Welcome to the William M. Kelley Alumni Association’s website!  Our goal, from the beginning of our planning stages, has been to create an attractive presence on the web that would be meaningful and useful to our alumni and the community of Silver Bay.  Critical to achieving that goal is providing opportunities for alumni and others to contribute to the site.  Throughout these webpages, you will find such opportunities.  Contribute news, upcoming events, photos, and other material you would like to see published through links on these pages or by emailing us at mariners@wksalumni.com.

All website content is open to everyone so a user name and password is not required to use this website.  Even so, we sincerely hope you will register so that the Alumni Association can be helpful in the future for connecting fellow alumni for reunions or other events.  Thank you from the Alumni Association to all those who helped bring this project to fruition!

We want your feedback on this website.  It belongs to all alumni and we want it to grow from your input.  If you have comments or suggestions, please let us know.

The current issue of the Bay Area Historical Society newsletter announces the organization's annual meeting on October 11, 2024.  The meeting will include a review of the society's operations over the past year and feature a presentation by the owners of Deneen Pottery, crafters of the organization's Rocky Taconite mugs.  The newsletter also celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Silver Bay Post Office with a description of the origins and history of the local post office.  We encourage everyone to support the work of the Bay Area Historical Society by becoming a member.  Annual dues are $15 and can be mailed to:  Bay Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 33, Silver Bay, MN  55614.  For more information and history of the Bay Area, please visit their website!

Best wishes to the newest members of the William M. Kelley Alumni Association.  New opportunities await you and we wish you much success in the future.

Your WKS Alumni Association granted 3 requests from teachers and students in 2022.  As we have done in the past, we provided each elementary student with a free book during the spring book fair.  In addition, we purchased 30 ukuleles and related music for our school’s music department.  These ukuleles will be used by students for many years to come.  New scooters were also purchased for the physical education department.  They replaced those that were purchased when the school was new in 1959.

We received many thank you notes from students, teachers and the school administration for our support of their curriculum.

On November 2, 2021, the voters of Independent School District 381 in Lake County (Minnesota) approved a school infrastructure investment of more than $44 million.  What this means is that William M. Kelley School in Silver Bay, along with schools in Two Harbors, are getting a huge facelift.  This investment will help our school meet current health, safety and educational standards recommended by the State of Minnesota.

Alumni can follow the progress of the construction using this link:  https://www.isd381.k12.mn.us/anchor-our-future/

Construction is expected to commence in the Spring of 2023.  We hope to be able to bring you updates throughout the process.

The Bay Area Historical Society has some GREAT Rocky Taconite mugs for sale.  They were to debut at Bay Days 2020 and will most likely be offered at Bay Days 2021, but you can get yours now!  These 10-ounce stoneware mugs are handmade in Minnesota and there are four options in two styles to choose from.  Your purchase supports the Bay Area Historical Society which is committed to preserving the heritage of Silver Bay and Beaver Bay, Minnesota.  These beautiful mugs are priced at $22.00 each plus sales tax.  We can deliver if you live locally or they can be shipped to you for an additional charge.

Kudos to alumni Tom Frericks, one of our prior featured alumni, on his retirement.  The Lake Superior School District acknowledged Tom's many accomplishments by renaming the school forest in his honor.  Tom and his family were instrumental in the creation of this Silver Bay attraction.  Tom's recognition was featured in a front page article in the North Shore Journal which you can read here.

We would like to share two thank you notes that the Alumni Association received because of recent contributions we made.

The first note is from Molly Gadsby (WKS school nurse) and Michelle Ketola (WKS school secretary).  It reads:

“WKHS Alumni Association –

Thank you so much for the donation that contributed to the purchase of the “No Worries” books.  Thanks to your generosity, we were able to get a book into the hands of every K-6^th grade student in the Lake Superior School District!  That is 647 students!  Amazing!  At this very unique time in our country, we are so happy to be able to help our youngest students cope with uncertainty and anxiety.  We appreciate your continue support!  Your love for our community shines bright!  Thank you!

Molly Gadsby and Michelle Ketola”

Also, for the 4^th consecutive year the Alumni Association awarded $850.00 to the WKS Elementary school library for the purchase of a book for every elementary school student.  The elementary school students asked to create a thank you card for us.

Please consider donating so that we can continue making contributions like these.

As part of our commitment to serving the community, the alumni association is facilitating the sale of these mugs.  Please email us at mariners@wksalumni.com if you’d like one or more of them and we will follow up with you to finalize your purchase and arrange delivery.

Soon William M. Kelley School will be home to the Little Mariner Child Care Center, a licensed childcare facility.  In the past, community child daycare options have been lacking and this facility is meeting a very real need.  Community, school and business leaders have been working on this project tirelessly and we are all excited as construction and enrollment are imminent.

The center will include infant, toddler, preschool and

after-school programs. A new director, Kerissa Graden, has been hired and she is actively designing and planning for new Little Mariners.

Little Mariner Child Care Center plans include renovations to 3 existing William Kelley School classrooms, an outside playground designed for preschoolers and donation drives to collect quality toys and furnishings for the center. A mission statement, family handbook, enrollment documents and job listings are either completed or in the works.

You can get updates from and follow the Little Mariner Child Care Center on Facebook and/or subscribe to their newsletter by emailing littlemarinerschildcare@isd381.org.

With Covid-19 and distance learning, it was a tough spring for William Kelley students, parents and teachers. The Northern Lake County Arts Board had to cancel a Peter Arnstein Classical Concert and the Nature Photography Residency for 4th grade students. The Spoken Word Poetry Residency with 11th & 12th grade English students DID occur and was a success!  Katie Fritz, COMPAS and Guante, spoken word artist, crafted a class with written assignments, daily check-in by students with Guante and Katie Fritz. Guante reviewed and commented on each students work throughout the week. All students produced a written piece. Some presented during the last online class session. Guante crafted a written compilation of students' reflections on "community". Hope you enjoy!!

In collaboration with community members of Silver Bay, it’s businesses and the Parent Teacher Organization, the WKS Alumni Association provided financial support to an end of the year book drive that provided the “No Worries” workbook to all students in Grades K-6.

Local teachers and parents have expressed that worry and anxiety has reached the students during this pandemic.  They asked for funds to be able to send this book home at the end of the school year to let them know that their school staff and teachers miss them, support them and recognize their worry

When someone dies, especially before their time as we perceive it, memories are recalled and we are reminded of their importance to our lives.  John Asmussen (1954-2020) created many memories.  Read about him and some recollections from his classmates and family.

The Alumni Association board of directors was approached by the school administration with a request to support the installation of a water fountain and bottle filler.  Many of the original water fountains in the school no longer work and need to be replaced.  New water fountains, especially those with a filler for reusable bottles are expensive and not in the school budget.   The board concluded that this was clearly a need of the school and voted to approve support of this project.  The fountain was installed in July, 2019 with signage clearly indicating it was supported by the alumni of William M. Kelley School.  Bring your empty water bottle when you join us for a school tour in July, 2020!

In early January 2019, the Northern Lake County Arts Board contacted the WKS Alumni Association and asked if we would like to contribute to the purchase of or donation of guitars needed by Martha Chateleine, a local music therapist, who was offering elementary student guitar lessons through the Lake County Community Education program in Silver Bay. The guitars that were available to her were old and worn.
Through Facebook and by word of mouth, we asked for and received donations of both full-size and less-than-full-size used guitars and soft-side cases for student use. Additionally, new guitars and cases were donated by individual alumni. Here is Martha's thank you.

Thank you, alumni, for your continued support of WKS Schools and its activities. Together, we can do so much!

Over 50 years ago, a William M. Kelley High School student lost his class ring. How it was found, then forgotten and ultimately returned by a man living on the east coast of the United States is a wonderful story.

We are grateful to Bruce E. Naslund of Attleboro, Massachusetts for his quest to reunite the ring with its owner and for the kindness he demonstrated.

The Bay Area Historical Society held their annual meeting on October 19, 2018.  The BAHS is dedicated to preserving and recording the history of the mid-North Shore which includes the communities of Silver Bay and Beaver Bay.  This annual luncheon featured guest speaker, Neil Forsberg, who told the story of the creation of Rocky Taconite, who resides at the entrance to Silver Bay.  Read the article about Rocky in the Lake County News Chronicle!  If you are interested in the Bay Area Historical Society, please call Ruth Koepke at 218-226-3887.

The alumni association has undertaken a project to photograph and document each of the murals that have been painted by students since the earliest days of William M. Kelley School.  These murals are the legacy left by each graduating class to the school and each has its own story to tell.  The objective of The Mural Project is, through engagement with our many alumni, to discover and relate the story of each mural.  Our success in this endeavor depends on reaching those with knowledge of each mural and we need your assistance.  Please visit the mural page and help document our legacy.

You may have seen glimpses of an addition to the William M. Kelley Alumni Association website.  We affectionately call him our “anchorman”.   We asked Jessica Moen Baker, a 1994 graduate, for help in designing a logo for our group.  Jessica is a talented photographer and designer, a Silver Bay business owner and is consistently generous with her time and talents.  We love what she produced for us and want to give her a huge THANK YOU!   Look for our new logo around town and elsewhere.  One of our first projects using it is this cute car decal.   These will be available at future Bay Days events.  They are free with a donation of any amount.  Donate right here!

On June 11, 2018, school staff and volunteers from the alumni association and the community gathered at the school to kick off the renovation of the auditorium.  The first step was to remove all the existing seating in the auditorium which dates from the school’s opening in 1959.  It was hard work, but rewarding, and the group of about 25 people accomplished the task by the morning of June 12!  Thanks to everyone who chipped in to help.  You can see photos of the work in process (and now complete!) in the photo gallery.

Tracking down your classmates can be a challenge.  We can help by posting your event on our website.  Visit the Upcoming Events page, click on the link to submit your event and we will add it to the website.  If you have a flyer, schedule of activities, or other material you’d like published we can include that as well.  Members of the alumni association also provide tours of the school.  If you'd like to schedule a tour, please email us at mariners@wksalumni.com.

We would like to expand our collection of photos of school memorabilia!  This jersey photo was sent in by a member of the 1977 WKHS track and field team.  The Mariner team won the state championship that year!  If you have photos we can add to our collection, please send them to mariners@wksalumni.com along with a description of your item and, if you have one, a story about its history.