Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools - #CLBSPANTHERS

🎓 Congratulations to the Cass Lake-Bena Class of 2026! 🎓

On Friday, June 5, family, friends, staff, and community members gathered to celebrate the achievements of the Cass Lake-Bena High School Class of 2026. Commencement ceremonies began at 7:00 p.m. in the Cass Lake-Bena High School Gymnasium, honoring 83 graduates from Cass Lake-Bena High School, ALC, YouthBuild, and ABE programs.

We invite you to enjoy highlights from this special day, including photos from the graduation parade, commencement ceremony, and post-graduation celebrations. These images capture the pride, accomplishments, and memories shared as our graduates marked this important milestone and prepared for the next chapter of their journeys.

Photos by Yearbook Advisor Kelsey Engel and Yearbook Editor Anika Wind.

Congratulations, graduates! Once a Panther, always a Panther. ❤️🩶

Class of 2026 Graduation Photos Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11SVHe9sWKpNCHh_6sQZH2q4TTuVIuMAj?usp=sharing

Class of 2026 Graduation Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nu6byoyiv4e75Q332OUG6xmSLJ38njsN/view?usp=sharing

Due to weather 3rd-4th SB & 5th-6th SB will not have practice.

A couple of updates for tomorrows schedule (6/11) No T-Ball & 1st-2nd Baseball No open gym from 9am-11am If you have any questions contact Caleb Travis Ctravis@isd115.net

The AIPAC meeting that was scheduled for tonight (6/10) has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 23 at 5:00 pm in the high school culture room.

There will be no 1st-2nd Softball grade practice today.

Graduation will be live stream on the Cass Lake-Bena Hudl Fan Page. Here is a link https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/cass-lake/organization/79119/cass-lake-bena-high-school/watch?b=QnJvYWRjYXN0NDA3MTkyNw== If the link above does not link. Here is a backup link. https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mn/cass-lake/organization/79119/cass-lake-bena-high-school

Graduate Parade Route is IHS to R&R Oil to mini Mart

Freshman Brayden Dahl has a way about him when he competes. A lightness. Like he is moving through the moment instead of being weighed down by it. He never seems to get stressed or overthink the moment. He is steady, relaxed, and still having fun. He even has the sunglasses to match from Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Youth. Brayden is very competitive, but he also lifts people up. Before the race, other runners were asking if he could go easy on them. Instead of feeding into it, Brayden encouraged them. “Woah, be positive. Don’t think like that.” The 800 is a hard race because it is an extended sprint. Basketball players often do well in it because repeated sprints on the court train the legs to keep working through fatigue. The plan was to stay with the Clearbrook runner and stay connected early. Something to know about Brayden Dahl is that he never looks tired. The goal was simple: Feel the work. Feel the wobbling legs. The burning chest. The kind of discomfort that comes when you push past the moment where it no longer feels easy. That is what made what happened next so memorable. He went out hard with the lead group and stayed connected with the Clearbrook runner. The 800 is a positive-split race, and he did exactly that, even in 14 mph winds. He went through the first lap in 1:08 and came back in 1:10. When the race started to stretch out and things began to get a little disconnected, it started to hurt. But he responded with a surge and kept battling. In the final stretch, he found another gear and closed strong, passing a Northome/Kelliher/Blackduck runner. He had done it again. He had previously ran 2:21.99, that was a school record breaking the previous record from Gage Dunn who ran 2:22.5 in 2021. Now 2:18.25! Coach immediately ran up to share the good news. In that moment of celebration, she also saw something unusual. Brayden was bent over the bleachers at the finish line and said, “I taste blood, Coach.” That metallic taste can come when a runner empties the tank and pushes right to the edge of their effort. It is a runner’s rite of passage! This kind of effort is something to be proud of. It meant he had pushed himself to a new level. He was not just running fast anymore; he was growing, and now he had another school record to show for it. He looked up with a smile on his face and said, “So I broke my record again?” You could tell he was proud. This was a moment where he went down deep inside himself and found more. And as a coach, these are the moments you are grateful to witness. Congratulations, Brayden! CLB is SO proud of you!

Good Evening CLBE Kindergarten Families. This is a message from your principal, Dr. Grover. We will be celebrating our Kindergarten Class with a program tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2nd, at 9:00 in the Elementary School Gymnasium. Refreshments will be provided in the classrooms following the concert.

⛳🏌️‍♂️ Golf Team End of Season Award Banquet 🏌️‍♀️⛳ Join us as we celebrate another great season of golf and recognize the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of our student-athletes! 📅 Date: June 3rd 🕓 Time: 4:00 PM 📍 Location: CLB Drum Room/Culture Room Players and families are invited to attend as we enjoy food, hand out awards, and reflect on a memorable season on the course. A huge thank you to our athletes, coaches, families, and fans for your support throughout the season. We look forward to celebrating together!

⚾🥎🐾 Summer Youth Baseball & Softball Registration Update 🐾🥎⚾

We are excited for the upcoming summer season and the opportunity to provide a fun and positive experience for all students involved.

✅ All schedules have now been posted and updated. Please remember that schedules are still tentative and may continue to change throughout the summer.

📅 View the current summer schedule here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16Is45CFdNRtM0hacdYT-XfyzIDD11kuBepsSB0Ep6Wk/edit?usp=sharing

⚾🥎 Equipment Needed:
• Good running shoes or cleats
• Glove
• Water bottle
• Uniform

All other necessary equipment will be provided. Families are welcome to purchase additional personal equipment, such as bats or other gear, if they choose.

🚨 There is still time to register.
Registration will remain open until June 5.

📝 Registration Link:
https://forms.gle/Z3ShUcHjQ4LhpjDS7

Please continue checking your email and the Cass Lake-Bena Facebook page for updates and additional information as the season gets closer.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Caleb Travis (ctravis@isd115.net)

21CCLC publicity statement
This (publication, presentation, program, training, etc...) is (partially/fully) funded with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using federal funding, ALN 84.287 (note the change in letters – please adjust your currently used statements), 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The contents of this (publication, presentation, program, training, etc...) do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education or the Minnesota Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal or state government.

Yesterday, 9th Grade students went on a rewards field trip to Boardwalk Mini Golf in Bemidji! They played mini golf, had some good food and ice cream, and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

⛳🐾 Panthers Are Headed to State! 🐾⛳

Cass Lake-Bena had an outstanding showing at Sections, and we are excited to announce that Jaxon Brown and Aaliyah LaRose have qualified for the State Golf Tournament.

🏌️‍♂️ Jaxon Brown finished in 3rd place with a two-day total score of 163.

🏌️‍♀️ Aaliyah LaRose earned a 2nd place finish with a two-day total score of 187.

Both athletes showed tremendous consistency, focus, and determination throughout the tournament, and now they will represent Cass Lake-Bena on the biggest stage in Minnesota high school golf.

📅 State Tournament Dates: June 9 & 10
📍 Pebble Creek Golf Club – Becker, MN

Congratulations to Jaxon and Aaliyah on this incredible accomplishment. Panther Nation is proud of you and excited to cheer you on at State.

#PantherPride #StateGolf #GoPanthers ⛳🐾

Due to grades and low numbers, the varsity baseball team will no longer participate in the section 5A baseball playoffs. If you have any questions, please contact: Caleb Travis Ctravis@isd115.net

Good evening Cass Lake-Bena Elementary families,

This is a reminder that our Memorial Walk will take place tomorrow. Students in grades 2 through 4 will begin walking from the Leech Lake Diabetes Center at approximately 9:00 a.m. and will walk back toward Cass Lake-Bena Elementary. Students in preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade will participate by walking at the school.

Families are welcome to attend and support students along the route.

If you choose to sign your student out during the walk, please check out directly with your student’s teacher. The adult signing the student out must be listed as an approved contact in JMC. Once a student is signed out, the student becomes the responsibility of the adult who signed them out.

If you choose to bring your student back to school after signing them out, they must be brought to the main office and checked back in.

Thank you for helping us keep students safe, accounted for, and supervised throughout the event. We are looking forward to a meaningful and positive Memorial Walk together.

Have a great evening.

Congratulations to the Anishinaabe Quiz Bowl team who took 1st place in the Lester Jack Briggs Tournament. Pictured are: William Staples, Codee Ortiz, Advisor Dawn Litzau Staples, Mariah Mayberry and Analise Mason. Not only did they win the 1st place trophy, they also won scholarships if they decide to attend Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.
The team ended their season with three 2nd place wins and three 1st place wins. Way to go team!!