Community e-Newsletter

May 10, 2026

In Photos: Bears in Motion

photo collage of white bear lake area school students and staff enjoying various activities both indoors and outdoors

Student News

District Kudos

White Bear Lake Area High School Language Arts teacher Dr. Katelin Held was named White Bear Lake Area Educators’ 2026 Teacher of the Year at a Celebration and Recognition event. The program was highlighted in a video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". Dr. Held was chosen from an impressive slate of 6 finalists: Alison Davies, Grade 2 at Matoska International; Joe Foster, Grade 3 at Vadnais Heights Elementary; Erin Samuels, Grade 3 at Matoska Internaional; Amanda Vernon, Mathematics teacher at WBLAHS; and Cindi Swenson, Multi-Language (ML) teacher at WBLAHS.

A smiling woman is pictured in the foreground, with the text "Congratulations!" and her name and affiliation in the background, all under the banner "2026 WBLAE Teacher of the Year".

White Bear Lake Area High School grad Ryan Carter has been hired as the new Head Coach of the Girls' Hockey Team. The former NHL player, a successful coach and Minnesota Wild broadcaster, helped the Bears reach the high school state hockey tournament as a player in 2001. Read more about Carter's impressive professional career in this district News Story.

photo of an adult holding a hockey stick in a Minnesota Wild locker room with the text "Ryan Carter WBLAHS Girls' Hockey Coach" in the background.

Three students from White Bear Lake Area High School's highly lauded Fall Musical have earned the Triple Threat Award in the prestigious Hennepin Arts Triple Threat Competition. Ethan Christensen, Holly Flood and Eli Murphy will now be competing in a Spotlight Showcase vying for one of 4 spots to fly to New York City for a Broadway Experience trip and a chance to compete again at the national-level. A total of five students were in the running (including Lucas Maahs and Oliver Grawe) representing the largest number of WBLAHS students to reach this stage of the process in many years. Meanwhile, violinist Evan Smejkal has become the first WBLAHS student to earn a spot in the Hennepin Arts Spotlight Showcase Orchestra. Congratulations to all students!

six high school student school photos lined up in two rows of three

Three White Bear Lake Area High School students took home first place in round one of the Make48 competition, competing against high school teams in the metro area. Make48 is a fast-paced invention competition where teams have a certain amount of time to come up with an idea, build a working prototype, and pitch it to judges - all based on a real-world challenge from a sponsoring company. Logan Blalock, Ben Bower and Jack Firkus created a product called Blowkus - a name created using parts of all their last names. The prototype was made to help power line workers grip onto the wire’s bolts and nuts instead of just using the gloves which was a struggle for them. The students toured the Xcel Energy facility in Hugo and through conversations with power line workers and employees, they came up with this idea. The team will now participate in the National Competition at UW-Stout this summer where they will only have 48 hours to create and design a brand new idea.

Three high school students stand in front of a white staircase with a presentation board detailing a product for electrical linemen in the background.

Central Middle School seventh graders Jackson Merryfield and Parker Yang earned second place in the state-wide “Escape the Vape” contest, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Health. Their video submission, “Do Vapers Lie?”, was selected as one of the top five middle school entries across the state – an impressive achievement. From there, their project advanced to the final voting round, where they secured an incredible second place finish.

Hands-on Learning

Willow Lane Elementary fifth graders “took over” local restaurant Donatelli’s in White Bear Lake working as the cooks, servers and hosts over the lunch hour. Their shift was captured in a recent video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". Students will be there again from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on May 19, 26, and June 2. Stop by for terrific student service!

photo collage of elementary students working in a restaurant as cooks, servers and hosts

High school students raced bottle cars in their chemistry class. The goal of the project was to design a car using plastic bottles and other materials that will travel at least ten feet. To help the car propel forward, students also utilized a chemical reaction from citric acid and baking soda. Watch their lesson come to life in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

a high school student stands by a table working on a plastic bottle car model

Fourth graders at Willow Lane Elementary channeled their inner designer to create shoe art! Students drew inspiration from different sources including their favorite candy, sports and seasons to plan a blueprint before drawing their creations on a life sized shoe. Their lesson was highlighted in a video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

an elementary student sits at a table in an art classroom drawing a shoe design

Community and Musical Experiences

The district was represented at White Bear Lake’s Touch-A-Truck event this week, with students and families having fun checking out the Nutrition Services truck and a yellow school bus. Our Early Childhood Program was also on-hand with activities for students to enjoy. Enjoy snippets from the event in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

photo collage of young students enjoying art projects, apples and touring a school bus at a community event

“Pride & Prejudice” will be performed May 22-24 at the WBLAHS Theater. Tickets are available on the Activities page. Please scroll to select your desired show date. Directed by Anna Haselmann, this isn’t your grandmother’s Austen! Bold, surprising, boisterous, and timely, this P&P for a new era explores the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life. The outspoken Lizzy Bennet is determined to never marry, despite mounting pressure from society. But can she resist love, especially when that vaguely handsome, mildly amusing, and impossibly aggravating Mr. Darcy keeps popping up at every turn?! Literature’s greatest tale of latent love has never felt so theatrical, or so full of life than it does in this effervescent adaptation. Because what turns us into greater fools…than the high-stakes game of love?

Silhouetted profiles of a man and woman, with "Pride and Prejudice" written in white across their faces and a red heart between them, are set against a white background.

Students at Lakeaires Elementary were visited by a special guest musician, Dr. Soojin Lee, who is an artist in residence at MacPhail Center for the Arts. During their music class, students learned different interactive games associated with Korean songs. Dr. Lee also taught students about the instrument gayaheum and played several songs and melodies. Watch their lesson come to life in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

a professional musician sits in front of an elementary music class playing an instrument

White Bear Lake Area High Schools students were featured as the musical opener and participated on a student panel at a state-level school communicators conference (Minnesota School Public Relations Association) April 29-30. They performed songs from this year’s Fall Musical, Cinderella, and provided their insights about what fosters inclusion and belonging. Watch snippets from their participation in this video issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds".

two high school students dressed in ball gowns stand on stage singing to a crowd

Activities Updates

The WBLAHS Theatre Department will perform“Pride & Prejudice” May 22-24 at the WBLAHS Theater. Tickets are available on the Activities page. Please scroll to select your desired show date. The Girls' Golf Team finished fourth out of eight times during a recent tournament. The Girls' Track and Field Team hosted their True Team Sections meet and placed second. Find meet highlights in this White Bear Press article. The Boys' Track and Field Team took third place at True Team Sections. Read more about their individual and team successes in this White Bear Press article. During their final regular season match-up, the Boys' Tennis Team defeated Irondale 7-0. The Girls' Lacrosse Team secured an impressive 20-9 win over Mounds View. The Softball Team topped the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders 8-1. The Girls' Flag Football Team is having a great inaugural season wining several of their last games including against Stillwater and Mahtomedi.

The nomination window for the 2026 WBLAHS Alumni Wall of Fame process is closing Friday, May 15. Nominate a graduate who shows a commitment to striving for excellence in career pursuits and/or community service, including a dedication to life-long learning and qualities of a positive role model who has motivated others to achieve their highest potential.

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.

School Board News

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Past Meeting Highlights

Apr. 27 Work Session

Apr. 13 Regular Session

Mar. 23 Work Session

School Board News stories

District News

General Information

Family Notices

billboard image with elementary students and enrollment text

Manitou Days Writing Contest - Every year, White Bear Lake Areas Schools teams Manitou Days committee sponsors a writing contest for White Bear elementary and middle school students. This year’s theme is “Bears on Blades," celebrating 100 years of the Hippodrome. Contest participants could win $50 from the Rotary Club and other special recognition! To learn more please see this Manitou Days Writing Contest flyer. Electronic or paper entries may be submitted on or before Friday, May 22. In honor of this year's theme, some ways students are invited to write about this topic are:
- Why it is special that this 100-year-old building is still used and valued by our community,
- memories involving the Hippodrome or other buildings from that time period, or
- why the Hippodrome or other buildings from that time period are special.
Meal Account Balance Refunds and Transfers - Funds remaining in your student's account at the end of each school year will roll over to the next school year. If your student is graduating or moving out of the district please complete the Request for Refund form. If you would like money transferred to a sibling, please indicate so on the form. Requests can also be made through paper copies of the form.
Bear Boards and More! - Looking for a meaningful gift for an upcoming holiday or special occasion? Bear Boards and More is now taking orders! The student-operated business based at the Transition Education Center, specializes in customized cutting boards, tumblers, coasters and Jenga game sets. Through this initiative, students gain hands-on experience running a school-based business, including design and production, customer service, and concepts such as supply and demand and profit and loss. Check out their work and find order form information.
2025 WBLAHS Graduation Rate - White Bear Lake Area High School's 2025 graduation rate is the highest in the area. The 2025 reported graduation rate at WBLAHS is 97.32%, topping the state rate by 12.38 percentage points and increasing by 0.80 percentage points from last year, according to data released today by MDE. This rate surpasses all neighboring districts – and even those traditionally ranked among the highest in the Twin Cities.
ParentVUE app - Synergy has a new StudentVUE and ParentVUE app available. Parents may get the message below when using the ParentVUE app on their phones. We added instructions for using the new app on the ParentVUE page on our website. The current StudentVUE and ParentVUE apps will be deprovisioned over the summer.
Calling all incoming 2026-27 kindergarten Bears! - Registration is 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.
2026-27 Preschool Registration - Registration for the district's 2026-27 preschool programs are 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.
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.
2025 Annual Update - The 2025 Annual Update electronic was published on the district's website in December and is available in print at district buildings!
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.
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 on the Emergency School Closing page of the district's website.
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.
- Watch an explanation video outlining this information and more.
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.
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 this press release for more information.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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 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.

Community Education and Recreation Summer Catalog - The Summer 2026 Community Education Catalog is now available. The catalog highlights enrichment and recreation opportunities available for all ages. It also includes Bear’s Bulletin, which covers district news and updates.
2026-27 Preschool Registration - Registration for the district's 2026-27 preschool programs is 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.
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.

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.

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

ISD 624 does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including in employment. Complete information in SB Policy 522.

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