration System for Community Education & Recreation - As of December 1, registrations for White Bear Lake Area Schools Community Education & Recreation programs have moved to Arux, our new and improved system for account management, payments, and enrollment. Be sure to save our new web address: whitebear.arux.app. Find additional details here.
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 Education & 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.
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.
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 is open and available to all students and families in need. Clothing, jackets, shoes, etc. Families need to connect to a building social worker, psychologist, nurse, or principal who can assist the family! As a reminder, the Closet has moved to the new District Center at Sunrise Park: 2399 Cedar Ave. Find additional information 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.

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

Partnership Updates

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 is open and available to all students and families in need. Clothing, jackets, shoes, etc. Families need to connect to a building social worker, psychologist, nurse, or principal who can assist the family! As a reminder, the Closet has moved to the new District Center at Sunrise Park: 2399 Cedar Ave. Find additional information here.
- We are selling Dippin Dots at all indoor and outdoor games/meets throughout the year! Come support the Foundation!
- We are Hiring! - White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation is now hiring for a part time office administrator. Learn more: https://www.wblaef.org/career.
Bear Care
- The Bear Care Health and Wellness Clinic is located at WBLAHS but available to all district families. The clinic also offers Nutrition Counseling. See a flyer for this new service here.