USD 490 eNews
Community Newsletter
This is the last week to schedule a digital thank you card to celebrate the amazing staff members in #PartOfThePride and let them know what a difference they have made for you, a student, or a family in our community. These will be sent out next week, May 5-9, 2025, as part of Teacher Appreciation Week.
Visit our website to choose a design and send a message: https://www.usd490.org/page/staff-appreciation-emails
I Can Read Volunteers serve 36 students
College, Career, and Volunteer Coordinator Staci Rickard hosted the annual volunteer thank you breakfast on Apr. 25, 2025, to show appreciation to the volunteers who invest their time to help our students. Just over 30 volunteers served 36 second grade students across the district develop reading skills and build confidence this school year.
EHS named an Apply Kansas 2025 All Star High School
EHS is a 2025 Apply Kansas All Star High School! They received this award for supporting students in completing admissions apps, seeking financial aid, and celebrating all postsecondary paths. We are proud to help students as they plan their future!
EHS welcomes Taylyn Barkley as new head volleyball coach
El Dorado High School is proud to introduce Taylyn Barkley as the new Head Volleyball Coach. Barkley brings a wealth of experience as both a standout athlete and a dedicated coach, and she is no stranger to the high school community, having joined EHS as a PE and Health teacher in August 2024. She also currently serves as an assistant softball coach.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/2161808
EHS prom royaly candidates visit Flinthills Services
The EHS prom royalty candidates shared the joy of music at Flinthills Services on Apr. 2, 2025, by singing karaoke with the residents. They sang country songs, Disney songs, and even some Johnny Cash. We've got some great students and fun community partners in #PartOfThePride!
Visit the District Facebook page to view more photos: https://www.facebook.com/eldorado.schools/posts/pfbid02FeL7fd6UEjLxemSE9wWcvoQSk9d7fBSaaqz9Jykd3xta4dyjyEGkahoaWcebRkjSl
EHS students perform well at State Music Festivals
EHS Orchestra, Band, and Encore performed at State Large Group Festival Apr. 10, 2025. All three groups received 1 Superior rating (I) and 2 Excellent ratings (II)! Congratulations to all musicians and directors!
El Dorado High School students received high ratings at the KSHSAA State Solos and Small Groups Festival in Andover on Apr. 26, 2025.
Visit the district website to view individual results: https://www.usd490.org/article/2173622
EHS students inducted into National Honor Society
El Dorado High School hosted an induction ceremony to welcome new members to the National Honor Society and install next year's chapter officers on Apr. 27, 2025.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/2174077
EMS students make wildcat cookie cutters with 3D printers
In EMS Tech 7, students put their 3D printing skills to the test by designing and printing custom Wildcat cookie cutters! These creations made their way to the high school, where they were put to delicious use baking and decorating Wildcat-themed cookies. Hands-on learning, creativity, and school spirit all in one project!
EMS sixth grade band and orchestra visits elementary schools
EMS sixth grade band and orchestra students visited the elementary schools on Apr. 7, 2025, to share their love of music with the fifth graders. They demonstrated the exciting musical opportunities that await students in middle school. The performances were wonderful, and we hope it inspired many future musicians! A huge thank you to our amazing sixth graders and the supportive elementary school staff!
EMS students attend Builder BASH at BCC
EMS students attended Builder BASH at Butler Community College on Apr. 11, 2025, and had an incredible time diving into the world of construction and skilled trades.
It was amazing to see them try out tools and equipment, get hands-on with activities like masonry and framing, and really build their knowledge of potential career paths. A huge thank you to Junior Achievement of Wichita and all the professionals who made this experiential learning opportunity so impactful. The energy was high, the learning was real, and we cannot wait to see what these future builders create!
Visit ParentSquare to view more photos: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/50244828
EMS KAY students assemble shelves for restrooms
El Dorado Middle School KAY students rolled up their sleeves, built shelving units, and installed them near the restrooms to help keep the school organized and welcoming. It was awesome seeing their teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership in action. Thank you for making a difference and showing what it means to be #PartOfThePride!
EMS art teacher designs mascot using student photos
El Dorado Middle School Art Teacher Erick Nkana created an amazing Wildcat mosaic using hundreds of individual student portraits from Interstate Photography. Each tiny photo comes together to form the fierce Wildcat mascot — a true symbol of the #PartofthePride spirit!
This masterpiece now proudly hangs in the EMS office area as a reminder that every student is a vital piece of the school community. By bringing this vision to life, Mr. Nkana shows the power of unity through art!
El Dorado Kiwanis donates over $2,000 to local elementary schools
El Dorado Kiwanis donated $750 to each of the elementary schools in El Dorado to help provide students in need with what they need to learn, experience, dream, and succeed. Club president Curtis Lill and member Doug Jensen traveled to each school to present the check to building principals.
Kiwanis is a civic organization dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. Each year, the local chapter hosts a beef raffle to raise money to support these annual donations to local elementary schools.
USD is grateful for the community groups and individuals who do so much to support our students!
USD 490 elementary art teacher Ira Bane leads a class for local art teachers
Ira Bane lead a professional development session for art teachers across Butler County on Apr. 21, 2025. Bane taught cyanotype, which is a printmaking that uses the sun as the exposure unit to show the print. He also taught how to do steamed eco printing using a heat press and plants and flowers that were picked from their home gardens. He also showed them all how to do different styles of book making for walking art journals.
Blackmore receives 2024 Challenge Award
Blackmore Elementary is one of only 100 Kansas schools to receive a 2024 Challenge Award! Blackmore received the award for outstanding achievement and uncommon accomplishments of students based on the Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) results in math and reading.
EHS prom royalty candidates visit Blackmore
The EHS prom royalty candidates visited Blackmore on Apr. 4, 2025, to volunteer in several elementary classrooms.
Visit the District Facebook page to view more photos: https://www.facebook.com/eldorado.schools/posts/pfbid09mGY59baDCZorNHTvx13SE7aeDmHiR3tTyozpiZm42k1nasseR5u83RARP9wdUx9l
Blackmore students share what they love about their library
In honor of National School Librarian Day, Blackmore students shared what they love the most about their school library and Mrs. Lewis. View the video on Blackmore's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/blackmoreelem/videos/653245107291890
Blackmore hosts family Bingo night
Blackmore hosted their second annual Family Bingo Night on Apr. 4, 2025. This fundraiser helps support field trips, provide classroom supplies and much more.
Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to view more photos: https://www.facebook.com/blackmoreelem/posts/pfbid02EbpybLyKvJodboFhGymwiZi67NpL2fzZBjf6ZrNoCpBXsKJSLFXJEiXNwcTE7Dqml
Blackmore first and third grade meet baby chicks
Blackmore first grade had a special opportunity to visit third-grade classrooms and spend time with their newly hatched chicks! It was a wonderful moment to connect across grade levels, learn about new life, and of course, share some giggles along the way. What a joyful and memorable experience for all!
Blackmore kindergarten create houses to protect Peeps
Blackmore students put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test by building houses to protect their Peeps—using only jelly beans and toothpicks! It was an exciting and hands-on activity that sparked lots of imagination, collaboration, and laughter. Watch out world—we’ve got some future engineers in the making!
Blackmore students play dodge ball with BCC football players
One of the VIP activities for students who saved up their Bear Bucks this month was playing dodge ball with some of the BCC Football players on Apr. 25, 2025. Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to view a video of the dodge ball game: https://www.facebook.com/blackmoreelem/videos/1238646347875453
Students earn Bear Bucks for attending school, being on time, and attending school events. They can use those to purchase items from the Bear Cart each week, or choose to save them up to purchase a ticket to a VIP event such as dodge ball or lunch with Principal Arnold.
Elmentary students enjoy book vending machines
Thanks to Partners In Education Foundation (PIE), our elementary students have been enjoying earning books from the Inchy Book Vending Machines. Each elementary school has established ways for students to earn book coins they can use to get a book from the vending machine.
For more information or to donate to PIE, please reach out to PIE Development Director Rod Blackburn at rod.blackburn@pie490.org.
Grandview Kindergarten classes sell kindness clips as part of money unit lessons
Kindergarten wrapped up their money unit by making and selling kindness clips. Then they learned how to count their earnings so they could pay back their bank loan in full and get back their collateral. They have learned so much through this process and their hard work paid off on Apr. 3, 2025, as they were able to pay their way to see Peter Rabbit at the Wichita Children’s Theater. This was a full-circle moment for them all and we are so very proud of them! They are little humans doing BIG things.
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view a video: https://www.facebook.com/GEGatorsUSD490/videos/1365470447978302
Grandview celebrate exceeding thier donation goal for American Heart Association
Grandview Gators had an assembly to tape PE Teacher Miss Beel to the wall on Apr. 4, 2025, to celebrate the students that completed Finn's Mission during the Kids Heart Challenge. As a school, they exceeded their donation goal for the American Heart Association!
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view more photos: https://www.facebook.com/GEGatorsUSD490/posts/pfbid02DdhCqB3AjfJX8EFTyxr1VoNH8xE3qqUGnpFwLJjJ1CjgbEbAuPnNz1q1cfRA1PVWl
USD 490 Kindergarten classes spent four weeks learning all about plants, pollinators, and composting from Ms. Calla and the master gardeners through the K-State Extension office. We are thrilled to have them support our students and bring these great learning opportunities into the classroom!
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view a video: https://www.facebook.com/GEGatorsUSD490/videos/1038710111441911
Grandview fifth grade visists state capitol
Grandview fifth grade students visited the state capitol building in Topeka on Apr. 17, 2025.
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view a video: https://www.facebook.com/GEGatorsUSD490/videos/1393147758774809
Kindergarten had some special visitors from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Butler County Conservation District on Apr. 22, 2025. They came and shared about honeybees and butterflies and students learned how important these pollinators are to our earth and what we can do help them flourish in our environment. The guests had five stations for students to rotate through and learn first-hand from these amazing conservationists right here in our community! What a great way to kick off Earth Day!
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view a video: https://www.facebook.com/GEGatorsUSD490/videos/9944402115612611
Grandview fourth graders share state "float" projects
Grandview fourth graders made state parade floats from shoe boxes in preparation for state assessments. Students picked a state and featured some of their favorite features of that particular state. They participated in a classroom parade down red hall to share their creations with peers on Apr. 25, 2025.
Grandview third grade visits Exploration Place
Grandview's third grade students visited Exploration Place on Apr. 24, 2025. Visit Grandview's Facebook page to see pictures from their visit: https://www.facebook.com/GEGatorsUSD490/videos/990976176540152
Student Does Mrs. Currier's Makeup
Grandview hosted their Family Fun Night on Apr. 25, 2025, and many prizes were raffled off, including the opportunity for one student to do Mrs. Currier's makeup for a day.
Kynzlie was the lucky winner, and cashed in her fun prize by being Mrs. Currier's makeup artist on Apr. 28.
Skelly fifth grade attends Starbase program
Skelly fifth grade had a great time at STARBASE this week! The STARBASE program is a Department of Defense (DoD) youth outreach program that focuses on engaging students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on, experiential learning.
El Dorado Public Schools USD 490
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