Weekly Update to Families

Amazing Altoona Elementary Families,

We had another great week of learning and leading at Altoona Elementary! It is hard to believe we are getting so close to the end of the school year. Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we finish strong.

As a reminder, please RSVP for our upcoming Family Picnic using the link that was provided. This will help us plan ahead and make sure we are prepared for a great event with our students and families.

We hope everyone is able to enjoy the warmer weather this weekend! Please also stay weather aware, as there is a chance for storms.

Thank you for all you do to support Altoona Elementary. Have a wonderful weekend!

Respectfully,
Mr. Miller

As part of its efforts to ensure kids have access to healthy meals during the summer months, Southeast Polk CSD is pleased to announce our summer meals site will again be serving kids and teens. Starting on Monday, June 8th, all kids and teens 18 and under can receive meals free of charge, no registration needed, at two locations. Children under the ages of 5 years old are encouraged to come with an adult. Feeding assistance will not be provided. All meals must be eaten onsite.

Altoona Elementary, 301 6th St SW, Altoona, IA 50009

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Willowbrook Elementary, 300 17th Ave SW, Altoona, IA 50009

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Does your child have special dietary needs? Please contact Sara Salvini at sara.salvini@southeastpolkschools.org for accommodation. For additional information and menus, check out the Summer Meals page.

Are you interested in helping make this program a success? To ensure our program runs smoothly, it takes many hands. We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to help during our lunch service time. Bring your child to eat and help during meal service. This would be for supervision, helping carry trays, help with spills... all that comes with feeding kids.

If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up with the form below! Your help is greatly appreciated! Volunteer Sign Up Link

Thank you!

Sara Salvini

Director of Food & Nutrition Services

This year, Caring Hands Outreach Center will be launching our new Summer Spark Sessions for youth ages 18 and under. Summer Spark will run June 2–July 9 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1:00 pm–2:00 pm at Caring Hands Outreach Center, located at 602 3rd Street SW, Altoona, IA 50009, conveniently situated between Willowbrook Elementary and Altoona Elementary.

For those who may be unfamiliar with Caring Hands, we are a local nonprofit organization that operates a thrift store that supports our food pantry, which currently serves more than 4,000 neighbors each month throughout Eastern Polk County. Our mission is simple but deeply meaningful: to feed, clothe, and empower our neighbors. In addition to food and clothing support, Caring Hands also offers wraparound services through our Community Navigator, helping connect families with resources and support throughout the community. We are truly excited to be able to offer this program to the families we serve and to our broader community this summer.

For this program, I am collaborating closely with Carrie Homeister, Caring Hands’ HERD Program Director. HERD is a youth-focused restorative diversion program designed to help students build healthy relationships, strengthen social-emotional skills, develop positive decision-making strategies, and foster stronger community connections. Together, we are excited to create a summer environment that is engaging, supportive, welcoming, and enriching for youth in our community.

We are encouraging families to attend one of the Southeast Polk Summer Meal Sites at either:

• Altoona Elementary | 11:30 am–12:30 pm

• Willowbrook Elementary | 11:30 am–12:30 pm

Families can enjoy lunch at one of these sites before coming to Caring Hands for our afternoon enrichment activities. Our staff at Caring Hands is already actively sharing information about Southeast Polk’s summer meal sites with neighbors visiting both our food pantry and thrift store so families are aware of these important resources throughout the summer.

The Summer Spark curriculum will focus on:

• STEAM Activities
• Social Emotional Learning
• Community Building

Our goal is to provide youth with a safe, positive, and enriching summer experience where they can learn, connect, grow, and simply enjoy being part of a caring community.

ALTOONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Total Enrollment (PK-5): 419

• Students (K–5): 383
  

  Kindergarten: 55

  First Grade: 63

  Second Grade: 67

  Third Grade: 74

  Fourth Grade: 69

  Fifth Grade: 56

• PK Students: 35

• Total Staff Members: 83

Altoona Elementary School

Building Improvement Leader: Mr. Brett Fuller

Administrative Assistants: Mrs. Kacie Lane & Mrs. Emily Burke

School Counselor: Mrs. Jane Kayser

Main Office: 515-967-3771

Website: https://www.southeastpolk.org/school/altoona-elementary/

Location: 301 6th Street SW, Altoona, Iowa 50009
Facebook: @sep_AltoonaElem

X: @sep_AltoonaElem