USD 490 eNews

USD 490 is accepting bids for three sets of bleachers that are currently located on the south baseball field at El Dorado High School. The winning bidder is responsible for removing the bleachers, but must coordinate the removal with USD 490 maintenance staff. They can be reached at 316-322-4804. They must be removed by Mar. 19.

Bids are due to the District Office by noon on Friday, March 3, and the winning bidder will be notified that afternoon.

As she prepares to step into the role of Superintendent next school year, Jenifer Davis has dedicated time in each USD 490 building to allow staff to ask questions and share any concerns they may have.

Now, it's the community's turn. In addition to visiting with the various civic groups in the city, Davis has scheduled a series of opportunities for individuals to meet her and and visit about questions they may have as the district moves forward. Please see the graphic below for dates, times, and locations.

January 2023 marks the 10 year anniversary for El Dorado Middle School’s new building. The new facility was part of a long-range facility plan drafted with community support and approved by the school district’s board of education to replace all of the aging school structures with new facilities where students could thrive.

Read the full article on our website: https://www.usd490.org/article/981874

EHS senior Niomi Ndirangu visited Skelly students on Feb. 23 to teach them about epilepsy. Ndirangu was crowned Miss Kansas Outstanding Teen and part of that honor is participating in a social impact initiative.

Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1012834

The USD 490 transportation department received a very kind THANK YOU from Ottawa Activities Director Shawn Phillips on Feb. 10.

The Ottawa cheer team was on their way to Valley Center on Feb. 9 when their bus broke down near El Dorado. They were stranded in an area that had no access to restrooms or any seating outside of the bus itself.

When Ottawa’s transportation department reached out to ours for assistance, our transportation team immediately went to their aid and took the cheerleaders and their sponsors to Valley Center so they would not miss the game.

“I would like to believe that everyone involved in education in any capacity is in it for the kids,” Phillips said. “Your transportation department just reinforced that feeling for me. They were rockstars for kids they didn’t even know…We are so thankful to have been helped by such a wonderful group.”

The Ottawa transportation department also shared how amazing our staff was to work with and thanked them for helping in their time of need.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs have evolved over the years from offering only a few vocational skills to incorporating academic courses and a wider variety of career options. USD 490 currently offers 12 pathways designed to help students become college and career-ready.

Read more on our website: https://www.usd490.org/article/1018556

Blackmore's Student Leadership Team packaged 4,538 meals for Ukraine at Numana on Feb. 9.

EHS student Duke Jensen earned a 1 rating at the State Piano Festival at Wichita State University on Feb. 18. A 1 rating is considered exceptional and is the highest rating a musician can earn at a music festival.

Visit the EHS Facebook page to view a clip of his performance: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.jensen.353/videos/6199757816754202

In honor of National Crossing Guard Day on Feb. 8, USD 490 would like to give a SHOUT OUT to our crossing guards: Robert Ogg at Blackmore Elementary and Ronald Butcher at McCollum and Country Club.

These gentlemen are out there rain, shine, sleet or snow to help our students, families, and staff reach school safely each morning and return home each afternoon.

Mr. Butcher keeps track of how many people use the crosswalk at Country Club and McCollum. On a really cold week the number of people walking may drop, but when the weather is warmer he has seen up to nearly 400 people per week using that crosswalk.

Approximately 75 USD 490 elementary and middle school students have been selected to have their art featured at the 2023 Butler County Student Art Show at the Coutts Museum of Art in El Dorado from February 11 through March 25.

Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/994435

EHS Homecoming candidates participated in community service events at Skelly (Feb. 6) and Flinthills Services (Feb. 8 ). At Skelly, they read to students and helped them with school work. At Flinthills Services, they led a karaoke dance party for the residents.

EHS student Jay Tipton placed seventh at the state swim meet in Shawnee Mission on February 16-18. He beat the 41-year-old school record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.86 seconds.

The EHS boys swim team also had several athletes place at the AVCTL meet in Salina on February 10 and 11.

Jay Tipton placed first in the 100 backstroke and third in the 100 freestyle.

The freestyle relay team of Jay Tipton, Trent Todd, Tre Burns, and Brody Todd placed fourth.

Brody Todd placed sixth in the 100 freestyle.

STATE

EHS first-year wrestler Trinity Motter placed third at the state meet that took place in Salina Feb. 22 and 23. This is the highest finish of a female wrestler in the history of El Dorado.

Bella Wernli finished her season 32-7 and Hannah Gantz finished 20-7.

On the boys wrestling team, three competed at the state meet in Salina on Feb. 24 and 25, but there were no placers. Collin Scott finished 27-14. Terek White finished 23-12 Levi Wittenberg finished 8-8.

REGIONALS

Three EHS boys wrestlers placed fourth and qualified to compete at state during the regional meet in Augusta on Feb. 17-18.

Terek White placed fourth in the 175 weight class (23-10). Collin Scott placed fourth in the 190 weight class (26-12). Levi Wittenberg placed fourth in the 215 weight class (8-6).

There were three EHS girls wrestlers who placed at the regional meet in Wellington on February 11.

Trinity Motter placed first (28-3). Bella Wernli placed second (30-5) and Hannah Gantz placed second (20-5).

The seventh and eighth grade boys basketball teams competed at the Patriot League tournament in Augusta on Feb. 25. The eighth grade team placed fourth and the seventh grade team placed sixth.

KESA is the acronym for Kansas Education Systems Accreditation, which is the state’s K-12 accrediting model. The accreditation process is something Kansas school districts must work through every five years in order to earn or maintain accreditation by the Kansas State Department of Education.

Learn more and see where USD 490 is at in the process on our website: https://www.usd490.org/article/981305

March 2 National Read Across America Day

March 3 Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day; EHS KAY Blood Drive

March 6-10 National School Social Work Week; National School Breakfast Week

March 10 No School; Inservice/Workday

March 12 Daylight Saving Time Begins

March 13-17 No School (Spring Break)

March 20 Preschool Applications Open for 23-24 school year

March 21 National Social Workers 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