WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 624
The City of Vadnais Heights is primarily served by White Bear Lake Area Schools , a district with approximately 9,000 students PreK – 12 . The student experience is well-rounded . Core values of compassion , integrity , respect , responsibility and service – and a mission focused on ensuring students develop a love for learning and excel academically – inspire students to realize their dreams and become engaged citizens with a global understanding .
EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND , BENEFITING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALIKE
4-STAR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM The district ’ s four-star-rated Early Childhood Programs ( children , birth through age five ) are offered at convenient locations in White Bear Lake , Hugo , White Bear Township and Vadnais Heights .
ELEMENTARY PARTNERSHIPS Elementary students receive awardwinning watercolor and drawing lessons from White Bear Center for the Arts ’ professional artists , water safety lessons at the White Bear Lake Area Schools YMCA Aquatic Center , and piano and string lessons taught by MacPhail Center for Music teachers .
At Vadnais Heights Elementary , specifically , partnership with Tamarack Nature Center provided experiential learning opportunities on environmental issues as students turned an 11-acre area behind the school into a “ Bears Backyard ” outdoor classroom . At Otter Lake Elementary , which is adjacent to Tamarack and also serves students living in Vadnais Heights , students visit the nature center for seasonal outdoor lessons .
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE�
Central Middle School and Sunrise Park Middle School are International Baccalaureate ( IB ) World Schools . Matoska International offers an elementary IB program .
PATHS TO SUCCESS District high school students have the opportunity to earn college credit in more than 30 courses . The total value of credits earned by WBLAHS students in CIS and AP courses last year was almost $ 1.7 million at University of Minnesota tuition rates . The district ’ s Career Pathways initiative also offers students a range of options .
MULTI-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES
Chinese is offered at Vadnais Heights and Lincoln Elementary Schools , and Spanish is offered at all other elementary buildings . Middle school students can take three years of Chinese , French , German or Spanish . WBLAHS students can study up to four levels of American Sign Language , and six levels of Chinese , French , German and Spanish ( high school and CIS courses ). The district partners with Hangzhou Foreign Languages School in China and with schools in France and Germany .
TECHNOLOGY New tools allow for more collaboration , more personalized communication and instruction , more authentic ways for students to demonstrate learning , and more ways for parents to stay connected to their child ’ s learning . The district ’ s 1:1 initiative was made possible by the community ’ s support of the Capital
Projects Levy and is part of the district ’ s overall K – 12 technology integration plan .
Learn more about our schools / programs by viewing videos and additional information at the following website . Or visit our schools and attend concerts , athletic events and programs !
5045 Division Ave . White Bear Lake , MN 55110 651-653-2920 www . isd624 . org continues on page 41
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