October is here! And while this is a busy time of the school year, it is also full of traditions, achievements and memories in the making. Here are just a few of the wonderful moments our schools and communities have enjoyed recently.

Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School welcomed more than 500 students for the fall Regional Student Council Leadership Conference. Students kicked off their day line dancing and ended learning a flash mob dance with keynote speaker A’ric Jackson as part of his message about embracing your personal leadership strengths with courage.

None of the special moments would have been possible without the hard work of Ellsworth Stu-Co sponsor Kendra Ploutz and her great team of student leaders at EJSHS.

Our tennis team has had an incredible season, remaining undefeated as a team! All six of our young ladies will be traveling to state competition as of the day I’m submitting my column for publication. The cross country team is filled with talent this year, and our volleyball girls have been exciting to watch too.

Football is also having a winning season, making Friday nights even more thrilling. Of course, fall sports would be incomplete without homecoming, including our marching band and cheer team.

From the parade to former students back in town — and a great Bearcat win that Friday night — it’s hard to imagine a better tradition and celebration. Go Bearcats!

Part of what makes USD 327 so strong is a shared commitment to civic engagement.

Election season is the perfect time for parents, caregivers, school staff and others to model the importance of casting a ballot. Please make sure you know your polling location and have a plan to vote in the Nov. 5 general election, whether in advance or on Election Day. If you have young children, bring them to the polls so they can see up close what it means to cast a ballot for our community, state and nation.

When I think about our school district, I ask for your ongoing partnership in making it a great place for our kids, families and everyone in our community. Whether it’s scary rumors circulating on social media or the recent acts of mistreatment and vandalism at the newly-resurfaced Ellsworth Elementary School playground, I think we can all agree that our kids deserve better. Our leadership team is actively reviewing policies, engaging with parents and students and working closely with law enforcement. Thank you for your commitment to promptly report any unsafe behavior, threats, vandalism or rumors. As a valuable reminder, “report, don’t repost,” is a key phrase to keep in mind. By working together with law enforcement, we can ensure our communities remain places of enjoyment for everyone, both now and in the future.

Finally, I invite you all to an upcoming district site council meeting scheduled for 6 p.m.

Oct. 29 at EJSHS. A brief USD 327 update will be shared, then we will devote the rest of our time to Reflect, Reconnect and Refocus.

Your voice is important to this process! As our district motto says, Better Together, Striving for Excellence. I look forward to seeing you there!

Deena Hilbig is the superintendent of USD 327. She can be reached at (785) 4725561.