USD 490 eNews

Mrs. Davis will be visiting schools and local civic groups to answer questions and introduce herself in February. Community members who would like to meet her or ask questions will have several opportunities in the coming months.

• Tuesday, February 21: 6:30 p.m. at EHS (before the varsity basketball game)
• Friday, March 3: 8:00 a.m. at the Activity Center (before the KAY Blood Drive)
• Tuesday, March 7: 6:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center (before the EMS band/orchestra concert)
• Sunday, April 2: 4:00 p.m. at EHS (before the EHS Band BBQ and concert)

To read the full press release, please visit the district website: https://www.usd490.org/article/975022

THANK YOU to everyone who helped donate to, coordinate performances or transportation for, or stopped by to watch the student performances during our annual district service event Stuff the Truck! It's great to see students, staff, families, and the community work together to brighten the holiday season for local families.

Inspired by a book donated by United Way, Grandview kindergarten teachers created opportunities around their annual The Gingerbread Man play to introduce students to loans, fundraising, recipe-reading, and customer service.

Read more on our website: https://thrillshare.com/s/news-usd-490/articles/the-gingerbread-man-leads-grandview-kindergarteners-on-an-economic-adventure-usd-490

During an impromptu assembly in the EHS commons on November 18, EHS Principal Erin Nichols presented vocal music teacher Katie Banks-Todd with a video message from country music legend Reba McEntire. In the personalized message, McEntire thanked Banks-Todd for her contributions to the arts in her community.

"We just love hearing about people like you," McEntire said. "In fact, our friends at One Country love it so much, they're going to give you a check for $10,000!"

McEntire also invited Banks-Todd to her concert in Wichita the following night. Banks-Todd says that the money will be used to benefit current and future arts students at EHS.

Read more at https://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/2022/11/21/reba-mcentire-recognizes-local-teacher/

As part of the district’s comprehensive personal safety and wellness education plan, a representative from the K-State Extension Office visited Grandview second grade classrooms on January 18 to teach students about fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy lifestyle. This nutrition presentation will be shared will all second grade students in USD 490 during January and early February.

To read more, please visit our website: https://thrillshare.com/s/news-usd-490/articles/usd-490-second-graders-learn-importance-of-fruits-and-veggies

Jalen Rice, a student athlete at EHS, was invited to participate in the 2023 Shrine Bowl. He was recognized for this honor at an EHS basketball game on January 24.

The EMS seventh and eighth grade wrestling team was named Patriot League North Champions and had four individual first-place finishers.

First Place

• Jett Sheffler (85)
• Noah McLaren (127)
• Conner Solis (134)
• Charlie Beggs (148)

Second Place

• Skyler Demel (95)
• Jaxon Markowitz (115)
• Kouper Ball (120)
• Bradley Moyet (141)
• Daven Porter (215)
• Kris Ross (265)

Third Place

• Peyton Roberts (90)
• Hunter Earnest (155)

Fourth Place

• Zowie Zachary (110
• Cooper Meese (165)
  

EHS student Faith Noonan was named a Daughers of the American Revolution Good Citizen. She also won an essay contest sponsored by the Susannah French Putney chapter of DAR. Noonan was honored at the chapter meeting on December 16 and her essay will advance to the state-level competition.

USD 490 Class of 1981 graduate and former Skelly student Jim Clements is touring Blackmore, Grandview and Skelly schools to talk to fourth and fifth grade students about his career as an artist and demonstrate some artistic techniques.

Read the full article on our website:

https://thrillshare.com/s/news-usd-490/articles/usd-490-graduate-shares-artistic-talents-with-local-students

The EHS Drumline performed in El Dorado Main Street's Old Fashioned Christmas parade on December 3. JAG-K students created a Polar Express float and joined some of the district office staff to represent USD 490 in the parade.

With the help of the El Dorado Sports Foundation (ESF), Partners in Education was able to award a fall grant in November to Skelly PE Teacher David Hinton. The grant was for Nine Square in the Air equipment. Hinton wanted to engage students in a less stressful physical activity. PIE had a high volume of grant requests this year, so they reached out to ESF for some financial assistance so they could provide this activity for the school.

EHS graduate Cooper Crawford joined Grandview fifth grade students during music class to play a few songs for them. After answering questions students had about playing guitar, Cooper played a couple of songs with the fifth graders so they could practice.

EHS seniors Logan Clark, Jillian George, Abigail Hutchins, Pheydra Lynes, Michael Riddle, Jay Tipton, and Annabelle Wise participated in a two-hour workshop designed to help them prepare for college scholarship competitions, such as WSU's Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI).

The workshop included a group consensus activity, a panel interview with impromptu questions, and practice mingling/networking with strangers. The students were evaluated on skills such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, quick thinking, and creativity. They were then given individual and group feedback and had an opportunity to ask questions.

The workshop was organized by EHS staff members Todd Miller, Jelinda Keeling, Roger Briggs, Linda Swan, Megan Sturm, and Jeremy Johnson. The activities were facilitated by EHS alumni Madeline Nichols and Mahlon Hart. Several community members volunteered their time and expertise to observe, ask questions, and provide feedback: Rod Blackburn of Partners in Education, Jennifer Clausing of TruCare Pharmacy, Tammy Fellers of ESSDACK, Miles Harvey of USD 490, and Rob Lane of David, Manley, and Lane.

Elementary teachers from Blackmore and Grandview had the opportunity to work at a McDonald’s McTeacher Night during the fall to raise money for their classrooms. Skelly will have the same opportunity this spring. Grandview staff volunteered on October 24 and Blackmore staff volunteered on November 21. Between the two nights, they raised over $3,000.

To read more, please visit our website: https://thrillshare.com/s/news-usd-490/articles/mcteacher-nights-raise-money-for-usd-490-elementary-schools

The Social Skills class at El Dorado Middle School purchased new educational games thanks to a classroom grant from the Partners In Education Foundation. These games are used to help students work on social skills.

Read more on our website: https://thrillshare.com/s/news-usd-490/articles/ems-students-enjoy-new-resources-thanks-to-pie-grants-to-schools-award

Congratulations to Blackmore fifth grade teacher Carla Varner, who received an Excellence in Teaching Honorable Mention from the Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

You can read more here: https://ksagclassroom.org/news/2022-12/

On Saturday, November 12, selected band and orchestra students traveled to Haysville to participate in the Patriot League honor band and honor orchestra. They practiced with students from other league schools during the morning, then performed for an audience in the afternoon.

Patriot League Honor Band: Cici Barraza, Daniel Bowlin, Natalie Conrad, Mia Cortez, Sophia Crawford, EJ Diffendal, Daxton Farrar, Cameron Fullerton, Jessie Henry, Kenyin Hole, Kouper Kennedy, Sebastian Lentz, Aaliyah Mays, Cooper Meese, Kaeylynn Mitchell, Wyatt Porter, Holly Richardson, I'Yahna Warren, Britanee White, and Owen Winsor.

Patriot League Honor Orchestra: Makenzie Reiswig, Noah Heilman, Aaliyah Adimekwe, Grace Wise, Addison Penner, Presley Nichols, McKaylie Boyd, Emilee Stout, Rylee Leinart, Alaxis Jensen, Isabelle Todd, Summer Cooper, and Isabella Mitchell.

Jefferson Knapp, local author of children’s book series “The Kingdom at the End of the Driveway,” visited USD 490 elementary students to share his writing journey and encourage students to believe in themselves.

Read the full article on our website: https://thrillshare.com/s/news-usd-490/articles/local-author-visits-usd-490-elementary-students

February 6-10 National School Counseling Week

February 14 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 5:00 - 8:00 PM

February 15 School Resource Officer Day

February 16 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

February 16-20 No School

February 21 Community Connection with Jenifer Davis at EHS, 6:30 p.m.

February 22 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

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