USD 490 eNews

CONGRATULATIONS to Grandview Preschool Aide Holly Garner on being awarded the USD 490 Quarter 2 Award of Excellence! We are grateful to have her as #PartOfThePride!

Operation Holiday Magic is once again spreading holiday cheer by providing Christmas gifts to USD 490 students who have been recommended by school staff based on need.

On Dec. 16, 2024, El Dorado High School football and softball players volunteered their time to wrap all the donated gifts at a special Wrap Party. The students worked together to make sure each gift was beautifully wrapped and ready for delivery.

Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1929548

The El Dorado Chamber of Commerce named USD 490 the December 2024 Business of the Month and presented them with a certificate of appreciation on Dec. 13, 2024.

"USD 490 continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of our community through exceptional education, dedicated staff, and unwavering support for students. From academics to athletics, fine arts to community engagement, the district makes a positive impact every day. Thank you, USD 490, for your hard work and commitment to excellence. Your efforts make El Dorado a stronger, brighter place to call home!" - El Dorado Chamber of Commerce

All three USD 490 elementary schools have received and stocked the book vending machines that were made possible thanks to the help of Partners In Education. These will be used as incentive awards for students, with ways to earn tokens to be determined by each school.

Third-grade students at Skelly and Blackmore Elementary Schools received a special gift on Dec. 4, 2024: their very own dictionaries, courtesy of the local Rotary Club. The dictionaries are theirs to keep, and each one comes with a personalized label on the front cover where students can write their name. Grandview third graders received theirs on Dec. 10.

Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1906273

USD 490 hosted its annual service event Stuff the Truck on Dec. 6, 2024. In the weeks leading up to the event, staff and students collected donations of food, toys, and coats to deliver to the Salvation Army on the event date. As donations were delivered, students performed in front of El Dorado Walmart to encourage shoppers to add their own donations to "stuff" the truck.

Visit the District Facebook page to view videos of the student performances.

Several El Dorado High School football players received AVCTL Division IV All-League honors for the 2024 season.

Honorable Mention:

• Peyton Wight, defensive back

• Beau Hall, running back/special teams

• Miguel Lopez, linebacker

• Bryden Soper, linebacker

• Tanner Riddle, defensive back/wide receiver

• Kru Sanchez, offensive line

Professional Bull Rider Koltin Hevalo, currently ranked as the number 5 bull rider in the nation, visited El Dorado High School’s JAG-K (Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas) students on Dec. 12, 2024, to share his experiences and advice about the world of bull riding. The event was a special opportunity for students to hear firsthand from one of the top athletes in the sport.

Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1921439

The El Dorado High School eSports team was named Grand Champions in two categories and won third place in another during the Sunflower Showdown tournament on Dec. 13, 2024.

Visit our website to read the full article: https://www.usd490.org/article/1925854

EHS students Addison Penner and Tiara Martin for being selected to participate in the SCKMEA District Honor orchestra and band! They performed on Dec. 7, 2024, at Maize High School. We have some truly talented musicians as #PartOfThePride!

El Dorado High School senior Kareena Bhakta was named a Gore Scholar semifinalist in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational competition at WSU! Kareena should find out in a few days if she moves on as a finalist.

El Dorado Middle School eighth grade students participated in a Future Now Finance event on Nov. 26, 2024.

This finance simulation provides students with a hands-on experience in understanding the realities of preparing for a successful future and adulthood. They explore budgeting and balancing expenses based on career income and family size while covering all of the essentials to live independently.

Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1896767

The El Dorado Middle School annual spelling bee took place on Dec. 11, 2024. There were 48 students who participated in the bee.

After round one, 11 spellers remained. It was a fierce battle for ten total rounds, with Meagan Helmandollar and Jonah Love battling back and forth through the last five rounds before Helmandollar won with the championship word of tegular.

EMS Principal Tom Simmons was awarded a Credit Union of America Teach, Grow, and Inspire the Future (TGIF) Grant of $1,000 to use to help fund PROS activities! We have inspirational leaders as #PartOfThePride!

Students who earned a PROS party for making good behavior and attendance choices visited Exploration Place on Dec. 13, 2024.

Read more on ParentSquare: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/43714355

El Dorado Middle School KAY and STUCO delivered the items collected during the Patriot League food drive to the Salvation Army on Dec. 18, 2024. Afterward, the groups went to movie theater to watch Moana 2 for their winter party.

Blackmore hosted the annual Breakfast with Santa event on Dec. 7, 2024. This event was open to all children in El Dorado, and offered free donuts, hot chocolate, and photos with Santa. There were free hats, gloves, and coats available to children as well. Families were able to browse the Blackmore book fair while they were there waiting to meet Santa.

Visit the District Facebook page to view photos.

Grandview celebrated Harlow's therapy dog training graduation on Dec. 6, 2024. To help her celebrate, trainers Chris Crease and Jessie Smith-Crease brought Harlow's mom and dad, Juniper and Captain Jack, and Mrs. Pound brought Ruby from Skelly to visit during her graduation ceremony.

Grandview fifth graders performed a play for their peers today (Dec. 16, 2024) and will perform for parents tomorrow. Mrs. Vasquez's class presented "The Grouch" and Mrs. Morris' class presented "A Christmas Carol." What a fun way to practice public speaking skills in #PartOfThePride!

Visit the District Facebook page to view photos.

Kindergarten and First grade had a blast with Mrs. Casey McGraw's BCC Education students on Dec. 10, 2024. The Butler students created many wonderful Christmas stations for students to enjoy. We love getting future teachers in the classroom and experiencing first-hand the the pure joy that comes from being an educator.

Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view a video.

Kindergarten students at Grandview Elementary had a fun day of experiential learning during their annual Gingerbread Day on Dec. 13, 2024. They were joined by friends, parents, and grandparents for some fun decorating activities.

Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view a video.

Grandview kindergarten classes performed the Gingerbread Man play for parents and peers on Dec. 18.

Visit the District Facebook page to view photos.

In Grandview STEM classes on Dec. 18, 2024, students competed to see who could create the largest bubble before it popped. The largest was 20 inches.

The Skelly Street Singers spread some holiday cheer by visiting classrooms and offices at Skelly on Dec. 17, 2024, to sing Christmas Carols.

View a video on Skelly's Facebook page.

Nominate an outstanding principal or assistant principal for the Kansas Principals Association’s Principal of the Year! Nominations are due by Friday, January 31, 2025. Visit KPA’s website for more information, or click here to make a nomination.

Nominate a current or former teacher for the Kansas Teachers' Hall of Fame! Nominations are due by February 1, 2025. They must have at least 25 years of experience as a K-12 teacher in the state of Kansas to qualify.

Visit the Kansas Teachers' Hall of Fame website to learn or download a nomination form.

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

Our next ESL Family Night will be Monday, January 6, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center located at 500 West Central Avenue. This month's theme will be Health and Wellness Resources for Families.

This year's district theme is "Take the Lead." To celebrate this theme, we asked our student leadership teams to tell us who they believe are inspirational, unique, or interesting leaders. Their answers will be featured the first Tuesday of each month.

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

December 20 No School; Staff Professional Development and Workday

December 23-January 2 No School; Winter Break

January 3 No School; Staff Workday

January 6 No School; Staff Professional Development

January 7 Classes Resume

January 15 Blackmore Spelling Bee, 1:00 p.m.
January 17 Skelly Spelling Bee, 1:00 p.m.

January 20 No School; MLK Day

January 23 Grandview Spelling Bee, 1:30 p.m.

January 23 - 25 Bluestem Classic

January 29 Kansas Day

January 30 - February 1 Lady Cat Classic

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