Dear Northern Oaks Lower School Families,

We in the Lower School are excited to show our Griffin spirit and support as we continue to honor our graduates and our athletes in the Upper School by celebrating our sixth annual Homecoming week during the week of September 28.

Our Kinder through sixth-grade students may participate in the activities listed below:

The Griffin Coloring Contest will be held Monday – Wednesday. Two winners will be acknowledged in each section: The best Griffin Coloring Page (provided to students on Monday) and the best Griffin Free Draw. Students may work on these during drop-off and dismissal from Monday morning through Wednesday afternoon. Our 5th and 6th Graders will be able to use their artwork as locker decorations. All lower school artwork will be judged by teachers on Wednesday evening, who will narrow it down to two finalists per section, and given to lower school leadership on Thursday for a final decision. Winners will be announced in each section on Friday. Students will take home their drawings on Friday and are welcome to bring them to the homecoming games on Friday evening as a poster.

Junior Mums-On Friday, October 2, students K-6 may participate in Griffin Spirit Shirt Day and can wear Junior Mums.

What are Junior Mums? If you’re not from Texas, mums may be new to you. You can find many tutorials online. Please note: Junior Mums should be made in school colors (red, black, silver, white) and are meant to show school spirit. Please note the size dimensions: Mums must be no wider than 3’’-4" in diameter, with streamers no longer than 6". These can be smaller, taking into account the size of your griffin. There should be no noisemakers on them, as this could cause distraction in class.

They are worn with their regular uniform bottoms and a GHNO spirit shirt. The size and shape should be appropriate to their size, and the mum ribbons should not pass their waist, nor should they impede anything students may do during the school day (PE, Recess, etc).

Want to purchase one instead? The junior class is selling Junior Mums in support of their Senior Trip. If you are interested in purchasing a mum, they are on sale in the PSO online shop here.

Please note: Lower School students are only participating in these two activities, and neither of them is mandatory; and no family should feel compelled to participate in our Junior/Mini Mums activity on Friday. This is an opportunity for those who wish to show some Griffin spirit and support our upper school siblings and friends.

We could not be more excited to share in the joy of GHNO Homecoming week. Please let us know if you have any questions. We have added a few example pictures below from previous years.