Cardinal Families,

As we wind the school year down at USD #491, it is certainly a time for Celebration! One hundred forty-five Seniors will walk across the stage on May 14th, taking the 1st steps into their adult lives. This accomplishment would not be possible without parents, countless teachers, counselors, custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, Para’s, and food service professionals. Each member of the USD #491 family and the community can share in these graduates’ accomplishments! It takes a village to raise a child, and Eudora is a wonderful community for our students. There have been numerous achievements in the classroom and on the activity fields at USD #491 this school year. I am proud to share in our students’ achievements as a community and school family.

This upcoming week, our country celebrates Teacher and Staff Appreciation throughout the nation. As we emerge from this global pandemic, we have observed the vital role that teachers and staff play in our students’ lives each day. Schools serve as more than just a place to gain knowledge. They also provide social-emotional opportunities and a place to build amazing relationships that help our students grow and develop the lifelong skills that will provide opportunities as young adults and productive citizens. Our teachers and staff have worked hard to create a new model of learning. They have worked passionately to continue important relationships with students and their families to provide a sense of stability and love in this new and challenging situation. The Faculty and Staff are the heart and soul of USD #491, and they are awesome! Please take a minute to thank teachers and staff members next week for the role they play in our students’ lives!

We feel blessed to work in a community that is proud of its past yet so excited for its future. Our students are the best advertisement for our schools and communities. With your help, we can continue to serve our students and support their quest for success. Please continue to help USD #491 build on the success of the past to ensure a bright future for all of our students.

Go Cards! 

Sincerely, 

Stu Moeckel 

Cardinal Families,

Spring Break is almost here!  Our students and staff have worked incredibly hard through these past winter months, met the challenges, and persevered.  We have transitioned between Covid-19 strategies, academic, athletic, and activities throughout these past several months with passion, dedication, and teamwork.  We have plenty to celebrate with our Scholars Bowl team success, boys and girls wrestling, state band qualifiers, and finally, our boys and girls basketball teams.  Each one of these groups of students and coaches has represented USD #491 with pride and respect.  Watching our community and fans rally around these students and staff exemplifies what #EudoraProud is all about.  We are so blessed to have the community and patrons’ encouragement and support. 

Unless you were living under a rock last week, you may have noticed our annual Eudora Schools Foundation Give Day. Members of the ESF board have worked hard for months to prepare for Give Day with skits, social media campaigns, and recruiting support from local businesses.  The foundation set a goal of raising $50,000 for our schools and accomplished it. Pause for a second, and think about that! This group raised those funds from our community and local businesses, what a powerful demonstration of support for our students, staff, and schools. The ESF has a long history of providing resources for USD 491 over the last 15 years. We are so fortunate to have our Foundation, its current and past members, and everyone who contributed to this group. Through Shanda Hurla’s leadership and the work of the members of the ESF, there is nothing we can’t accomplish together. Please join me in thanking our Eudora Education Foundation, and all who contribute to its success.  Give Day was truly a great day to be a Cardinal! 

Finally, although it may not seem like it, we are 3/4 of the way through this school year.  Soon we will be celebrating the successful completion of this year, however, our students and staff have many amazing feats yet to accomplish before we reach the finish line.

Information and updates regarding activities and happenings can be found on the district website: www.eudoraschools.org, the district Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eudoraschools, or the district Twitter handle @EudoraSchools. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.

We feel blessed to work in a community that is proud of its past, yet so excited for its future. Our students are the best advertisement for our schools and communities. With your help, we can continue to serve our students and support their quest for success. Please continue to help USD #491 build on the success of the past to ensure a bright future for all of our students.

Go Cards! 

Sincerely, 

Stu Moeckel

Superintendent of Schools 

Cardinal Families,

Winter Break is almost here! What a whirlwind these past four months have been! We are all looking forward to a well-deserved break. Although there have been quarantines and cases, our faculty, staff, students, and families have been able to stay in school throughout the fall semester. This is certainly a change from the experience of many families last year! 

Our students and staff’s hard work and flexibility have been key to this success, as well as our families and community’s understanding and support. Though cases have fluctuated in our communities and county, we have been fortunate to have in-person learning this fall. As we return from the break, continuing our mitigation strategies and compassion for each other will be essential. We must continue to work hard and work together as a team to successfully keep our student’s learning and growth the goal for our district. The first half of the school year has provided many examples and opportunities to celebrate, and we look forward to what the rest of the year will bring. 

Information and updates regarding activities and happenings can be found on the district website: www.eudoraschools.org, the district Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/eudoraschools, or the district Twitter handle @EudoraSchools. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. Remember, we are all part of this Cardinal Family and by working together, we can accomplish amazing things!

We feel blessed to work in a community that is proud of its past, yet so excited for its future. Our students are the best advertisement for our schools and community. With your help, we can continue to serve our students and support their quest for success. Please continue to help USD #491 build on the success of the past to ensure a bright future for all of our students. 

Finally, on behalf of all of us at USD #491, I would like to wish every member of our Cardinal Family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. As we enter this holiday season, please know that your support of our school district is greatly appreciated. 

Go Cards! 

Sincerely, 

Stu Moeckel 

Superintendent of Schools

Dear Eudora Families,

As seasons change from fall to winter, we have a lot to be proud of and thankful for at USD #491! I would like to share several topics occurring in and out of the schools. Our fall sports teams have had great seasons with many post-season successes and state-wide recognition! The teamwork, effort, and sacrifice our student-athletes displayed on the fields of competition is a testament to our students, parents, and community.  It is extraordinary to witness the support of our fans and families throughout the seasons, competitions, and activities.  

This past week we were able to welcome guests from the community for our Senior Citizen Matinee and Thanksgiving meal. We had a large group that was able to visit and share in fellowship before viewing our fall musical “ Little Women.” The special thanks to our food service staff and custodians for their hard work and dedication to pull off such a special event. Last week we were also able to host a vaccine clinic for almost 200 5-11-year-old students! With help from Lawrence Douglas County Public Health, our kids did great and received delicious cookies from our Culinary Arts department. All these programs and projects would not be possible without the leadership and support provided by the Board of Education and our faculty and staff.   Finally, with the addition of our Equity and Leadership Council, our successful debate program, and all our fall activities and athletics, we have many reasons to be thankful at USD #491. I truly hope you feel as welcomed, thankful, and supported as my family and I have in our short time in Eudora.

On a final note, as winter weather approaches we must make important decisions about school closings. These decisions are always difficult and are not taken lightly as student safety is our priority. If we do have to cancel school due to road conditions, all efforts will be made to alert parents in a timely manner, via voice message, email, and text, to allow time to make prior arrangements regarding supervision for students. Please have a plan in case schools are closed and road conditions do not permit buses to run safely. Parents are encouraged to follow our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) as well as tune into KSNT News out of Topeka for school closing announcements.

Information and updates regarding activities and happenings can be found on the district website: www.eudoraschools.org, the district Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/eudoraschools, or the district Twitter handle@EudoraSchools. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.

I feel blessed to work in a community that is proud of its past, yet so excited for its future. Our students are the best advertisement for our schools and communities. With your help, we can continue to serve our students and support their quest for success. Please continue to help USD #491 build on the success of the past to ensure a bright future for all of our students. Go Cards! 

Sincerely,

Stu Moeckel, Superintendent

Cardinal Family,

It is hard to believe October is already here! Many may have thought this would be an impossible achievement as we were planning for the worst this summer. To be able to have in-person school this fall is an achievement by itself and needs to be celebrated! 

To our students, thank you for your patience and flexibility in adjusting to the new year. The memories you are making now will last a lifetime and serve as building blocks to a resilient life. 

To our parents and families, your trust and support have been crucial to the positive start of the school year. Your ability to adapt to new changes and support the goal of staying in school has not gone unnoticed. 

To our teachers and staff, we know it has not been an easy start to the year, and certainly not like any before it. Your passion and love for our students have made this year so successful, the smiles on our kids' faces and excitement to be in our buildings are contagious. Keep being Awesome! There are not enough thank you’s in the world to show our appreciation!

To our communities, thank you for your constant support, grace, and understanding. We are all in this together, and we appreciate your efforts for our schools.

Information and updates regarding activities and happenings can be found on the district website: www.eudoraschools.org, the district Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eudoraschools, or the district Twitter handle @EudoraSchools. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.

I am so proud of how our community members and families have rallied around one another in these trying times. Together we can get through this!

Sincerely,

Stu Moeckel

Superintendent of Schools

Eudora USD 491