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In Photos: Learning Adventures

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District Kudos

Tenth grader Brooklyn Brown was named DECA State Career Development Conference (SCDC) Champion in the Entry-Level Interview event. She is the first DECA State Champion in White Bear Lake Area High School history! Brooklyn advanced to the final round and delivered an outstanding performance, earning a perfect score of 100/100. This remarkable achievement reflects her exceptional preparation, professionalism and dedication. Brooklyn also qualified for the state competition in Start-Up Business Plan, where she partnered with senior Aviana Rider.

Senior Josie Guidinger was named the WBLAHS 2026 Athena Award winner and will attend the Athena Awards event at the St. Paul RiverCentre on April 15. This program recognizes top senior multi-sport athletes for their high school academic accomplishments and athletic career. Josie is a two sport athlete having lettered six times during her Alpine Ski career and three times while playing Tennis. Between the two sports, Josie was named All-Conference three times, All-Conference Honorable Mention twice, is a two time State qualifier and was captain for both teams. She also participates in the following school programs:

• Senior Class Officer
• Student Council Member
• National Honor Society Member
• Link Crew Leader
• Mentorship Club Member

Josie has earned multiple academic recognitions during her high school career including:

• A Honor Roll (all four years)
• Two-time President’s Education Award Recipient
• Academic Letter Recipient (all four years)

After high school, Josie plans to attend a four-year university to study aviation with the goal of becoming a commercial pilot and also plans to continue competing in collegiate ski racing.

WBLAHS seniors Hezazac Adams and Ethan Anderson were both recently featured as emerging artists by the White Bear Press. Hezazac specializes in Native American contemporary grass dance and performs at local events and across the midwest. Most recently he performed at a School Board meeting and during the Black Student Union Showcase. Ethan is a percussionist and composer. He has been lead stick on the White Bear Drumline three years running and earned four superior ratings at Minnesota State High School League’s Region 4AA Solo/Ensemble Contest.

The district's Nutrition Services Department recently received a School Lunch Honorable Mention Award in the Say Yes! to School Meals Photo Contest hosted by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). They earned the recognition for their photo of Chicken Tikka Masala which is offered to students in grades 6-12. Read more about their honor in this News Story. The contest is a fun way for MDE's Food and Nutrition Program division to celebrate and showcase the delicious and unique meals that Minnesota schools are serving.  Only four schools earned recognition in the contest.

In addition, Nutrition Services Specialist Brianna Caverzagie was selected to attend the 2026 School Nutrition Association Executive Leadership Program, held in partnership with the Georgetown McDonough School of Business. This prestigious program supports the development of emerging leaders in school nutrition, further strengthening the district’s capacity to serve students well.

White Bear Lake Area Schools is one of 31 districts that received a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) Assistance Grant from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to help implement their written and practiced cardiac emergency response plans beginning in the 2026-27 school year. In other district news, the White Bear Press recently published an article about a recent School Board update focused on the district's Elementary Spanish Immersion Program, which launched during the current 2025-26 school year and is currently enrolling kindergarten and first grade students for Fall 2026.

Exciting Opportunities

For the first time in a decade, the White Bear Lake Area High School Theatre Department will be performing a Spring Musical! They will be performing Dear Evan Hansen: The Broadway Musical, which was just released for rights this spring. With the rights just being released, White Bear Lake Area High School is the first high school in the area to produce the show. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on April 9, 10, and 11 and at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on April 12. Tickets are available online or at the door.

Preschoolers in the Early Childhood program at Tamarack Nature Center explored the world around them. Students collected sap from maple trees near their building and learned how it’s boiled down to make maple syrup. They even had the opportunity to sample the homemade syrup on waffles! See their activity come to life in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

High school students in an Automotive Career Pathway class were visited by guest speakers and mechanics from Buerkle Honda. The professionals walked students through the in’s and out’s when working with electric vehicles, safety procedures and answered their questions about the industry. They also demonstrated how to disconnect high voltage batteries. Check out their lesson in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

Hands-on Learning 

Fifth graders at Oneka Elementary made terrariums. The activity was highlighted in a video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". In their current science lesson, students are learning about ecosystems and how different environments thrive. They worked together to plant grass and alfalfa seeds and added a meal worm and leaves. Students are also using the scientific method to observe and record what happens to their terrariums over the next few weeks.

Fourth graders at Willow Lane Elementary are learning about the American Revolution - specifically the events surrounding the Boston Tea Party and taxation without representation. Students conducted an activity, which was captured in a video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds", where their teacher Ms. Simonette (who represented a British leader) taxed the class (who represented the American colonists) heavily for a cup of tea forcing the students to scramble together to figure out how they were going to afford it. In protest, the students dumped the tea out in the sink after receiving it.

Seventh Grade AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students at Central Middle School are thinking about their future plans. After taking the Ikigai test, which helps people discover their unique strengths and passions - students are sharing some of their results with classmates including what they are good at, their passions and top career options. See their lesson come to life in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

Every student at Vadnais Heights Elementary let their imaginations flow and connected with their classmates and teachers during Global Day of Play on March 27! The exciting day of unstructured play was captured in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". Throughout the day, students had so much fun spreading toys around the room, enjoyed various arts and crafts projects, played board games together and so much more.

Sixth graders at Mariner Middle School are moving and grooving as they wrap up a dance unit in their physical education class. Students learned classic line dances such as the Cupid Shuffle, Cotton Eye Joe and the Cha Cha Slide. This unit, which was highlighted in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds", taught students the importance of cardio health and measuring their heart rates during continuous exercise.

 Activities Updates

Tenth grader Brooklyn Brown was named DECA State Career Development Conference (SCDC) Champion in the Entry-Level Interview event. The White Bear Lake Area High School Theatre Department will be performing a Spring Musical - Dear Evan Hansen: The Broadway Musical in the Performing Arts Center April 9-12. Tickets are available online or at the door. Senior Josie Guidinger was selected as the WBLAHS Athena Award recipient. Read more about Josie and the award in this News Story. 

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.

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