On Nov. 8, Sunny View Elementary kindergarten, first and second-grade students took went on a field trip to learn about their own Polk County community. 

They visited the new Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Jail, escorted by Chief of Staff Kim Pack. They enjoyed seeing the Polk County History Museum, guided by volunteer Kathy Taft, who also tutors students at Sunny View. 

The new ladder firetruck, shown by Andrew Kegley and Tony Priester at the Columbus Fire Department, was a popular part of the day. They also toured historic Polk County Courthouse, led by Clerk of Court Pam Hyder. 

Another stop was the Columbus Post Office, where second-graders mailed letters to schools around the world as part of their “Flat Stanley” geography and literacy project. 

The field trip provided a chance for the students to learn firsthand about their community and how it works, teachers said.

– Submitted by Angela Hall