USD 490 eNews

It is crucial that we engage our #PartOfThePride community and their voice in this process. We will utilize this community input to help us set focus priorities for our district and identify key action steps at all school levels within this five year plan. Our schools play a critical role in the development of our future citizens- it is nearly impossible for us to create a successful Strategic Plan without hearing from our current citizens.

We will be hosting a couple of community forums in January, but this survey is an opportunity for EVERYONE to provide input.

We are thrilled to announce our Q1 Award of Excellence recipient: EMS Registrar Lucinda Hutchins! We appreciate her dedication to students, willingness to help colleagues, and her flexibility and positivity that embody what it means to be #PartOfThePride! CONGRATULATIONS Lucinda!

On the first and third Wednesday of each month, #PartOfThePride members are encouraged to wear jeans and a shirt representing a college or career path to help students explore options for their future.

USD 490’s College, Career and Community Advisor Staci Rickard has had a busy few weeks coordinating opportunities for students to explore post secondary options. Some of these included college fairs, career fairs, CyberCon 2.0, Apply Kansas, and bringing in representatives to visit with students during lunch.

To read more and see photos, please visit our website: https://www.usd490.org/article/1847982

Partners In Education Foundation’s PIE Patrol distributed over $25,500 by funding twenty-nine grants and awards to the district’s six school buildings on October 23rd. This is the first of two grant award cycles for the school year, with the other one coming in the Spring semester. Earlier this school year PIE also distributed over $9,100 in annual program awards to various departments from over twenty endowed funds designed to specifically benefit a program or department.

Visit our website to read more.

The El Dorado High School Cross Country team competed in the regional meet in Marion on Oct. 26, 2024. Brody Todd placed 14, setting a new personal record of 17:20 and qualifying to compete in the state meet on Nov. 2.

Click HERE to view Regional results.

Click HERE to view AVCTL results.

EHS JAG-K students took t-shirt orders for people to wear to Black Out Night at the EHS football game on Oct. 18. They were trained how to use the equipment to put the artwork onto the shirts and worked hard to fill all of the orders.

EHS boys tennis players Theron Mays and Reece Knight placed third in the consolation bracket of El Dorado Rotary Club's pickleball tournament on Oct. 5, 2024.

EHS Encore performed for the Butler Show Choir Festival on Oct. 10, 2024. They performed well and got good feedback from the clinician.

The EHS football team visited all three USD 490 elementary schools to spend time with the Jr Wildcat Football players on Oct. 18, 2024, to encourage them to continue participation in athletics.

El Dorado High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) hosted their annual Red Cross blood drive on Oct. 28, 2024. It was coordinated by students Sophia Beggs and Erick Lopez, with help from 21 NHS volunteers.

For each 40 units of blood donated, the Red Cross provides a $250 scholarship for an EHS student. NHS exceeded their goal and facilitated the collection of 43 units during this blood drive. Twenty-seven of those donations came from first-time donors.

KAY club will sponsor a second blood drive at EHS in the spring with the hopes of adding at least 40 more donations and earning a second $250 scholarship.

El Dorado High School JAG-K students gathered at the Performing Arts Center for the annual Initiation and Installation Ceremony on Oct. 28, 2024.

Students enrolled in the JAG-K program at EHS or Extend are initiated into the JAG-K Career Association. This important component of the program is designed to help members achieve academic and career success through the development and reinforcement of: respect for the dignity of work; effective decision-making skills; pride in accomplishments; positive self-esteem; respect for authority; and concern for the needs of others.

Visit our website to read more and see the slate of officers.

On October 29, 2024, El Dorado High School seniors participated in the Government Day Program, an initiative sponsored by the American Legion and supported by the Butler County Commission. This year’s event proved to be a valuable opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding of local government operations.

Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1849512

El Dorado Middle School eighth grade student Elise Peffly won an all-expense paid trip to compete in the Major League Baseball pith hit run contest finals during game two of the World Series.

Peffly won the first round of the contest that was coordinated through El Dorado Recreation, advancing to and winning the regional contest for 13 and 14-year-old softball at the Kansas City Royals stadium. During the regional competition, Peffly beat last year’s champion, earning her one of only four available spots for her age group to compete in the World Series for the championship.

Visit our website to read more.

El Dorado Middle School orchestra students visited Kansas State University for the annual String Fling on October 29, 2024. It is a day filled with orchestra rehearsals and performances led by experienced conductors.

Visit our website to read more and see photos: https://www.usd490.org/article/1849344

Blackmore's kitchen staff made lunch extra special all week during National School Lunch Week Oct. 14-18, 2024, by giving out prizes, awards, and sharing plenty of laughs. The kitchen team went the extra mile to make lunch a great experience for students.

Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to view more photos.

Blackmore fourth grade students decorated pumpkins using dot art on Oct. 22, 2024, to honor the artist Yayoi Kusama. The results were incredible and bursting with creativity.

Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to view more photos.

Fifth grade students at Blackmore decorated pumpkins as characters from their books for their book report presentations on Oct. 22, 2024. The results were fantastic, and each pumpkin truly brought the characters to life.

Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to view more photos.

Sergeant Thompson with the El Dorado Police Department shared a presentation with Grandview kindergarten and first grade students called Operation Lifesaver. It is an awareness and education program on safety measures with trains and the railway.

The K-State Extension Office presented to second grade classes at Grandview on Oct. 14, 2024. The visit is part of a monthly series of visits. This month, they learned about pigs, built a barn and silo, and shared a snack.

Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view more photos.

Fourth grade students at Grandview enjoyed Butler County Ag Day on Oct. 14, 2024.

Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view more photos.

Grandview students were excited to begin using the new rock wall on Oct. 15, 2024. The school's PTO made the new wall possible. After going over safety instructions, first grade classes used magnets to climb the wall to retrieve letters to spell words. The first graders said they were having fun and learning at the same time.

The Grandview kindergarten classes visited Walters Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 18, 2024. Visit their Facebook page to view a video of their trip.

Grandview fourth graders in Mr. Shum's class got to learn using pumpkin math the week of Oct. 15, 2024. Several classroom dads joined in the fun, helping carve pumpkins while students cleaned, estimated, counted, and roasted the seeds. We love to find fun ways to learn in #PartOfThePride

Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view more photos.

The Butler Community College volleyball team visited Grandview early childhood and preK classes on October 29, 2024.

Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view photos.

Mrs. Davis' second graders at Grandview finished Splash, the YMCA's water safety program, on October 30, 2024.

Thank you to the YMCA for teaching our second grade classes water safety skills!

The Butler Community College football team visited the preschool classrooms at Grandivew on October 30, 2024.

Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view photos.

Kindergarten, first, and second grades had classroom lessons for the October character trait of the month, empathy, on Oct. 1, 2024.

They learned about what empathy is and why it is important. Some brave students volunteered to “step into someone else’s shoes” and listen to a scenario that might require empathy and tell their class how they might react or help in this situation. They had some great responses!

Afterward, they practiced some mindfulness and calmed their bodies.

Visit Skelly's Facebook page to view more photos.

Skelly students made posters and presented them to the building's custodial staff for Custodian Recognition Day on Oct. 2, 2024.

Kindergarten students at Skelly attended the annual Q and U wedding on Oct. 18, 2024. This event is a creative way to teach students about the way those two letters work together as word partners.

Visit the Skelly Facebook page to view more photos.

Skelly PE teacher David Hinton completed over 1,000 pushups as part of his “pushing the pawsitive” behavior initiative. Students in his class can earn a pushup card with a number of pushups to present to Mr. Hinton at anytime for exhibiting positive behaviors. When presented with a card, Mr. Hinton immediately has to drop and do the written amount of pushups. Great job to our panthers for making Mr. Hinton work so hard!

Thanks to Jazlyn, one of the Skelly Street Leaders, each hallway at Skelly has an “affirmation station.” This was a goal of Jazlyn’s during her leadership interview.

With the support of her teacher, Jazlyn compiled a list of more than 25 affirmations she thought students could benefit from. The idea is that students can look into the mirror and remind themselves of all the amazing things they are. Jazlyn said she felt this was a very important tool for students, especially on hard days.

We are so lucky to have such innovative leaders that want to make Skelly a better place!

Skelly students have been enjoying a spooky obstacle course during PE to help burn off some energy and excitement leading up to Halloween. Exercise is way more fun when the gym is wearing a costume!

Visit the District's Facebook page to view photos.

The El Dorado Fire Department brought Fire Pup to each of the three USD 490 elementary schools to teach lessons on fire safety during Fire Prevention Week Oct. 7-11, 2024.

Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view more photos.

Visit Skelly's Facebook page to view more photos.

November’s drill is a Fire Drill. The purpose of a fire drill is to move students and staff out of the building by means of established routes due to a fire or other emergency that makes it unsafe to remain inside the building. It is important for everyone to know where the nearest exit is from any given location within the building and where their class is designated to meet outside to ensure everyone makes it out safely.

Looking for safe, quality, affordable after school childcare? The YMCA would like to offer Key Academy at Skelly Elementary for after school childcare. In order to make the program viable, they need at least 10 students to register. Learn more and register online: https://ymcawichita.org/.../child.../before-and-after-school

USD 490 welcomed Kimberly Clemons to the SRO team. She will be stationed at El Dorado Middle School. Jason Lowery has moved to a full time position. He will continue to be our Education Officer for the elementary buildings, DARE officer for fifth and seventh grades, and will also oversee facility security. Tyson Nielsen will continue to serve as Chief of Police, stationed at El Dorado High School.

Our next ESL Family Night will be Monday, November 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center located at 500 West Central Avenue. This month's topic will be, "supporting your child's academic success."

This is the district's new unified communication platform. Please download the app to keep connected with what is going on in your child's school.

Apple:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/parentsquare/id908126679

Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/detailsid=com.parentsquare.psapp&pcampaignid=web_share

November 1 No School; Staff Professional Development
November 3 Daylight Saving Time Ends

November 4-8 National School Psychology Week; Pennies By the Pound Campaign

November 5 Election Day

November 8 Celebration of Freedom Band Concert and Essay Contest at PAC, 7:00 p.m.

November 11 Veterans Day

November 11-15 KAY Citizenship Week

November 13 World Kindness Day

November 15-16 EHS Musical "Momma Mia" at EHS, 7:00 p.m.

November 17 EHS Musical "Momma Mia" at EHS, 2:00 p.m.

November 18-22 American Education Week

November 20 Paraeducator/Aide Recognition Day

November 22 Substitute Educators Day

November 22-23 EMS Drama Production "Mean Girls, Jr." at PAC, 7:00 p.m.

November 27-29 No School

November 28 Thanksgiving Day

Did you know that the online calendar includes a filter that pulls all of the dates for specific teams or event types. You can also sign up to receive change notifications or sync it to your personal calendar! https://www.usd490.org/page/district-calendars

Services are available for all Kansans 20 years old or younger, including anyone in foster care or formerly in foster care. Call, text, or chat with the helpline at 833-441-2240.

Email: usd490@usd490.org
Website: www.usd490.org
Location: 124 West Central Avenue, El Dorado, KS, USA
Phone: (316) 322-4800
Facebook: facebook.com/eldorado.schools
X/Twitter: @eldoradousd490