Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
JANUARY 12, 2024
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CONTENTS 04 MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT 06 SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH 10 PERSONNEL UPDATE 10 BUMP UP DAY: FEBRUARY 16, 2024 11 LJVA 1ST ANNUAL ETA EXHIBITION 11 LIVING LOVEJOY: INTERACTIVE LEARNING
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CHEERLEADING EARNS 5TH PLACE AT STATE
18 TMEA ALL STATE QUALIFIERS
12 THEATRE PRESENTS: THE WIZARD OF OZ
13 WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS 14 TRANSPORTATION: SEATBELT SAFETY 19 CONGRATULATIONS GLITCH ROBOTICS 14 ATTENDANCE UPDATE 20 BOARD WORKSHOP SUMMARY 16 DISTRICT CALENDAR 21 BOARD OF TRUSEE ELECTION 22 LOVEJOY LINKS 28 DISTRICT AND CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS 28 COMMUNITY NEWS
MESSAGE from the Superintendent Lovejoy Community, Winter has arrived! Parents and I will often laugh about the insistence of their children on wearing shorts to school, even in the winter. A definite sign that we have reached a new level of cold was a reduction in the number of shorts worn to school this morning. Lovejoy employees are our greatest asset in serving our students. Hiring outstanding leaders and educators is an extremely important part of providing our students with an exceptional educational experience. We have some important position and hiring updates to share with you this week. When there is an open position, I often get asked about our timeline for a hiring decision. We deeply understand the importance of filling open positions with high quality professionals, therefore our timeline is driven by when we have identified the best person for the position. Speaking of positions and timelines, as you are aware, we currently have a principal opening at Hart Elementary School. Shannon Acosta has been doing an exceptional job serving in the interim principal role and we feel extremely fortunate to have her leadership during this transition. A couple of months ago, we gathered staff and parent input to assist in the hiring process. We are currently engaging in that process and hope to bring a recommendation for the Hart Principal position forward to the Board of Trustees in the next month or so. The hiring process for the open Athletic Director and Head Football Coach positions will involve an initial screening of applicant qualifications and experience against position criteria and the needs of the District. Candidates that meet screening criteria will move on to a culture interview. A multi-level interview process with a committee of district administrators will be utilized. We have posted the positions separately to reserve as many options for the District at the decision making stage of the process as possible. The Athletic Director position will be tied to a head coaching position. The head coach position may be football or it could be another sport.
We value your input and have provided a link to an Athletic Director Input Form and Head Football Coach Input Form below. Your anonymous responses will help form a candidate profile and interview questions to be used during the hiring process. The forms will be open for responses until 1 pm on Wednesday, January 17. Your responses will go directly to me. Athletic Director Input Form Head Football Coach Input Form The Executive Director of Student Services position will be posted in the next week or so. The timing of the school holiday on Monday, in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., works well with the forecast. At this time, the temperatures are forecasted to fall well below freezing Saturday night and remain below freezing until Wednesday afternoon. We will continue to monitor conditions and communicate with you if there is any impact to school operations or extracurricular activities. Please stay warm and safe over the long weekend. There is only ONE LOVEJOY and we are ALL LEOPARDS! Lovejoy Proud,
Katie Kordel Superintendent
SCHOOL BOARD
APPRECIATION MONTH
In honor of School Board Apprecition Month, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Lovejoy ISD School Board for their dedicated service and commitment to our schools and community. Our board members volunteer their time and expertise to ensure Lovejoy ISD students continue to have the best educational opportunities possible. Thank you, Lovejoy Board of Trustees!
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PERSONNEL UPDATE Lovejoy ISD is proud to announce Mr. Dylan Dubuque as the Head Wrestling Coach at Lovejoy High School. Coach Dubuque is currently serving as Assistant Varsity Wrestling Coach at Lovejoy High School. Superintendent Kordel stated, "Lovejoy Wrestling’s legacy of excellence and Coach Dubuque’s experiences as both a wrestler and a coach are a strong match. During his time as interim head coach, he has earned the respect of our athletes and community.” Read the full press release here.
BUMP UP DAY FEBRUARY 16, 2024 Sloan Creek Intermediate, Willow Springs Middle School, and Lovejoy High School will host 4th, 6th, and 8th graders on Friday, February 16, 2024 for Lovejoy ISD’s Annual Bump Up Day. Bump Up Day was created to assist students with transitioning to a new campus and to help generate excitement for the new experiences they will have. Students will travel to the campus they will be attending for the 2024-2025 school year and have the opportunity to tour the campus, ask questions, and eat lunch. Students will be able to charge lunch and any a la carte/snacks purchases to their lunch account during their visit to their Bump Up school. Please make sure funds are available in your student's lunch account. Lunch prices for students visiting Sloan Creek IS or Willow Springs MS will be $4.00 for a regular meal or $4.75 for a premium meal. Lunch prices for students visiting the high school will be $4.50 for a regular meal or $5.25 for a premium meal. A la carte/snack prices vary. Please refer to this document for specific pricing.
LJVA 1ST ANNUAL ETA EXHIBITION LJVA is thrilled to invite you to the 1st Annual ETA Exhibition. The "Emerging Texas Artists" exhibition is a blind-juried selection of exemplars in approach, innovation, and ideation from over 230 HS artists in the DFW area. ETA is a celebration of HS artists challenging convention through their approach and thinking, taking risks wi work driven by personal voice and with their media application, and creating ideation. The work selected by the two jurors; Paige Whitcomb and Eli Ruhala ('18 LJVA Alum) is a phenomenal breadth of approach and thinking from our area's top HS artists. Please join us at the opening Jan. 13th. from 5-7pm; light snacks will be served. If you are unable to make it to the opening, contact Brice McCasland to schedule a tour of the exhibit from Jan. 16 - Jan. 19th, 8am-5pm.
LIVING LOVEJOY: INTERACTIVE LEARNING
THEATRE PRESENTS: THE WIZARD OF OZ The Lovejoy High School Theatre Program and Arts are delighted to announce their upcoming annual musical, The Wizard of Oz! The show will premiere on Thursday, January 25th to Saturday, January 27th at 7 PM. Lovejoy theatre presents a unique adaptation of the timeless classic audiences all adore, we invite you all on a journey down the yellow brick road where dreams come true and courage knows no bounds! With the combined efforts of our directors, actors, Lovejoy’s orchestra, and technical crew; we bring a fresh perspective to this beloved tale. Blending tradition with innovation to create a truly spellbinding experience. Join Dorthy [Audrey Murphy/Zoe Nolan], the Scarecrow [Blake Gatlin], the Lion [Reese Robinson], and the Tinman [Katy Payne] as they discover the true meaning of courage, wisdom, and love. The Wizard of Oz: The Musical will be at the Lovejoy High School auditorium at Estates Parkway, Lucas, Texas. Tickets are $10 for students, seniors and staff, and $15 for adults. Tickets will be posted on the online box office at http://tinyurl.com/237k 3z9y.
WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS With winter weather predicted for our area this week, we would like to remind our community of Lovejoy ISD’s inclement weather procedures. We will closely monitor the weather and will communicate with families and staff if school operations need to change. Depending on road conditions, parents, students, and staff may need to build extra time into the morning commute. We encourage families and staff to be prepared for cold and possibly wet weather, dress warmly and exercise caution on the roads. It is important to note that if no announcement is made, then classes will proceed as normal. If a delay or closure notification is necessary, families will be notified through the following methods: 1) An email will be sent to each family and staff member from the BrightArrow notification system. 2) A text message will be sent from the BrightArrow notification system. 3) A phone call will be made from the BrightArrow notification system. 4) A post will be made on our official social media channels. All decisions to either hold, cancel, or delay school will be made with the safety of our students and staff in mind. Stay warm and safe, Lovejoy Community.
TRANSPORTATION: SEATBELT SAFETY With a new year and new semester beginning, the Lovejoy ISD Transportation Department would like to remind everyone about the expectation of wearing seatbelts when students are riding buses. There is a high likelihood that your child will board a bus this year whether it be on a route, field trip, extracurricular event, etc. Not only is this an expectation but it is also a State law. Please take a moment to visit with your child(ren) of the importance of wearing a seatbelt while on the bus and encourage them to do so. Drivers will also assist in reminding riders to utilize their seatbelts. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the transportation department.
ATTENDANCE UPDATE Strong school attendance is correlated with higher academic performance. Additionally, average Daily Attendance (ADA) is a metric that the State of Texas uses to determine funding for public schools. Each week, this attendance data will be updated so our community is aware of our most recent ADA.
CONNECTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE LOVEJOY COMMUNITY WHILE SUPPORTING LOVEJOY ISD THROUGH REVENUE GENERATION The Lovejoy ISD Community Partner program is a new way for local businesses to support Lovejoy ISD and connect with the Lovejoy Community! Community Partner advertisements are featured in our weekly District newsletter, Connect with Katie, Living Lovejoy videos, and District Social Media. Interested in becoming a Community Partner? Click HERE to learn more!
DISTRICT CALENDAR
CALENDAR EVENT LINKS
STUDENT CALENDAR
DISTRICT CALENDAR
CAMPUS CALENDARS
ATHLETICS CALENDAR
FINE ARTS CALENDAR
Campus, District, and Athletics Calendars are linked above for the convenience of our community. *Please note event dates, times and locations are subject to change and should be verified by participants.
CHEERLEADING EARNS 5TH PLACE AT STATE! Congratulations, Lovejoy Cheerleaders on an outstanding 5th place finish (out of 70 teams) at the 5A UIL State Finals round last weekend. On day two, our cheerleaders had the highest band dance and fight song score out of all 132 5A teams. They represented LISD with passion, pride and purpose! We are #LovejoyProud of our Cheerleaders accomplishments and wish them luck at the NCA high school nationals next weekend! A special thank you to Coach Wiggins, Coach Caban, Coach McClelland for their leadership all season long!
TMEA ALL-STATE QUALIFIERS The Lovejoy Band is proud to announce that Megan Lyons (F horn), Reagan Wagner (trumpet), Davis Miller (jazz bari saxophone), and Max Rattleff (percussion) have advanced to the TMEA All-State level and will be traveling to San Antonio in February to represent Lovejoy ISD at the annual Texas Music Educators Association Convention! This is the result of months of hard work preparing collegiate-level etudes and multiple levels of audition to place in the highest spots in the Region and Area level. We are extremely proud of our students!
CONGRATULATIONS GLITCH ROBOTICS! Recently at a tournament in Southlake, TX, the LHS robotics team 1082X [ Glitch] performed so well in their skills score that they were able to qualify for the Texas Region 5 Championship! We are thrilled to share this success and excited to announce that they are the record-breaking 8th team that is now qualified for the Regional Championship! Our previous record was 7 teams, and now this record has been beaten. 1082X achieved a Driver Skills score of 151 and a Programming Skills score of 129. We are proud of their efforts and can't wait to see what they accomplish next!
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BOARD WORKSHOP SUMMARY
Lovejoy ISD is committed to providing consistent, transparent communication with our community and employees. We hope this meeting summary will support you in staying connected and informed. Click the image on the left to open the summary in Google Docs.
Regular Board Meetings and Workshops are now recorded and archived on the Lovejoy ISD website. You can access Regular Board Meeting and Workshop recordings by clicking the image on the right.
The full Regular Board Meeting agenda with supporting documents may be viewed by clicking the image on the left.
BOARD OF TRUSTEE ELECTION - MAY 04, 2024 Board of Trustees Election Filing Period The filing period for the May 4, 2024 school board election is January 17, 2024 February 16, 2024. May 4, 2024 School Board Election The following positions will be on the May 4, 2024 ballot: Position 6 - Jason Jaynes Position 7 - Barrett Owens Board of Trustee Application Packets are now available for pick-up from Rodricka Taylor, Coordinator for the Superintendent and Board Services, at the Lovejoy ISD Administration Building (259 Country Club Rd., Allen, TX 75002). An Electronic Application Packet can be downloaded HERE. May 04, 2024 Election Deadlines Wednesday, January 17, 2024 First Day to File for a Place on the General Election Ballot Friday, February 16, 2024 Last Day to Order a General Election Friday, February 16, 2024 at 5:00 PM Last Day to File for a Place on the General Election Ballot Saturday, May 4, 2024 Election Day Last Day to Receive Ballot by Mail
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LOVEJOY LINKS
YOUTH NIGHT AT WRESTLING
LOVEJOY LACROSSE
SAT TEST PREP
KINDER G/T REFERRALS
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LOVEJOY LINKS
GREEN TEAM RECYLCING EVENT
STUDENT COUNCIL BLOOD DRIVE
LOVEJOY WRESTLING SPIRIT NIGHT
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LOVEJOY LINKS
CCMR PRESENTATION
PRE-K INFORMATIONAL MEETING
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LOVEJOY LINKS
MCCU DEBIT CARD DESIGN CONTEST Lovejoy ISD recently entered into a partnership with My Community Credit Union. This partnership is intended to enhance student opportunities in the areas of financial literacy and provide hands-on learning experiences for future careers related to finance. An MCCU branch is scheduled to open at Lovejoy High School in the fall of 2024. Card Size: 2-1/8 by 3-3/8
Scan the QR Code for Official Rules and additional details, or visit mccu.coop/lovejoy.
On Friday, October 27th, MCCU kicked off their Debit Card Design Contest. The contest is open to all Lovejoy ISD students. Three debit card design winners will be selected representing grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The winners will have their designs on our Lovejoy Leopard MCCU Debit Cards and will receive a $100 gift card! Contest Rules: Must be an original image/design/artwork. Participants may submit up to 2 designs. Parent consent is required. Submissions are due to marketing@mccu.coop by midnight on February 29.
MINI CHEER CAMP
HOME RUN HEROS
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LOVEJOY LINKS
EXTENDED DAY LEOPARD ACADEMY Leopard Academy is an opportunity for your child to participate in enrichment activities on his or her campus before and after school. Our goal is that these enrichment opportunities will allow our Lovejoy Leopards to develop creativity and critical thinking skills through activities related to their personal interests. Registration is open for the following academies for students in first through 6th grade. Choose from one of the links below for more information. Board and Card Game Academy Yo Yo Academy
COMMUNITY COFFEE TALKS This is an opportunity for parents and community members to connect with Lovejoy ISD Trustees and Superintendent Katie Kordel in an informal setting. During Community Coffee Talks, Lovejoy ISD leadership listens, shares and engages in open dialogue/discussion with our community. August 29, 2023 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sloan Creek Intermediate
February 28, 2024 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Lovejoy High School
November 30, 2023 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Hart Elementary School
April 30, 2024 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Willow Springs Middle School
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LOVEJOY LINKS
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Calling all Lovejoy Alumni! The Lovejoy Independent School District is excited to engage former LISD students and our community through Alumni spotlights in the district newsletter, as well as LISD social media. Alumni spotlights are a fun way for the district to celebrate our students' educational, professional, and personal journeys after graduation. If you wish to participate, please complete this form for our LISD Communications Department.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT INTEREST FORM
Lovejoy ISD is proud to continue facilitating student opportunities through the Professional-to-Student Engagement Portal. Sign-up and share your talents! Lovejoy Community Professionals: Who are Lovejoy Community Professionals? Engage with students by sharing their Industry & Business Leaders expertise and knowledge Parents Mentor students through various Lovejoy Alumni career and college ready experiences Lovejoy Neighbors Strengthen students skills in the areas Senior Community Members of communication, collaboration, Heritage Ranch Community Members critical thinking and problem solving Family Members of Lovejoy Students Build leadership skills, develop self confidence
DISTRICT & CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS Lovejoy ISD is committed to creating strong connections and providing clear communication with our Lovejoy parents and families. Below you will find links to the most recent newsletters from each campus. Sign up for weekly Principal Newsletters here to stay informed! DISTRICT NEWSLETTER Connect with Katie
SLOAN CREEK INTERMEDIATE Principal Newsletter
HART ELEMENTARY Principal Newsletter
WILLOW SPRINGS MIDDLE Principal Newsletter
PUSTER ELEMENTARY Principal Newsletter
LOVEJOY HIGH SCHOOL Principal Newsletter
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COMMUNITY NEWS
The Lovejoy ISD Community News website is intended to facilitate connections and raise awareness of local events, activities, fundraisers and organizations that might interest Lovejoy families. The information featured on the Community News website is submitted by community members. Lovejoy ISD is not affiliated with the organizations and does not claim to endorse them.
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Connect with Katie . January 12, 2024. Issue 21