Just a heads up for winter sports families! ❄️🏀🤸♀️
The Winter Athletics Parent Meeting is coming up — Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 PM in the BEAHS Performing Arts Center.
Learn important info for your winter athlete in grades 7–12! #GoBucs
The Winter Athletics Parent Meeting is coming up — Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 PM in the BEAHS Performing Arts Center.
Learn important info for your winter athlete in grades 7–12! #GoBucs
📚🥪 4th & 5th Grade Books & Bites Adventure!
Last week, our 4th and 5th graders had a blast at Books & Bites! Students enjoyed delicious snacks, dove into some great stories, and had even more fun solving scavenger hunt clues that took them all around the building. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this event so memorable and engaging for our young readers!
#BooksAndBites #LoveReading #ReadersRock #SchoolFun
Last week, our 4th and 5th graders had a blast at Books & Bites! Students enjoyed delicious snacks, dove into some great stories, and had even more fun solving scavenger hunt clues that took them all around the building. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this event so memorable and engaging for our young readers!
#BooksAndBites #LoveReading #ReadersRock #SchoolFun
Blue Earth Area Middle School absolutely crushed Change Wars this year! The fun-filled competition took place October 20–24, and BEA’s 6th and 7th graders showed up with spirit, teamwork, and lots of loose change.
So, what exactly is Change Wars?
It’s a friendly competition between Morning Meeting (MM) groups to see who can raise the most money. All the money collected goes to great causes, including BUCS for BUC$, Toys for Tots, and the BE Food Shelf. BEA’s Student Council donates much of the total to the Darling International “You Can Make a Difference” Camp-Out at Juba’s each year.
Here’s the fun twist — coins count as positive points, but paper bills count against you! That means students can sneak bills into other MM buckets to lower their totals. The MM with the most positive change wins, while another prize goes to the MM that raised the most money overall.
This year’s big Change Wars Champion was Mrs. Kaluza-Nemonic’s MM, earning $238.38 in positive change. The Most Money Raised Overall award went to Ms. Eckhardt’s MM, with an incredible $298.98!
Students went all-in this year, and their generosity paid off—literally! Together, BEA Middle School raised a record-breaking $1,545.00, smashing the previous 2015 record of $1,254.38.
To celebrate this amazing accomplishment, students got to enjoy a Bingo Party on Wednesday afternoon. Congratulations to everyone who took part—your efforts will make a real difference for people in our community!
So, what exactly is Change Wars?
It’s a friendly competition between Morning Meeting (MM) groups to see who can raise the most money. All the money collected goes to great causes, including BUCS for BUC$, Toys for Tots, and the BE Food Shelf. BEA’s Student Council donates much of the total to the Darling International “You Can Make a Difference” Camp-Out at Juba’s each year.
Here’s the fun twist — coins count as positive points, but paper bills count against you! That means students can sneak bills into other MM buckets to lower their totals. The MM with the most positive change wins, while another prize goes to the MM that raised the most money overall.
This year’s big Change Wars Champion was Mrs. Kaluza-Nemonic’s MM, earning $238.38 in positive change. The Most Money Raised Overall award went to Ms. Eckhardt’s MM, with an incredible $298.98!
Students went all-in this year, and their generosity paid off—literally! Together, BEA Middle School raised a record-breaking $1,545.00, smashing the previous 2015 record of $1,254.38.
To celebrate this amazing accomplishment, students got to enjoy a Bingo Party on Wednesday afternoon. Congratulations to everyone who took part—your efforts will make a real difference for people in our community!
Join our team!🏴☠️
🎃👻 Join us in making this Halloween a spook-tacular one! National Honor Society students will be out Trick-or-Treating for donations starting at 6:00 PM on Halloween night. If you’ve got some spare change, why not treat them with a donation? Every contribution goes to the Angel Tree Program, helping provide Christmas gifts to children in need. Your generosity is the sweetest kind of magic! 🧙♂️🍬
Last week, 23 BEA FFA Members taught 3rd and 4th Grade students at Blue Earth Area Elementary school about agriculture via 4 different learning stations.
🌱At one station, students learned about plant science and the requirements plants need to grow. They learned about germination, created a growing environment for them to see germination happen by putting soybean seeds in a ziploc bag with wet cotton balls, and then planted flowers.
🍿At another station, they learned about feed rations for livestock, how their diets are similar and different to humans, and then the kids were able to make a snack ration using corn pops, popcorn, pretzels, mini marshmallows and M&M's.
🐐The outside rotations included Livestock and equipment. For livestock, members talked about safety around the animals, common terminology, and the basics of what they eat and do throughout their day. On site there were goats, chickens, ducks, a rabbit, and our members also talked about cattle.
🚜On the equipment side of things, we had a 4 wheeler, snowmobile, tractor with a rototiller, and a payloader(the Payloader was provided by Yeager Implement) and FFA members taught the students about common uses and the safety guidelines related to the items both if they were driving them as well as if they are around them and someone else is driving them.
What an awesome teaching experience for our FFA members—and a fun learning day for our 3rd and 4th graders!
#beabucpride
🌱At one station, students learned about plant science and the requirements plants need to grow. They learned about germination, created a growing environment for them to see germination happen by putting soybean seeds in a ziploc bag with wet cotton balls, and then planted flowers.
🍿At another station, they learned about feed rations for livestock, how their diets are similar and different to humans, and then the kids were able to make a snack ration using corn pops, popcorn, pretzels, mini marshmallows and M&M's.
🐐The outside rotations included Livestock and equipment. For livestock, members talked about safety around the animals, common terminology, and the basics of what they eat and do throughout their day. On site there were goats, chickens, ducks, a rabbit, and our members also talked about cattle.
🚜On the equipment side of things, we had a 4 wheeler, snowmobile, tractor with a rototiller, and a payloader(the Payloader was provided by Yeager Implement) and FFA members taught the students about common uses and the safety guidelines related to the items both if they were driving them as well as if they are around them and someone else is driving them.
What an awesome teaching experience for our FFA members—and a fun learning day for our 3rd and 4th graders!
#beabucpride
As the first quarter of the school year comes to an end this week, we would like to remind parents and students of the following important items.
Friday, October 31st, is a no school day for all students in grades PreK-12 at Blue Earth Area Schools
Monday, November 3rd, is a **no school day for PreK - 5 students only** due to teacher training. There is school for students in grades 6th - 12th grade.
Friday, October 31st, is a no school day for all students in grades PreK-12 at Blue Earth Area Schools
Monday, November 3rd, is a **no school day for PreK - 5 students only** due to teacher training. There is school for students in grades 6th - 12th grade.
BEA: A Land of Opportunity
It’s hard to believe we’re already in the final week of the first quarter of the 2025–2026 school year. So many great things have happened already, and I’m excited to share a few highlights with you.
One of the areas we take great pride in at BEA is our commitment to providing as many opportunities as possible for our students. Despite being a small school, we work hard to ensure every student has a chance to showcase their unique talents and strengths in meaningful ways.
A shining example of this is our long-standing Peer Helping program, which nurtures leadership and service among our students. This past Monday, Community Education Director Shannon Swanson hosted the fall Peer Helping workshop, where our future leaders took part in training to prepare for their roles. To kick off the day, we were honored to welcome motivational speaker Joe Beckman, who delivered an inspiring message about the power of human connection and student leadership. Thanks to a generous anonymous donation from a local family, our students were able to engage with Joe in a small-group setting and benefit from his uplifting message. The Peer Helping program has been a BEA tradition since 1981, and we are proud to continue its legacy of student leadership and service.
In addition to leadership development, BEA continues to expand its academic and career opportunities. This year, we are proud to offer eight college-in-the-classroom/concurrent enrollment courses, as well as new options such as welding, mastering drones, and established classes like Basic Home Repair, Forensics, and Intro to Engineering. Our gifted and talented program and work-based learning experiences further support students’ diverse interests and goals. And, as a small rural school, we are especially proud to offer band, choir, and orchestra - a rare trio of fine arts opportunities for a district our size.
Finally, I’d like to recognize our outstanding student school board representatives, who give voice to our student body and exemplify leadership in action. Senior Alexis Thompson has provided exceptional leadership, including creating a video message to promote one of our core values—ensuring that every student, staff member, and family feels welcome and that they belong. Joining her this year is junior Elijah Goshorn, who is already stepping up to represent his peers with confidence and commitment.
As we wrap up the first quarter, I am reminded daily of the dedication, creativity, and spirit that make BEA such a special place. From leadership and academics to the arts and beyond, our students continue to show what it means to learn, grow, and lead the Buc way.
Mandy Fletcher - BEA Superintendent
UNITY DAY, sponsored by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, has a simple call to action—wear and
share orange to support bullying prevention. This day provides a visual spotlight to the energy of National Bullying
Prevention Month, focusing on kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Tomorrow, Bucs are wearing orange to support #UnityEveryDay. Join us to support bullying prevention!
#beabucpride
share orange to support bullying prevention. This day provides a visual spotlight to the energy of National Bullying
Prevention Month, focusing on kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Tomorrow, Bucs are wearing orange to support #UnityEveryDay. Join us to support bullying prevention!
#beabucpride
We're grateful for the gift of books and for our amazing school community!
Our Books and Bites events in Kindergarten and Second Grade this week were made extra special thanks to a Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) Early Literacy Grant. This program supports early literacy and school readiness by providing books for children birth to age eight to keep and enjoy at home.
Through partnerships with Mankato based publishers Capstone and ABDO, SMIF helps make it possible for our students to experience the joy of reading, one book at a time! Students participated in a school scavenger hunt, read their new books with their guests, and enjoyed a snack in the cafeteria.. A big thank you to our teachers, students, and families for making our Books and Bites such a fun and meaningful event!
#BooksAndBites #ReadingTogether #SMIF #bucpride
Our Books and Bites events in Kindergarten and Second Grade this week were made extra special thanks to a Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) Early Literacy Grant. This program supports early literacy and school readiness by providing books for children birth to age eight to keep and enjoy at home.
Through partnerships with Mankato based publishers Capstone and ABDO, SMIF helps make it possible for our students to experience the joy of reading, one book at a time! Students participated in a school scavenger hunt, read their new books with their guests, and enjoyed a snack in the cafeteria.. A big thank you to our teachers, students, and families for making our Books and Bites such a fun and meaningful event!
#BooksAndBites #ReadingTogether #SMIF #bucpride
👏Thank you!👏
Reminder: This week is a short one! There’s no school on Thursday or Friday due to the Education Minnesota Conference.
Classes will resume on Monday, October 20.
Enjoy the extra-long weekend!
Classes will resume on Monday, October 20.
Enjoy the extra-long weekend!
Today our College Chem students took their learning outside! 🧪 They used sidewalk chalk to calculate the number of moles and atoms in their colorful creations—chemistry and creativity at work! 🌈🧫
#beabucpride
#beabucpride
A Unified School brings students with and without disabilities together to create a more inclusive, respectful, and welcoming school community. It’s all about building a culture where everyone belongs — on the field, in the classroom, and throughout our school. Our goal is to continue providing opportunities for inclusive community activities that foster friendships and meaningful connections among all students.
This week, our students had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Unified Mini Golf Event hosted by the Fairmont Unified Group for a beginning-of-the-year meet and greet. Other schools in attendance included USC, Fairmont, MCW, and GHEC. Our students enjoyed a beautiful afternoon outdoors playing mini golf and bean bags while building teamwork, laughter, and lasting memories!
#beabucpride
This week, our students had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Unified Mini Golf Event hosted by the Fairmont Unified Group for a beginning-of-the-year meet and greet. Other schools in attendance included USC, Fairmont, MCW, and GHEC. Our students enjoyed a beautiful afternoon outdoors playing mini golf and bean bags while building teamwork, laughter, and lasting memories!
#beabucpride
🧤🧣 A big thank you to CCF Bank for their generous donation of hats, gloves, scarves, and socks to Buccy’s Closet! These items will help keep our students warm and cozy as the temperatures drop. We appreciate your support for our Bucs!
#beabucpride
#beabucpride
🌾Mrs. Volz's Plants and Animals class is a new elective 8th grade science class for the 2025-2026 school year. The “plant” side of class introduces students to the four different biomes of Minnesota with a specific focus on the native plants found in each biome. They have currently been working on identifying different tree species found in the prairie biome. Today they were able to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and go to Steinberg Nature Park where students were able to practice identifying tree species. Students used their prior knowledge from class as well as a dichotomous key to help them identify various tree species. They even got to see a couple good examples of prairie grasses.
The “animal” aspect of class will start around second quarter. They will begin to survey the different animal phyla. The students will even get to do some dissections as they learn about different types of animals, stay tuned for those pics. 😉
#beabucpride
The “animal” aspect of class will start around second quarter. They will begin to survey the different animal phyla. The students will even get to do some dissections as they learn about different types of animals, stay tuned for those pics. 😉
#beabucpride
Blue Earth Area juniors spent the day exploring their future possibilities at MSU Mankato! 💜 They attended the Education Fair to connect with college representatives, ask questions, and learn about a variety of postsecondary options. The day also included a campus tour, giving students a glimpse of college life and helping them to start thinking about the paths they might take after high school. 🎓
#beabucpride
#beabucpride
What a wonderful start we’ve had to the school year at BEA! The energy and positivity in our classrooms and hallways have been contagious, and it’s inspiring to see that momentum continue as we enter our second month of learning together.
We are taking time to celebrate some of our recent accomplishments—many of which highlight the successes of our students. Each spring, the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) measure how well our district is teaching the curriculum aligned with Minnesota’s state standards in reading, math, and science. Third grade is the first year students participate in the MCAs, making it an important checkpoint for how well we are preparing our learners. We are so proud to share that last spring, our third graders achieved 60% proficiency in Reading and 64.6% proficiency in Math!
This achievement is a direct reflection of the dedication of our K - 3 staff and the hard work of our students. Over the past five years, our district has been wholly committed to updating curriculum, strengthening instructional practices, and providing ongoing professional development for our staff. These efforts are paying off, and our results show it. In fact, BEA once again reported district-wide increases in both literacy and math MCA scores, further evidence of our commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.
Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to strengthening our partnerships with families and our community. One of our key focus areas this year will be sharing information about the condition of our facilities. This past summer, we reviewed the results of a comprehensive facilities assessment—a detailed evaluation of every part of our buildings. Our board and staff were the first to hear these updates, and we will continue to share this information through advisory boards, volunteer groups, and community meetings. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn the facts and join the conversation about the future of our schools.
As we move into October, I want to thank you for your continued support of BEA. Together, we will keep building on our momentum and creating great opportunities for our students.
Warm regards,
Superintendent Fletcher
We are taking time to celebrate some of our recent accomplishments—many of which highlight the successes of our students. Each spring, the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) measure how well our district is teaching the curriculum aligned with Minnesota’s state standards in reading, math, and science. Third grade is the first year students participate in the MCAs, making it an important checkpoint for how well we are preparing our learners. We are so proud to share that last spring, our third graders achieved 60% proficiency in Reading and 64.6% proficiency in Math!
This achievement is a direct reflection of the dedication of our K - 3 staff and the hard work of our students. Over the past five years, our district has been wholly committed to updating curriculum, strengthening instructional practices, and providing ongoing professional development for our staff. These efforts are paying off, and our results show it. In fact, BEA once again reported district-wide increases in both literacy and math MCA scores, further evidence of our commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.
Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to strengthening our partnerships with families and our community. One of our key focus areas this year will be sharing information about the condition of our facilities. This past summer, we reviewed the results of a comprehensive facilities assessment—a detailed evaluation of every part of our buildings. Our board and staff were the first to hear these updates, and we will continue to share this information through advisory boards, volunteer groups, and community meetings. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn the facts and join the conversation about the future of our schools.
As we move into October, I want to thank you for your continued support of BEA. Together, we will keep building on our momentum and creating great opportunities for our students.
Warm regards,
Superintendent Fletcher
🎲♟ Our 5th graders brought their game faces (and big smiles!) to the Senior Center! From playing games to sharing laughs, they’re not only having fun — they’re building special relationships with our senior friends. 🧡✨
#BUCPRIDE #GenerationsTogether #CommunityConnections #5thGradeFun
#BUCPRIDE #GenerationsTogether #CommunityConnections #5thGradeFun
Early Release Wednesdays begin next week for all BEA students in grades Kindergarten through 12 and will continue through April 29, 2026.
Starting next week on Wednesday, October 1st:
⏰Elementary and Middle School students will be released at 2:15 p.m.
⏰High School students will be released at 2:23 p.m.
These Wednesday dismissal times will remain in place through April.
Elementary parents, please confirm with your child’s teacher what your student’s Wednesday 2:15 dismissal plan will be if it is different from your current Wednesday dismissal.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office.
📞BEA High School, 507.526.3201
📞BEA Middle School, 507.526.3115
📞BEA Elementary, 507.526.3090
Starting next week on Wednesday, October 1st:
⏰Elementary and Middle School students will be released at 2:15 p.m.
⏰High School students will be released at 2:23 p.m.
These Wednesday dismissal times will remain in place through April.
Elementary parents, please confirm with your child’s teacher what your student’s Wednesday 2:15 dismissal plan will be if it is different from your current Wednesday dismissal.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office.
📞BEA High School, 507.526.3201
📞BEA Middle School, 507.526.3115
📞BEA Elementary, 507.526.3090
