Dear NDUE Families,

It is hard to believe we are already wrapping up our first nine weeks! I am so proud of the hard work, growth, and progress our students have made, and I am incredibly grateful for the teachers and families who have worked alongside them to make this a strong start to the school year. It truly takes all of us working together, and I appreciate the time, effort, and support you give our children every day!

As we finish out today, let's encourage our students to give their best and celebrate how far they have come. Every bit of progress matters, and every effort counts!

Fall break begins tomorrow, and I hope your family enjoys this well-deserved time to slow down, reconnect, and Sharpen the Saw! Whether you spend your days outdoors, enjoy a little extra rest, share meals together, or simply take a break from the busy routine, I hope you find time to recharge and make special memories. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves and our children is pause, enjoy the moment, and fill our cups back up.

Report cards will be sent home on Monday, and final grades for the first nine weeks are available now in the JCStudent app. As you review your child's report card, I encourage you to look beyond the letter grades and celebrate personal growth and goal attainment. Success is not just about the grade on the report card; it is about the progress students make toward their individual goals, the effort they put forth, and the confidence they build along the way. Every child grows at a different pace, and recognizing those steps forward helps keep students motivated and moving in the right direction.

Thank you for sharing your children with us, for trusting our teachers, and for being such an important part of our North DeSoto family. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I look forward to all the growth and great things ahead in the second quarter!

Enjoy your fall break! Let's rest, recharge, and come back ready to achieve goals together.

Geaux Griffins,
Casey Hamon
Principal, North DeSoto Upper Elementary

Text displays contact information for a school principal and two assistant principals, including phone numbers, email addresses, and grade levels.

A schedule with dates and activities. Activities include Fall Break, HOCO Week, Red Ribbon Week, etc.

Johnny's Pizza Night Fundraiser

Thank you for participating in our Johnny’s Pizza Night Fundraiser. It was a huge success! We appreciate your support.

Mrs. Morgan's Homeroom WON the Pizza party for having the MOST participation! We will schedule their celebration during the month of October.

Poster for Family Night at North DeSoto Upper Elementary. Features a lighthouse, an eagle, and a sign. It includes the date, time, and location.

SEL/Mental Health Parent Night:

Families are invited on October 22 from 6-7:30 pm to attend this SEL Night together, learn more about the 7 Habits for Families, and hear from our local Mental Health Service Providers. We will meet in the gym for a brief whole-group presentation. Our Student Lighthouse Team, with help from our staff, will lead families through several game-like, creative activities to support social-emotional learning and strong mental health.
We will also have a station for Legacy Tiles. If you would like to purchase one, they are $20. Families will work together to paint their tile and leave their legacy on display in our Cafeteria. We will have a paint station, but you are also welcome to take it home.

A group of children and adults stand in a restaurant with tiled floors, wearing matching shirts.

A family sits at a table in a restaurant, with two boxes of pizza in front of them.

HOCO WEEK

OCTOBER 12-16

Jeans may be worn as part of any of the dress up days. The Homecoming Parade will be on Friday at 9:30. Information about floats will come through your team coach/sponsor.

Poster with six sections titled Homecoming Week 2026. Each section includes a theme and a description.

**Students that do not want to participate may wear uniforms or spirit shirts and jeans. **

RED RIBBON WEEK

OCT 26-30

Jeans may be worn as part of any dress up day. Please note that on Friday, there will be no scary costumes, no face masks, no props to carry, and all characters MUST BE fictional!

**Students that do not want to participate may wear uniforms or spirit shirts and jeans. **

A group of children in green shirts and white hats pose for a photo in a gym.

Colorful graphic features children reading and playing under a tree. Fall break activities listed.

Park it Against Bullying Trunk or Treat

Our Student Lighthouse Team will participate in the Park it Against Bullying Trunk or Treat in Mansfield at the DeSoto Parish Courthouse Square on Oct. 29 from 5:30-7:30 pm. Students who donate candy for this event will receive a ticket to wear free dress on Nov. 2nd. All Desoto Parish Residents are invited to attend this event with their families

Poster for a candy drive against bullying with an eagle in a witch's hat holding pumpkins, a pumpkin patch, and a car trunk full of candy.

Fields of Faith

All ND families are invited to attend Fields of Faith on Oct. 21, 2026, at 6 pm at Griffin Stadium. This annual event is hosted by FCA.

NDUE would like to recognize our PTO Board members and volunteers.

Pto President Casey Kelly, Vice President Amber Waters, Secretary LaCourtney Serch, Treasurer Jennifer Kennedy, Concessions Coordinator Rachel Todd, Media Coordinator Delaney Burke, and board members Tracey Coates and Kelly Nelson. The MAGIC that is NDUE would not be possible without your support, determination, encouragement, and innovative ideas. We are so lucky to have you serving in our school. You ladies not only LEAD like a GRIFFIN, you are the DESOTO Difference!

Women in light blue shirts and jeans stand on a field holding a sign that reads

A flyer displays a concession stand menu with snacks, treats, and drinks. Items include popcorn, candy, soda, and special deals.

Five young people stand together at a picnic table. A woman in a gray jacket holds a young girl in a pink shirt.

Five young girls in a room with a couch and window. Two wear white shirts, two in hoodies, one in a shark costume.

Three girls stand close together inside a restaurant with tiled flooring and booth seating. One wears a white hoodie, another a gray shirt, and the third a black top.

Every day is a great day to learn something NEW!

Two boys in a classroom hold drawings. One wears a gray hoodie, the other a red shirt. Behind them is a bookshelf and a bulletin board.

Four women in green, yellow, and blue shirts, with one in glasses, standing in a hallway.

Two boys in a classroom, one in red and one in blue, holding up a piece of paper.

NDUE STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

Please share your children's accomplishments outside of school so we can share them with the community! We are proud of our Griffins. We are specifically looking for Team Championships (please include ALL NDUE students on the team's names) and Individual Awards. Attach any pictures and a list of the awards, along with the name of the competition, by going to the link below. Thank you!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe12Z6hZUm5NfjzMpMvt-vdU2aIjUdWnfgFPwL_v0T8X-Uupg/viewform?usp=sharing