2015 Community Appreciation Day salutes the area’s current, retired educators
A free family picnic barbecue kicks off at 4 p.m. The menu will include hot dogs, beans, chips, cold drink and ice cream.
The 2015 Community Appreciation Day, hosted by the Community Bible Church of Mountain Lake, featured a salute to area former and current educators.
Special activities included an inflatable jumping castle, tractor and trailer hay rides, bean bag play, volleyball and croquet, local musical talent, a special Spelling Bee – and the opportunity to personally say “Hello” and “Thank you” to teachers and former teachers.
A free family picnic meal of hot dogs, beans, chips, cold drink and ice cream was also a part of the event.
Following is a photo gallery from the event:
THIS SWEATSHIRT SAYS it all for those who teach – and for those who are taught.
BOB EWERT GAVE tractor rides, pulling a trailer with hay bales as “chairs.”
ABI EPP OF Fresno, California, makes a prime play while playing croquet. In less than two weeks – she will become Abi Ewert when she marries Bingham Lake native David Ewert, son of Bob and Lynette Ewert.
JD TIPPIN RECEIVES serve during a volleyball match by bumping the ball to another team player. Tippin, formerly of Kansas, now lives and farms with Wes Kroeker in the Bingham Lake area.
JENNEEL RODNEY OF Mountain Lake stretches out her lengthy frame to bump the volleyball, with David Ewert of Fresno, California, backing up the volleyball.
ABRAM GARCIA AND Ivan Fonseca loved bouncing all over while playing in the inflatable bounce house.
AT RIGHT, ELSIE Schultz, Joann Friesen and Grace Telles serve up the main course for the free picnic lunch to those attending the Community Day.
SCOOPING UP THE ice cream treat – perfect for the sunny summer Sunday – was Bonnie Keegan.
DENNELLA BENT, DAUGHTER of Greg and Elizabeth Bent of Mountain Lake, left, chomps on a hot dog while comfortably seated in the lap of her grandma, Linda Sayles, also of Mountain Lake, right. Behind are Erland and Betty Braun of Mountain Lake.
ONE OF THE teachers being honored at this year’s Community Day was Sheryl Fast, Sycamore (pre-kindergarten) and Oak (grades three and four) teacher at Mountain Lake Christian.
A MOTHER-DAUGHTER duo of educators at Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) – as well as a former MLPS teacher – were also among those recognized for their contributions to the community. At left, Terry Jyrkas, retired Mountain Lake Public Elementary School fifth-grade teacher, while at far right is Lindsey Brown ag teacher and FFA advisor at Mountain Lake Public High School and second from right, her mom – and special education teacher at Mountain Lake Public Elementary School – Mary Brown. All three are from Mountain Lake.
ALSO ON HAND was Barb Loewen of Mountain Lake, retired FACS (family and consumer science) instructor at Mountain Lake Public High School.
RETIRED TITLE I and second-grade teacher at Mountain Lake Public Elementary School, Pam Logue, left, was in the middle of an animated visit with Brittany Siebert, right, who is returning to teach at Mountain Lake Christian following a hiatus, where she will be a part-time K-6 elementary resource teacher. In between is Siebert’s (along with husband, Micah Siebert’s) son, Evan – enjoying some cool and satisfying spoonfuls of ice cream. They, too, all are from Mountain Lake.
PASTOR DAN KEEGAN of the Community Bible Church served as host for the program at the Community Day event.
ART ELLINGSON OF Mountain Lake, left, on electric guitar and Del Decko of Mountain Lake, right, on bass guitar, presented a selection of instrumental numbers.
ELAINE KROEKER OF Bingham Lake (also an educator in her own right), second from left, was the hostess for the teacher-heavy Spelling Bee, assisted by her husband, Wes Kroeker, left, displaying the word in contention to be spelled. Heavy in competition are Siebert, second from right and Jerry Logue of Mountain Lake, right, retired Mountain Lake Public High School English instructor.
APPROPRIATELY, BLANK chalkboards were displayed on which those attending could jot down – with colored chalk – their thanks to their teachers. In the three photos below are several of those thoughts of thanks.
