White Bear Lake Area High School South Campus

Changes to High School Graduation Requirements - effective class of 2015
White Bear Lake Area High School
South Campus
Last spring students and parents were asked to participate in a survey evaluating
our high school program, specifically the current six-period school day schedule
configuration. The results of the survey were both interesting and insightful with
student and parent summarized responses being almost identical.
ISD 624
SPECIAL
POINTS OF
INTEREST:
T I M

Conferences

Counseling Information Nights

NHS Application
and Selection

Awards and Honors
W A L D ,
P R I N C I P A L
Regarding our
high
F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H
From the Principal’s Desk
After experiencing four days of school closings and the rescheduling of curriculum and activities
we are glad to shut the door on what we hope are the coldest days of winter. The addition of
two school days, February 14 and April 4, will provide us much appreciated time for our
students and teachers to complete their courses.
The second semester of the year can sometimes feel like a rush to the finish line. Our
juniors made be readying themselves for the ACT while trying to focus on completing their
courses to their (as well as their parents and teachers) expectations. Our seniors are well
aware this is their last semester together and will soon begin savoring the many ―last
times‖ they will experience over the next few months.
Here are some of the things our students might be considering:
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
General
Information
2-5
Parent
Conferences
3
NHS Selection
Process
4
Counseling
Information
6-8
Activities
9
Awards and
Honors
10-11
school community,
Juniors:

Remember that success during junior year weighs heavily on college admissions.

Register for the ACT/SAT if you plan to attend a four-year college (see p. 6 for more
information).


Study for the ACT/SAT. See PrepMe on p. 6 for information about the free test
preparation materials we provide for all White Bear students via Naviance.

Consider applying for NHS – application deadline is February 19. See p. 4.

Consider further exploring careers via the Career Exploration tab in Naviance.

Look ahead at scholarship opportunities available on Naviance.

Make an appointment to see your counselor if you have questions about your
post-secondary plan.
Seniors:

Double check postsecondary institution deadlines to assure all paperwork is in on time.

Make an appointment to see your counselor if you have questions about your
postsecondary plan.

Review broad scholarship opportunities available on Naviance and local scholarship
opportunities available on the counseling page on our website.

Work with your parents to complete the FAFSA. Check college financial aid deadlines.

Community college: make appointment to take placement test.

Military: meet with recruiter; discuss career options. Narrow/finalize decision.

Remember to report transcript changes to college admissions officers.
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2
General Information
Semester 1 Report Cards Mailed
Semester 1 Report Cards were mailed on Friday, January 31st. After this we will switch to electronically
posted Report Cards for Semester 2. Families will be able to view and print report cards at their
convenience right out of Skyward Family Access. Families who would still like a hard copy mailed
home can make a request through the Main Office.
Semester grades are used to determine grade point average, class rank, and honor roll
acknowledgement and are posted to the student’s transcript.
Yearbooks
The 2013-2014 Matoskan can be purchased directly from the yearbook distributor, Balfour. Parents/
Students have three options to purchase a yearbook from Balfour.



Purchase a yearbook online at the Balfour website.
Print out a yearbook order form and mail it to Balfour with a check.
Order by phone by calling 1-800-853-1337
Don’t delay: buy early to take advantage of our special early-bird pricing!




November 16 - March 12 $75
March 13 - April 30
$80
May 1Yearbook Distribution (Any extra books will be sold on a first come, first served
basis. We do not guarantee that there will be any extra books left to sell.) $85 (cash only).
AVID 2014-2015 Now Recruiting!
The recruitment process for next year’s 10th and 11th grade AVID classes is starting soon!
AVID is. . .
Advancement Via Individual Determination. A program designed to prepare students in the
academic middle to succeed in a college preparatory path for admission to four-year universities
and colleges.
AVID activities include . . .
AVID elective class (year long), learning with college tutors, writing for all classes, developing
successful reading strategies, visiting college campuses, and applying for college.
Who can Apply? Students who. . .
Are in the academic middle (2.0-3.5 GPA in mainstream classes), have outstanding behavior, have
good attendance, are willing to commit to 2-3 hours of homework per night, have the desire and
determination to take a rigorous course load and prepare for 4-year colleges/universities.
Have Questions?
Parent Information meeting will be on Thursday, February 27 at 6:45 pm in Room 118 at North
Campus.
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Parent-Teacher Conferences
Conference dates/times:
Thursday, February 27, 3:45-6:45 pm
Tuesday, March 4, 3:45-6:45 pm
Thursday, March 6, 3:45-6:45 pm
We look forward to welcoming parents and students to visit with teachers regarding first semester progress. Conferences will be held “arena style” in the cafeteria allowing for five-minute conversations. It is most effective if
parents have reviewed their child’s progress on Family Access to provide for the most effective conference session. Teachers look forward to discussing your child’s progress. Conference schedule for part-time and traveling
teachers is listed below:
Thursday
February 27, 2014
3:45 - 6:45 p.m.
Tuesday
March 4, 2014
3:45 - 6:45 p.m.
Thursday
March 6, 2014
3:45 - 6:45 p.m.
We have several teachers who have teaching responsibilities in multiple buildings or are employed part-time.
Below is a listing of those teachers and their availability in each school:
Thursday
Monday
Tuesday
Karla Booth
Available
North Campus
North Campus
Marie Dymit
Available
Available
North Campus
Kerry Feirn
North Campus
Not Available
Available
Kris Fry
Available
Available
Not Available
Rachel Gilbert
Not Available
Central Middle School
Available
Karla Lauerman
Available
Available
Not Available
Sara Martin
North Campus
Available
Available
Tanner Stevens
Not Available
South Campus
Not Available
Sarah Swoboda
Available
Available
North Campus
Janel Toussaint
South Campus
South Campus
North Campus
Phil Wacker
Available
Not Available
Not Available
Hui Xu
Not Available
Available
Not Available
.
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General Information (Cont.)
White Bear Lake National Honor Society Selection Process
The National Honor Society Chapter of White Bear Lake is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter
of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the
required standards in four areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
Standards for selection are established by the national office of NHS and have been revised to
meet our local chapter needs. Students are selected to be members by a 5-member Faculty
Council, appointed by the principal, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on behalf of
the faculty of our school each February/March.
The selection process for NHS is during the mid-junior year. For the scholarship criterion, a
student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.33 or better on a 4.0 scale. Those students who meet
this criterion are invited to complete a Student Activity Information Form that provides the Faculty
Council with information regarding the candidate’s leadership and service. A history of leadership
experiences and participation in school or community service is also required.
To evaluate a candidate’s character, the Faculty Council uses two forms of input. First, school
disciplinary records are reviewed. Second, members of the faculty are solicited for input
regarding their professional reflections on a candidate’s service activities, character, and
leadership. These forms and the Student Activity Information Forms are carefully reviewed by the
Faculty Council to determine membership. A majority vote of the council is necessary for
selection. Candidates are notified regarding selection or non-selection according to a
predetermined schedule.
Following notification, a banquet and formal induction ceremony is held at the school to recognize
all the newly selected members. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same
level of performance (or better) in all four criteria that led to their selection. This obligation
includes regular attendance at chapter meetings held twice a month during the school year and
30 hours of service to the school and community each semester. Students or parents who have
questions regarding the selection process or membership obligations can contact the chapter
advisor, Ms. Rita Leonard, in room #302, e-mail [email protected] or by phone
#651.773.6200, extension #2251.
Important Dates For Juniors Interested In NHS:
February 19, 2014
All Student Activity Information Forms, essays, & letter of
recommendation due to the Guidance Office by 12 noon.
February 24 - 28, 2014
South & North Campus staff (teachers, counselors, & administrators)
nominates students for National Honor Society based on descriptive
criteria for the leadership, service and character components.
March 5, 2014
Faculty Council meets to review Student Activity Information Forms,
essays, and letters of recommendation.
Mid - March, 2014
Students are notified via US mail regarding selection or non-selection.
April 29, 2014
National Honor Society Induction Ceremony & Banquet.
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100 Deadliest Days - Mock Crash Coming in April
We have a student organization called Big ideas that is committed to sharing the ideas regarding
wellness. This organization is currently working with administration and the White Bear Lake Police
Department to plan a mock crash activity for this spring.
Statistically, the 100 days beginning on May 1st and ending in August are the most dangerous days to
be a teenager. The combination of celebrations and unstructured time creates many opportunities for
students to be in more danger situations. Most often, these dangers involve being a driver or passenger
in a vehicle.
We will be hosting a two-day mock crash event April 24-25, 2014. The goal of the activity is to provide an
important life lesson learned through experience. The activity will include a simulated auto accident
during an afternoon assembly in our stadium. The next morning we will host an assembly for students
where we provide the rest of the story behind a deadly auto accident.
The event can be both inspiring and emotional. Recognizing that our junior class experienced the loss of
a classmate less that a year ago we are modifying this activity from the 2012 mock crash we presented.
Students who anticipate struggling with this activity are invited to sit out. Parents may excuse their child
from the afternoon mock crash and/or the Friday morning assembly.
We are collaborating with Officers John Saumweber and Kacie Allen of the White Bear Lake Police
Department on this project. If you have any questions, please feel free to call principal Tim Wald at
651-773-6205.
MC III Math Test - Juniors
This will be the first year we will administer the MCA III math test. The new version of the test is
consistent with curriculum that has been delivered to our Junior class and to all Minnesota public school
students as well as all previous MCA tests given to the Class of 2015.
This online test will be administered to students during their assigned math class in late March or April.
In the past, when all students took a written exam, our seniors started school two hours late on the two
exam days. Because we will not be administering a written exam there will be no late start for seniors
this year.
All students are required by Minnesota law to demonstrate proficiency on the MCA III math test prior to
graduation. Students who do not demonstrate proficiency can meet the state requirements by
competing a college or career entrance exam such as the ACT, AccuPlacer, or ASVAB.
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News from the Counseling Office
Upcoming Information Sessions
Our nightly information sessions are a great place to get informed on everything you need to know
about the college process. The following sessions are open to all 9-12 students and their parents.
 Paying for College: How to Maximize Financial Aid
February 27, South Campus Theater 6:30—8:00 pm (after conferences)
This session is designed to help find ways to increase eligibility to receive financial aid, reduce taxes,
and pay less for college. Specific topics covered in this presentation include:







Two types of aid: need based and merit based.
Three critical issues in college planning: taxes, control and financial aid.
Scholarships, loans and grants.
Tax credits, tax-free savings accounts and other incentives.
How to structure assets and income to maximize eligibility for financial aid.
The four partners in planning: parent, student, school, government.
Leveraging your recipe: GPA, class rank, ACT score, EFC, unique abilities.
Our speaker, Mike Branch from Focus Financial, has a wealth of experience guiding students and
parents through the financial aid process. After his presentation, you’ll leave feeling energized and
optimistic about your financial future.
 Look to the Future: Minnesota’s Job Market in 2020
March 27, South Campus Theater 6:30—7:30 pm
Many students struggle to find a rewarding, well-paying career after graduation in today’s highly
competitive job market. This session will help them find jobs that will be the most in-demand in the
next decade. Rachel Vilsack, from the Department of Employment and Economic Development,
shares which jobs are growing and which are declining along with what key skills employers want.
She’ll cover the long-term projections on which occupations will be the highest demand in the next
decade. She’ll also share web tools students can use to assist them navigate careers.
PrepMe
What is the secret to exceptional test scores? Practice and personalization. Naviance's PrepMe offers a
unique approach to ACT and SAT test preparation that individualizes instruction based on the unique
strengths and weaknesses of each student. PrepMe builds a personal schedule for each student based
on where they need the most help, and how much time they have to prepare for the test.
Last November, school counselors introduced the Class of 2015 to PrepMe. Students were encouraged
to access the program through Naviance before taking the ACT or SAT.
Parents can find out more about PrepMe during parent teacher conferences. School counselors will present 15 minute information sessions about PrepMe at 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. in the Main
Office Conference Room
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WBLAHS & Century College: One-Stop Shop
Calling all seniors, who plan to attend Century College in the fall, but still need to complete the
application process. You should attend our Century College: One-Stop Shop. This unique day is
reserved for White Bear Lake Area High School Seniors who are ready to finalize their
post-secondary plan.
During this four hour event on Thursday, March 6, 2014, in the South Campus Computer Lab
508, representatives from Century College will meet with you and walk you through the entire
application process. You will submit your application, take the Accuplacer college assessment
test, complete your high school transcript request and leave with an acceptance letter.
To take advantage of this opportunity, come to the Counseling Office to pick up your permission
form. The fee for your official high school transcript is waived; however, a $20.00 application
fee payable to Century College is required upon registering for the event. Don’t delay, the March 3
deadline to register for this event is fast approaching.
Check Out Our Local Scholarships!
Our local scholarships are generously provided by local businesses, organizations and individuals
to help deserving WBLAHS students fund their college education. These scholarships are available
to WBLAHS seniors only - so there's an excellent chance of winning! This list will be available
on Friday, February 14, 2014 at the following places or click here and select the local scholarship
2013-14 link to download a complete list:
South Campus College & Career Center
Counseling Department webpage
Your Naviance account
Completed applications are due in the Counseling Office by March 28, 2014.
**If you’re interested in creating a new scholarship opportunity for WBLAHS students - please
contact Josie Robinson at [email protected].
AP Exams
AP exams are available for students to register for online this year. Students can register for the
exams until Friday, March 7. After that, registration is closed - so please make sure
students sign up before the deadline.
Click here to go to the White Bear Lake Area High School webpage to register for your AP Exam.
When you have completed registration, bring your printed receipt to the South Campus College &
Career Center or North Campus Counseling Office.
Registration is available until Friday, March 7. Questions should be directed to Josie Robinson at [email protected].
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College Entrance Exams
ACT—American College Testing
www.act.org
SAT—Scholastic Aptitude Test
www.collegeboard.com
Registration Deadline
February 7, 2014
April 4, 2014
May 9, 2014
Registration Deadline
January 10, 2014
March 7, 2014
May 9, 2014
Test Date
March 8, 2014
May 3, 2014
June 7, 2014
Test Date
February 8, 2014
April 12, 2014
June 14, 2014
Reminder!! All four-year colleges require that students take a college entrance exam (ACT or SAT)
and submit their scores to be considered for admission. Juniors are encouraged to take the test in the
spring of their junior year. You can register for the exam online, or you can pick up a registration packet in the Counseling Office. Fee waivers are available to eligible students. To determine which test is
needed, contact the college or university directly or ask your counselor for help.
Top 10 College Application Mistakes Students Make
This is a time of year when many seniors are applying to college. Many colleges have December 1st
deadlines, so students are feeling the pressure to get their applications in if they haven't done so already. Other colleges may have later deadlines, but applying later in the year can limit financial aid opportunities or housing. Now is a great time to apply if you know where you want to go.
If you're having a hard time figuring out which college you even want to apply to and are feeling stressed
about it - make an appointment to see your counselor. We can help you search colleges and find several that are a great match for you. We can also help you fill out your college applications if you need it. To
make an appointment with your counselor, go here.
If you know where you want to apply and are ready to start sending out your college applications - keep
in mind these common mistakes before you do:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Misspelling words and making grammatical errors
Filling out an online application and not submitting it
Forgetting to sign the application
Not sending your ACT/SAT scores or assuming they are automatically sent with your application
Not reading the directions carefully to understand what information is needed (always see
your counselor if you're confused about a question on the application)
Giving your school counselor or teacher too little time to write recommendations (give
them at least 2 weeks)
Sending your application, but forgetting to send a transcript. Directions for sending a transcript are here
Forgetting to check your e-mail account for responses and messages
Asking someone else to fill out the application or write your essay
Missing the application deadline
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Activities
Spring Sports Season
Soon, student sports participants will officially begin their competitive spring sports seasons. Check
out the High School Athletics/Activities web page for helpful information regarding start dates,
athletic eligibility requirements, transportation information and registration paperwork.
The Activities office at both North Campus (651-653-2933) and South Campus (651-773-6206) are
great places to have your questions answered...don’t be afraid to give us a call. We will start
accepting sports registrations towards the end of February/early March.
Spring sports: Baseball, Softball, Golf (girls & boys) Lacrosse (girls & boys), Boys Tennis, Track
(girls & boys), Coed Adapted Softball.
Earning the Academic Letter
One of the ways our students are recognized for academic excellence is by being awarded an
Academic Letter. Students often wear the ―Academics‖ badge on their letter jacket with tremendous
pride. It is a well known symbol of academic commitment throughout our community. Academic
Letters are granted at the spring Award’s Night programs at both campuses.
Earning an Academic Letter is another way that White Bear Lake Area High School students can
be recognized for their achievements. An eligible student must earn an overall 3.67 GPA during
each of the specified grading periods (terms):
1. Seniors: Final semester of junior year and first semester of senior year.
2. Juniors: Final semester of sophomore year and first semester of junior year.
3. Sophomores: Final semester of freshmen year and first semester of the
sophomore year.
4. Freshmen: First semester of the freshmen year.
Spring Activities – Scholarships available
Student Activities Scholarship - The Jim Honsa, Sr. Memorial Student Activities Endowment provides access to co-curricular activities for students who may not otherwise have
access due to financial need. If your child’s participation hinges on being able to get financial
support, please contact Karen Larson at 773-6206. The Peter Palm Fund and Jim Honsa Memorial
Fund have been set up by the Palm and Honsa families to assure that all students can get
assistance to support full participation in high school activities.
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Awards and Honors
Student of the Month
Students and their parents were recently cited for excellence at a special ―Breakfast of Champions‖
at South Campus. The students were selected as Students of the Month for December and
January by teachers in various departments. Breakfast was served by student council members
and the school administrators. Among those honored were:
Department
December
January
Male Athlete
Jake Dittel
Tanner Hinck
Female Athlete
Bailee Ehnstrom
Laura Handke
Fine Arts
Karl Breustedt
Luke Gion
Art
Pauline Lefebvre
Luke Morse
CTE Program
Johanna Farley
Business
Sarah Munns
Nancy Xiong
FACS
Brittany Ceroni
Mike St. Martin
Health
Alyssa Brabenec
Sarah Munns
Language Arts
Frank Fleischhacker
Taryn Stilley
Math
Peder Solberg
James Kaiser
Music
Grace Henry
Emma Perreira
Physical Education
Jake Dittel
Marcus Gilmore
Resource Program
Andi Dupey
Andrew Basco
Science
Luke Gion
Carly Krings
Vaughnetta Ngaling
Social Studies
Drew Dennis
Trey Anderson
Technology Education
Zach Bleakly
Sam Wosika
World Language
Matthew Horwath
Camille Curley
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National Signing Day at South Campus
The following students signed letters of intent on
Feb. 5, National Signing Day:
Noah Lee (football at the U of M Crookston), Jake
Newman (football at the U of M Crookston), Shayla
Munson (track at MSU - Moorhead), Bethany
Kozak (cross country at the University of
South Dakota), Allison Ternes (nordic ski at St.
Scholastica),Elizabeth Lastovich (soccer at the U of
M Crookston), Jamie Rademacher (soccer at Central Michigan University), Anna Morrison (soccer at
the U of M Duluth), Madison Scheer (soccer at
Winona State University),Jordyn Foley (soccer at
Bemidji State University), Rebekah Thom (soccer at St. Cloud State University).
White Bear Lake Area Schools
leading minds to learning,
hearts to compassion,
and lives to community service
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Calendar of Events
Date
Event
Time
Location
February 19
NHS Forms due in the Counseling Office by 12 noon
February 27
Paying for College:
6:30 - 8:00 pm
How to Maximize Financial Aid
South Campus Theater
February 27
AVID Parent Info Meeting
6:45 - 7:30 pm
Room 118 North Campus
February 27
Parent/Teacher Conferences
3:45 - 6:45 pm
South Campus
March 4
Parent/Teacher Conferences
3:45 - 6:45 pm
South Campus
March 6
Parent/Teacher Conferences
3:45 - 6:45 pm
South Campus
March 6
College in a Day (See page 7)
March 7
Registration for AP Exams Closes
March 10 - May 2
MCA III - Juniors
March 27
Look to the Future:
MN Job Market in 2020
6:30 - 7:30
South Campus Theater
March 28
Scholarship Applications due in the Counseling Office
April 29
NHS Induction Ceremony
6:00 - 8:00
South Campus
April 30
Excellence Event
6:00 - 8:30
Jimmy’s Conference Center
May 3
Prom
8:00 - Midnight
RiverCenter
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