District teacher of the year call for nominations
USD 490 is now accepting nominations for the 2023-2024 District Teacher of the Year.
Nominations can be made online by school staff, students, families, or community members.
Self-nominations are not accepted. Nominations are due by Friday, October 20, 2023.
Visit our website for nominee guidelines and more information: https://www.usd490.org/page/district-teacher-of-the-year
EMS Teacher Drew Carney named Horizon Award Nominee
EMS Weights Teacher Drew Carney has been selected as the USD 490 nominee for the 2024 Kansas Horizon Award. This state recognition focuses on exemplary first-year teachers in Kansas.
“Mr. Carney is a hardworking, dedicated, and caring teacher,” Karla King, Extend Administrator said. She was the middle school principal during Carney’s first year of teaching. “I have never seen such a solid, first-year teacher. I was impressed with his abilities and he is so deserving of this recognition.”
Carney completed a Bachelors in Physical Education at Emporia State University in December 2021. He was hired as the weights teacher and a basketball coach at El Dorado Middle school for the 2022-2023 school year.
As the district nominee, Carney will complete an application packet to be considered for the Kansas Department of Education Horizon Award. Awardees will be selected and announced later this school year.
Grandview welcomes new foster grandparents
Grandview Elementary welcomed two new Foster Grandparents as #PartOfThePride on September 18. Paul and Adele Wilkins will volunteer in classrooms to provide academic, social, and developmental support to students.
In addition to serving as positive role models for students, foster grandparents read with students, help with classroom assignments, play games, work on crafts, and encourage students throughout the school day.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1252137
30-year-old quilt finds its way home
After nearly 30 years, a student-created quilt has found its way back to Mrs. Slayton and USD 490. During the 1993-1994 school year, Mrs. Slayton’s second grade class partnered with Mrs. Varner’s third grade class at Lincoln Elementary to learn about quilting as a special project they called Quilting Connections.
The teachers invited community members to bring in quilt-themed books and read to students throughout the year. Many of those books were donated to the Lincoln Elementary library at the end of the project.
When it was time to create their class quilt, each student used geometric shapes to design a unique quilt block. A local quilt store invited the students to come help sew the pieces onto their block and watch the quilt come to life as the individual squares were joined and the quilt was sewn together.
The finished quilt was donated to Susan B. Allen’s birthing center, then was relocated to the Bradford Memorial Library when the birthing center was remodeled several years ago. Last month, the quilt was returned to Mrs. Slayton. It will be finding a home in Blackmore Elementary as a reminder of the beautiful things we can create together when we embrace our individuality and use our unique strengths to work together.
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
Twitter: @eldoradousd490
