On Friday, October 23, North DeSoto Lower Elementary celebrated our hardworking math students with a special "Hallo-Weenie Challenge" event!

ZEARN Math is a digital learning tool available on our Kindergarten and First Grade students' CLEVER accounts, provided by DeSoto Parish Schools. The Louisiana Department of Education utilizes ZEARN statewide to help all students grow into confident "Math Kids." Used alongside our daily math curriculum, ZEARN allows students to practice, strengthen, and enrich their math skills at their own individual pace.

To motivate students to stay on track, NDLE Math Master Teacher Shelby Bickham created a series of fun incentive events. For this challenge, students had four weeks to complete 16 lessons (four lessons per week) during their daily Math WIN time.

Students who met their goal earned an exciting reward: front-row seats to a real dachshund race, a hilarious hot dog eating contest featuring teachers and district staff, a hot dog lunch, and extra recess!

A huge thank you to Mrs. Burford, Mrs. Simmons, Resident Teacher Miss Laney Mancho, and first-grader Judge for bringing their furry friends to race. Buck, Boone, Mingo, Diva, and Maverick competed in individual obstacle courses before facing off in a grand finale group race—with Judge’s dog, Maverick, taking home the championship trophy!

The fun started even before the main event, as Mr. Tabor and Mrs. Burford surprised students by dressing up as dachshunds during morning carline, joined by Mrs. Bickham in a full hot dog costume!

Our Little Griffins will vote on their December incentive event soon as they begin working toward their next ZEARN Math challenge. Keep up the great work, math stars!