Eudora School Newsletter - November 2023

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WHAT’S INSIDE: Directory • School Updates • Excellence in Eudora • November 2023

WINTER 2023

SM

Eudora School Foundation Grants Awarded

T

he Eudora Schools Foundation (ESF) awarded more than $34,000 to fund 29 teachers’ innovative programs in the Eudora school district during the annual Prize Patrol. The grants help teachers establish programs to enhance student learning and success. The ESF has awarded over 200 grants and funded over $178,000 in classroom educational initiatives since 2006. This year’s awards mark the highest amount of classroom grants given in the ESF’s 17-year history. “Innovative teachers create innovative thinkers, which is what Teacher Excellence Grants are all about. The Foundation’s mission is to do what we can to enhance student learning; these grants are one way to acknowledge and appreciate teachers looking for new ways to do just that,” said Denise Dietz, ESF President. “When you have teachers who want to help their students excel and an extraordinary community of donors who wish to see the same - ESF only has to plug in the pieces, and the magic happens.”

Eudora Schools Bond Update Plans for the Eudora Schools’ Bond Improvement Projects continue to take shape during the preconstruction planning phase. The project plans, schedules, and budgets are being refined and provide an excellent foundation for the construction phase. While we are all excited to see shovels moving dirt, diligence and hard work during preconstruction pays dividends once construction begins. HTK Architects continues to develop the designs for each project, with a goal of reaching 100% design completion in December. Construction Manager Newkirk Novak Construction Partners provides budget and constructability feedback to the District and HTK Architects as the designs progress, allowing the District to maximize the use of available funds.

The chosen projects will benefit students from preschool through 12th grade. Examples of the grants proposed include STEM projects, career exploration, music education, and crosscurricular education. Grants were awarded in the following amounts: Eudora Elementary School: $12,800 Eudora Middle School: $12,000 Eudora High School: $9,500

TO READ MORE ABOUT EACH OF THE GRANTS VISIT: BIT.LY/2023ESFGRANTSAWARDED

Newkirk Novak is still on track to competitively bid many of the projects at the start of 2024, with work on some projects beginning as early as February or March. Construction schedules are being developed alongside our school calendar, limiting disruptions to District operations and maximizing the impact of work to be completed.

District Office

Eudora Elementary School

Eudora Middle School

Eudora High School

Eudora Schools Virtual Learning

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STAFF DIRECTORY STU MOECKEL • Superintendent of Schools • stumoeckel@eudoraschools.org

MACHAELA BESHEARS • Transportation Director • machaelabeshears@ eudoraschools.org

DR. JUSTIN BOGART • Eudora High School Head Principal • justinbogart@eudoraschools.org

BETSY CRABILL • Finance Director • betsycrabill@eudoraschools.org

CARA KIMBERLIN • Eudora High School Assistant Principal and Activities Director • carakimberlin@eudoraschools.org

HEATHER HUNDLEY • Director of School Improvement Services • heatherhundley@eudoraschools.org

SEAN HAYDEN • Eudora High School Assistant Principal • seanhayden@eudoraschools.org

SHANDA HURLA • Eudora Schools Foundation Executive Director • shandahurla@eudoraschools.org

JESSICA JOHNSON • Director of Alternative and Virtual Learning • jessicajohnson@eudoraschools.org

CHUCK JAMES • Director of Facilities • chuckjames@eudoraschools.org

JEREMY THOMAS • Eudora Middle School Head Principal • jeremythomas@eudoraschools.org

RON LONG • Technology Director • ronlong@eudoraschools.org

TY PATTISON • Eudora Middle School Assistant Principal and Activities Director • typattison@eudoraschools.org

NICOLE PARKS • Food and Nutrition Director • nicoleparks@eudoraschools.org

SETH HEIDE • Eudora Elementary School Head Principal • sethheide@eudoraschools.org

JAYLIE POSTLEWAIT • Communication and Engagement Specialist • jayliepostlewait@eudoraschools.org

JESSICA CAGLE • Eudora Elementary School Assistant Principal • jessicacagle@eudoraschools.org

AMY SHANKS • Human Resources Director • amyshanks@eudoraschools.org

JAMIE GRADO • Eudora Elementary Assistant Principal • jamiegrado@eudoraschools.org

STEPHENIE SUDDUTH • District Nurse • stepheniesudduth@eudoraschools.org


THE CARD | WINTER 2023 • 3

Eudora Elementary School Garden Rehab Plants, pollinators, students, and staff have an updated, welcoming space at Eudora Elementary School. Just east of the building sits the Eudora Elementary School Garden. Over the past spring and summer, Mrs. Amber Jackson took on the task of rehabilitating the garden with a new vision.

Jackson’s vision includes an outdoor, hands-on learning space for all students at EES. The garden will primarily feature a pollinator garden of various host and nectar plants for our native Kansas pollinators such as honeybees, swallowtail butterflies, monarch butterflies, and numerous others. There is also a section of the garden designated for growing

edible plants such as strawberries, blackberries, perennial herbs, and other seed vegetables that students can plant, tend, and harvest throughout the year.

Throughout the summer, the Jackson family tended to and cleaned up the garden space preparing it for a fall planting. Mrs. Jackson’s class was able to plant the first phase of the pollinator garden using a few plants from donations and from Mrs. Jackson’s personal garden. Each student was able to plant their own that they have continuously tended to and cared for. Through their visits to the garden, the students have observed swallowtail and monarch caterpillars feasting on their host

plants, a monarch chrysalis going through its phases, and eventually meeting the butterfly that emerged, among other pollinators. They have also collected flowers and will harvest seeds for future planting. Most recently, Mrs. Jackson was awarded a Eudora Schools Foundation grant that supplied tools for the garden so students can fully utilize the garden handson. The garden now features rain gauges, thermometers, measuring sticks, trowels, and watering cans among other useful garden tools for all students to use. In the spring, Mrs. Jackson hopes to host a ‘Bring a Plant, Plant a Plant’ event that encourages all families of EES to take part in the garden rehabilitation.

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opportunities that support core subjects in their classroom 4 • THE CARD | WINTER 2023curriculum.

babysitters. On completion of the training, students will receive an American Red Cross certification of completion.

EMS students can sign-up with individual teachers or in the front office. The Eudora Schools Foundation is pleased to team up with our middle school teachers and administrators to create engaging before and after-school enrichment program for our EMS students. ESF recognizes the need and importance of additional hands-on learning opportunities particularly at this pivotal time in a middle school student’s life. We are thrilled to support these programs that help EMS students • 6th Grade Book Club Amy Giffin 1) build new skills and interest 2) develop self-confidence 3) gain • 7th Grade Weightlifting Brandon Parker knowledge from cross-disciplinary, real-world learning opportunities • 8th Grade Weightlifting Mitchell Tegtmeier that support core subjects in their classroom curriculum. • Babysitting Training Sondra Garner EMS students can sign-up with individual teachers or in the front • Beginning Guitar Ryan Jacobs office.

enrichment through outside reading of high interest books, b) provide an opportunity to visit a local college campus and gain new experiences by asking authors questions, and c) provide students with an opportunity to discuss quality literature with peers from different schools from around the state.

Before & After School Enrichment Programs for Our EMS Students

I’m Thankful For

• Cardinal LinkUP Mentoring Michelle Plegge

• No Bake Club Karla Cleveland

• Cardinals Read for the Heartland Literature Festival Jaime Meyers

• Hilltops and Valleys CherrieAnne Lindsey & Jennifer Pate

• Catwalk Classroom: Fashion Show Series Michelle Plegge, Amy Lee & Elizabeth Knispel

• Hunger Games Shanda Hurla & Lindsey Hoover

• Chess! Paul Kaldahl • Classy Cards Dance Club Alex Mendel & Sydney Jennings • Grill Master Cardinals Jeremy Thomas & Ben Moeckel • Quiz Bowl Jim Barnard • Creative Arts Club CherrieAnn Lindsey • DIY Gift Club Wendy White & Kristine Schnebly • EMS Colorguard Danielle Medlock

• Karaoke Michelle McNichols & Lisa Daniels • EMS Pep Club Amy Giffin & Wendy White • ROX (Ruling Our Experiences) Michelle Plegge & Katie Hammerschmidt • Sewcial Club Kristine Schnebly • Tabletop Club Heather Moore • Wild Game & Fish Cleaning Club Ty Pattison & Caleb Lewis

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THE CARD | WINTER 2023 • 5

Historic Season for EHS Girls Golf The Eudora High School girls golf team began their fourth season in August, trying to strategize how to best work around the weather conditions that late summer brought. This involved indoor practices, practicing putting on library carpeting, hitting from old patches of stadium turf into pop-up nets, and connecting a simulator to TVs in the school’s flexible seating areas to practice the mechanics of their golf swings. Their season culminated with a program-first TEAM trip to the state tournament in Salina, garnering not only a fourth place individual medal from senior Joellen Vogt but also a sixth place TEAM finish at Salina Municipal Golf Course. By the end of August, the team had finalized construction of,

arguably, the finest public school golf driving range in the state of Kansas, complete with driving range mats and concrete to accompany the E-UD-O-R-A letters installed on campus back in April, located just south of the student parking lots. The letters

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came about from the need to devise targets at known distances from their makeshift tee boxes (for example: the “A” is 94 yards from the hitting mats, the “R” is 102 yards out, and so on). This season’s accomplishments included bringing home at least one

individual medal from all but two meets out of their 14-meet schedule for varsity and junior varsity (the only two exceptions were lost on a tiebreaker and by a single stroke from a medal-winning score), including the regional and state tournaments. Not only were these individual accomplishments extraordinary, but the team also earned top-4 team scores at every regular season meet which tallied team scores–the only exception being their sixth place finish at the State Tournament. All said, the “firsts” that were accomplished during this golf season also include the program’s first Frontier League individual champion in senior Joellen Vogt to accompany the first Frontier League TEAM Girls Golf Championship.


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Peaslee Tech Youth Apprenticeships Students enrolled in Cardinal Academy or Eudora Schools Virtual Learning are on the verge of completing their inaugural semester in Peaslee Tech Youth Apprenticeships. Thanks to a grant from the state of Kansas, Peaslee Tech is proud to offer nine Youth Apprenticeships to high school students in Douglas County each semester throughout the 2023-24 school year. This initiative empowers students to engage in coursework tailored to high-demand career paths. Upon successful completion of their coursework, students are expected to transition into industry apprenticeships,

dedicating part-time hours ranging from 5 to 18 per week, contingent on the specific program. This unique structure allows students to accrue both academic credits and valuable hands-on apprenticeship experience. Many of the courses position students for postgraduation opportunities, either in registered apprenticeships or further coursework at Peaslee Tech. Classes typically run Monday through Thursday, from 12:45 pm to 2:45 pm, accommodating students involved in extracurricular activities and athletics by allowing them to return to

school in time for these events. Peaslee Tech offers a diverse range of courses, all of which are free except for the Welding course: Commercial Driver’s License (CDL-A), Pharmacy Technician, Facilities Maintenance, Lube and Tire Technician, Auto Detailing, Carpentry, Welding, Robotics Technician, and Introduction to Manufacturing. To enroll, students must submit an application, accompanied by a cover letter explaining their motivation for participation, and furnish a letter of recommendation from a counselor, teacher, youth group leader, or employer.

Commitment to attending high school classes and fulfilling graduation requirements is paramount. Additionally, each course may impose age and driver’s license prerequisites, with students responsible for providing their own transportation. During the first semester, three students are currently participating in the Auto Tire and Lube Technician Apprenticeship and two are participating in the Carpentry Apprenticeship program. Nine students have expressed interest in attending programs for the spring semester courses, which begin in January.

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THE CARD | WINTER 2023 • 7

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students who have the most significant emotional and behavioral disorders. CARDS: The Comprehensive Autism Resources They work on identifying emotions and and Developmental Services Classroom how to regulate big feelings in a safe is a program for students with Autism environment throughout the school Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in grades K-5th day. who need intensive, individualized LIFE SKILLS support to be successful in school. Students require sustained The program is available to students resources, specialized instruction, after an IEP team meeting determines accommodations, and modifications of that they have significant delays in curriculum. It is the goal of the program communication, social skills, and to ensure that students achieve at their restrictive repetitive behaviors. particular level in the following areas: Communication, Literacy, Problem WEBS: WEBs (Wellsville, Eudora, Baldwin) solving, Self-care, Self-determination/ is a program where we focus on advocacy, and Independence.

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HIGH SCHOOL CTE Of the 556 students taking CTE classes, there are 466 students who are taking one or more at EHS! DUAL CREDIT There are 200 dual credit courses that are being earned by students through JCCC, Neosho County Community College, Flint Hills Technical College, Peaslee Technical College, and Baker University! JUSTIN SHOEMAKER Justin Shoemaker, EHS Senior, is a Commended Scholar! Meaning he was in the top 2-3% of PSAT test takers! He also received the National Rural and Small Town Award (NRSTA) from the College Board.

DISTRICT WIDE

KSDE and the State Board presented Eudora Schools with the following awards: • Copper Award for Academically Prepared for Postsecondary • Gold Award for: Graduation • Bronze Award for: Postsecondary Effectiveness • Commissioner’s Award (meaning we outperform our predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate above a .40 standard deviation)

JUSTIN SHOEMAKER


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