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
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
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
Classes will resume on Monday, October 20.
Enjoy the extra-long weekend!
#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
#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
#beabucpride
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
#BUCPRIDE #GenerationsTogether #CommunityConnections #5thGradeFun
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
🖊️🧮 Ms. Nagel’s second grade students are proving that learning is more fun when you get to think outside the box (or in this case, on top of the desk).
#beabucpride
#beabucpride
#beabucpride
Can’t make it? Catch the celebration on the livestream and cheer on our Bucs from home! 💻
https://boxcast.tv/view/homecoming-2025-coronation-cidcmhrijteg4lgabym9
#beabucpride
🎉💛❤️ Homecoming Week is coming up, Bucs! ❤️💛🎉
This week isn’t just about school spirit—it’s about welcoming EVERYONE and making sure every Buc feels they belong. 🏴☠️✨ School Board Student Rep Inclusivity Homecoming Video
#Homecoming2025 #BUCPride #Belonging #WeAreBEA
📆September 24
⏰5:30 pm
📍BEAHS Performing Arts Center
