Lifestyle

Meet our resident — Kemariya Thomas. Ms. Thomas is a resident with us from Northwestern State University. She is working alongside her mentor, Mr. Williams in his 8th Grade Social Studies class at Mansfield Middle School. Ms. Thomas has enjoyed many things about her residency so far but her favorite has been seeing how students have progressed since the first day of school and also seeing how competitive the students get on review days. We welcome Ms. Thomas to our DeSoto Family.

Get ready for a jolly good time as the Logansport Chamber of Commerce invites you to a magical morning at the Logansport Community Center, located at 113 Third Street on December 13th.

We’ll have three seating times for your convenience: 8-9 AM, 9-10 AM, and 10-11 AM. For just $5.00 per person you’ll enjoy fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, cozy hot chocolate, a fun Christmas Craft, plus a keepsake photo with Santa to take home. Seats are limited per time slot, so make sure to grab yours early — this is one holiday event you don’t want to miss! We encourage everyone to wear their favorite comfy pajamas.

To get on Santa‘s nice list and to get a ticket, please contact Tori Rankin Dyess at (318)-780-0637 or Teresa Stephens at (318)-518-2775.

The elves accept cash app, Venmo, PayPal, check, or cash.?

Come make merry memories with us.

One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall is pure holiday magic wrapped in tinsel and tied with a bow made of belly laughs. It’s the theatrical equivalent of finding an extra present under the tree you didn’t know was there. Kids love the fun and the surprise cameo from a very important reindeer (no spoilers!). Grown-ups love that it reminds us — without ever getting sappy or preachy — that the best Christmas gifts don’t come from a store.

One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall comes to BackAlley Community Theatre in Grand Cane with three more performances only-Friday/ Saturday, December 12, & 13 at 7:00 pm, and Sunday, December 14 at 2:00 pm. Grab your tickets now at backalleygrandcane.com. Call 318461-0202 for questions.

Few holiday traditions are as comforting as baking cookies at Christmastime. The smell of cinnamon, ginger, and sugar drifting through the kitchen feels timeless — and in many ways, it is. The history of Christmas cookies stretches back centuries, blending ancient feasts, medieval innovations, and cultural exchanges that shaped the treats we enjoy today.

Cookies themselves can be traced back to 7th-century Persia, shortly after sugar became more widely available. As trade routes expanded, cookies spread into Europe by the 8th century. By the Middle Ages, winter solstice festivals had merged with Christian Christmas celebrations, and spiced biscuits became popular across Europe.

As the generations pass and the numbers of the “Greatest Generation” dwindle, few remain to tell their stories again and recall where they were when they first heard the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, the American Army and Navy base in Hawaii was attacked, “without provocation” by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Since Japan had not declared war on the United States, the attack came as a surprise to those stationed at Pearl Harbor, which lead to great loss of life and equipment. The devastating strike of more than 350 bombers, fighters and torpedo planes blasted and pulverized the US Naval Base and Hawaiian countryside. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and another 1,300 wounded, with three American battleships destroyed or damaged beyond repair including the USS Arizona, USS Utah and USS Oklahoma.

As we approach the holiday season, we’re celebrating the great work our students and families are doing to make attendance a priority across DeSoto Parish Schools. Every day in class counts toward student success — and you are showing up strong!

September Attendance Challenge Winners: Stanley High School — Winner of the DeSoto Strong Cup with an impressive 96.65% average attendance!

North DeSoto Lower Elementary — Winner of the You Matter School Award for outstanding effort in meeting attendance goals!

Thank you for continuing to make attendance and public education a priority.

It was pumpkin decorating judging at Central today and these kiddos made it TOUGH! Talk about some creative 4-H’ers, they had a little bit of everything, and I loved it! Congratulations to all the winners and thank you all for participating! This is always a super fun contest and puts money back into our agriculture market! WIN,WIN!

President — Adilee Register Vice Presidents- Madisyn Bennett and Lillee Averett Secretary — Brooklyn Opatz Treasurer — Heidi Waters Reporter — Zoe Seekford Photographer — Bryson Hesser Community Service Representatives — Elizabeth Culotti, Mason Burns, and Shelbi Lee

Our final weekend of The Play That Goes Wrong at BackAlley. Come see the insanity ensue! Get ready for an evening of side-splitting chaos as The Play That Goes Wrong makes its uproarious final weekend at BackAlley Community Theatre in Grand Cane. Show times are Friday and Saturday, November 7 & 8 at 7 pm, and Sunday, November 9 at 2 pm.

ThisTonyAward-winning farce transforms the stage into a battlefield of botched lines, crumbling sets, and uproarious mishaps — prov- ing that sometimes, the show must go wrong to go right. For theater lovers in DeSoto Parish and beyond, it’s the perfect blend of slapstick genius and community spirit. This award-winning comedy promises an unforgettable night of laughter for audiences of all ages. Tickets are on sale now at www.backalleygrandcane. com. For questions, call our box office at 318-461-0202.

These incredible educators and staff members are true difference makers — inspiring excellence, empowering students, and living out the DeSoto Difference every single day.

Elementary Teacher of the Year: Hillary Severin — North Desoto Upper Elementary Middle School Teacher of the Year: Dixie Pierce — Stanley High School — La High School Teacher of the Year: Grace Lewis — Mansfield High School New Teacher of the Year: Artishaylyn Ford — Mansfield Elementary School Support Staff of the Year: Abby La-Cour — North DeSoto Middle School Each of these honorees represents the heart of our mission — creating classrooms where students feel valued, challenged, and supported.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding individuals for their dedication, passion, and impact on the lives of our students and communities!