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Warm Greetings, Lower School Families,
Over the past several days, I have received some thoughtful questions from families about the decision to limit unstructured use of our newly renovated athletic field. I understand those questions, and I am grateful they have been raised. At Northern Oaks, we encourage our students to ask good questions and seek to understand the why behind the choices we make; we owe our families that same clarity. This decision was not made lightly, and while it was not an easy adjustment for me personally, after understanding the needs of the field, the significant investment our community has made, and the requirements necessary to protect it, I understand why it is the responsible path forward.
First and most importantly, our students will continue to use and enjoy the field. The change we are making applies specifically to unstructured use during recess, morning break, and other open times. Students will continue to use the field for PE classes, intramural sports, middle and high school athletics, Field Day, curriculum celebrations, and other designated school activities.
This decision was not made lightly. With 1,441 students on campus and students in grades 5–12 previously having access to the field during open recess and break times, daily use adds up quickly. Our goal is not to keep students off the field, but to manage its use so that it remains healthy, safe, and available for the activities it was designed to support.
The renovation of the field was a significant investment of approximately $130,000, funded through a combination of generous family support through our Community Investment Campaign and Griffin Gala and a capital investment from Great Hearts Texas. Maintaining that investment also carries substantial ongoing costs: our first water bill associated with establishing the field was approximately $10,000, and professional field maintenance costs $2,000 per month.
Just as importantly, we are required to follow a prescribed use and maintenance schedule in order to protect the field and maintain its warranty. This includes giving portions of the field appropriate periods of rest and limiting unrestricted daily traffic.
We understand why families value outdoor, unstructured play; we do, too, which is why it is something that happens all the way through their senior year. Students will continue to have the same amount of dedicated recess and break time, with other outdoor spaces available for active play and time with friends. What is changing is simply the location of that unstructured time.
After many years without a consistently safe and functional athletic field, we now have a beautiful space where our students can run, compete, learn, and gather as a community. We have a responsibility to steward it carefully so that today's students, and Griffins for many years to come, can benefit from it.
We are deeply grateful for the generosity that made this field possible and for your understanding as we establish practices that will protect that investment for the long term.
Thank you for your partnership and continued support of our students.
Warmly,
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