USD 490 schools raise money for United Way of El Dorado
After school on Wednesday, STUCO members converted all of the money collected into pennies for the culminating activity on Thursday morning. Beginning at 8:00, students raced as grade levels to line the hallways with the pennies before the 8:30 bell. The class that lined out the longest trail of pennies would be the winner.
At the end of the school day on Thursday we announced that our student body collected a grand total $549.90, almost double the total raised the last time this event was held in 2019. The winning seminar, for the 4th year in a row, was STUCO sponsor, Todd Miller’s class raising $203.17.
The winning grade level was the senior class of 2022 with a penny trail of 8,688 inches (724 ft) of pennies. The top three seminar classes will be given a pizza party by the United Way and the senior class will get to enjoy either a movie in the auditorium or a dodgeball tournament during a seminar period.
USD 490 elementary schools raised a little over $1,670 during their Pennies by the Pound campaign and El Dorado Middle School raised nearly $590 during their Change for Change campaign. These donations were provided to United Way of El Dorado to help local families in need.
Each year, our schools compete as classrooms to raise money for United Way. This year’s classroom winners were Keri Hadley’s class at Skelly with 27 pounds of pennies, Tonya Cogan’s class at Grandview with 60 pounds of pennies, Teresa Kasper’s class at Blackmore with 70.4 pounds of pennies, and Rod Luehrs’ class at EMS with 3 pounds. Each winning classroom received a pizza party courtesy of United Way.
EHS students named High School Heisman scholarship recipients
From an applicant pool of thousands of high school scholar-athletes graduating with the class of 2022, more than 5,700 have been named School Winners in the Heisman High School Scholarship competition awarded by The Heisman Trophy Trust and Acceptance Insurance.
Scholarship amounts have increased in 2021. School Winners will continue on for the chance to become State Winners, National Finalists or National Winners. State Winners receive a $1,000 college scholarship,National Finalists receive a $2,000 college scholarship and the male and female National Winners will each receive a $10,000 college scholarship.
The two school winners from El Dorado High School are Trip Baker and Presley Johnson.
PIE Prize Patrol distributes nearly $20,000 in grants
The bi-annual Grants to Schools awards are initiated by the instructors, librarians, or staff of the schools when they apply for grants using innovative curriculum, creative books, or other items that facilitate a positive classroom experience. A PIE committee reviews and selects the grants to be awarded based on the quality of the requests and the funds available.
- At Skelly Elementary: Jennifer Gingerich received an award for “Engage, Explore, Collaborate”, Taylor Bradley received an award to purchase Ukuleles, Abigail Van Kooten received an award for Flexible Seating, and Alyssa Vanderhoof received an award for “Bridging to Resilience”.
- At Blackmore Elementary: Luana Lewis received an award for “Never Forget”, Christine Henderson received an award for “Affirmation Stations”, Emma Schrag-Culbertson received an award for “Conflict Resolution Machine”. One Cantrell grant was awarded to Cristin Hubbard for “If You Can Imagine It”.
- Grandview Elementary received five awards; Jessica Jensen – Two for Tonya Cogan; “Lets Grow a Salad” and “The Cupboard is Bare”, Theresa Tannehill was awarded “Breakout Room, Sherri Crawford received “Lets Play Xylophones”, and Misty Currier received “Tabletop Art Drying Rack”. Additionally, Rachel Norris received her Cantrell request, “I Want to Talk to You”
- At El Dorado High School: Todd Miller – “Distillation of Cherry Coke”, Linda Swan – “Digital Thermometers for Accurate Cooking”, Sarah Henning – “Zoology Specimens”. Two Cantrell Grants were awarded; Melissa Wade - “De-escalation Station”, Kelly Ankrom – “Light up Our Imagination”
- El Dorado Middle School received two PIE awards: Deanna Korkki – “Measuring Up”, LuAnne Vides – “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teams”. Kacie Johnson and Lorra Gillis teamed up for a Cantrell grant award – “A Mouse That Builds Character”
- El Dorado Extend High School: Ryan Hall received an award for “Pride Points Positive Behavior Resources”.
PIE annually awards monies to specific programs or departments as directed by some of the endowed funds. Almost $7,800 from nineteen different endowed funds will provide financial support to the industrial arts, libraries, drama, orchestra, English departments, Career & Technical Education, business classes, school nurses, and students in need.
The generosity of Jeanette Rudy continues to benefit our community by using the Felix Alton Cantrell Jr. Fund entrusted to PIE. The Cantrell Committee selected 10 requests totaling $2,200. These grants will provide students with special needs equipment that enhance their ability to learn and prosper. Items this year will provide flexible seating, calming tools, coordination tools, and other integrated curriculum aids.
In addition to the almost $20,000 awarded above, PIE has provided payments for over $13,000 in scholarships this semester for El Dorado students continuing their education at technical schools, community colleges, and universities.
Partners In Education Foundation is a not for profit foundation established in 1989 to enhance the educational opportunities for the students of USD 490. For more information contact Rod Blackburn, Development Director at rod.blackburn@pie490.org, 316-322-4800.
Murder mystery on the Titanic
International game day
El Dorado Public Schools USD 490
Email: usd490@eldoradoschools.org
Website: www.eldoradoschools.org
Location: 124 West Central Avenue, El Dorado, KS, USA
Phone: (316) 322-4800
Facebook: facebook.com/eldorado.schools
Twitter: @eldoradousd490