Our annual All Staff Welcome Back was a ramtastic, SEP spirit-filled day!
Thursday, August 17, 2023, started with our annual Welcome Back Breakfast – thanks to the Altoona Chamber of Commerce, Hy Vee and Fareway! Staff were welcomed by chamber member volunteers handing out swag bags stuffed with goodies provided by our local chamber members and serenaded by our high school choir. After moving into the high school auditorium, and welcomed back by the Chamber, the Southeast Polk Education Foundation and the Southeast Polk School Board, our staff was inspired by Superintendent Dr. Dirk Halupnik and keynote speaker 2023 Iowa Teacher of the Year, our very own Mitchellville 2nd grade teacher Krystal Colbert! Her speech on Choosing Grace moved the staff to a standing ovation!
Staff spent the rest of the school day preparing for our first day of school with students (August 23), then later in the afternoon, were invited to tour the new multipurpose SEP Stadium. The stadium was bustling with activity as Black & Gold groups set up their booths for the annual Athletic Boosters Black & Gold Night. Filled with our high school band, RhythAMetteS, Cheer and student-athletes, along with SEP families and community members, the stadium overflowed with SEP spirit!
At 5:30, we held the SEP Stadium ribbon cutting ceremony to “officially” open the stadium to our community. Dr. Halupnik and SEP School Board President, Lori Slings, shared the excitement of having this amazing facility for all of our students and community. Local dignitaries held the ribbon and as it was cut, the band kicked off the SEP fight song! Attendees were given SEP rally towels and President Slings encouraged everyone to show their Ram Spirit!
Black & Gold Night continued after the ribbon cutting with performances by our band, RhythAMetteS and Cheer squads.
It was truly RAMTASTIC! Check out the fun!
The SEP All Staff Welcome Back Breakfast
The SEP Staff Stadium Tour
The SEP Stadium Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
*Some photos compliments of Brent Isenberger Photography
