USD 490 eNews

HB 2299 was signed into law on March 19, 2026, and took effect July 1, 2026. Here is what the new law means for USD 490 schools.

Personal Electronic Devices:
School districts are required to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during the school day.

• The ban applies to all personal electronic devices, including cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds, and other internet-enabled devices.
• The ban is in effect from the first bell of the instructional day until the final bell. This includes passing periods, class time, lunch, recess, and school assemblies.
• Personal electronic devices must be turned off and securely stored away in an inaccessible location. Students cannot carry them in pockets or elsewhere on their person.
• Students and caregivers must contact the school office if they need to communicate with each other during the school day.
• Backpacks must be stored in school-issued lockers or left in personal vehicles during the school day.

Social Media and Two-Way Communication:

• Social media may only be used for one-way, public communication, such as sharing general information about events.
• Staff cannot reply to comments, send direct messages, tag, post photos or videos of students on personal social media accounts, or engage in private conversations on social media.
• Social media use must not be required for classroom assignments or extracurricular activities.
• Platforms that are primarily educational, such as tools for students’ access to curriculum, assignments, grades, and/or academic communication, are exempt from the law and may continue to be used for educational purposes.

Visit ParentSquare to read more.

The “I Love U Guys” Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is a simple, action-based approach designed to help students, staff, and first responders react quickly and effectively to any emergency. It organizes responses to any given situation into five clear actions:

1. Hold! - Stay in your classroom or area. Hallways must remain clear.

2. Secure! - Get inside. Lock outside doors.

3. Lockdown! - Locks, lights, out of sight.

4. Evacuate! - Move to a designated location.

5. Shelter! - Take safety measures based on the specific hazard (e.g., tornado, hazardous materials).

These responses provide a standardized vocabulary that students, staff, and first responders can all understand, making emergency situations easier to manage. The SRP is widely used across schools, businesses, and communities and is developed with input from safety experts and first responders.

Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/2084523

It takes all of us working together to keep our students safe during the heavy traffic flows of the morning drop off and afternoon pick up. Here are a few reminders to help with safety and efficiency during these busy times:

• Please drop off your children between 7:30 a.m. and 7:55 a.m. There is no supervision prior to 7:30 a.m.
• Have students exit directly onto the sidewalk from the passenger side of the vehicle. Do not stop to let them out or pick them up from the left lane.
• Please do not exit your vehicle in the drop off/pick up lane (the right-hand lane). If you need to leave your vehicle to assist your child, please park in a designated parking area (see gold rectangle on map) so traffic can continue to flow.
• If parking, make sure students use the sidewalk and marked crosswalk (in green on map) to safely cross the traffic lane.
• It is essential that you come to a complete stop before exiting onto the street and that you yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and approaching vehicles for safety reasons and because it is the law. Failure to do so can result in a traffic citation.

Visit ParentSquare to read more and see individual school traffic flow maps.

Decisions to cancel school will be made by 6:30 a.m. School may be cancelled the night before, but with Kansas’ fluctuating weather conditions it is unlikely that an early determination will be made.

If school is cancelled phone calls, emails and text messages will be sent to all student and staff phone numbers and email addresses on file with PowerSchool. It is critical that parents and staff keep these contact numbers up-to-date with their school office. Information will also be posted on the district webpage, www.usd490.org, and local media outlets will be notified.

Multiple factors are considered when determining whether to cancel school. These include actual and predicted snowfall, icing, drifting, wind chill, flooding conditions, street/road conditions, utility and communications systems integrity, and other emergencies that prevent building and/or transportation operations. There are no specific snowfall amounts, temperature/wind chill factors, or flood stage levels that present a single determining factor for school closings. Moreover, it is more often a combination of the conditions noted above.

For more information, please visit our district website: https://www.usd490.org/page/severe-weather-procedures

The grade scale used for grades K-5 is the Mastery Grade Scale. This method of assigning grades is designed to focus on your child's mastery of grade appropriate skills.

NA - Not Assessed (this still has not been assessed)

NM - Not Mastered (59% or lower skill accuracy)

P - Progressing (60% - 79.9% progress shown in skill)

M - Mastered (80% or higher skill accuracy)

Thank you to HF Sinclair and the Tim Underwood Memorial for providing over $42,000 in grants to USD 490 this year! In total, this memorial has donated nearly $3 million back to the El Dorado community over the years. We sure have some generous people as #PartOfThePride!

Wendy McAdoo, Suniva Das, and Sasha Fowler with HF Sinclair delivered a generous donation of school supplies on Aug. 26, 2026. These supplies were distributed between our schools to support students who need them in #PartOfThePride!

The El Dorado Wildcat Cheer and Dance teams did an awesome job representing El Dorado at each of their camps this summer!

The Dance Team wrapped up UDA Camp with an outstanding performance, earning seven Blue Ribbons and fifth Place Overall. In just three days, each dancer learned 5–7 individual routines, showing incredible dedication and hard work. Congratulations to Izzy Todd, who was selected as an All-American!

Our Cheer Team also had an impressive camp, earning third Place in their Camp Routine, fourth Place in their Spirit Routine, and taking home the award for Best Overall Sideline. Congratulations to Tajah Tuder and Ciara Hall on being selected as All-Americans!

Seniors at El Dorado High School have an opportunity to purchase a parking spot and paint it for the school year. Those who chose to participate this year, painted their spots on Aug. 9, 2026.

Wildcat spirit was on full display this morning as the EHS volleyball team helped BrewCo to Go celebrate its one-year anniversary!

Thank you to BrewCo to Go for inviting our Wildcats to be part of the celebration and for showing your support for EHS volleyball. The team brought signs, smiles and plenty of school spirit while encouraging the community to stop by and support a local business that supports our students.

We are grateful for community partners who are proud to be #PartOfThePride!

We are proud to celebrate School Resource Officer Jason Lowery for being named the 2026 Kansas D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year by the Kansas Juvenile Officers Association in cooperation with the state D.A.R.E. program.

Visit ParentSquare to read more.

Several music vendors set up booths at this year's Musical Instrument Display at EHS on Aug. 20 so students could test out various instruments they might be interested learning to play. We love seeing the spark of interest in music that handling the instruments ignites in our students!

The EMS News class has released their first episode of the school year.

Elementary students will now get formal bicycle usage and safety lessons as part of their PE class thanks to a BLAST grant that was awarded to USD 490.

To read more, please visit ParentSquare.

Mr. Middleton taught fourth grade students how to play 3D Tic-Tac-Toe during music class to work on spatial/visual problem solving skills.

Students in Ms. Kelty's class explored construction as they worked in teams to build structures using spaghetti noodles and mini marshmallows on Aug. 17, 2026.

Mrs. Pound's first graders became scientists AND ice cream makers on August 20, 2026!

After watching a Mystery Science video about how ice cream is made, they put their learning into action and made their very own homemade ice cream! They had so much fun learning about the science behind freezing, mixing, and turning simple ingredients into a delicious treat. And, of course, the best part was getting to taste their creations!

Learning is always a little sweeter when you can eat your experiment!

Each month, our schools practice a safety drill to make sure everyone knows what to do and where to go if an emergency situation arises. August's drill was a Hold. A Hold would be called any time the hallways need to remain clear for any reason. Students who are not already inside their classroom would immediately return to their classroom and teachers would continue to teach. Parents would not be allowed into the building until the Hold was released.

September's drill will be a Tornado Drill. The action code for a Tornado or other severe weather emergency is Shelter! During a Tornado drill, classes relocate to a place of safety in the building where they would be safe during a tornado or other severe weather emergency. Parents who are onsite would be encouraged to shelter inside. No students would be released to leave with parents until after the Shelter was released.

SparkWheel provides various support services and enrichment experiences to support students’ unique needs. Whether through mentoring, enrichment activities, homework support, attendance check-ins, help with setting goals and staying motivated, information/referrals to community resources, SparkWheel is there to support students in grades 6-8.

Please ensure that your child is up to date on required immunizations and that the school has an updated copy of the records!

Records may be faxed to:
EHS 316-322-4811
EMS 316-322-4821
Blackmore 316-322-4851
Grandview 316-322-4831
Skelly 316-322-4861

Medical and religious exemption forms need to be on file. Please contact your student's school if you need the medical exemption form.

Will your child be taking a prescription medication at school, use an inhaler, or do they have an allergy that may require the use of an Epi-Pen? If so, a medication administration form will need to be on file in the nurse's office. This form requires a signature from the parent/guardian and medical provider. Nursing staff will not be able to administer medication without the proper completed forms. If you need assistance with these forms please contact the nursing staff at your student's school.

Phone Numbers:
District Office 316-322-4800
EHS 316-322-4810
Extend 316-322-4892
EMS 316-322-4820
Blackmore 316-322-4850
Grandview 316-322-4830
Skelly 316-322-4860

The Butler County Health Department is offering Back to School Shots for kids going into kindergarten, seventh grade, or eleventh grade.

The next date is September 12, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Please call to schedule an appointment: 316-321-3400.

As students head back to class, keeping our children safe requires extra care from parents, students, and drivers. Essential rules include planning clear walking and biking routes, teaching proper bus stop behavior, and staying alert in active school zones.

Walking Safety Tips

- Pick safe paths: Choose routes with clear sidewalks and active crossing guards.

- Look both ways: Stop at the curb and check left, right, and left again before you cross.

- Put phones away: Keep heads up and remove headphones when walking near traffic.

- Cross at corners: Always use marked crosswalks and obey signals

Biking Safety Tips

- Wear a helmet: Make sure it fits right and buckles securely under the chin.

- Ride with traffic: Go in the same direction as cars and use bike lanes when open.

- Use hand signals: Show drivers where you plan to turn before making a move.

- Walk bikes across busy streets: Dismount and use the crosswalk for safety

School Bus Safety Tips

- Wait back from the curb: Stand safely away from the road while waiting for the bus to arrive.

- Stay visible: Make sure the driver can see you at all times, and never walk behind the bus.

- Wait for the full stop: Do not move toward the bus until it stops completely and the driver says it is safe.

- Drivers must stop: Never pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop-arm

Additional resources and information can be found at Kansas Safe Routes to School (https://saferoutes.ksdot.gov/resources-and-education)

Quarter 1 Goal: 4 or fewer absences

Students who meet the goal will earn a special attendance award!

We understand that students get sick and situations come up—this isn't about perfect attendance. Our goal is to encourage strong attendance habits and celebrate students for being at school, on time, and ready to learn whenever they can.

Thank you, families, for partnering with us to get our Bears to school each day!

Every Wednesday Blackmore celebrates students who earn positive office referrals by recognizing their Bear pride!

The Grandview Book Fair is running September 4-11, 2026, in the Grandview Library. Experience the joy of books, from timeless classics to modern wonders.

Book Fair Hours:

Sept. 4: 3:15 - 3:45 p.m.

Sept. 8-10: 3:15 - 3:45 p.m.
Sept. 11: 2:00 - 3:45 p.m.

To view books or order online, please visit the Scholastic website.

We are excited to see so many students riding their bikes and scooters to school! We are asking students to follow these parking procedures:

• Scooters should be parked on the north side of the bike rack, closest to the building, in the open area on the cement.
• Bikes should be placed in the bike rack on the south side, closest to the parking lot.

Are you interested in helping our students and staff with classroom prep, reading, bulletin boards and events? If so, consider joining our Gator Givers Program. A typical commitment is about two hours per month; however, this may vary based on volunteer participation and school needs. Interested? Contact our counselor, Mr. Hiatt. Let’s make a difference together!

To receive information on completing the USD 490 volunteer acknowledgement and completing a required volunteer background check, contact Mr. Hiatt (bjhiatt@usd490.org) or via ParentSquare.

The Skelly Book Fair is running September 14-18, 2026, in the Skelly Library. Experience the joy of books, from timeless classics to modern wonders.

Book Fair Hours:

Sept. 14: 2:15 - 3:45 p.m.

Sept. 15-18: 3:15 - 3:45 p.m.

To view books or order online, please visit the Scholastic website.

Visit our website to see all of our outstanding Students of the Month!

Please help us say thank you and congratulations to our August 2026 USD 490 Staff of the Month! We are grateful to have such amazing individuals as #PartOfThePride!

Support Services: Scot Deniston, Maintenance
EHS: Deb Karsh, Registrar
EMS: Doug and Linda Yates, Custodians
Blackmore: Jessica Denner, Instructional Coach
Grandview: Kathy Shum, Third Grade Teacher
Skelly: Cathie Rollings, Instructional Coach

This is the district's unified communication platform. Please download the app to keep connected with what is going on in your child's school. If you have not received an activation link, please reach out to your child's school office.

the text messages you get from our school will come from regular 10-digit phone numbers. This will make it easier to see who is messaging you. For example, a message from your child’s teacher will come from a different phone number than a message from the school office.

What’s changing?

• Direct messages
• Classroom and group posts
• School posts

• Save a teacher’s number as: Ms. Davis - 4th Grade
• Save classroom/group posts as: Lincoln Elementary Classes
• Save school posts number as: Lincoln Elementary Updates

Apple:

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

Android:

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

Thank you to the middle and high school parents who provided cell phone numbers for their students. This allows coaches and activity sponsors to reach out via text for time sensitive reminders and schedule changes through the StudentSquare platform without actually seeing the student's cell phone number. Providing the student cell phone number is optional and can be added or removed any time throughout the school year by contacting your child's school office.

Be sure to have your child download StudentSquare on their phone if you provided their cell phone number.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/studentsquare-app/id1415402057

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.parentsquare.studentsquare&hl=en_US

USD 490 utilizes eFuns for our online payment system. There are several benefits for parents!

• It's easy to create an account
• No processing fees for parents making online payments
• Ability to schedule recurring payments to keep lunch money refilled
• Ability to schedule monthly payments to take care of fees throughout the school year
• No need to provide credit card or personal information over the phone

For information about setting up your ParentSquare or eFunds account or using any other school websites or apps, please see the Setting Up Accounts brochure.

To help encourage students to begin thinking about post-secondary opportunities, USD 490 will be participating in College and Career Wear Wednesdays on the first and third Wednesday of each month, beginning this coming Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

All members of #PartOfThePride are encouraged to wear jeans and a shirt representing any of the following:

• College/University
• Military
• Technical/Trade School
• Vocational School
• Certification Program
• Professional Organization

Thank you for helping our students explore their endless college and career opportunities!

Join us to celebrate the unique role grandparents play in students' lives!

Friday, September 11, 2026

8:15 AM EMS
2:00 PM Grandview

Tuesday, September 14, 2026

8:00 AM Extend
9:00 AM EHS
1:30 PM Blackmore
2:15 PM Skelly

We love having parents, family and community visitors at our schools and look forward to another engaging year of events with all of you!

Board Policy requires anyone visiting a USD 490 school during the school day to complete a Visitor Form each school year. The 2026-2027 form is available and can be completed now to save time when you arrive for your first school event.

Please be sure to share the attached flyer with any grandparents who may be planning to attend our Grandparent Day celebrations or award ceremonies throughout the school year and encourage them to complete the form now so they can skip that step during their visit. These forms will be available electronically and in paper from at each school office as well for anyone who is not able to complete it ahead of time.

If you have any questions about school visits, events, or this form, please reach out to your child's school principal. We look forward to seeing you in #PartOfThePride!

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION 13th Annual Sporting Clay Fun Shoot

September 12, 2026 @ Michael Murphy & Sons
6400 SW Hunter Rd, Augusta, KS

Join PIE’s largest fundraiser of the year to promote your community pride, support our students, and provide an opportunity for your employees to enjoy the great outdoors.

Team Registration is now OPEN!
Please register by Sept. 8.

Prize Drawing

Win a Christmas Lights & Lawn Treatment Package worth almost $800 from Midwest Turf & Ground Control LLC

• A Christmas light package including lights, installation and removal
• A three lawn treatment package for 2027

Tickets are only $20 each or 3 for $50

Register your team or enter the drawing.

Gold Sponsors

• Commerce Bank
• Gravity::Works
• Jeff Christensen (Edward Jones)
• Midwest Turf & Ground Control LLC
• Union Tank Car

Silver Sponsors

• ICI
• H&R Block—El Dorado

Bronze Sponsors

• Augusta Animal Clinic
• Community National Bank
• Davis, Manley & Lane LLC
• Drs. Joyce & Hursh
• Duelling Llamas
• Emprise Bank
• Graber’s Ace Hardware
• Keith’s Barber Shop
• NIL Coach LLC
• Sundgren Realty
• Sunflower Plumbing & Excav
• Judy Smith Family

Proceeds benefit students of USD 490.

www.pie490.org.

September 7 No School/Labor Day

September 8 EMS Family Night, 5:30 p.m.

September 11 Grandparent celebrations: 8:15 a.m. at EMS; 2:00 p.m. at Grandview

September 12 PIE Sporting Clay Shoot at Michael Murphy's, 9:00 a.m.

September 14 Grandparent celebrations: 8:00 a.m. at Extend; 9:00 a.m. at EHS; 1:30 p.m. at Blackmore; 2:15 p.m. at Skelly

September 14-18 Arts in Education Week

September 15 IT Professionals Day

September 17 Constitution Day

September 21 No School; Staff Professional Development

October 2 Custodian Recognition Day; All Schools Dismiss Early: EHS/EMS at 1:00 p.m.; Elementary at 1:15 p.m.; Homecoming Parade at Downtown El Dorado, 2:00 p.m.; EHS Fall Homecoming Game v. McPherson, 7:00 p.m.

One of the best ways to support your child's success in school is by encouraging consistent attendance. We are sharing the Vacation Planner below to make it easier to plan vacations and appointments during school breaks.

View the full 2026-2027 school calendar any time online.

Classes begin: Tuesday, August 11
Classes end: Thursday, May 20

September

October

November

Winter Break

January

February

March

April

May

Student-Athlete Buffer Weeks

Fall Athletic Buffer Week

Winter Moratorium

Summer Moratorium

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