Dear Vandalia Community,

When our publisher asked third grader Markus Patterson what he loved most about living in Vandalia, he paused—the longest pause of the entire interview—and then said something profound: "My favorite part of living in Vandalia is life."

That eight-year-old philosopher captured what this Winter issue reveals on every page: Vandalia is a place where life is lived fully, joyfully, and with extraordinary care for one another.

You'll meet students like Aida Alderson, an eighth grader taking algebra who writes mysteries and won Junior Miss Fayette County Fair after finding her voice on stage. You'll discover Caden Osborne heading to Iowa State after helping lead our football team to an 11-1 season and the quarterfinals. You'll smile at Maddie Elam—Little Miss Sunshine—who reads four books a day to her five dogs and two cats and wants to be "a veterinarian, a teenager, teacher and an artist."

You'll watch Ayden Feezel prepare for WyoTech through Okaw Area Vocational Center, pulling engines and building a future in automotive performance. You'll hear Owen Goodman's guitar at the Pink Elephant café, where this eighth-grade worship leader reminds us to "just love people." You'll see Elijah Elliott—who played four years of varsity football despite never touching the sport before freshman year—preparing for Air Force Fire Protection while taking chemistry, physics, pre-calculus, and statistics simultaneously.

And you'll meet the educators who make it all possible. Joe Vanzo, our elementary assistant principal who throws touchdown passes at recess because connection matters. Lori Watson, retiring after 33 years of kindergarten magic built on the belief that children "still need play to learn." Colleen Reams, our Food Service Director retiring after three decades, leading Nourishing Greatness to feed 100 students because "we might be the only smile they see that day." Terry Sutherland—Big T—retiring after 39 years of steady presence, watching students grow into the teachers now working beside him.

What holds these stories together is something deeper than programs or test scores. It's a community that shows up. Last November, we lost Kylie. She was a part of us. The love, the meals, the support, and presence—showed up; they showed who we are. Then — as on every day since — we are custodians, cooks, paras, speech staff, firefighters, community donors, and families who care for children and their families in every season. Kylie is loved, missed, remembered, and forever part of us.

Thank you for being part of this remarkable community. Thank you for showing our students what it means to care deeply, work hard, and celebrate life together.

With gratitude,

Dr. Jennifer Garrison

Superintendent, Vandalia CUSD 203