Connect with Katie.04.12.2024.Issue33

Lovejoy Lovejoy Leopards Leopards

MESSAGE

from the Superintendent

LovejoyCommunity,

The clouds parted just in time for us to enjoy the total solar eclipse on Monday. It was a special experience to witness this phenomenon with our students and staff. My favorite part was seeing and hearing the collectivewonderandaweofourstudents.In addition to facilitating plans to view the eclipse, our principals, assistant principals, campusfrontofficestaff,andschoolmarshals did an excellent job of managing student check out that morning. We appreciate our parents

makingattendanceatschoolonthemorningofApril8thapriority. Knowingthatwearefundedbasedonattendanceratherthanenrollment,many of you have asked what our student attendance was on Monday. Our attendanceratewas88.59%.

Our campus administration team at Willow Springs Middle School, Mrs. Eldredge,Mr.Lewis,andMrs.Reeder,areknownfortheirthemedcostumes.On Monday,inrecognitionofthesolareclipse,theydressedasastronauts.Welove how they make joy and fun a priority. I hope you enjoy the pictures of our students enjoying the eclipse as much as I have. Our teachers did an amazing jobofmakingthisameaningfullearningexperience.

Speaking of wonder and awe, each spring, our first grade classes have the opportunity to study the development of chickens. I visited Mrs. Meaders first grade class this week and her students could not wait to show me their chick and share their learning with me. This hands-on learning experience teaches students about the life cycle of chickens. The students eagerly watched as the eggs were placed in an incubator and then patiently observed the eggs for 21 days.Theylearnabouttheimportanceofmaintainingtherighttemperatureand humiditylevelsinordertosimulatethemotherhentakingcareoftheeggs. As the

the chicks begin to hatch, students are filled with excitement and make observations of the newly hatched chicks. Throughout this 21 day project, our first grade students learn about a variety of animals and that animals have uniquefeaturesthatdeterminewheretheylive,howtheymove,andwhatthey eat. Students also learn how overall structure contributes to the animal’s survival.

Ihopeyouandyourfamilyhaveawonderfulweekendfilledwithloveandjoy. OurstudentswillenjoyaholidayonFriday,April19thbecausewedidnothave toutilizethisasabadweathermake-upday.

ThereisonlyoneLOVEJOYandweareallLEOPARDS!

LovejoyProud, KatieKordel Superintendent

LOVEJOY’S TOTAL

ECLIPSE OF THE HEART

Lovejoy’s solar eclipse experience was “totality” awesome! Students and staff across the district safely and collectively experienced the phonomenon on Monday. We are so grateful for this incredible learning opportunity and the abilitytosharetheexperiencewithclassmatesandcoworkers!

We’d like to give a BIG “shout out” to Hart Elementary music teacher, Wendy Hebert,forherspecialrenditionof“TotalEclipseatHart”below!!

Photo credit: Michelle Wilde, Parent

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

IN SCIENCE CLASS!

Eachyear,Lovejoystudentsinkindergartenthrough5thgradelearnaboutlife sciencebyraisingandgrowinglivingorganisms.

Kindergarten grew plants to learn about plant life cycles and how the differentplantpartshelpthemmeettheirbasicneeds.

First grade hatched chickens! Students were able to observe the life cycle of chickens, how the chicks resemble their parents, and how their structureshelpthemsurviveintheirenvironment.

Second graders observed their butterflies to learn about the different stagesofmetamorphosis,pollination,andhowtheirstructureshelpthem takeinfoodandwater.

Third graders observe Lady Beetles and learn how environments are importanttoorganisms'growthandsurvival.

Fourth grade also studied plants but used them to learn about inherited versusacquiredplanttraits,photosynthesis,andhowplantscyclematter.

Fifth graders will soon create biomes out of soda bottles to learn about interdependence between living and nonliving components in an ecosystem.

Spring is such a special time to observe plants and animals growing and changing! What observations can your family make in your own backyard or neighborhood?

LIVING LOVEJOY: BABY CHICKS

Lovejoy ISD is proud to share our first annualeditionofLivingLovejoy:WhoWe Are! We invite you to learn more about Lovejoy ISD and help us celebrate our LegacyofExcellence!

GREEN TEAM

REMINDER: BEAUTIFIES LHS

Thank you, Green Team for helping beautify our Lovejoy High School campus last weekend! 33 student and parent volunteers picked up trash, plantedflowers,andpulledweeds!

NO SCHOOL 04.19.2024

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

REGISTRATION OPEN

Lovejoy ISD offers a variety of fun and engaging summer enrichment and athletic camps for students Prek-12thgrade.

Learn more and enroll today! Summer Activities Registration Link:https://lovejoy.revtrak.net/

CREATING SPACE FOR

GRIEF PRESENTATION

Please join us on April 16, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the LCDC Library for “Creating SpaceforGrief”hostedbyKerriNewman and Farren Barnett with Journey of Hope.Learnhowtosupportyourchildas theynavigatetheirgriefjourney.

TopicsCovered:

CommonGriefResponsesinChildren andTeens

DispellingGriefMyths

StrategiestoStarttheConversation Activities to Build Connection and CopingSkills

LOVEJOY SCHOLARS

APPLICATIONS OPEN

2024 - 2025 Lovejoy Scholars applicationsarenowopenand will be accepted through April 24, 2024. The Lovejoy Scholars Applicationandformslinksare posted below. A limited number of scholars openings are available and interested families are encouraged to applyearly.Spacepermitting,a second application window maybeopenedonMay3rd.

ATTENDANCE

UPDATE

Strong school attendance is correlated with higher academic performance. Additionally,averageDailyAttendance(ADA)isametricthattheStateofTexas usestodeterminefundingforpublicschools.Eachweek,thisattendancedata willbeupdatedsoourcommunityisawareofourmostrecentADA.

CONNECTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE LOVEJOY COMMUNITY

WHILE SUPPORTING LOVEJOY ISD THROUGH REVENUE GENERATION

TheLovejoyISDCommunityPartnerprogramisanew way for local businesses to support Lovejoy ISD and connect with the Lovejoy Community! Community Partner advertisements are featured in our weekly Districtnewsletter,ConnectwithKatie,LivingLovejoy videos,andDistrictSocialMedia.

InterestedinbecomingaCommunityPartner? ClickHEREtolearnmore!

*Please note event dates, times and locations are subject to change and should be verified by participants CALENDAR EVENT LINKS

COLOR GUARD

PLACES 6TH IN STATE!

Congratulations to our Lovejoy Varsity Color Guard on their amazing season andtheir6thplaceintheNTCASTATECHAMPIONSHIPSonSunday,April7th. Thecompetitionwasfierce,buttheirbeautifulperformancewasstunningand setthemapartasoneofthebestinthestate!Congratulationscolorguardand Ms.GarciaonanoutstandingWinterGuardseason!

LHS CHOIR

UIL SUCCESS

Congratulations to the Lovejoy HS Choir Program and their success at UIL ConcertandSightReadinglastThursdayandFriday.JVTreble,VarsityTreble, and Varsity Mixed all received Sweepstakes and the Varsity Tenor/Bass choir received Superior ratings on stage. They all worked extremely hard and sang beautifully!Congratstoall!!

JVTreble

VarsityTreble

VarsityMixed

VarsityTenor/Bass

Varsity

WINDS EARN UIL

SWEEPSTAKES

TheLovejoyHighSchoolWindEnsembleandWindSymphonyperformedinUIL Concert and Sightreading Contest on Monday, April 8. Please join us in congratulating both ensembles on receiving the UIL Sweepstakes Award for receiving straight Superior 1st Division ratings from all six judges! The performances were stunning and we are so proud of these students and their hardwork!

TheWillowSpringsBandsalsowonstraight1stDivisionSuperiorratingsatthe Lone Star Classic Band Festival on April 5th! Additional awards included: for BestisClass(bothbands)foreachoftheirclassifications,andtheWSMSWind EnsemblewontheBestinFestivalAwardforthewholecontest!

That's a clean sweep of 1st Divisions at contests and festivals for the Lovejoy Bandsthisspring!Congratulationsonthistrulyremarkableaccomplishment!

OAP ADVANCES

TO REGIONALS

Lovejoy Theatre participated in the 5A Area UIL One Act Play competition last ThursdayandFriday. NowLovejoyisoneofthreeschoolsadvancingtothe5A Region 2 UIL Competition! Additionally, theatre’s cast and crew won several awardsatArea:

AllStarCast:EllaSnyder,KathrynPayne,EmmaMyers,AudreyBolen,Elise Reid,andClareChristenson

HonorableMention:SophieKonecnyandJacobSmithwick

LightDesign:GalileaCardenas

Our Lovejoy community is invited to watch them compete in Regionals on Saturday, April 27th at Noon. They will be performing at the Arlington ISD CenterofVisualandPerformingArts.

SOFTBALL TIED

FOR 1ST PLACE!

Lovejoysoftballis8-1indistrictplayandtiedfor FirstPlaceintheDistrict!

March28th:aHUGEDistrictWinvs#1Texas

5AMelissaCardinals8-1

April 2nd: a District Win and great overall performancevsGreenville15-0in3innings

April5th:aDistrictWinvsSherman15-0in4 innings

Softball’slastthreematch-upsare:

April 12th: HOME game (Senior Night) vs PrincetonHighSchool@6:15pm

(Wehopetoseeasmanyofyououttheresupportingthesegreateliteseniors)

April15DistrictFinale@McKinneyNorthat6:15pm

LOVEJOY BASEBALL

DOES IT AGAIN

Lovejoy Baseball did it again - got the sweep against Denison HS last week. [Varsity (10-0, 19-1); JVBlack (15-5, 15-1), JVRed (13-3, 12-1)] Throughout both games of the series, the Lovejoy pitching held the opposing teams to minimalrunsandthehittersputonahitclinic! ShawnTolleson,formerTexas Rangers pitcher, threw out the first pitch during Game 1 of the series and was graciouslyapartoftheSportsgrambroadcast.

The Leopards are fortunate to have great parents, students, and community members who support our baseball program. The regular season for the LeopardsiscomingtoacloseandweneedALLLEOPARDFANStocomeoutfor the last home district game on Wednesday, April 17th. We will honor our LovejoySchoolMarshalsandwatchasCoachSmithstartsthegameoffwiththe first “strike”! Come show your Leopard spirit and help to cheer on Leopard Baseballastheyplaythelastweekofdistrictplay.

LEOPARD TENNIS

SEASON UPDATE

Leopard Tennis has been competing in numerous, top level tournaments this springagainstmanyoftheverybest6Aand5AprogramsinTexas! Thegrowth and grit from our athletes is impressive, and we are getting better each tournament.Weareexcitedtoshareafewpicturesofourathletesandsomeof theirhardware!

TheVarsitynettersDistricttournamentwillbeApril24-25attheTAGfacilityin Melissa.ThankstoallthathavesupportedtheseprogramsfromWillowSprings, JV1,JV2andVarsityatthehighschool.

LEOPARD FISHING:

REGIONAL PLACERS

Congratulations to our Regional Placers for THSBA NorthDivision!Wehave8teamsthathavequalified andwillcompleteinthetournamentonApril20that PossumKingdom.Goodlucktoouranglers!

5th IzakLenartandGrantPursifull

17th GraysonCoxandCarstenDunn

24th JoeyBrooksandWillFahrendorf

33rd GradyBootsandNicholasRowe

41st JackThompsonandParkerWood

52ndTrinityMcWhorter

52ndKadeStubbsandCarsonBrownlow

66thLiamQuinlanandOwenQuinlan

MUFFINS WITH

MOST POLITE

TEACHER HART MOMS

Sloan Creek Intermediate School teacher, Ashley Massay, is Lovejoy’s third “Best Mannered Teacher” honored by the National League of Junior Cotillions. Ms. Massay was nominated by her former student, Rachel Walsh. When Ms. Massay was unable to attend the celebration, Rachel delivered the certificate to her the nextmorning!

Leopard Life

LOVEJOY LINKS

MAJESTICS REIGN PUSTER ART SHOW

SENIOR NIGHT BASEBALL

Leopard Life

LOVEJOY LINKS

LGA SCHOLARSHIP G/T REFERRALS GRADES 1-11

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 engagesin opendialogue/discussionwithourcommunity.

August29,2023

6:00p.m.-7:00p.m.

SloanCreekIntermediate

November30,2023

12:00p.m.-1:00p.m.

HartElementarySchool

February28,2024

8:00a.m.-9:00a.m.

LovejoyHighSchool

April30,2024

9:00a.m.-10:00a.m.

WillowSpringsMiddleSchool

LOVEJOY LINKS

LCDC FREE PRE-K

LCDC REGISTRATION

KINDER ROUND-UP

DISTRICT & CAMPUS

NEWSLETTERS

Lovejoy ISD is committed to creating strong connections and providing clear communicationwithourLovejoyparentsandfamilies.Belowyouwillfindlinksto the most recent newsletters from each campus. Sign up for weekly Principal Newslettersheretostayinformed!

DISTRICT NEWSLETTER Connect with Katie

HART ELEMENTARY Principal Newsletter

PUSTER ELEMENTARY Principal Newsletter

SLOAN CREEK INTERMEDIATE Principal Newsletter

WILLOW SPRINGS MIDDLE Principal Newsletter

LOVEJOY HIGH SCHOOL Principal Newsletter

Leopard LifeCOMMUNITY NEWS

TheLovejoyISDCommunityNewswebsiteisintendedtofacilitateconnections and raise awareness of local events, activities, fundraisers and organizations thatmightinterestLovejoyfamilies.

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