Community e-Newsletter

In Photos: A Busy September

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Student News

Lessons learned

White Bear Lake Area Schools middle schoolers are diving into the first unit of their new math curriculum. For one specific lesson, students learned a math concept on Day 1. They then reviewed the lesson on Day 2 before moving around the room to practice solving equations in pairs. The lessons and group learning exercise can be seen in this "The Week in 62.4 Seconds" video.

Another creative experience is happening throughout the district at our elementary schools. Tonya Flower, our district’s American Indian Education Program Coordinator, met with a group of students at North Star Elementary this week for their first lesson of the school year. The group of students got to know each other a bit before listening to the Orange Shirt Story while they colored pictures of orange shirts for ourselves. The experience was covered in a recent issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds". The important lesson will continue, with Orange Shirt Day activities happening at the high school.

White Bear Lake Area High School hosted a Manufacturing, Engineering & Robotics Open House this week. Students, families, community members and industry professionals explored the high school’s Career and Technical facilities, and they discovered how White Bear students are advancing in technical innovation and hands-on engineering. Live Robotics Team demonstrations were also running through the evening. See the action in video in this week's "The Week in 62.4 Seconds" video.

Willow Lane Elementary fourth and fifth graders came together in the gymnasium recently to experience team building activities and start their school year with a strong multi-age classroom community. The students completed physical tasks that required them to work together and communicate as a team. See the teambuilding in action in this "The Week in 62.4 Seconds" video.

Principal Dan Schmidt and students at North Star Elementary recently welcomed a special school visitor. While the group was outside during the afterschool Bear Adventure Club program, they came across a salamander. After a quick hello with the creature, the students relocated the amphibian to the pond located on the school’s property.

Community members are invited to serve as interviewers for WBLAHS's Mock Interview Day on Thursday, Oct. 1. The activity is the culmination of a unit that helps tenth grade students identify their personalities, strengths, and areas of growth. The students create professional documents, such as resumés and cover letters, and are coached on basic interviewing skills. The final task is a live in-person mock interview. Adult interviewers will provide students with feedback on their professional verbal and nonverbal communication. Community members who would like to join us to interview are encouraged to sign up to volunteer.

Topping the charts

White Bear Lake Area High School Band members were amongst the 1300 high school students who performed at the University of Minnesota's High School Band, Cheer, & Dance Day last weekend at the Gophers' Huntington Bank Stadium. The musicians played five hyped-up hits during the halftime performance. In other Gopher-related music news, 2026 Graduate Lily DeWitt is currently attending the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities as a Music Education major. She recently auditioned for U of M orchestral ensembles and was selected to the University Symphony Orchestra, the top University of Minnesota orchestral ensemble. Lily is the first ever White Bear Lake High School graduate to be selected for this highly competitive group. The ensemble performs multiple concerts a year, as well as for all operas the U of M produces.

The team of three White Bear Lake Area High School students who competed at the Make48 National competition won the People's Choice Award. The honor is voted on during the 48-hour invention society's event by peers, attendees and online audiences and is given to a project that showcases creativity, ingenuity or is a favorite prototype. The students earned their spot at Nationals by earning first place at the Make48 Regional competition that took place in July.

WBLAHS seniors James Colby and Haaken Lein recently learned they are Semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for about 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $24 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.  Seniors Connor Jamieson and Gretchen Leder also learned they were named Commended Students, placing among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2027 competition by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

The White Bear Lake Area High School Fall Musical is always a fan favorite, and it's back again this year with a quintessential golden-age musical comedy. Tickets for the high school's production of Hello, Dolly! will be on sale to the public on Oct. 1. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 13-14 and Nov. 19-21, and 2 p.m. on Nov. 14. Find complete information in October at www.isd624.org/theatre.

Coming back

The class of 1966 recently toured White Bear Lake Area High School during their 60th Reunion weekend. The classmates, who were members of the second class to graduate from the former "round" school, reportedly were impressed by the facilities that have changed quite a bit since their time in high school. They were also excited to recognize many familiar faces during a stroll through the Hall of Fame. Individual graduating classes keep connected through websites and social media pages. Individuals from a graduating class provide information linked on the school's Alumni Association page.

Lincoln Elementary students and families welcomed one another back as they gathered for Pizza on the Playground this week. The event is a fun gathering that the school students and families enjoy as school kicks off each year, even during years when the occasion requires an umbrella. The free get-together gives families a chance to meet one another and celebrate the Lincoln Elementary school community. The gathering was featured in this week's issue of "The Week in 62.4 Seconds."

A WBLAHS Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place at Friday's Varsity Football game vs. East Ridge. Inductees were WBLAHS grads Angie (Hopkins) Neihart and Jeff Parker. Neihart is a 1990 WBLAHS grad who earned a total of eleven letters while competing in Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball and Softball. She went on to compete at Augustana and she continues to serve in coaching roles. Parker is a 1983 White Bear Lake Mariner High School grad who found success in soccer, golf and especially hockey. He played hockey at Michigan State and professionally from 1986-1991. He passed away in 2017. Find additional information about all Hall of Fame inductees on the high school's Hall of Fame page.

The fun week of Homecoming 2026 events will begin on Sunday, October 4. A Bounce House Carnival will give Bears of all ages the chance to enjoy bounce houses, carnival booths and prizes, food trucks, and a special guest DJ from 4-7 p.m. The high school's Bubble Soccer Tournament will also take place in the Stadium starting at 4 p.m. Students and families can cheer on the players and enjoy the slapstick hilarity of a Bubble Soccer game while eating dinner from the food trucks and enjoying the carnival. Wristbands for Unlimited Bounce are $10  (service fee for all credit card payments). All wristband sale proceeds will be donated to WBL Area PTAs/PTOs. A portion of all food truck profits will be donated to WBL Area PTAs/PTOs. Find additional information on the Homecoming 2026 schedule at www.isd624.org/Homecoming.

The White Bear Area Senior Center hosted a White Bear Area Senior Health Fair last week. Attendees learned about health-related services available close to home, including hospice care, senior housing, in-home care, hearing services, dermatology, eye care, independent senior living, bath safety and other services. The district's Senior Program is a vibrant community that provides education, recreation, and resources for older adults and their families. See annual event was featured in this "The Week in 62.4 Seconds" video.

Families and community members are invited to start Homecoming Week a few hours early at the 2026 Bear Bike Ride! Gear up for a fun-filled family afternoon supporting a great cause! Join us on Oct. 4 for the annual Bear Bike Ride, a free community event benefiting youth sports and activity scholarships. Free admission; optional donations support our youth scholarship fund. The ride wraps up at 1 p.m., leading into WBLAHS Homecoming activities. Details about the bike ride can be found at the registration website.

Activities Updates

The Neighborhood Sports Network recently broadcast a profile on Brian White III, a Senior Running Back for the Football Team, after he had a huge game in Week 1 of the 2026 Season. Coach Ryan Bartlett praised White for his hard work in both football and track. The team's Friday night win vs. the East Ridge Raptors saw White rushing 327 yards. Girls' Soccer won 4-1 over East Ridge on Thursday. This week, the Girls' Swim and Dive picked up their third win, over Roseville. Boys' Soccer had their fourth shutout with a win vs. Park this week. Girls' Tennis topped Irondale this week, winning 6-1. The White Bear Lake Area High School Music Department is hosting the 1st Annual Mattress Fundraiser on Saturday, October 3rd, from 10am-5pm. The prices can’t be beaten, the brands are the same as retail stores, and every purchase benefits the Music Department. More information can be found at this Facebook event link or this video! Tickets for the high school's Fall Musical production of Hello, Dolly! will be on sale to the public on Oct. 1. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 13-14 and Nov. 19-21, and 2 p.m. on Nov. 14. Find complete information in October at www.isd624.org/theatre.

The WBLAHS Activities page has gotten a refresh along with the district's website refresh. Check out the site to find activities highlights and listings, fan zone and registration information, and resources. The page also contains quick links to the competition schedule, the Hall of Fame, physical forms, the spirit store and ticketing.

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.

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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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School Board News

School Board Student Liaisons

At the September 14, 2026 Regular Meeting of the School Board, Superintendent Kazmierczak introduced our Student Representatives for the 2026-27 school year: 12th grader Lillian Johnson and 11th grader Chloe Utzka.

School Board Recognition Month

September is the Minnesota School Boards Association’s School Board Recognition Month. At the September Regular Meeting, Board members were recognized for their commitment to Minnesota’s public school students.

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District News

General Information