Career Pathways Newsletter

Water Walk Raises $6,000 for People in Need

On June 6, H2O for Life organized the first district-wide Water Walk. The free event took place along White Bear Lake and it was a HOT one!  Students joined together to plan a community event to spread water conservation awareness and raise funds for a school in Muhaya, Kenya. During the Water Walk, participants were encouraged to carry a liter of water while walking to simulate the experiences of many communities who lack adequate water supplies. Not only did over 200 people attend, but the group was able to raise over $6,000!

Thank you to our local businesses who supported the group and a sustainable lifestyle: Anchor Coffee House, Bamboo Switch, and The Minnesotan. Thank you to Ben Butters for leading the group of Water Warriors, staff members who helped with organizing the event, and of course the students who are passionate about making a difference in the world!

Thanks to MN Department of Education's Race2Reduce Grant, which made the Water Walk possible, by allowing the group to finalize their branding strategy for future recruitment and team building. The grant supported event planning needs, local vendors, educational opportunities, and prizes. They were also able to purchase equipment and created a podcast about how to live a more sustainable life.

Engineering & Manufacturing Career Pathway receives Gene Haas Foundation Grant

Thank you to the Gene Haas Foundation for awarding a total of $17,500 to the Engineering & Manufacturing Career Pathway. The Gene Haas Foundation is an integral part to our student success by providing funding for tool kits, supporting the WBLAHS Robotics Team, and sponsoring a variety of scholarships for our graduating seniors who choose to pursue a career in Advanced Manufacturing after high school. The story was also highlighted in the District 624's "The Week in 62.4 Seconds" video.

WBLAS Career Pathways selected as Career Academies Changemaker Spotlight!

We are honored to announce that we were selected to be the Changemaker Spotlight through Greater Twin Cities United Way and their Career Academies Program. Check out the featured story by hearing from staff members Katie Marsh, Shannon Riebow, and Aaron Turner; and students Bella Brownlee and Alfia Zahir. Watch the whole interview HERE.

Thanks to GTCUW, our Anchor Mentor Program will start this upcoming school year and we were officially the first School District in MN to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification to our students and staff members. Thanks to our nationally certified teachers, Shannon Riebow and Katie Marsh, for their commitment to certifying students and staff members at District 624.

Interns left to right: B Tessema, Jenny Moore, Alfia Zahir, Amanda Pendergast, Aramide Adegoke. Not Pictured: Jordyn Meyer, Julia Covert, Jess Miller, and Saron Bekabil

Gen Z Connections is in full swing!

Our annual Gen Z Connections program is off to a great start! During the internship, student interns rotate through the companies and learn a variety of job skills and roles in either the Manufacturing & Engineering or Automotive industry. This year, Noah Ames Rupert, Isaac Debilzan, John Kalos, and Aiden Sandbakken are working at WestFall Technik, Teamvantage, and MME Group Inc. Rosemary Hammond, Austin Stiles, and Vincent Yang are working at Fairway Collision & Automotive, Walser Polar Mazda, and Walser Polar Chevrolet.

Not only does this experience help students build their resume and make more informed decisions about their career choice, it also supports our local workforce demand and industry partners by creating and aligning educational opportunities with our most dedicated employers. Thank you to our employers who dedicate their time, energy, and expertise to our students. Be on the lookout for our completed 2021 Gen Z Connections Video in next month's newsletter!

Automotive Students Receive ALLDATA Certifications

Thanks to the Walser Foundation, WBLAHS Automotive Career Pathway students now have access to completing their ALLDATA Certification. Recently, 10 students received the ALLDATA Certification which proves to future employers that they have the skills required to research and find accurate information for their customers.  Congratulations to Zach Arcand, Nicholas Distad, Rosemary Hammond, Michael Haugen, Joshua Olsen, Travis Palm, Lleyton Roed, Owen Sheridan, Austin Stickler,  Austin Stiles, and Tyler Tubbesing.

Names left to right: Zach Arcand, Austin Stickler, Owen Sheridan, Rosemary Hammond, and Tyler Tubbesing. Not Pictured: Austin Stiles

Names left to right: Travis Palm, Michael Haugen, Lleyton Roed, and Joshua Olsen. Not Pictured: Nicholas Distad

Peace Garden is Complete!

After decades of being vacant and an eyesore, the Peace Garden is finally here! Amy Donlin and the Environmental Club worked tirelessly to revitalize the empty outdoor space at White Bear Lake Area High School (WBLAHS) - South Campus into a sustainable outdoor classroom for students and staff to enjoy for the upcoming school year. We are thrilled to announce that over 240 native perennials were planted along with solar lights, compost bin, seating area, and a walking path. The Peace Garden became a Legacy Project for our WBLAHS Environmental Club. Not only were students interested in pursuing a career in Environmental Science, Sustainability, or some other related field, but they were also committed to making the most difficult school year one to remember forever.

Thanks to MN Department of Education's Race2Reduce Grant, we were able to purchase native plants, wood chips, a compost bin, bird and bee houses, and a zero footprint electric lawn mower and weed whip. Students created informational signage to educate people who visit the Peace Garden and 6 black and orange picnic tables were purchased. The grant also supported a recruitment and sustainability plan for future Environmental Club students. They ordered apparel with sustainable material, stickers, and beanies to keep kids engaged and excited about joining the Environmental Club and making a difference in the world!

Job Openings:

• WBLAS is looking for a HS Industrial Tech Teacher - 0.5 FTE. 
• We are also looking for someone to teach IT Explorations and Programming Fundamentals - 0.5 FTE next year! 

ARE YOU STILL HIRING?

Send jennifer.moore@isd624.org your job description today!