Eudora School Newsletter - November 2022

Eudora Schools Foundation Teacher Excellence Grants

The Eudora Schools Foundation (ESF) announced the award of more than $30,000 to fund 24 teachers’ innovative programs in the Eudora school district. The grants help teachers establish programs to enhance student learning and success. The ESF has awarded over 170 grants and funded over $145,000 in classroom educational initiatives since 2006. This year’s awards mark the highest amount of classroom grants given in the ESF’s 16-year history.

“We salute all the teachers that continue to elevate the educational experience. We are happy to support and celebrate our teachers in their efforts,” said Ed Hurtig, ESF President. “It is a great privilege to award these grants, all made possible by the support of our Foundation donors. Our donors have huge hearts shown by their amazing generosity.

The chosen projects will benefit students from preschool through 12th grade. Examples of the grants proposed include STEM projects, books and advancement curricula, technical education, and cross-curricular education.

Eudora Elementary School 785-542-4940

Eudora Middle School 785-542-4960

Eudora High School 785-542-4980

Eudora

STAFF DIRECTORY

STU MOECKEL

• Superintendent of Schools

• stumoeckel@eudoraschools.org

RON ABEL

• Eudora High School Head Principal

• ronabel@eudoraschools.org

CARA KIMBERLIN

• Eudora High School Assistant Principal and Activities Director

• carakimberlin@eudoraschools.org

SEAN HAYDEN

• Eudora High School Assistant Principal

• seanhayden@eudoraschools.org

JESSICA JOHNSON

• Director of Alternative and Virtual Learning

• jessicajohnson@eudoraschools.org

JEREMY THOMAS

• Eudora Middle School Head Principal

• jeremythomas@eudoraschools.org

TY PATTISON

• Eudora Middle School Assistant Principal and Activities Director

• typattison@eudoraschools.or

SETH HEIDE

• Eudora Elementary School

Head Principal

• sethheide@eudoraschools.org

KEITH WOHLGEMUTH

• Eudora Elementary Assistant Principal

• keithwohlgemuth @eudoraschools.org

JAMIE GRADO

• Eudora Elementary Assistant Principal

• jamiegrado@eudoraschools.org

MACHAELA BESHEARS

• Transportation Director

• machaelabeshears@ eudoraschools.org

HEATHER

COPELAND-GASSERT

• Executive Administrative/HR Assistant

• heathercopelandgassert@ eudoraschools.org

BETSY CRABILL

• Finance Director

• betsycrabill@eudoraschools.org

HEATHER HUNDLEY

• Director of School Improvement Services

• heatherhundley@eudoraschools.org

SHANDA HURLA

• Eudora Schools Foundation Executive Director

• shandahurla@eudoraschools.org

CHUCK JAMES

• Director of Facilities

• chuckjames@eudoraschools.org

RON LONG

• Technology Director

• ronlong@eudoraschools.org

JAYLIE POSTLEWAIT

• Engagement Specialist

• jayliepostlewait@eudoraschools.org

AMY SHANKS

• Human Resources Director

• amyshanks@eudoraschools.org

ROBERT WOOD

• Food and Nutrition Director

• robertwood@eudoraschools.org

Eudora Elementary School PTO Jogathon

The Eudora Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) raises funds for their yearly events and endeavors with a wildly successful Jogathon fundraiser year after year. The PTO at EES focuses their efforts on teacher appreciation, classroom and building support, and hosting family events throughout the school year. All Eudora Elementary school students are asked to gather monetary pledges from family and friends. The funds raised are funneled right back into the school to support the PTO’s efforts. This year’s Jogathon goal was to raise $20,000 and send all students on educational field trips PLUS all the usual happenings.

The PTO schedules the day-long Jogathon event during a school day and every student participates! The event is staffed by parent volunteers, the specials teachers, and EHS students. Together these volunteers create an atmosphere of energy and enthusiasm. EES students run or walk laps together with all the students in their grade, using their Specials class time to do so. For participating in the fundraising event every student gets a prize. Students also have opportunities to earn prizes as

individuals, with their classroom, and as a whole school. Prizes are linked to donations and rewards recognize collective efforts because the PTO knows every donation, no matter the size can make a difference to our school.

The Jogathon is typically held outside on school grounds but due to the weather, this year’s event was moved indoors. Students walked the halls and danced through the gym with silly walks and an upbeat soundtrack. Meghan Bettis, the EES PE teacher, handed out pedometers to students (10 per grade) for a challenge to see which grade level could clock the most steps in their almost hour of walking. Each grade clocked thousands of steps!

The PTO began fundraising with the Jogathon event about 15 years ago. The PTO leaders believed an event model for their fundraiser would be the best fit for EES culture. They stated that “with the Jogathon we can include every student, have fun and celebrate together!” The model has had quite an impact. In the last decade, EES families and friends have been incredibly generous during this fundraiser. Donations reached $20,000 in each of those last 10 years! The PTO has been able to build an outdoor learning center, make additions to the playground equipment and increase the support they provide for grade level field trips. Classroom and grade level projects have been funded as well as science, art, and literacy initiatives at EES. The Jogathon fundraisers help fill in the gaps of the regular learning days of the EES students and staff.

This year the Jogathon raised $20,458.70. The PTO is grateful for the generosity of EES students and families, the volunteers, EES staff, and administrators who make it possible for them to have so much fun bringing joy to our school community.

Eudora Middle School Enrichment Program

These programs happen because of the wonderful partnership with the Eudora School Foundation, the donors, and the fantastic staff that give their time, talent, and passion to provide additional hands-on activities for the

7th Grade Weightlifting Club

Sponsored by Brandon Parker

The weightlifting club allows students to continue their experience in physical fitness. The students will be doing Olympic lifts and utilizing their velocity based training to measure force and velocity.

8th Grade Weightlifting Club

Sponsored by Mitchell Tegtmeier

This an opportunity for 8th graders who want to lift a little heavier weight and improve their weightlifting skills and technique.

4N6

Explorations

Sponsored by CherrieAnn Lindsey & Marla Johnson

This program allows students to sample and try their hand at the various events included in Speech and Forensics. Forensics helps students break out of their comfort zone and be creative.

Eudora Middle School Students students.

This year EMS has 17 different options available to students throughout the school year. Enrichment Programs are an excellent opportunity for students to get involved with school outside the

6th Grade Book Club

Sponsored by Amy Giffin

This program will focus on creating authentic conversations about books. When they get together, they will discuss the story elements, including their thoughts, questions, and epiphanies. Amy Giffin hopes to foster and continue students’ love for reading.

typical school day. EMS aims to see every student involved in an activity at their school!

The Eudora Schools Foundation is thrilled to support these new programs

Cardinal Color Gaurd

Sponsored by Melanie McQueen

Students will learn flag positions, spins, slams, and tosses. In addition, students will learn a routine to the Eudora alma mater/fight song.

Cardinals Read for the Heartland Literature Festival

Sponsored by Jaime Meyers

that help EMS students build new skills and interests, develop self confidence, and gain knowledge from crossdisciplinary, real world learning opportunities that support core subjects in their classroom curriculum.

Field Dressing & Handling Wild Game & Fish

Sponsored by Ty Pattison & Caleb Lewis

Babysitting Training

Sponsored by Sondra Garner & Danielle Young

Although every situation is unique, there are some universal skills and techniques that every babysitter should have. The course is American Red Cross Babysitting Training. They are covering basic care of infants and children to First Aid.

Beginning Guitar

Sponsored by Ryan Jacobs

Students have an exciting opportunity to learn guitar.

Cardinal LinkUp

Sponsored by Michelle Plegge

LinkUp is a fantastic way for EMS students to interact with an additional adult mentor who encourages them to reach their academic and personal.

Their goals are to a) provide 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.

The purpose of this program is to provide students with an opportunity to learn basic field dressing techniques for game birds and fish. In addition, students will learn safety while dressing game, safety and handling wild game, how to cook fish and game appropriately, and education on game and fish anatomy and feeding habits.

Golf Club

Sponsored by Lee Minton, Mitch Tegtmeier & Danny Ruegsegger

Students interested in beginning golf or for those who already play are welcome to join golf club. This will be an excellent introduction for students who have not grown up around the sport.

Hunger Games - Eliminating Food Insecurity

Shanda Hurla & Lindsey Hoover

Chess Club

Sponsored by Paul Kaldahl

This program will play chess before school. The game is beautiful, challenging, and exhilarating. Being caught up in a close game fires up the brain in ways that few other things can.

This program is an opportunity for students to understand and investigate domestic hunger in the U.S. and the Eudora community. For the capstone project, students will pack hundreds of delicious, healthy meals and host a food drive that is given to the Bird’s Nest Pantries

Jewelry Making

Sponsored by Heather Moore

All students that are interested in making jewelry will have the opportunity to make friendship bracelets and seed bead necklaces.

Tabletop Club

Sponsored by Heather Moore

DIY Craft Club

Sponsored by Wendy White & Kristine Schnebly

This program will teach students how to make homemade crafts that they can give people for the holidays. In addition, students will be able to learn lifelong crafting skills.

EMS Spirit Squad - Pep Club

Sponsored by Michelle Plegge & Amy Giffin

Students can show their Cardinal pride and support their fellow EMS Cardinals during school activities. They will learn chants and cheers and create banners to promote positive sportsmanship.

Students will play card, strategy, and role playing games. Games include: Dungeons & Dragons, Dungeon Mayhem, Risk, Magic the Gathering, and more!

Title IX at Eudora High School

The country celebrates Title IX this year and the equalizing of athletic opportunities for girls. In the 50 years of Title IX, Eudora High School started slowly adding girls sports but within a few years began offering the same opportunities to boys and girls. The question is what happened to the female athletes who attended Eudora High School before Title IX? What happened to those girls who were not given the opportunity to find their passions, purpose, and their direction in life?

Paige Wolf Carney is a 1965 Eudora graduate who was not given the opportunity to participate in athletics. She grew up at 7th and Main Street in Eudora and remembers dribbling her basketball three blocks south to a basketball goal outside her grade school. The closest Paige got to a court in junior high was as a self-proclaimed terrible cheerleader. Instead of cheering to the crowd she would be watching the action on the basketball court, longing to be playing. In 1964 Eudora High added a girls’ track team. Paige participated in track her junior and senior year but longed to participate in a team sport.

After high school, Paige married and worked a variety of jobs. She wasn’t unhappy, but she just didn’t have any skills to work a job she was passionate about. Two years after she graduated, she was playing in a town softball league when B.J. Hember, a Physical Education teacher who worked for Eudora, asked her why she didn’t go to school and become a teacher. A seed was planted and Paige went home and asked her husband, Buster, if they could afford for her to go to school. They moved to Lawrence and Paige enrolled at the University of Kansas.

Paige’s life changed once she started at KU. She was a P.E. major and women’s sports were just beginning at KU and relied upon those students to fill their teams. At the age of 20, Paige said she was, “finally getting to do what she was born to do.” While at KU, she played basketball, volleyball, softball, and field hockey. They didn’t receive scholarships and they had to pay for their own meals, but they got to travel to nearby colleges to compete. She loved the competition and the team aspect of all the sports. More importantly, Paige ended up with a college degree, a career she loved, and friends for life that shared the common thread of athletics.

The girls at Eudora High School have made the most of the opportunities that Title IX has helped provide over the last 50 years. Last year was one of the most successful and decorated years in girls athletics at Eudora High

School. It produced state champions in cross country, softball, and the girls 4x800 relay team. The year also recognized two state runnerups in basketball, Hanna Keltner as an individual in cross country, and girls track.

Paige Wolf Carney

Excellence In Eudora #EudoraProud

Elementary School

•

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

This program provides Eudora Elementary School with free fresh fruits and vegetables for students to use as snacks throughout the day. Fun monthly “Fruit and Veggie Snack News” will be sent out to help educate students on the benefits of healthy fruits and vegetables, where they are grown, etc.

• Battle of the Books

5th grade has started their yearlong Battle of the Books

tradition! Adult leaders guide groups through their reading journey during lunchtime on Early Release days!

• Kindergarten Apple

Picking field trip

Kindergartners went on a field trip and picked apples! They made observations about the different kinds of apples they saw and talked about the life cycle of apples.

• Eudora

•

Eudora Middle School

Hydroponic Lettuce

Mr. Kyle Stadalman’s 7th grade science classes have been hydroponically growing lettuce!

• Fall Sports

8th VB - 2nd in league VB Tournament

8th JV VB - 3rd in league VB Tournament

7th JV VB - 2nd in league VB Tournament

8th FB - Frontier League Champs (Undefeated)

7th FB - Frontier League Champs (Undefeated)

7th Boys XC - Frontier League Champs

7th Girls XC - Frontier League Runner Up

• 4th Grade Math Night

4th Grade teachers hosted a math night for families where parents get to be the students

learn all about the way their students are learning math concepts.

•

Eudora

• Opportunity to Learn Day

Opportunity to Learn Day is a chance for students to demonstrate their understanding of concepts taught throughout the core classes, in a less restrictive environment. Teachers use the opportunity to expand on class concepts and look for cross-curricular opportunities!

Firefighters Visit Eudora Firefighters visited Eudora Elementary and had interactive presentations for each grade!

and

Eudora Police and the Douglas County Sheriff at Lunch

Police and the Douglas County Sheriff department came and helped serve lunch to Eudora Elementary students!

• Co ee Crew

The Cardinal Coffee Crew is designed for students to interact with building staff in a manner that would reflect responsibilities in a typical job. Menus are sent to each grade level and to office staff. Once students in the classroom receive the order, they each have different jobs (Syrup Tech, Barista, Frother, Cashier, Delivery). Many of the functional goals that are identified in each student’s IEP are capable of being addressed in a manner that allows the student to provide a meaningful service, and build toward getting a job once they are at the appropriate age.

• Kansas Turnpike Put The Brakes On Fatalities contest

Cardinal Productions created and submitted videos for the annual Kansas Turnpike Put The Brakes On Fatalities contest and took 1st and 2nd place!

• First Scholars Bowl

The squad traveled to Bonner Springs for their first meet of the season and came away with an 8-1 record and a 2nd place finish.

•

Teaching as a Career - EHS Teaching Pathway courses

This gives students interested in pursuing a career in education the opportunity to learn about what teaching looks like and to experience the role firsthand. Many of these students are out in the classrooms at EES and EMS with our district’s master teachers. They are working with students, experiencing classroom management, and planning lessons.

• Cardinal Regiment

The Cardinal Regiment participated in the Baker University Marching Festival. The Regiment received a II Excellent rating and finished in 9th place of the 22 bands that competed.

• National Merit Scholar - Semi-FInalist

Gage Baumgartner and Sophia Nichols were selected as 2023 National Merit Semifinalists! Annually, 1.5 million students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT in their junior year of high school. The top one percent are recognized as Semifinalists for their outstanding performance!

• Outdoor learning grant

The Kansas State Treasurer surprised Eudora High School’s Culinary Chef Jack Low with a $5,000 grant which will be used to purchase equipment to use as part of the outdoor culinary center.

• FFA

A first in Eudora FFA history: two teams won the state FFA competition in their area and qualified to represent Kansas on the National level. The Floriculture and Horse Judging teams received a Gold Rating at the National Competition!

• JAG-K Eudora JAG-K students have attended a Leadership Development Conference in Wichita, Kansas, toured Peaslee Technical School in Lawrence, participated in a workforce industry tour provided by Hamm Industries, and job shadowed at U.S. Engineering.