The Christmas season has always been one of my favorite times of the year. It brings with it a natural pause — a moment to breathe, reconnect and remember what matters most. For many of us, this season means catching up with family we haven’t seen in a while, sharing lunch with friends and celebrating the milestones that mark the growth of our families. As my own children have married and built lives of their own, I find myself treasuring the pictures, stories and simple updates that remind me how quickly time passes.
This time of year often carries me back to one particular Christmas when I was 9 years old. My family had taken our annual trip to the local tree farm, bundled in coats and boots, with the very serious task of choosing the perfect Christmas tree. We wandered the rows, searching for one that was tall — but not quite tall enough to touch the ceiling — and full, but not too wide for the living room. After carefully making our selection and proudly hauling it home, we decorated it with lights and tinsel until it sparkled. Only later did we discover that our chosen tree came with an unexpected “bonus” — a little mouse we hadn’t realized we transported home with us. At the time, I didn’t know that would be the last Christmas I shared with my mom, and that memory has grown even more precious with the passing of years.
That experience has stayed with me because it reminds me that the most meaningful moments are often the simplest ones. This Christmas, I encourage each of you to slow down and celebrate those small joys: baking cookies with people you love, mixing frosting and decorating them with too many sprinkles, putting together a puzzle, playing a favorite card game, or simply listening — really listening — to the people around you. Share a story. Tell a memory that still makes you smile. And if you hear the same story for the second, third, or even fourth time, take it as a gift. Be grateful to hear it from the voice of someone who won’t always be at the table with you. These are the moments that matter.
Inside our classrooms, we are making memories too — moments that will stay with students long after they leave our halls. Our teachers and students have been delighting in the traditions of the school year: exploring biomes and crafting dioramas, preparing the Fourth Grade Thanksgiving Feast soup along with corn bread and pumpkin dessert, writing letters, diving into books and participating in the many extracurricular activities that make our district vibrant. From Mathletes, Scholar’s Bowl or Stu-Co’s dodgeball fundraiser, to the FFA-sponsored powderpuff football and Ironman volleyball game, our students continue to show enthusiasm, creativity and Bearcat spirit.
Recently, I read an article about the last penny ever produced — minted on Nov. 12. As the story went on, what struck me most was not the “last” penny, but the very first one crafted at the Philadelphia Mint. On its back were 13 interlocking circles representing the original colonies, along with the inscription “We Are One.” That simple but profound statement stayed with me.
Over the last four years, USD 327 has worked intentionally to strengthen collaboration, unify our efforts and live out our motto, Better Together, Striving for Excellence. “We are one” captures the heart of who we are and who we aspire to be. As we prepare to welcome a new superintendent in July and look ahead to the opportunities a new year brings, I am deeply grateful for this district — its traditions, its people and its unwavering commitment to our students.
From my family to yours, I wish you a season filled with warmth, connection and meaningful memories.
We are one.

Deena Hilbig is the superintendent of USD 327. She can be reached at 785-472-5561.