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White Bear Lake Area Schools Community e-Newsletter |
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June 29, 2012 |
Leading minds
to learning, hearts to compassion and lives to community service. |
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In This Issue ·
Finding Your Way ·
General Information ·
Opportunities ·
Awards and Honors · Contributing members of society · White Bear Lake Area School District middle schools
accepted as International Baccalaureate Candidate Schools · New York, New York · Activities updates ·
School Board recognitions ·
Upcoming meetings Upcoming · Stop by the WBLAS Marketfest
Booth!
WBLAS In the News · White Bear Lake’s Eric Gebeke
wins AAU scholarship · Oneka Elementary –
Together we can create a healthier future for the children · Pioneer Press female athlete of the year Alexis Foley
of White Bear Lake · Free lunches for kids on rise · SpotLight Triple Threat
Best Actress: Emily Nies (White Bear Lake) · Two SpotLight Student
Winners Selected to Represent Minnesota at the National High School Musical
Theatre Awards · White Bear Lake Class of 2012 · High School track: White Bear Lake’s Gebeke repeats in 800 · Good Question: Why are we so loyal to our schools? (mention of White
Bear Lake Rec t-shirt) · Willow Lane Principal will miss the children, but not
the lunchroom noise · Two White Bear Lake Area High School performers are
‘triple threats’
e-Newsletter Published By Office of
Communications Please contact Marisa Vette (651-407-7695) to
submit information for inclusion in publications. |
Somewhere
on the second floor I realized I was going around in circles, and had
no clue where I was. Like Daniel Boone, I would not admit to being lost,
but was certainly bewildered. I
then passed a student coming from the opposite direction, one of you here
tonight. We both nodded politely, and walked on slowly. Then we
stopped.... and turned toward one
another. I said, "I’m hopelessly lost.... You too?" You
nodded and laughed nervously. "Yes, me too..." Together
we walked the halls and figured out where we were. You found your class, and
I was no longer quite as bewildered. Finding
your way is a lot easier when you share the journey with someone else. Do
you remember your first day of kindergarten? Think back. You are proud to be
going to real school. You wear your favorite clothes. Your new backpack
keeps slipping off your shoulders because your parents insist on one that
will last you at least until fourth grade. In your new pencil box you have
hidden treasures from home. Some of you have
the security of an older brother or sister who, this one time, is not bossy
or mean but really helps you find your way. You let go of your
mom’s hand and, looking back over your shoulder, wonder why she has tears in
her eyes. Just
seven years ago you began middle school. You and your
friends plan everything in detail, from how to organize your lockers to what
you will wear on the first day. That was what girls did, anyway. Boys-- you are mostly too cool for school,
at least until the last minute, when you figure you had better be
presentable. Your parents give
you endless advice. You nod and forget to thank them because you want to be
on your own. Finding your way has a new meaning
in middle school. When
you began high school our country was slipping into a recession. You dream about
clothes and school supplies you hoped to have but never do ask your parents
for money. During
these four years of high school you are still learning to find your way. The
good news is that you all made it here tonight, though some of you with
suspense and drama known only to you and those in the audience who still love you. Tonight
we celebrate your graduation. Tonight
it will be easy to find your way. Stay in line, just like we practiced this
morning. Right hand shake, left hand diploma. Turn and smile. And if you
trip, we will be there to catch you. Promise. But
what about after tonight? How will you find your way after tonight? After
tonight you will find your way because
you know your roots: who you are and where you are from. You come from a
community that for six generations has sacrificed and supported each
successive generation. They are with us tonight in person and in memory. After
tonight you will find your way because you
know what you value. For the past thirteen years you have lived our shared
core values of compassion, integrity, respect, responsibility, and service. After
tonight you will find your way because
you will not be alone. All of us who know you will be supporting you
still. As
you begin the next stage of your journey, remember to stop and look back over
your shoulder. Like your parents were on your first day of kindergarten, we
will be there. Congratulations,
Bears! Dr. Michael Lovett Editor’s
Note: “Like” the District’s
Facebook page to see
additional photos of the graduation celebrations for the District’s
Transition Plus program, White Bear Lake ALC and White Bear Lake Area High
School. General Information DID YOU KNOW?
Find additional information about White Bear Lake
Area Schools here. Community
Services •
Teaching Smarter with SMART Boards •
Solving Classroom Discipline Problems •
Differentiated Instruction in the Classroom • Find
a listing of the many, varied Community Services offerings in the Community Services
Catalog, recently mailed to District residents. Find an electronic version of
the catalog here. The
WBLAS Community Services and Recreation Department provides a wide range of
services and opportunities that enhance the quality of life for all members
of ISD 624. Parent Notices: ·
Fare for All – Save up to 40% on Groceries – Find information about Fare For
All Express here. Senior Program
Updates: The
White Bear Area Senior Center is a program of the White Bear Lake Area
Schools Community Services & Recreation Department ·
New/Used Audio Book DVD Library – The White Bear Area Senior Center (located at
Normandy Park Education Center in White Bear Lake) is starting an Audio Book
DVD Library. If you would like to pass your favorite audio book DVDs forward,
please consider our Lending Library. Everyone also is welcome to utilize our
library for your listening pleasure.
·
Strategic Planning – The District’s
30-member Strategic Planning Committee met in May to hear an update on the
Strategic Planning initiatives underway this year and to review upcoming
initiatives. The Strategic Planning process is one we started during the fall
of 2010 and has been helping us “write our story” since. Strategic Planning
updates can be found here. ·
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. Find the
WBLAEF website here. o Reunions – the WBLAEF sponsors the White Bear Lake Area Alumni Association.
Find information about the Alumni Association, including scheduled reunions, here. Opportunities Support
WBLAS students ·
Early Childhood Screening Volunteer Opportunity - We are seeking volunteers to help greet families, register children
and collect information during our Early Childhood Screening clinics. This is
a fun way to meet families in our district and spend time with preschool age
children. The time commitment is dependent on your schedule as we have many
clinics scheduled throughout the school year on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Becki Kvitrud, Volunteer
Coordinator at 651-429-1504 or Danielle Mickelson, Early Childhood Supervisor
651-653-3102. ·
Flea Market Fundraiser – The White Bear Lake Area Learning Center Is hosting a flea market
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 22. ALC students will facilitate the process
of renting out 46 spaces in the school’s gymnasium and hallways to vendors
who will sell their wares. The vendors get to keep the money they earn, with
rent and money earned from concessions funding the service learning project.
For more information on how you can participate as a vendor, contact teacher Tim McGraw at 651-773-6406. Partner
Opportunities ·
Lakeshore Players
Summer Camps – White Bear’s Lakeshore
Players Theater will present two theatre camp experiences for students this
summer: o
“The Hobbit” for 8-12 graders.
Day camp/rehearsals July 2-25, with performances July 27 through August 5 at
the WBLAS Community Auditorium. Find information here. ·
Concordia Language
Villages – Concordia
Language Villages is an internationally recognized world language program
located in beautiful northern Minnesota. Programs for youth ages 7-18 are
offered in June, July, and August. This summer give your child a passport to
see the world without ever leaving the Midwest! Each year, more than 9,500
young people take part in one of our language and culture immersion programs.
By enrolling in a one- or two-week summer program in one of 15 world
languages, your child will join an exclusive language community where
learning, fun, and adventure are all on the agenda! There is an opportunity
for Minnesota residents to receive a $1000 scholarship toward a Concordia
Language Villages summer youth program this summer. For more information
visit the website or contact: (800) 222-4750 or clv@cord.edu. Awards and Honors ·
Who’s Who – Cultural
Liaison Graciela Hammeken was recognized in May by The Latino American Who’s Who. Find the article here. ·
SAME Grant – Chris Lyons
and Bob McDowell were awarded a $2500 SAME (Society of American Military
Engineers) grant in June. They will use the award to purchase laptops for the
Sunrise Park Middle School LEGO Robotics Club. Please contact Marisa Vette (651-407-7695) to submit District News, General Information, Opportunities or Awards & Honors for inclusion in future publications.
Other students
used various writing utensils to get in on the fun, participating in the
“Bear Tales” Student Writing Contest. Nine elementary students who earned
honors in the Manitou Days "Bear Tales" Student Writing Contest
were invited to participate as honored guests in the Manitou Days Parade,
handing out District bookmarks to the crowd. The students also had their
pieces published on the White Bear Press Website. Students still
have the opportunity to participate District activities during the city’s
traditional summertime event. Stop by the White Bear Lake Area Schools' Marketfest booth 6-9 p.m. Thursdays through July 26 in
Downtown White Bear Lake for pencils and decals, school supply lists and
District info, and conversations with School Board members and District
leaders! To see photos from the recent Marketfest
booths, “Like” the District on Facebook! White Bear Lake Area School
District middle schools accepted as International Baccalaureate Candidate
Schools
Under the IB candidate school model, students will
experience more interdisciplinary teaching, more connections between subject
areas, and more assessments connected to rubrics and formative assessments.
Students also will experience more projects, scenarios, and real-world
applications across subject areas because of the “whole child” nature of IB.
Central and Sunrise Park teachers will still follow the Minnesota State
Standards and MCA benchmarks while using the IB framework. “Because we have been learning about IB for almost
a decade, we know we will be able to take our already strong schools and make
them better,” said Noel Schmidt, principal of Central Middle School. The IB organization will now become a key partner
in working with the White Bear Lake Area Schools middle schools through the
multi-year candidacy process. The end goal is for both District middle
schools to be authorized MYP schools before the beginning of the 2014-15
academic year. Matoska International IB World School currently offers families a White Bear
Lake Area Schools elementary IB option.
As part of the national process, Nies received private coaching, participated in master
classes and rehearsals and competed for the opportunity to receive the
national Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress. She also received
opportunities for merit scholarships, professional advancement and other
prizes. In addition to her participation in the
White Bear Lake Area High School Theatre Program, Nies
has performed with Ashland Productions, the University of Minnesota Opera
Company and program spokesperson Linda Eder’s SpotLight
choir during Eder’s December show at the Pantages
Theatre. She is a part of O.U.T.T.A.K.E.S. through Ashland Productions, a
group of young leaders dedicated to bridging communities through performing
arts initiatives. She works primarily with Educational Outreach visiting
elementary schools to get young kids more involved with theatre. “Emily is a true triple threat,” said Wendy
Suoja, White Bear Lake Area High School music
teacher who directed the fall musical. “Her skills in dancing, singing, and
acting represented Minnesota proudly at nationals. The WBLAHS theatre program
values and prioritizes a work ethic that is positive, dedicated and extremely
diligent. Emily is a fine example of those traits.” White Bear Lake Area High School had a
strong presence at the Minnesota event at which Emily was named the state
best actress. Recent WBLAHS graduate Dylan Rugh,
who played the lead male role in the fall musical, was among the six
finalists for Triple Threat Best Actor. Additionally, the entire cast of “How
to Succeed” participated as honored Outstanding Overall Performance winners. Activities Updates Congratulations
to the students listed below, who were named 2011-12 Most Valuable Players
for their respective sports throughout the year. The
students received an MVP plaque at their activity’s end-of-the-year banquets
and their names are enscribed and entered on the
MVP wall next to the White Bear Lake Area High School – South Campus
gymnasium. Boys Cross Country - Joel Reichow Girls Cross Country - Allison Ternes Football - Eric Gebeke Boys Soccer - Tyler Books Girls Soccer - Cassie Le Swimming, Girls - Mikayla
Suchomel Volleyball - Liz Frey Adapted Soccer - Nathan Phan Girls Tennis - Lauren Welch Boys Basketball - Zach Meyer Girls Basketball - Alexis Foley Boys Hockey - Mitch Morrisette Girls Hockey - Hayley Hill Swimming, Boys - Patrick Slagerman Alpine Ski - Eddie Cox & Katie Cox Nordic Ski - Sean Kasprisin
& Allison Ternes Wrestling - Cody Anderson Gymnastics - Kellie Dougherty Adapted Hockey - Jordan Vance Baseball - Alec Stute Softball - Danielle Renner Boys Golf - Mike Pitcher Girls Golf - Abbie
Mozzetti Boys Lacrosse - Trenton Gahm Girls Lacrosse - Lyndee
Boyce Boys Track - Eric Gebeke Girls Track - Angie Guenther Boys Tennis - Quinn Combs Adapted Softball - Julie Nelson Female Athlete of the Year - Alexis Foley Miss Bear - Rebecca Dysthe CH Christensen - Eric Gebeke Dick Bradley - Joel Reichow White
Bear Lake Area High School Athletics schedules can be found here.
School Board recognitions Before
the June 11 School Board meeting, the board recognized the following students
for state-level honors: ·
State Bus Safety Poster Contest winners ·
Sailing Team ·
Girls’ Golf State competition participants (not
pictured) ·
Girls’ Track State meet participants ·
Boys’ True Team State meet participants ·
WBLAHS – South Campus Student Council
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