Welcome to a new school year! It has been a joy to see our teachers, staff and students back together again. Our classrooms, buses, kitchens and offices just aren’t the same in the summer — people are what make our learning community so special. And it’s great to see everyone coming together again.

I especially want to thank everyone who has shown patience and grace as we have moved the elementary bus stop and adjusted the drop-off/ pick-up experience for students and families. I greatly appreciate the way our families and staff team have prioritized the safety of our little ones. Thank you to each driver, student and staff member who has adjusted routines and expectations along the way.

Often, people are surprised to hear all the preparation that a new school year requires. In fact, it can feel a bit like you’re about to launch a space shuttle! I am very proud of the work that happened in the time between my column in late July and when we officially welcomed students on Aug. 16. Here are just a few of the highlights.

Principal Prep

The principals and I met on Aug. 2 at the Ellsworth Municipal Golf Course. We explored the many ways we can develop purposeful community in our work with staff and students. This requires people to listen, be curious, communicate, build relationships and work together as a team. I want to thank Colby Richard and Patrick Hammel at the golf course for leading us through an activity that forced us to work as a group to putt balls in a series of holes. Learning how to maximize everyone’s strengths and adjusting from one try to the next taught us a lot as a team and how important interdependence is. I’m very much looking forward to watching these lessons spread across our district in the new school year.

Team Kickoff

We welcomed a large group of new teachers for orientation on Aug. 10 with a bus tour of our district and community. A special thank you to Kenny Cravens, who took time out of his summer schedule to be our tour guide! I continue to be impressed with the caliber of educators we have in USD 327, and our new hires are no exception. The next day, we welcomed all staff and heard from guest speaker, John Calvert, Director of the Safe & Secure Schools Unit, KSDE who used the opportunity to review procedures to keep our schools safe. This work is especially important when we have so many new team members joining our district.

Meeting Students

On the evening before the first day of school, Meet the Teacher Night was the perfect chance for students in Grade K-6 to meet their teacher and drop off school supplies. New students in grades 7-12 also had this same opportunity. We are thrilled to welcome new families and students of all ages from the surrounding area. We can all be proud that they chose to be part of the USD 327 family.

Strategic Plan

Our board is getting close to finalizing the district strategic plan, wrapping up a process that began with community listening sessions nearly 12 months ago. Once finalized and adopted by the board, our plan will keep us focused on meaningful growth and continuous improvement in the coming months and years. I look forward to sharing all of it with our community very soon — stay tuned!

As I think about the school year ahead, I think back over all the conversations I have had with teachers, staff, principals, students, families and many others in the district. I believe all of us make USD 327 the special place it is. And when we come together, we can take steps toward an even stronger purposeful community. I hope you’ll join me and many others in a commitment to listening with curiosity, communicating with care, prioritizing relationships, and seeking ways to work together to create the brightest future for our kids. We are better together, striving for excellence!

Let’s Grow.

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