Community e-Newsletter

In Photos: Summertime Activities

Student News

Go Bears!

We had so much fun seeing students, families and community members who stopped by 4th street during the White Bear Lake Area Schools Spirit Night at Marketfest, visiting the various district and student-led booths and participating in the "Orange Out" photo! Stop by our orange tent (on 3rd street) for temporary tattoos, pencils and conversation during the summertime event in downtown White Bear Lake on July 24 and 31.

The Senior Center hosted their annual BBQ with the Lion's Club and community members! The fun event was filled with smiles laughter, great conversation and delicious food. The Senior Center will be closed July 21-25 as the program moves from its current location to District Service Center at Sunrise Park. The Senior Center will officially open at its new location on 2399 Cedar Ave in White Bear Lake on Monday, July 28. We look forward to seeing everyone and enjoying the new space!

District leaders and WBLAS staff were on hand during a recent White Bear Lake Rotary Club event where they accepted a donation from the group. The funds were given to Matoska International and Willow Lane for their work and commitment to the organization H2O for Life. 

Incoming ninth graders Claire Landucci and Brianna Luxem are teammates on the first all girls 14U baseball team in Minnesota. The team is sponsored by the Minnesota Twins and were honored during their game on July 13. KARE 11 News highlighted the team's successes during their Women in Sports segment as well as their up coming national tournament in Reno, Nevada. 

Working Together

Students at Oneka Elementary are enjoying creative, collaborative and engaging activities together! One fun project they took part in was making their own keychains! They used leather and stamped different designs to make their creations. Students also spent time outside together for Wheels Day! They rode bikes, scooters and roller bladed around the building!

Students at Otter Lake Elementary are also having fun outside enjoying various activities and games together including playing a round of kickball in their orange Community Services & Recreation t-shirts! The school's playground is currently undergoing renovations to accommodate a new inclusive playground which is expected to be open later this summer!

We continue to hire for the 2025-26 school year. We need substitute teachers, bus drivers, paraeducators, Extended Day and Nutrition Services staff members and more! We offer competitive wages, flexible work hours, and a chance to make a difference for kids in our community. Find job postings on the website under Employment.

The WBLAHS Speech Team is looking for volunteers to participant in the Little Fair Hands exhibit at the State Fair on Sunday, August 24, as part of a fundraiser. Shifts are 3 hrs and 30 minutes long and start at 7 am, 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm. The easy and fun work involves interacting with kids as they go through the exhibit and other light tasks. All who volunteer will receive a FREE ticket to enjoy the Fair before or after their shift. Kids as young as 13 can help. Those who are interested in helping out are asked to complete this Google form.

Alumni Highlights

WBLAHS grad Charlie Larson was recently highlighted in the White Bear Press for his role in helping the University of Michigan Wolverines win the NCAA gymnastics title this spring. He placed seventh on floor with two teammates finishing fifth and sixth. In the article Larson said, "If I had not stuck that dismount, we would not have won. It’s crazy how our win came down to every single tenth … that’s what made our win so exciting. It was a fight to the very end. We gave every ounce of ourselves." Speaking of former Bear athletes, 2022 WBLAHS grad Derrick Smith was recently drafted by the MLB's Colorado Rockies! Smith most recently pitched for North Carolina State University were he helped clinch the Pack’s spot in the 2024 College World Series.

White Bear grad Kali Berken was recently highlighted in The Lowdown for custom-made baked goods she sells through the "Little Sweeties Bakery" business she runs out of her home. Kali told the paper, she prides herself on making baked goods for anyone while putting a spin on classic desserts saying, “I like to keep in the trend, but I also like to throw in things that maybe nobody’s ever heard of, like a maple bacon cupcake. It’s a cinnamon cupcake with maple buttercream frosting, and then I top it with some bacon. You don’t normally hear that; it’s something different, but it’s actually really, really good!” Speaking of alumni owned businesses, the Duluth News Tribune recently published an article about First Defense K9 LLC, a company owned by WBLAHS graduate Austin Schaefer, for the security work they provided on the set of a feature film that was shot in Ely, MN.

The family of Don Glover, former teacher and WBLAHS Hall of Fame Coach, shared some fun photos with us as preparations were being made for his 80th birthday and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Mariner High School Track & Field Team. The team and Coach Glover won the high school state track meet that year. 

Mark Your Calendar

 Activities Updates

Registration is open for the Fall Sports Season for middle and high school student-athletes. Find details here. Members of the Trap & Skeet Team placed second in the State tournament. Several members also competed in the USA Clay Target Trap Nationals held in Michigan. Jinet Demanou of the Girls Wrestling Team and Jake Simpkins of the Boys' Wrestling Team both competed in the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U National competition in Fargo, ND. Bear Care is offering summer sports physicals for student-athletes. Find more information here. 2022 WBLAHS grad Derrick Smith was recently drafted by the MBL's Colorado Rockies. The White Bear Press recently highlighted WBLAHS grads who competed at the collegiate level during the 2024-25 school year in a variety of sports. The White Bear Lake Legion Baseball Team won three of four games in the Gopher Classic in Woodbury and is 16-4 heading into playoffs this week. Find additional details on their season successes 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. 

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