USD 490 welcomes new middle school principal
The USD 490 Board of Education approved hiring Thomas Simmons as the new El Dorado Middle School Principal beginning July 1, 2023, during their board meeting on Apr. 10. The current middle school principal, Karla King, will be stepping into a new role leading the USD 490 Virtual School and El Dorado High School Extend Campus.
Simmons completed his first bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology/Athletic Training and later earned a second bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a licensure for grades Kindergarten through ninth. He began his teaching career in Garden City public schools in 2003, where he taught for four years before moving to the Nickerson school district in 2007 and then Belle Plaine in 2016.
In May 2022, he completed a master’s degree in Educational Leadership (PreK-12) and was hired as the Director of Experiential Learning/School Administrator in Belle Plaine. As part of that role, he helped implement Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and Project Based Learning (PBL) as well as assisting with grant writing, KESA monitoring, and other supervisory responsibilities.
"The middle school years are a time of extraordinary growth and change for students,” Simmons said. “I am excited to have an opportunity to make a difference, whether it's helping students navigate challenges, supporting staff in their professional growth, or building relationships with families. I am thrilled to be #PartOfThePride."
USD 490 welcomes new middle school assistant principal/athletic director
The USD 490 Board of Education approved hiring Nathan Sherwood as Middle School Assistant Principal/Athletics and Activities Director beginning July 1, 2023, during their meeting on Apr. 10.
Mr. Sherwood began his teaching career as an eighth-grade math teacher in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, then moved to El Dorado, Kansas, to teach seventh and eighth grade math at Benton Elementary in 1999. After completing his master’s degree in School Leadership, he accepted an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director position at Circle Middle School, where he remained for nine years.
After a year as the Assistant Principal/Athletic Director for Truman Middle School in St. Joseph, Missouri, Sherwood is ready to return to El Dorado, Kansas, and share his expertise with USD 490.
“The experience in a diverse, urban environment has allowed me to grow as an administrator in ways I never dreamed, but El Dorado has always been home to me,” Mr. Sherwood said.
Please help us welcome Nathan Sherwood to the USD 490 family. We look forward to having him as #PartOfThePride!
It's time to enroll for the 2023-2024 school year
El Dorado Public Schools USD 490 is now enrolling for the 2023-2024 school year.
There have been a couple of changes to how the enrollment process will work for the upcoming school year. The biggest difference is the timing. Instead of waiting until the middle of summer, we are asking that you go ahead and complete the enrollment forms now.
We will not collect textbook or technology fees, release next year’s optional items (sports passes, yearbooks, etc.), or have the free and reduced meal applications until after July 1.
The basic steps of online enrollment for returning students are remaining the same. You will log in to your PowerSchool Parent account. This can be accessed by navigating to the district website (www.usd490.org) and clicking "PowerSchool" at the top of the page or by logging in to your PowerSchool mobile app. The New Student portal can be accessed on the enrollment page: https://www.usd490.org/o/usd-490/page/enrollment-information
In the navigation menu, click “Forms.” A list of required enrollment forms will appear. Click the name of the first one and complete or update your child’s information. If there are items you need to look up and return to, you can click “Save For Later.” Once all of the information is accurate on that form, click “Submit.” There will be a “Thank You! Form Submitted” box that appears. Click “OK” to advance to the next form.
The last form will be the “Acknowledgement of Completion.” To verify that all of your forms have been submitted, simply click the “Forms” link in the navigation menu to return to the full list. A green leaf indicates that the form has been submitted and accepted. If you see a yellow “Pending” leaf, make sure you have entered all of the information and clicked “Submit.” If so, there may be information that must be accepted on the school’s side after verification. Once that is done, the leaf will turn to a green “submitted.”
If you have multiple children attending school, you complete the enrollment forms for each student. After all forms have been submitted for the first child, click on the next child’s name in the blue bar at the top of the page and repeat the process to complete all forms.
To view handbooks or see more district information, please visit our website: www.usd490.org.
We will send a reminder after July 1 to complete next school year’s free and reduced meal application form once it is released by the state. That message will also include a reminder about fees and optional payments for the 2023-2024 school year.
Help celebrate USD 490 staff
Help us celebrate the amazing staff members we have as #PartOfThePride by letting someone know what a difference they have made for you, a student, or a family in our community.
It's easy:
Select a digital card.
Answer a couple of questions.
Let the magic happen.
During Teacher Appreciation Week on May 8-12, 2023, we will email the image you selected along with your note to the staff member you chose. These can be sent to ANY staff member in El Dorado Public Schools! If you want to recognize an entire building or department, please select the building principal's email and we will make sure your message is shared with everyone.
Click here to view and select designs: https://www.usd490.org/page/staff-appreciation-emails
EHS students visited by mobile STEM lab
The Future Maker Mobile Learning Lab visited El Dorado High School on April 26. The lab provides students with a combination of interactive virtual and augmented reality activities that allow them to explore high-demand careers related to technical education science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
The sophomore class and a few junior students took turns visiting the lab throughout the day. They rotated between three stations: virtual painting, virtual welding and an augmented 3D studio on the computers.
At the end of the session, the three groups were brought together to discuss opportunities for high school students to take college or technical school courses in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) fields for free or at a reduced tuition rate at local institutions. They discussed the need for skilled workers and how certifications can lead to high-paying jobs.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1090728
El Dorado Middle School students receive STEM camp scholarship
Five El Dorado Middle School students were awarded a $225 scholarship to attend the K-State Grow Camp in June from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) El Dorado Branch.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1085996
Grandview teacher Jamie Ball receives KAKE Golden Apple Award
Grandview first grade teacher Jamie Ball received a Golden Apple Award from KAKE News on April 7.
This award honors teachers who are making a positive difference in schools. Community members can nominate educators who are creative in the way they support, motivate and encourage a lifetime of learning, in and out of the classroom.
Watch her interview on KAKE's website:
https://www.kake.com/clip/15385224/golden-apple-jamie-ball-grandview-elementary
EMS students participate in Shark Tank water pollution solution
Middle school students in Mrs. Brobst’s Contemporary World Issues class presented solutions for water pollution Shark Tank-style on April 20.
Based on the format from the television show, students had to design a product concept that could help combat the ocean pollution problem. They sketched what their product would look like and prepared a short pitch to “sell” their product to classmates.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1082057
Blackmore students help clean up community
The Blackmore Student Leadership team helped clean up the area around the new event center at the Kansas Oil Museum on March 31 before it opened for its first event.
Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to see photos: https://www.facebook.com/blackmoreelem/posts/pfbid02ky5jZAh8G4j3Yb4QmASv2pTYvKrTZj1yFGJbLuQ7eSZS4jGE29fCc25TgCDdZGHgl
Grandview students enjoy activities with Homestead residents
Grandview PreK and Early Childhood students enjoyed participating in some spring time activities with residents from Homestead on April 6. They even caught an early sighting of the Easter bunny!
We are so grateful for the community involvement we enjoy as #PartOfThePride!
EHS prom king and queen candidates read to Blackmore students
EHS Prom King and Queen candidates visited Blackmore to read to students on April 17. We love the student to student mentoring that we have as #PartOfThePride!
Visit our Facebook page to see photos: https://www.facebook.com/eldorado.schools/posts/pfbid0DwxPGQSytqaBg2babjAWEyT2PaGTgt9Fyr2qAE2MKgHvHUgbbSAVU7NBVusuqcvCl
EHS students write letters to local veterans
El Dorado High School students in Ms. Fangmann’s Honors English 10 class wrote letters to veterans as part of a student teaching unit earlier this month. These were shared with local veterans during an American Legion regular membership meeting on April 10. American Legion members Mike Maloney and Vern Barker visited the class on April 21 to personally thank them.
“Our veterans were deeply touched and so appreciative,” Maloney said.
Maloney and Barker expressed their gratitude for the time and thought the students put into the letters and for the opportunity to visit with the students.
EHS student Abby Hutchins wins KNEA award
El Dorado High School student Abby Hutchins won a Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) Just Imagine Justice award for a recording about school violence she submitted to the 2023 Student Expression Contest. There were nine students selected from across the state to receive an award.
Visit our website to learn more and listen to her entry: https://www.usd490.org/article/1086050
We love our volunteers!
Volunteer Coordinator Staci Rickard celebrated the I Can Read Volunteers by hosting a breakfast for them on the last day of National Volunteer Week (Apr. 21).
We are grateful for the many volunteers who help make El Dorado Public Schools a great place to learn and work! Thank you all for being #PartOfThePride!
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
