Upcoming Events...

Dec. 9 - First Grade Christmas Musical 6:30 pm (Anderson, Bickham, Burford, Enders, Fogleman) *wear Christmas pajamas
Dec. 10 - First Grade Christmas Musical 6:30 pm (Chambers, Hasty, Register, Wheeler, Woods) *wear Christmas pajamas
Dec. 10 - Kindergarten Field Trip to Piney Park
Dec. 11 -Santa Pictures, students wear an outfit of their choice, Cowen photography will send home a note with QR code to order pictures and Booster Club Santa Gram Orders due
Dec. 12- Booster Club Concessions and Christmas at the U, NDUE 5:30pm
Dec. 13 - Kona Ice / PK Field Trip to The Nutcracker
Dec. 16 - Car Drop Off Changes Begin on ND Campus and Picture Retake/Make Ups and Booster Club meeting 3:15 pm in multipurpose room
Dec. 17 - 4H Clover Bud meeting 9:40 am
Dec. 18 - Grinch Day, students can wear green/Grinch themed clothes
Dec. 19 - Frosty Fest during the school day, students can wear pajamas
Dec. 20 - Teacher Work Day, NO STUDENTS!!!!
Dec. 23 - Jan. 7: Christmas Break (Schools Closed)

Traffic Shift for ND Schools Car Drop Off/Pick Up starting Dec. 16

Greetings Griffin Nation!

The holidays are fast approaching with Christmas just around the corner and our students are anticipating time spent with family and friends. Before we go, North DeSoto Schools would like to express our thankfulness for the high level of community support that’s needed to keep students learning and schools executing consistent learning experiences that are aligned to our district’s core value of High Performance. In addition, parents and community members play a vital role in supporting both students and schools as they navigate new learning and change that’s needed to ensure student safety and student learning.

As our ND school community continues to grow and welcome additional students and parents at a brisk pace, we must adjust accordingly to maintain safe, efficient, and effective operations that meet the demands of the upward trend of enrollment.

One trend that we are most familiar with is the dynamic ND campus egress (entry/exit) that the school community must navigate daily. No doubt, the need and desire to improve this daily experience is a collective goal of all. Each year as we begin a new school year the need is revealed as “New Learning” when students and parents navigate from one ND school to another. This “New Learning” is challenging and mirrors the learning and teaching that takes place in every ND classroom. It is understood and appreciated that High Performance teaching and learning must create a “Productive Struggle” to ensure the highest level of collaboration and problem solving.

In a proactive effort to collectively problem solve and improve the campus entry/exit flow, your help in “New Learning” is needed beginning December 16, 2024. Please partner with us in high performance learning/teaching as we shift forward with an effort to ensure safe, efficient, and effective navigation of the ND campus. The shift will include moving cars onto the loop road as buses shift to the interior of the campus. To learn the shift, color coded maps and numerical signage to help identify entry/exit points as well as sequenced drop off/pick up routes will be provided. In addition, maps will be distributed from each ND School and posted on social media the week of December 9th.

This perimeter shift in car traffic creates several advantages and is supported by research, strengthening our school safety protocol. By reducing vehicle movement within internal areas, it minimizes the risk of accidents involving pedestrians, especially children. This separation also creates safer zones for students to walk without the danger of vehicular traffic. Additionally, it can facilitate better supervision and visibility for staff and security personnel, further contributing to a secure environment. Overall, perimeter traffic management is an effective strategy to prioritize student safety.

Thank you in advance, Grin Nation, for your patience and participation in this High Performance “New Learning”!

Russel Tabor, Principal NDLE

William Cater, Principal NDMS

Joseph Saverino, Principal NDHS

Casey Hamon, Principal NDUE

PDF of Letter

PDF of Map

Attention First Grade Parents....

Dear First Grade Parents,

It is time for our annual Christmas Musical. This year we will perform ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by: Sally Albrecht and Jay Althouse. We invite all first grade parents and friends to attend. Students will perform in 2 groups of 5 classes to accommodate our 10 first grade classes and their families.

Performance A: Mrs. Anderson, Bickham, Burford, Enders and Fogleman’s classes

Perform for the school- Monday, December 9th at 9:00 am. Students wear uniforms.
Perform for family and friends - Monday, December 9th at 6:30 pm. Students wear Christmas pajamas as their costume

Performance B: Mrs. Chambers, Hasty, Register, Wheeler and Woods’ classes

Perform for the school- Tuesday, December 10th at 9:00 am. Students wear uniforms.
Perform for family and friends - Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30 pm. Students wear Christmas pajamas as their costume

Performances are in the North Desoto Lower Elementary Gym. Parents and guests are asked to sign in when entering the gym. If you have any questions, email tara.brawley@desotopsb.com or send me a Rooms message.

Santa Pictures on Wednesday, Dec. 11

Students may wear outfit of their choice. Students will bring home a note with a QR code to order pictures.

NDUE invites you to Christmas at the U on Dec. 12!

Little Griffins are invited to participate in the festivities on Dec. 12th at North DeSoto Upper Elementary from 5:30-8:00. Some of our teachers and staff will be there running two holiday activities for kids and families to enjoy.

Kona Ice on Friday Dec. 13

Kona Ice Days: Here is the link for those of you who volunteered for Kona Ice days. There are a few slots available if you would like to volunteer. Volunteers will take students who are getting Kona Ice to the truck and return them to class after they eat their sno cone. Thanks so much!

link to sign up genius

Students can bring cash on Friday or parents can prepay using the QR code on the graphic.

Booster Club News...

Santa Gram orders are due Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Concessions will be sold on Thursday Dec. 12. Please send cash in your child's folder in a labelled envelope or bag with your child's name, teacher's name and concessions.
The next Booster Club meeting is December 16 at 3:15pm in the NDLE Multi-purpose room. Enter the building though the front office entrance.

Picture Retakes on Dec. 16

If your child was absent for Fall pictures or needs to retake their Fall pictures, Cowen Studios will be here on Monday, Dec. 16 to take retakes and make up pictures. These are the pictures that will go in the yearbook. Students who are taking pictures on this day may wear clothing of their choice. If there are staff members that have not taken a picture yet, you need to be sure to take a picture on this day as well. Students will come home with a note and qr code to order pictures.

Breakfast

Tuesday, Dec. 10- Donut Holes, chilled peaches, juice, milk

Wednesday, Dec. 11 - breakfast pizza, mixed fruit, juice, milk

Thursday, Dec. 12 - pancake on stick, chilled pears, juice, milk

Friday, Dec. 13- cereal and graham crackers, string cheese, mixed fruit, juice , milk

Monday, Dec. 16 - cereal and graham crackers, yogurt cup, pineapple cup, juice, milk

Lunch

Tuesday, Dec. 10 - burger, baked beans, mixed fruit, sugar snap peas, milk

Wednesday, Dec. 11 - spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans, romaine lettuce pack and dressing, chilled peaches, garlic toast, milk

Thursday, Dec. 12 - hot dog, chili, sweet potato tots, strawberry cup, broccoli bites and dip, milk

Friday, Dec. 13 - pizza, seasoned corn, carrot sticks and dip, chilled pears, milk

Monday, Dec. 16 - burger, tater tots, carrot sticks and dip, chilled mixed fruit, milk

Reminder for Frosty Fest Volunteers

Our students will participate in Frosty Fest during the school day on Thursday, Dec. 19. Students can wear pajamas on this day. There will be a variety of activities that our students will rotate through throughout the day. This will be a fun way to end our first semester. Some parents volunteered to help out on that day so please remember to plan for that. If any volunteers have questions, please contact Mrs. Burford at Lindsay.burford@desotopsb.com.

No school for students on the following dates:

Dec. 20: Teacher Work Day
Dec. 23- Jan. 7: Christmas Break

Teacher's Favorite Things

For those of you who want to get a head start on your Christmas shopping, here is a link to a Google sheet that lists our teachers' and staff's favorite things.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DHeKnl3SsKXL_yfzKOGbvOPbcl0xcj51jL9OYj2-0MM/edit?usp=sharing

Reminders...

ALL messaging will be done through ROOMS so it is very important to have this set up. Email tara.brawley@desotopsb.com if you need help
Class DOJO is an app to download to view your child's behavior at school. If you have questions about behavior, ask your teacher through ROOMS.
We only accept cash for any kind of money collection at school. Please send the exact amount. All money should be in an envelope or ziplock bag with your child's name, their teacher's name, and what the money is for.
If your child will be going home a different way, please send a dated note to your child's teacher and an email to Mrs. Miller or Mrs. Salter in the office by 12:00 pm. tracy.miller@desotopsb.com or dena.salter@desotopsb.com
Please label all backpacks, lunchboxes, water bottles, and jackets with your child's first and last name. This will help us return items when they are lost.

Check Lost and Found!

Parents, please come check our lost and found rack in the office if your child has lost any jackets, water bottles, hair bows, etc. The lost and found rack is in the front lobby. You may come check it any time from 7:10-4:00 pm.

NDLE students can wear Christmas shirts sold by NDUE

In support of the Upper Elementary, our Little Griffins can wear the Christmas shirts sold by NDUE through Hometown Spirit Shop any day of the week from now until Dec. 19. Students must wear uniform bottoms, no jeans. Click the link to order. http://bit.ly/3Vpcjsi

If you need to get in touch with our administration team, please send them an email instead of a Rooms message or call the office at (318)925-2383. This will ensure a quick response.

Mr. Russell Tabor, Principal russell.tabor@desotopsb.com

Mrs. Lindsay Burford, Assistant Principal lindsay.burford@desotopsb.com

Mrs. Stephanie Arinder, Counselor stephanie.arinder@desotopsb.com