USD 490 eNews
Community Newsletter
EHS graduation livestream and shuttle service
The El Dorado High School graduation ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. in the EHS gymnasium. There will be overflow seating available in the EHS auditorium and the event will be livestreamed on the school’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@eldoradohigh1340
Overflow parking is available in the middle school parking lot and the district will provide shuttle service from that site to the high school. The shuttle service will run from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. and will provide transportation back to the parking lot after the ceremony concludes. This shuttle service is handicap accessible and the buses will be air conditioned.
If you have questions about the graduation ceremony, please contact the high school at 316-322-4810. For questions about the shuttle service, please contact our transportation department at 316-322-4804.
EHS students explore careers using virtual reality
El Dorado High School students in Mr. Miller’s Intro to Healthcare class had the opportunity to explore healthcare related careers via virtual reality on April 17.
Three representatives from the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas Youth Employment Project (YEP) brought virtual reality gaming headsets that were set up with simulations of job tasks from a variety of healthcare careers for students to use.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1556328
EHS students participate in Community Service Day
El Dorado High School’s KAY hosted their second annual Community Service Day on April 19, 2024.
All of the available service activities were geared to spruce up their school or local community. They were small ways for students to make a positive impact on the world around them.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1560609
EHS student places at regional JAG-K CDC competition
Several JAG-K students competed at the Region 4 regional competition at Southwestern College in Winfield on Mar. 5, 2024.
Angela Swink placed second in Financial Literacy and qualified to compete at the state CDC competition at Fort Hays State University on Mar. 20, where she competed fiercely, but did not place.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1531014
2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year banquet
We celebrated our 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees at the KTOY Regional Banquet on April 6, 2024. CONGRATULATIONS again to EMS Science Teacher Dawn Rush and Blackmore Kindergarten Teacher Jessica Denner! Mrs. Denner was named a semi-finalist during the banquet.
El Dorado Kiwanis donates funds to elementar schools
Each of our three USD 490 elementary schools received $750 from the El Dorado Kiwanis Club on April 4, 2024. These funds are intended to assist with student needs that cannot be funded out of the school’s regular budget. THANK YOU El Dorado Kiwanis for being #PartOfThePride!
Grandview fifth grade launches rockets
Grandview fifth graders had a successful rocket launch today! Our teachers find some fun ways for students to experience science lessons in #PartOfThePride!
Blackmore student art selected for publication in national anthology
CONGRATULATIONS to Blackmore's Natalie Walker on having her dog painting accepted for publication in the Spring 2024 Celebrate Art Anthology national book! Out of 40 submissions from USD 490 schools, hers was the only one selected to be included for publication in the anthology.
El Dorado fire department visits EMS students
Ms. Vides' Social Skills class was honored to have the El Dorado Fire Department, along with Butler Community College Fire Science students, come talk to her classes on April 22, 2024. They brought a fire truck for the kids to tour as well!
To view photos, please visit the EMS Facebook page.
Blackmore counseling lessons focus on grit and conflict resolution
Blackmore's counseling lessons for the month of April focused on grit and conflict resolution. Fourth graders had the opportunity to quickly learn about leaders who persevered and changed the world.
Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to see photos.
Blackmore Kindergarten visits Botanica
Blackmore Kindergartners wrapped up their lessons with "Kids in the Garden" and their teachers planned an outing to Botanica to continue their learning journey.
Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to view photos.
Blackmore fifth grade visits state capitol
Blackmore fifth grade had an excellent time in Topeka at the Capitol on April 26, 2024. They toured the building, learned some of the history of the building and processes within the building, as well as had the chance to go to the TOP of the dome!
Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to view photos.
Blackmore second grade visits Kansas Oil Museum
Blackmore second grade visited the Kansas Oil Museum, right here in El Dorado, on April 26, 2024. They spent the afternoon learning about the history of our area, led by local tour guides!
Visit Blackmore's Facebook page to view photos.
Blackmore students make nature prints with WSU professor
Two fourth grade and one second grade class at Blackmore learned how to make nature prints from Dr. Lori Santos on April 30, 2024.
Dr. Santos works at Wichita State University and specializes in indigenous art and nature print pressing. She brought flowers and foliage from her personal garden for students to use during the art lesson and talked to them about being good stewards of the land before she explained the art technique.
Visit our website to read more: https://www.usd490.org/article/1576338
Grandview Kindergarten leads Pledge at city meeting
On April 1, 2024, Grandview Kindergartners met El Dorado’s Mayor, Bill Young, and led the Pledge of Allegiance to start off the City Commission Meeting (in English and Spanish)! They were so brave and did an amazing job! Way to go Kindergarten!
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view photos.
Grandview Kindergarten visit make and sell dog treats
Grandview Kindergarten students visited the bank to take out a "loan" to buy supplies to make dog treats. After making and packaging them, they attached thank you notes and created advertising posters to promote sales. They spent two days selling treats before school for 25 cents each, selling out both days. This experience let students learn more about banking services, how loans work, and the basics of operating a small business.
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to see a video.
Grandview Kindergarten visits Crown Uptown
Grandview Kindergarten visited Crown Uptown in Wichita to watch Little Red Riding Hood on April 5, 2024.
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to see photos.
K-State Extension Office teaches kindergarten about gardening
The K-State Extension Office spent four weeks visiting Kindergarten classrooms teaching them about gardening, pollinating, composting, recycling, and much more.
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to see a video.
Grandview fifth grade visits state capitol
Grandview fifth grade visited the state capitol building in Topeka on April 11, 2024. They climbed the 296 steps to the stars for the Dome Tour.
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view photos.
Grandview Kindergarten learns about hatching chickens
SRO Mitch Lowry spent 21 days with Grandview kindergarten classes helping them learn all about the chicken hatching process. He provided them with an array of eggs to incubate and stopped by multiple times to show them the candling process. It was wonderful to see the students' excitement when the whole process came full circle with 12 awesome baby chicks. They sure have enjoyed loving on them.
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to see a video.
EHS Softball team visits Grandview preschoolers
The El Dorado High School Softball team joined the morning preschool classes at Grandview for a variety of activities on April 25, 2024. They painted with bugs, spelled words in water, played with Playdough, did puzzles, played Memory & Lucky Ducks, and also went on a scavenger hunt for all of the letters in their names.
Visit Grandview's Facebook, page to view photos.
Grandview fifth grade completes eWOW
Grandview fifth grade finished up a six-week El Dorado Working on Wellness (EWOW) unit and celebrated with a day at the YMCA on April 26, 2024. The program is a partnership between USD 490, the El Dorado YMCA, and Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital to teach students and staff about the importance of eating right and staying active.
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view photos.
Petting zoo visits Grandview Kindergarten
Thanks to the Grandview Parent-Teacher Organization, the Tiny Hinies Mobile Petting Zoo visited kindergarten students on April 26, 2024. Students were able to interact with a variety of animals including calves, miniature horses, chicks, piglets, and baby goats.
Visit Grandview's Facebook page to view photos.
Skelly students practice perseverance
During the first week of April, third and fourth grade students learned about what it means to keep trying and push through challenges as their character trait activity of perseverance. This is especially applicable during the season of state assessments! One brave soul from each classroom volunteered to try something new and a little challenging in front of their peers: using chopsticks to pick up macaroni noodles!
No matter how frustrating it was, students (and Ms. Adams) never stopped trying or gave up. They even tried some chopsticks that were fixed up with a rubber band and discussed how some people just have to do things a little differently to find success and that is okay too.
Visit Skelly's Facebook page to view photos.
Skelly fourth grade visits Strataca
Skelly fourth grade students visited Strataca on April 10.
Visit Skelly's Facebook page to view photos.
Skelly Street Leaders surprise staff with Sunshine Cart
The Skelly Street Leaders (student leadership team) surprised staff with a Sunshine Cart on April 17. The cart included snacks and drinks to brighten their day.
Visit Skelly's Facebook page to see photos.
Skelly second grade visits Botanica
Skelly second grade students took a field trip to Botanica on April 19, 2024.
Visit Skelly's Facebook page to see photos.
Skelly student leadership team plants flowers at local church
The Skelly Street Leaders was invited to plant flowers at a local church on April 26, 2024. This is the second year the student leadership team had the opportunity to help with the project.
Visit Skelly's Facebook page to view photos.
EHS students visit Skelly
Several El Dorado High School students visited Skelly on April 26, 2024, to interact with students. They played with them at recess and ate lunch with them, serving as role models for the younger learners.
Visit Skelly's Facebook page to view photos.
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
