Fall is officially here! The first half of the Trimester has flown by with a flurry of activity. It is fantastic to see so many smiling faces and engaged students. From the first day of school, to dress-up days during Homecoming, to the phenomenal turnout for the Grand Opening of the new Football field, it has been an exciting start to the year.

As we progress into the year, we want to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all of our students and approaching every aspect of the school experience with excellence. From Transportation, to Food Service, Janitorial, and in the Classrooms, our children are engaged in a learning environment centered around the Warrior Way. But what does that mean, exactly?

You will have an opportunity to share your thoughts on that topic and others throughout this Fall. We are seeking individuals to be part of small Focus Groups to share your thoughts on Warroad ISD #690. What does the Warrior Way mean to you? What are some things we are doing well? What are some areas we need to adjust? How can we better meet the needs of our students with excellence? We are looking for Community feedback on these questions and others.

If you would be interested in sharing your perspective in a small group setting, please reach out to Trish Gausen in the District Office at trish_gausen@warroadschools.org or at 218.386.6099 to share your availability. We want to keep the groups relatively small to allow for better conversation and will do our best to run them at times that would work for you. The information collected will be put to use by the School Board during Summer 2025 as they work to update the Vision and Goals of ISD #690 for the years to come. We appreciate your willingness to share your perspective.

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes and activities welcome families with children ages birth through kindergarten enrollment to join in learning with their children.  October events include a Halloween Costume Party and open gym.  For more information regarding ECFE including the monthly calendar, visit the school website’s Early Learners’ Center and Early Childhood Family Education page, Warroad Schools’ Facebook, and ISD#690’s Twitter accounts.  

• Early Childhood Screening (ECS) supports a child’s readiness for school.  Warroad Public Schools have scheduled three ECS events for the 2024-2025 school year:  October 25, March 21, and April 25.  Families with children three years of age through entrance into kindergarten are encouraged to contact the school for more information.

• Educational, community-based field trips in October:  Country Corn Maze (Kindergarten, Grade 5, & Unified Champion Schools), Fire Station (Kindergarten & Grade 5), RiverPlace (Grade 3).  Grade 2 participated in a virtual field trip with the Minnesota Zoo. 

• Thanks to the Parent Teacher Organization for organizing an October Apple Cider event during recess!

• Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Daily Meetings find students engaged with classmates in building relationships through greetings, sharing time, and activities.  Responsible, respectful, and safe expectations are reviewed, encouraged, and practiced in all school spaces.  Classroom MVP’s of the Week and Blue Ribbon Hallways are PBIS additions in the 2024-2025 school year. 

• Grade 5 School Ambassadors are collaborating and brainstorming on many projects with a student focus including monthly hidden objects, entry area cleanliness, a Kindness Challenge, recess ideas, and club days.

• Angle Inlet students have joined virtual Warrior Way Wednesday meetings  hosted by Mrs. Comstock for all Warroad Public Schools’ elementary students.  Lessons have focused on Routines & Expectations, Bus Safety, Fall Favorites, and Tattling or Telling.  Joining with Warroad Elementary students for Warrior Way Wednesday meetings has been a great opportunity.

• A study of Truth and Reconciliation Day culminated with a hallway collage and orange shirt project.

• Homecoming was celebrated the week of September 30-October 4, 2024.  Many thanks to WHS Student Council members for planning events including dress up days, coronation, co-ed volleyball, powderpuff football, a pepfest, and a dance.

• Grade 7 students and staff spent an afternoon at the School Forest.  Four activity stations were planned with English, math, science, and history objectives.  Through written reflection statements, students shared highlights of this hands-on learning experience.

• Collaboration between Roseau, Lake of the Woods, and Warroad school leaders occurred during a Connect meeting with Marvin on October 3, 2024.  The goal of this collaboration is to discuss career readiness, work based learning, and internship opportunities in the community at large.

• Academic eligibility and attendance are monitored by office staff to support student success.  A district wide attendance campaign highlighting the correlation between positive attendance and academic success is being planned.

Happy Fall! 

As we settle into the school year, we are thrilled to share some of the amazing achievements and upcoming events in our Special Education Department. Our goal is to foster an inclusive, supportive, and dynamic environment where all students can thrive. Our staff have been working hard to create enriching opportunities that support growth, inclusion, and achievement. 

Our Unified Champions program  promotes social inclusion by bringing together students with and without disabilities to participate in sports and leadership activities. Through this program, students build lasting friendships, improve their social skills, and foster a school culture where diversity is celebrated. The most recent Unified Champions event was a community bike night. The excitement and joy on everyone’s faces were contagious! Other activities planned include bowling and swimming events.

We are very fortunate to have an amazing aquatic facility that our students use on a weekly basis.  For some, time in the pool  helps improve coordination and physical fitness. For others, it’s an opportunity to develop water safety skills and improve strength and mobility while having fun. 

At the heart of our Special Education Department is our commitment to personalized learning through Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Each IEP is carefully crafted with input from families, teachers, specialists, and the students themselves to ensure that every learner receives the support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our team of dedicated educators is also working closely with families to set meaningful goals, track progress, and celebrate each student’s unique achievements.

October is nationally recognized as Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, understanding, and advocacy for individuals with learning disabilities (LD). Learning disabilities are neurological conditions that affect the way a person processes information. These disabilities can impact reading, writing, math, reasoning, memory, and attention. Despite their challenges, people with learning disabilities often exhibit unique strengths, such as creativity, problem-solving abilities, and out-of-the-box thinking. One of the key goals of Learning Disabilities Awareness Month is to educate the public about the nature of learning disabilities. Many people misunderstand LDs, often mistaking them for intellectual disabilities or assuming that individuals with LDs are incapable of learning. Raising awareness helps combat stigma and creates a more supportive environment for those with varied learning abilities. Early detection and intervention are crucial in addressing learning disabilities. 

We are proud of the progress our students are making, and we are continuously exploring innovative ways to ensure that all learners are provided the opportunities and accommodations necessary to succeed.

• WYFL and Flag Football 

  • Pics

• Look for youth basketball info to be sent out

• Jiu Jitsu

  • Beginning December 5th

  • Located in elementary lunchroom

  • Thursdays - 6pm-7:30pm

  • Ages 12-18

  • Sign Up and Questions: please contact the Darrik Walker 218-242-3684

Bus times are updated in Infinite Campus.  If you have any changes please make sure to let the bus garage know.

Contact Brent Cole at 218-386-6112 or email at brent_cole@warroadschools.org

Homecoming week was very busy in WHS. Students started the week by dressing up in their pajamas. On Tuesday, students dressed up as their favorite Disney characters. Wednesday was the busiest day of them all. It was dress up in your class colors for students 6th-12th grade. Wednesday was also Coronation day and the Co-ed volleyball tournament. Coronation was at 6pm in the High School Theater. This year we had 10 total students selected by students to be homecoming royalty. Liam Grover, Tedd Eastvold, Kason Pietruszewski, Cody Kvarnlov, and Landon Sengsouvanna as the boys. Addie Olafson, Caroline Marvin, Emma Casperson, Talia Hanson, and Nalika Keovilay for the girls. The Prince and Princess were Cody Kvarlov and Emma Casperson and the King and Queen were Landon Sengsouvanna and Addie Olafson. The champions of the volleyball team was “Setsy and We Know It”. Thursday was dressed as your favorite ice cream flavor, and the Powder Puff football game. Scoops brought ice cream during lunch for any student that wanted some. The Powder Puff football game started at 7pm on the football field. The Seniors came out on top with a score of 36-18. Friday was black and gold day in all of WPS. The Pepfest started at 9am and the champions of the volleyball game on Wednesday played against the teacher squad. Setsy and We Know It came out on top again. Friday Night the Warroad football team played Crookston on the new field. It was a perfect night for football, Mr. Bengston was honored for the first ever coin toss. Warroad secured their first win of the season beating the Pirates 50-20. Saturday completed the homecoming week for WHS in the ELC gym, where the dance was held from 9pm-12am.

Warroad Public Schools’ Transportation Department offers before and after school busing for students.  If your family chooses to transport students, you are reminded of drop off and pick up lane procedures.  Drop off and pick up points are the Early Learners’ Center entrance and Warroad High School entrance.  The Elementary School Office entrance is not a beginning of school day drop off or end of day pick up point.  Please wait in your vehicles for students to be released by the school at the pick up points.  

Parents are important partners in education.  Please contact teachers directly via Schoology, email, or phone to share information and/or request meeting times.    

All visitors including student family members must check in at school offices when coming into the building during school hours.  Thank you!

Parent-Teacher Conferences are Wednesday, October 16, 2024.  

Early Learners’ Center and Elementary families are asked to schedule conferences via the link sent in Schoology or by contacting the Elementary Office at (218)386-6094.  ELC and Elementary conference hours are 1:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

High School Conferences will be an open meeting style in the Warroad High School Gymnasium from 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Please remember Wednesday, October 16th is an early release day.  Students are dismissed at 1 p.m.  Enjoy Fall Break with no school on Thursday or Friday, October 17th & October 18th.

Dear Students, Parents, and Community Members,

Last year at this time I believe there was some snow on the ground! This year it’s in the 70s and golf courses are still open!

I only have a brief update for you this month but look forward to future messages and updates. We are fortunate as a school to have the incredible team in place to support our learners. Along side that as we see other small rural schools struggling with inflation, budgets, and enrollment, we are in a fantastic position financially and with enrollment, having over 1000 students enrolled at Warroad Public Schools! These two areas are important for us to watch as we plan for the future and I’m confident that we are headed down the right path in both areas. 

To coincide with that, it is also an election year for seats on the board. There are three seats up for election and we have six candidates that will be on the ballot. Next week, October 15th (believe is today at the time of this issue), Warroad Community Development is hosting a candidate forum that I encourage you to attend and learn more about your candidates for the Warroad School Board. 

As we look forward on the school year I cannot express enough my gratitude for all of the staff (from all our teams) in their daily efforts to support our students and each other. Also the support of our parents and community for the Warroad Public Schools, its students, staff, and facilities. Without that support we would not be where we at in the two crucial areas I mention above, so for that I thank each of you! 

I hope you have a great rest of the day, week, and month. I look forward to sharing another update in the future! 

Best,

Blayke Nelson 
Warroad School Board | Chairperson
510 Cedar Ave | Warroad, MN  56763
C: 218-452-0531 | www.warroad.k12.mn.us

Back row (left to right): Matt Schreiner, Blayke Nelson, Gus Booth
Front row (left to right): Cindy Drost, Laurie Thompson, Brenda Solar

ISD 690 School Board

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