Welcome to District Speech Contest 2024
WELCOME! WELCOME! Keota is so very excited to be hosting Large Group Speech Contest!!! We are
working very hard to make the day a great experience!!! We are involving our school community as well
as the Keota community as a whole and can't wait to see you all on the 20th. We will be adding
information as it becomes available to this link, so check back often.
Contact information for contest managers Michael McNurlen and Gina Bennett are as follows:
Michael 319-930-1158 spikeonthemike@gmail.com (Michael would prefer you call the cell number)
Gina 319-330-6085 gina.bennett@keota.k12.ia.us 641-636-2189 (office 8:00 – 3:30)
Please feel free to reach out to either of us with any questions or concerns you might have.
Again, we look forward to a great day of speech at Keota!!!! Best wishes to everyone as the speech
season continues!!
Updated 01/05/24
Judges Meeting – There will be a meeting for all judges at 7:15 on the morning of the contest.Please report to the high school office and you will be directed from there. There will be signs on the door indicating the judge’s entrance. Judges should park in the lot between the schools. There will be people there to direct you.
Bus Drivers - Coaches: Please pass on to your bus driver that there will be a bus driver lounge in the elementary school. The bus driver lounge will have coffee, donuts in the morning and some games to help pass the day.
Updated 01/05/24
Coaches!!! Please inform your student, parents and people coming to the contest of the importance of keeping the hallways quiet!!!!!!!! This is an ongoing problem and your help in that area will be appreciated.
Also, please inform your parents/grandparents etc. that they should arrive at their student's Center at least 10 min prior to performance time. Doors close at the scheduled time and no one will be admitted late. It is important to let them know how a contest runs and that being early is far, far better than running right on time!!!!!!!!!
If you have props, blocks etc. for one act plays, reader’s theater, etc. please have your bus pull into the parking lot between the two buildings and unload there. The door to use will be clearly marked. Just inside that door is a smaller gym which will be used for prop storage and warm up. This is the only door in that parking area that will be open. We have a center near the other doors and want to avoid the chances of a lot of disruption and noise. There are rest rooms in the hall outside the auditorium that may be used for makeup. Dressing rooms will be directly off the stage area and clearly marked.
The High School office is located under the large Keota Eagles sign. This entrance is for coaches only. Upon arrival at the school, coaches, please report to the high school office area to let us know you have arrived and of any drop/substitutions etc. that we would need to be aware of. This will be the contest office for the day and it will also be where you will pick up your results when your final event has been posted.
Please feel free to contact Michael 319-930-1158 spikeonthemike@gmail.com (Michael would prefer you call the cell number)
Gina 319-330-6085 gina.bennett@keota.k12.ia.us 641-636-2189 (office 8:00 – 3:30)
Finally, please check this site often as there will be new information added daily. The schedule will be posted soon so check back!!!!
Updated 01/05/24
Find Keota High School
Keota is located in NE Keokuk County between Hwy 22 and 92 (E/W roads) and Hwy 77 and V15 (N/S roads).
View Keota High School in Google maps
Parking
School bus parking will be off school grounds. We will have parking attendants to guide you. A shuttle will be provided. The lot between the schools will be used solely for loading and unloading. It is a tight turn.Parking for parents and spectators will be on the side streets around the school, as well as the far parking lot on the west side of the high school. There is handicap parking available in the circle drive in front of the elementary building. Please make sure that when you unload your bus, you take EVERYTHING with you as buses will be parked in a different location!!!!!!!!!!
Weather Cancellation
If there are weather concerns, we will inform you by cell phone or whatever contact info you provide. We will also be contacting KCII Radio, KCRG, KGAN, and WMT 600 Radio.
Safety
There will be a certified emergency medical technician at the school throughout the contest.
There is an ELEVATOR available at the high school, the only multi-level building.
Updated 01/05/24
Entrances
We ask that spectators use the triple gray doors to the cafeteria to enter the building. Just inside the doors is the gym that we will be having as "home base". The doors to the high school should be used only by judges and coaches. Please do not have your students coming in that door as the auditorium is right inside the door and the noise will cause a problem.
Performance Etiquette
This is always a major concern !!!! Please go over the following items with students and have them share them with their parents.
Please refrain from talking during a performance. Even whispering is a distraction for those around you. It is important to REMAIN QUIET OUTSIDE THE ROOM, as well!!!
Please turn off or silence all pagers, cell phone and watch alarms!!!
FROM THE STATE OFFICE
There is NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED during any performance. RECORDING OF PERFORMANCES ONLY WITH PERMISSION from the state office. Please share this with all parents!!!
Concessions
All food will be served in the cafeteria in the center of the school campus. Seating is in the cafeteria as well as the main gym. Cash and credit/debit cards will be accepted.
Please pick up your trash in the cafeteria and in any location you may occupy, such as warm-up rooms!
Breakfast Menu from 8-10:00
Lunch Menu after 10:30
Updated 01/05/24