Blue Earth Area E-Newsletter

Sharing the Facts About Our School Facilities

This year, the School Board has committed to educating and engaging our communities with facts as we consider the future needs of our district.

Last Monday, we began a series of community conversations by visiting the Delavan City Council to share the results of our Comprehensive Facilities Assessment. This assessment provides a detailed review of the current conditions of our school buildings, including safety, infrastructure, learning spaces, and long-term maintenance needs. It serves as a factual foundation to help guide thoughtful, responsible decision-making.

This was the first of many planned presentations. Over the next two to three months, members of the School Board and district administration will be meeting with city councils, county commissioners, and community groups across our district area. Our goal is simple: to share consistent information, answer questions, and listen to feedback from the people who live, work, and raise families in our communities.

I also want to pause to recognize the incredible work of our custodial and maintenance team. Our buildings are aging, and with that comes very real challenges - including water leaks, boiler breakdowns, and other infrastructure issues that require immediate attention. Thanks to the careful, timely, and often behind-the-scenes efforts of this team, learning continues with minimal disruption for students and staff.

Our community meetings are about sharing the realities of our facilities and ensuring everyone has access to the same information as discussions continue. Strong schools are built through strong partnerships, and informed communities are essential partners in this work.

We are always looking for additional opportunities to present this information. If your organization, council, or community group would like us to attend a meeting and share the results of the facilities assessment, I encourage you to contact me directly. We welcome these conversations and value the opportunity to engage face-to-face.

As always, the School Board and I remain committed to keeping our communities informed with facts, data, and clear communication. We appreciate the engagement we have already seen and look forward to continuing these discussions together in the weeks ahead.

Mandy Fletcher, Superintendent

Blue Earth Area Schools

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Why They Matter — and Dates to Remember

Parent-teacher conferences are one of the most powerful tools we have for supporting student success. These meetings give families and teachers a focused opportunity to:

Share student strengths and areas for growth
Review academic progress and social-emotional development
Set clear, realistic goals and agree on next steps
Build partnership and trust that carry back into the classroom and home

When families and teachers collaborate, students benefit from consistent expectations, targeted support, and a sense of belonging. Even a brief conference can make a big difference — especially when we work together to celebrate progress and plan interventions early.

Important dates: The final conferences for the K–7 building will be held on February 19 and February 24.

Thank you for partnering with us — your involvement truly helps!

Celebrating Excellence at BEAHS: Traveling Trophies

At Blue Earth Area High School, we believe that the heart of our school is the people who fill it. To celebrate the incredible dedication of our team, we are proud to share a special tradition: our Traveling Trophies. These awards are unique because they are driven entirely by student nominations. Our students see the hard work, the extra hours, and the quiet moments of support that happen every day, and these trophies give them the chance to say "thank you" to the staff members making BEA a truly BEAutiful place to be.

We have two distinct honors that rotate through our building:

The Traveling Teacher Trophy: Awarded each quarter to a teacher who has made a significant impact on their students’ lives and learning.
The Support Staff Trophy: Awarded once a semester to a staff member who goes above and beyond to keep our school running and our students thriving.

When a staff member receives the trophy, they also receive a special award highlighting the specific, heartfelt comments shared by the students who nominated them.

We are thrilled to announce that the Quarter 2 Traveling Teacher Trophy has been awarded to our Business teacher and BPA Advisor, Ms. Holly Vogltance.

The nominations for Ms. Holly Vogltance painted a picture of a teacher who is not only an expert in her field but a pillar of support for her students. Students described her as an "overall amazing person with a beautiful personality," noting that she "brightens many people's days" whether she is in her classroom, the office, or the hallways.

Here is what some of our Buccaneers had to say about Ms. Vogltance:

"She shows so much care for her students and helps us do the best we can. She is an AMAZING BPA Advisor and we are so lucky to have her. She is always willing to take extra time after school or during breaks because she wants us to succeed!"
"Practicing for my BPA events was stressful, but Ms. V always made sure I was feeling confident. She has taken a lot of weight off my shoulders."
"She is a great teacher who handles the students well and teaches things everyone will most likely use in life."

"I am very grateful to have had her as a teacher, but very sad that it is my last year with her."

Whether she is making cookies during BPA practice or helping a student troubleshoot a difficult assignment, Ms. Vogltance’s willingness to help anyone who puts in the effort makes her a truly deserving recipient.

Our Support Staff Trophy for the first semester was awarded to Mrs. Jessica Holland, our Student Success Coordinator.

In her role, Mrs. Holland is often the "quiet engine" helping students navigate the path toward graduation. Students recognize her as a "great, kind, and caring person" who is always hoping to help. One student perfectly summarized her impact by saying, "Mrs. Holland cares about every student and always helps them graduate." We are so grateful for the steady, compassionate hand she provides to our school community.

Seeing our students recognize the "above and beyond" effort of Ms. Vogltance and Mrs. Holland reminds us why Blue Earth Area is such a special place. Congratulations to both recipients!

Our district is excited to announce the formation of an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC). This committee was established after reaching the enrollment threshold of ten or more American Indian students and provides an important opportunity for families, students, staff, and community members to work together in support of our American Indian students.

AIPAC serves as a collaborative space to share input, offer perspectives, and help guide programming, services, and supports that promote academic success, cultural identity, and overall well-being. The committee also helps strengthen communication between families and the school district. If parents/guardians identify as American Indian and are interested in joining the committee, please contact Brenda Millmann, bmillmann@beas.blueearth.k12.mn.us for more information. We look forward to growing this committee and value the voices and experiences of those who participate. The next meeting will be held on March 9th at 5pm in the District Conference room at the K-7 building.

Flu activity has been high in Minnesota. It is not too late to get your flu shot! Sharing reminders of best practices during illness season.

Stay home when sick
Remember respiratory etiquette: cover your cough and sneezes
Students may return to school once fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
Symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea have been absent for 24 hours prior to returning to school
Other illness symptoms have been improving for 24 hours before returning to school
Hand hygiene is still one of the best ways we can prevent the spread of many illnesses. Remember to wash your hands frequently, for 20 seconds, with soap and warm water.

Got Covid? Quarantine and isolation are no longer recommended practices. If you or your student has been diagnosed with Covid, follow the guidelines above. There is no set amount of time that a student needs to be out of school following a positive Covid test.

Stop by our Spring Scholastic Book Fair during BEA’s upcoming conferences on Thursday, February 19 and Tuesday, February 24. We will be open from 3:30-7:30pm in the K7 Media Center.

Please Note: ALL students must be accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied students will be asked to wait in the hall. As always, we appreciate your support of our Fair!

Information will be coming home soon regarding our upcoming Battle of the Books celebration. On Monday, March 9 (Grades 6 & 7) and Tuesday, March 10 (Grades 3 & 5), students who have read a nominee from this year’s Maud Hart Lovelace lists will be invited to take part in various trivia contests, crafts, and other activities. A permission form will accompany the letter coming home and all students who wish to participate will need to return that before the competition. Additional details will be included in the letter but contact the media center with any questions.

February 2nd-Parent Advisory Meeting 5:30pm District Conference Room
February 6th-HS Knowledge Bowl
February 7th-Winter Formal High School 8pm-11:30pm
February 9th-School Board Meeting 6pm
February 9th-Math League
February 9th-Orchestra Contest
February 10th-4th & 5th Grade Concert 6:30 in Pemberton
February 16th-No School
February 19th-K-12 Parent/Teacher Conferences
February 20th-5th Grade VIP Day 1:30pm
February 20th-HS Knowledge Bowl
February 20th-FFA Donkey Basketball 7pm (meal at 5:30pm)
February 21st-Honor Orchestra
February 21st-Roller Skating Pemberton Gym 1pm-4pm
February 22nd-Roller Skating Pemberton Gym 1pm-4pm
February 24th-K-7 Parent/Teacher Conferences
February 26th-5th Grade Vikings Voyage Field Trip to the Science Museum
February 27th-9th Grade Career Navigator
February 27th-Orchestra Concert 7pm PAC
February 27th-Middle School Rec Night 7pm-10pm

Blue Earth Area High School proudly announces that two high school seniors, Jessica Moore and Devin Haase, have been honored with the prestigious Academics, Arts, and Athletics (Triple 'A') Award. This recognition is awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional achievements in academics, fine arts, and athletics.

Jessica and Devin have not only maintained an impressive 3.0 or higher grade point average but have also actively participated in Minnesota State High School League-sponsored athletic and fine arts activities.

The Triple 'A' Award, commonly known as the Triple 'A,' is a statewide recognition that celebrates the achievements of high school seniors who embody excellence across academics, arts, and athletics. Jessica and Devin stand out among their peers, showcasing the dedication and determination that the award represents. Both will now compete at the sub-section level comprised of students from 11 other schools in South Central Minnesota. Those 4 subsection winners will be announced on January 21st and will be interviewed for the Section 2A AAA award at the end of January.

The Blue Earth Area community congratulates Jessica and Devin for their exceptional accomplishments and wishes them continued success in their future endeavors.

It was a tough competition, so congratulations are in order for Blue Earth Area's 2026 Spelling Bee Champ--7th grader Jase Juba!

Well done to all the participants for their impressive efforts! Jase will attend the Regional Spelling Bee in February at South Central College in Mankato.

We had a great day of partnership and collaboration at Blue Earth Area High School during our annual Health Science Mobile Lab! This event continues to strengthen partnerships with UHD, Faribault/Martin County Public Health, area community health care professionals, all working together to expose our 8th grade students to the health science career pathway. Students had the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment, explore careers, and practice skills needed in a variety of health science fields—an engaging, hands-on experience that highlights the power of community collaboration.

Thank you to our community partners: UHD-Adam Grant, Megan Hanson-Haase, Kelsey Hodges, Alex Wenkheimer, School Nurse, Ann Crofton, Public Health Nurses-Dani Nelson and Becca Sokoloski, and our HOSA students, Sydney, Berkley, Caitlyn and Isabella