North DeSoto Lower Elementary

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, Griffin Nation, for your patience and participation in this High Performance “New Learning”!