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White Bear Lake Area Schools Community e-Newsletter |
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July 29, 2011 |
Leading
minds to learning, hearts to compassion and lives to community service. |
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In This Issue ·
Midsummer
Reflections ·
General
Information ·
Opportunities ·
Awards
and Honors · Sea of orange · School Board student
rep honored by MSBA ·
Second
in the nation ·
Activities
updates ·
School
Board approves policies ·
Meeting
agendas ·
Upcoming
meetings Upcoming · Birch Lake Elem.
PTO Meet and Greet event with new principal
Tami VanOverbeke · Fall 2011 sports
mandatory information meetings · Hugo & Oneka Family Fun Run · “Beginning of
School” events
Find the complete WBLAS In the News · Ninth grade writing
skills above average · Bears cheerleaders
shine at national camp · Title in hand,
alumna sets sights on Olympics · Chinese exchange
teacher teaches culture and language · Teenager takes on
two causes · Student board members
make an impact in their district · Local ref was first
varsity soccer coach for Bears · TV station wins more
national cable honors (covering classroom story!) Archives e-Newsletter Published
By Office of
Communications Please contact Marisa Vette
(651-407-7695) to submit information for inclusion in publications. |
Midsummer Reflections As I write to you on this warm day in July, our summer school and
childcare programs are busy, and our building and grounds and instructional
staff members are preparing for the school year. The three-week state shutdown is over is over, but it concluded
with an agreement that will raise additional challenges for school funding
and for all of us. Even with this uncertainty, we remain optimistic and positive
about the future and are proud of the outstanding accomplishments of our
students and staff members. Student Success Earlier this month, the first of 2010-11 state testing data was
published. For the first time since testing began, our high school’s ninth
graders tied for the highest level of proficiency in the East Metro area with
96% passing the writing GRAD test. School Board Action On July 11, our School Board unanimously passed a resolution to
schedule a local operating levy renewal referendum (not an
increase) for this November. Approximately 15% of our revenue comes from this local operating
levy. In a time when the state plans to borrow 40% of our state revenue by
shifting payment to the future, the stability provided by this revenue is
critical to continuing on our current path of rapidly rising student
achievement. You will learn more about the details of the referendum in
coming weeks. The November 8 vote will be a renewal of the same
question that was strongly supported by our community in the fall of 2007.
Looking Forward Last night was the final Marketfest in Downtown White Bear Lake. On a beautiful
summer evening – not too hot and not too humid – crowds gathered around the
school district booth. The adults visited with School Board members, administrators
and teachers while our youngest citizens, eager to learn, gathered around a
small crafts table with our preschool teachers. Elementary and middle school
students confidently answered questions about math, science, or another
favorite subject for the reward of a brightly colored pencil. Several high
school students stopped by, ready to be challenged, requesting questions on
nuclear physics and macroeconomics. We could see that young minds (and parent minds) were turning to
fall when there was a last-minute rush on the school supply lists. Our country and our schools have faced
challenges before, and we will again. But talking with the students and families last night, we can’t
help but be optimistic about the future. Dr. Michael Lovett General
Information
District
participates in TERI project
Strategic
Planning Calendar
Updates
·
The White Bear Lake Area School Board approved a 2-year calendar for
the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years at the February 14 meeting. See
the approved two-year calendar here.
·
The 2011-12 Activities Calendar will be mailed to District families
in late August. Opportunities ·
Host our Chinese exchange teacher ·
Host an exchange student Childcare
Opportunity The White
Bear Lake Area School Board approved a new partnership with the White Bear Area
YMCA, offering a high quality, year-round childcare program for children age
six weeks through Pre-K at Birch Lake Elementary starting in the fall of
2011.
·
Free week after 1st 30 days Find
additional information here. 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. Find information about the reunions here. Homecoming
2011 White Bear Lake Area High School's Homecoming 2011 - "Rule the Royals" - will be celebrated September 26-30. The Homecoming Parade will take place at 3:15 p.m. on September 30 in Downtown White Bear Lake. The homecoming football game will take place that evening at 7 p.m. at White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus.
Find a full schedule of Homecoming 2011 activities here. Awards and Honors ·
National awards for publications – White Bear Lake
Area Schools recently received the following awards from the National School
Public Relations Association: 1.
Award of Merit in the Marketing Materials
category for the 2011-12 Registration materials 2.
Award of Merit in the Calendar category for
the 2010-11 Activities Calendar. 3.
Award of Excellence in the Annual Report
category for our 2009-10 Annual Report. The District is one of only seven in
the nation, and the only one in the Midwest, to receive this award. These award-winning pieces and
other District publications can be found here. ·
Google Teacher Academy – White Bear Lake Area
Schools’ Technology Integration Coordinator Mark Garrison was accepted as an
attendee at the next Google Teacher Academy. See the press release here. Please contact Marisa Vette (651-407-7695) to submit District News, General Information or Opportunities for inclusion in future publications.
The photo will appear on the
cover of the Residents’ Guide, which will be distributed to area households
later this summer.
The 2011 graduate was involved with student council and
other extracurricular activities, won a Capital Division Presidential Award,
and compiled a strong weighted grade point average of 4.22. She will use her
scholarship at Carleton College in Northfield, where she will study
biomedical engineering and economics. She ultimately would like to work for
the United Nations to help promote democracy in Africa. School Board student representatives are selected in
coordination with high school administrators and teachers, who recommend
potential students. Student nominees submit applications that are reviewed by
principals, superintendent, and School Board members. One student
representative and one alternative representative are then choosen.
Solomon’s documentary, “The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Diplomatic Achievement,” was awarded first place
in the Minnesota State History Day competition. That accomplishment earned
her a spot at the national event, which took place at the University of
Maryland College Park Campus in the Washington, D.C. area from June 12 to 16. Two White Bear Lake Area High School students also earned
spots in the national competition. Tenth grader Brandon Johnson, who placed
second in state, and state first place winner senior Alex Westad
also traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National History Day
competition. Westad finished fifth in the nation
for his performance on the Indian Occupation of Alcatraz. See the full press release here. Activities Updates It has
recently been announced that the White Bear Lake Area High School boys hockey team will participate in one
of only three high school Hockey Day Minnesota games. The Bears will play vs.
Grand Rapids at 10 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2012 on Lake Minnetonka. The game will be
broadcast on FOX Sports Net North as a part of Hockey Day Minnesota coverage. A mandatory informational meeting for
all prospective 2011 WBLAHS fall sport participants and their parents/guardians
will take place at White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus on
Wednesday, August 3rd and Thursday August 4th. o
Boys and Girls Soccer o
Boys and Girls Cross Country o
Volleyball o
Danceline The
meeting on August 4th will be for participants in: o
Football o
Girls Tennis o
Cheerleading o
Adaptive Soccer o
Girls Swim and Dive.
White
Bear Lake Area High School Athletics schedules can be found here. Please contact Marisa Vette (651-407-7695) to submit Student News for inclusion in future publications. School Board News School Board approves policies 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 becaue of a rapid change in technology. The full policy
can be found here. Upcoming meetings
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