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White Bear Lake Area Schools Community e-Newsletter |
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September 9, 2011 |
Leading
minds to learning, hearts to compassion and lives to community service. |
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In This Issue ·
Where Everybody Belongs ·
General Information ·
Opportunities ·
Awards and Honors · Smile – you’re on camera! · Making connections · Staff, students and alumni celebrate Convocation ·
Activities updates ·
Renewal Referendum with no tax
increase scheduled for November 8 ·
School Board policies in effect for
2011-12 year ·
Meeting agendas ·
Upcoming meetings Upcoming · High School Open House event · School Board Regular Meeting · Homecoming Week · School Board Work-Study Meeting · Parent Leaders Forum
WBLAS In the News · First
Day of School Photos – featuring WBLAHS students · Student
photos from Germany trip · Back
to school · Opening
Convocation to air on local cable
channel · Bears
take away a road win in football · New
school Wall of Fame inductees announced Archives
e-Newsletter Published By Office of
Communications Please contact Marisa Vette (x7695) to submit
information for inclusion in publications. |
One young man is preoccupied with
a different sort of “fitting in” as he peers into his empty locker. “Nope,
won’t fit,” he remarks to his mom. “What?” says mom. “I won’t fit,” he says. “I
heard that in middle school the younger kids get stuffed into lockers. But it’s okay – I won’t fit!” Thus reassured, his confidence
builds. One week before school, all the
sixth graders bus, ride, or walk to Central or Sunrise. It’s not real school
yet, but WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) Day. Under the watchful eyes and
guidance of teachers, eighth grade mentors lead the sixth graders through
team building activities and discussions to help them learn what it takes to
be successful in middle school. The eighth grade WEB leaders wear brightly
colored shirts complete with inspiring quotations, and staff members wear the
same. At the beginning of WEB Day,
the sixth graders are still timid and shy. Three hours later, the sixth
graders burst out through the doors to waiting busses and parents amid
laughter and new-found confidence. This first week of school, our
more than 600 sixth graders appear confident and secure. They tell us “I love
Central!” or “I love Great Sunrise Park Middle School!” In classrooms they
are engaged, serious and focused. In hallways and at lunch their timidness gives way to confidence as they build new
friendships. For all of us, transitions can
be difficult, whether we’re new to a school, starting a new job, or we’re the
parent sending our child off to the next level. For our sixth graders, the
WEB program means they need only look to their new friends and adults in the
brightly colored t-shirts to find an encouraging word and somebody who knows
their name. All of us feel nervous or
unsure of ourselves from time to time. Wouldn’t it be great if there were
always someone supportive close by, easy to spot in a brightly colored
t-shirt? Dr. Michael Lovett General Information Road construction on Highway 61 DID YOU KNOW?
Find other District information here. Renewal Referendum with no tax increase scheduled
for November 8 On
July 11, the White Bear Lake Area School Board unanimously passed a
resolution to schedule a local operating levy renewal referendum (not a tax
increase) for this November 8. This vote will be a renewal of the same
question that was strongly supported by our community in the fall of 2007. Find
additional information, including a Q & A and District pieces here.
Strategic
Planning Schools
for Energy Efficiency® (SEE) Find a newsletter
from our new SEE Coordinator, Ann Arney, here.
Other calendars
that are available are: ·
2011-12
and 2012-13 Parent Calendar White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation The White Bear Lake Area Educational
Foundation, Inc. (WBLAEF) is an independent, non-profit corporation promoting
excellence in education in White Bear Lake Area School District 624
schools. The Foundation was
established in 1993 to provide a vehicle through which community members
could contribute to the educational opportunities for students. Specifically, the Foundation seeks and
distributes funds to support programs and initiatives that further enhance learning
for public school students in the White Bear Lake community. Find the WBLAEF website here. Opportunities White Bear Lake Area High School Reunions A number of White Bear Lake Area High
School alumni will be getting together this summer. A list of graduating
class activities, and event contacts, can be found at the District website.
Those classes that are not celebrating with a specific event will still have
something to look forward to - an All School Reunion will take place
September 30 and October 1 at the Armory. Information about the All School
Reunion can be found here. Find information about the reunions here.
Special
Education Parent Advisory Council White Bear Lake
Public Schools is seeking parent volunteers to serve on the District’s
Special Education Parent Advisory Council (PAC). The role of Council members is to provide
input and feedback on District procedures relating to the education of
students with disabilities. The Parent Advisory Council meets in the evening
three times each school year. The
dates for the 2011-2012 school year will be
forthcoming. PAC meetings are generally from 6:30-8 p.m. and are held at the
District Center. If you are interested in learning more about joining the
Special Education Parent Advisory Council, please contact Cindi Rulli, in Special Services at
651-407-7553.
Support
WBLAS students
Awards and Honors
·
Willow Lane chosen for Medtronic Foundation’s 3D View
Program – Congratulations to Willow Lane Elementary, which has been selected for
the Project 3D View Program funded by the Medtronic Foundation. The
program will complement the earth science education for Willow’s fourth
and fifth grade students. Please contact Marisa Vette (651-407-7695) to submit District News, General Information, Opportunities or Awards & Honors for inclusion in future publications.
The program is one of a few mentoring
programs in the District. Like the WEB Program, the student-created Cross-Aged
Mentoring Program (C.A.M.P.) puts students in mentoring roles for other
students. WBLAHS juniors and seniors mentor fifth grade students at Willow
Lane. High school DARE mentors also work with fifth grade students throughout
the District, acting out scenarios with students and reinforcing DARE refusal
skills during the students’ DARE program. And cross-aged connections that are
forged between elementary classrooms introduce students to the idea of
mentoring at an early age.
Activities Updates White
Bear Lake Area High School Athletics schedules can be found here.
Renewal Referendum with no tax increase scheduled for November
8 On
July 11, the White Bear Lake Area School Board unanimously passed a
resolution to schedule a local operating levy renewal referendum (not a tax
increase) for this November 8. This vote will be a renewal of the same
question that was strongly supported by our community in the fall of 2007. Find
additional information, including a Q & A and factual information
the District has created, here. School Board policies in effect for 2011-12 year The
White Bear Lake Area School Board recently approved the following policies,
which will be in effect in 2011-12: ·
Policy 497,
Nepotism
- This is a new policy this year. The full policy can be found here. ·
Policy 498,
Respectful Workplace - This is a new policy this year. The full policy can
be found here. ·
Policy 514,
Bullying Prevention Policy - This policy is a revised policy that
includes intentional steps to train students, parents, and staff about pullying prevention. The full policy can be found here. ·
Policy 524,
Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy - This policy is a major overhaul
of our previous policy because of a rapid change in technology. The full
policy can be found here. Other
Board policies also have been updated recently. Find a listing of all
policies here.
·
Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. ·
Thursdays at 10 a.m. |
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