• 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)

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

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. 

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

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.

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.

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