2008-09 - White Bear Lake Area Schools

TAble of Contents3 Student Achievement• Growth• Proficiency• High Expectations• Preparation for College• Curriculum15 School Climate16 Technology17 Finance18 District Profile18 School Board19 PartnershipsThe year in reviewMessage from the superintendent2From theSuperintendentThis annualreport is a glimpseinto one year in thelife of the WhiteBear Lake AreaSchools, fromSeptember 2008 toJune 2009. We tryto give you a senseof how our morethan 8,200 studentsprogressed duringthat school year, andhow their progress compares with other schoolchildren around Minnesota and our nation.Finally, we describe opportunities and successesunique to White Bear Lake Area Schools.Photos throughout the report remind usthat learning is also about an eagerness tocome to school, to be among friends and to bewith staff who care, challenge and encourage.The positive results you will read about reflectthe partnership of committed staff, supportiveparents and engaged students who make thedecision to give their best every day.There is much more, so please take thetime to read on!Michael LovettSuperintendent of Schoolswww.whitebear.k12.mn.usHighlights from 2008-09 include:• Innovative new pre-school and earlychildhood classes were held at NormandyPark, Hugo Elementary and TamarackNature Center.• In grades K-5, we saw exceptional studentgrowth in reading and math at every level.We began our partnerships with the WhiteBear Center for the Arts and TamarackNature Center, and we expanded ourpartnership with MacPhail Center for Music.• With our middle school students, we saweven more significant academic progressin reading and math. In addition, studentsenjoyed the opportunity to begin studyingSpanish, French or German, as one newpart of a restructured and enriched middleschool curriculum.• For students at the high school level,increasing numbers accepted the challengeof college credit classes, with the class of2009 raising the bar for college creditstaken, Advanced Placement honors receivedand taking advantage of the 22 separatecollege credit courses offered.• At the district level, White Bear Lake AreaSchools received a AA bond rating fromStandard and Poor’s - putting us in the top12 of Minnesota’s more than 300 schooldistricts by receiving a rating of AA orhigher. This affirms our community supportfor education and our stewardship of theseimportant resources.