Connect with Katie.08.11.2023.Issue03

Connect with Katie

Lovejoy Lovejoy Leopards Leopards

from the Superintendent MESSAGE

LovejoyCommunity,

We are celebrating an outstanding start to the school year! I love watching the anxiety, apprehension, and anticipation a child has about a new grade or new school quickly turn intoexcitement,growth,andconfidence.Inmy house, Tuesday night was filled with worries and Wednesday night was filled with stories of new and exciting opportunities. I hope Wednesday evening brought the same in your home.

OneofourcherishedLovejoytraditionsonthe

firstdayofschoolistheSeniorBreakfastandSeniorWalk.Ontheirlastfirstdayof school, cheered on by their family, teachers, and classmates, our seniors walk through the high school courtyard and into Lovejoy High School. This occasion honorsourseniorsK-12journeyandprovidesapausetomarkthesignificanceof theyearahead.Thisyear,wehadanotablenumberofrecentalumniattendSenior Walk. This speaks loudly about our culture and sense of community. Once a Leopard,AlwaysaLeopard.

I am confident that we are going to have an amazing school year. All of the right piecesareinplace,highlycommittedteachersandstaff,aninvestedschoolboard, anengagedcommunity,andover4000incrediblechildren.

ThereisonlyONELOVEJOYandweareALLLEOPARDS!

LovejoyProud,

KatieKordel Superintendent

LOVEJOY BACK TO SCHOOL

Ithasbeenawonderfulbeginningtothe2023-2024schoolyear. Wearegrateful foralltheparentvolunteers,staffmembers,andcommunitysponsorswhomade our Meet the Teacher events and first day of school extremely special across the district! Additionally,wearethankfulforourparents'patienceasweperfectnew routines,carlines,andcampusprocesses. Weappreciateyou!

LOVEJOY HS SENIOR WALK

Steeped in tradition, the Lovejoy High School Senior Breakfast and Walk is a beautiful way to welcome seniors on their last first day of school! While seniors enjoyed a breakfast provided by the Lovejoy High School PTSO, friendship, laughter and memories filled the walls of the LHS auxiliary gym. Meanwhile, parentsandfamilymembersgatheredoutsidetocheerontheirseniorduringtheir specialwalk. Theseseniorshaveaspecalyearaheadofthemanditwasanhonor tocelebratethemasweusherinthefuture!

SCHOOL MARSHAL

PROGRAM

On August 3, 2023,The Dallas Morning News published an article that contained information that does not accurately depict Lovejoy ISD’s School Marshal program.LovejoyISDisfortunatetohaveaSafetyandSecurityteamthatincludes six full-time, highly trained and experienced School Marshals across our district, withaseventhpositionaddedthisschoolyearandcurrentlyinthehiringprocess. ThearticlecouldmisleadreaderstobelievethatourSchoolMarshalslacktraining and experience, which is inaccurate. Unlike some School Marshal programs, Lovejoy ISD School Marshals do not serve a dual role and focus solely on responsibilitiesrelatedtosafetyandsecurity.

All Lovejoy ISD School Marshals have law enforcement, military, and/or security backgrounds.Our School Marshals are licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and receive both their initial and ongoing training regarding Active Attackresponsecapabilities.Additionally,LovejoySchoolMarshalsfarexceedthe minimaltrainingstandardssetforthbythestate,andparticipateinvariouspoliceled training programs such as: Basic SWAT, External Response to Active Shooter Events, and Solo Officer Rapid Deployment courses to name a few. Our School Marshalsalsoexceedtheminimalshootingstandardsassetforthbythestate,and trainextensivelyintheirfirearmscapabilities

Training and enhanced standards are whatsetsourSchoolMarshalprogram apart from other departments and organizations around Texas. Our overall program goal is to provide a protective function within our school district, and focus primarily on that one goal. Training and experience is the hallmark of how we accomplish thatgoal.

LovejoyISDandourBoardofTrusteesarecommittedtoprioritizingstudentsafety through a comprehensive safety and security program. More information on Districtsafetyandsecuritycanbefoundhere.

LONE STAR CUP

RUNNER-UP

For the second year in a row (2021-2022 and 2022-2023) Lovejoy ISD received an overallrankingof2ndPlaceintheTexasLoneStarCup! TheLoneStarCuphonors thebestoverallathletic,fineartandacademicprogramsinthestateandisopento allUILparticipanthighschools.

"Weareextremelyproudofthecontinuedsuccessof ourextracurricularathletics,academic,andfinearts programs. Our continued success in all three has made us a perennial contender for the Lone Star cup. More importantly, our district's focus on student success and commitment to excellence, allows us to compete at a very competitive level in everything our Leopards do," said Athletic Director andHeadFootballCoachChrisRoss.

PREMIUM FOOTBALL PARKING

LovejoyAthleticswouldliketoofferuptheopportunityforpremiumparkingforall Varsityhomefootballgamesforthe2023season.TheLeopardswillauctionoff42 prime parking spaces just west of Leopard Stadium. No more coming early and fighting for that elusive parking space on nights like Leopard Friday or Homecoming-yourspotawaitsyou!

Thesepremiumspotsareopentoanycommunitymemberwhowantstosupport the school and would appreciate a short walk to the ticket booth on those busy gamenights.

Tobid,gotothefollowinglink: https://www.32auctions.com/LovejoyFBParking2023

MCCU: LHS BRANCH PARTNERSHIP

LovejoyISDisincrediblyexcitedtoannounceourpartnershipwithMyCommunity Credit Union (MCCU). MCCU will be opening a new branch on the Lovejoy High School campus in August, 2024. The full service credit union will be student-run and open to all Lovejoy ISD students and faculty. We are kicking off our partnership with an upcoming design contest. Be sure to visit the MCCU booth during Leopard Friday on September 8 for more details. MCCU is funding constructioncosts,onefulltimeMCCUemployee,and$20,000peryeartowardthe teachersalaryforthenextthreeyears. "Thebusinesspartnershipwehavecreated withMCCUwillexpandstudentopportunity,promotecollegeandcareerreadiness and achieve a strategic target identified by stakeholders in our LOVEJOY 2030 StrategicPlan.Weareexcitedtohaveapartnerthatsharesthehighvalueweplace on preparing students to thrive in their future." stated Superintendent Katie Kordel.

GIFTED & TALENTED

REFERRALS

FALL REFERRALS FOR GRADES 5-12

PowerSchool Referral form opens

August14,2023

Referrals due by 5:00 pm August 31,2023

Testing: Saturdays, September 16 and23,2023

Parents must complete the referralforminPowerSchool

GRADE 5-12 PARENT MEETINGS

Monday,August21,2023

9:00amor1:00pm

LovejoyChildDevelopmentCenter, Library

ZoomSessionat6:00pm

Additional information may be found ontheG/TportionoftheLISDwebsite.

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. Community Coffee Talks provide an opportunity for Lovejoy ISD leadership to listen,shareandengagein 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

BACK TO SCHOOL MINI CHECKLIST

CALENDAR EVENT LINKS

LHS GRADUATE

DRAFTED TO MLB

Lovejoy ISD has a strong legacy of excellence in athletics. Continuing this legacy is Aidan Smith, Lovejoy High School Class of 2023, who has been draftedtoplayfortheSeattleMariners MajorLeagueBaseball(MLB)team!

While at Lovejoy High School, Aidan started in center field all four years on Lovejoy’s Varsity team. During his senior year he received awards including, 1st Team Rawlings All American and Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Dallas Morning News Offensive Player of the Year, District 13-5A MVP, AllStateTeam,THSBCAAllStar. Aidan alsomadetheTexasRangersAreaCode

Team,playedintheTorontoBlueJaysScoutLeague,andtheMLBDraftCombine EventinArizona.

Aidan’s family has been highly involved and supportive of him throughout his baseballcareer.OnJuly10,2023Aidanwatchedthedraftathomewithhisfamily including,father(Ryan),mother(Anne),andsister(Madeline).TheproudLovejoy parents shared, “He was very happy when the Mariners selected him! We are so proud of Aidan and love watching him play! We are grateful to all the coaches, playersandfamilieswhohavesupportedAidanandourfamily.”

LovejoyISDHeadBaseballCoach,RyanGrossaid,“Aidanisaveryspecialperson andplayer.Hehasmadeatremendousimpactonourschool,ourcommunity,and ourbaseballprogram.Aidanembodiesthecharactertraitsandcompetitivedrive that we want our program to represent on and off the field each and every day. Aidanwillbemissedbutweareextremelyproudofhimandcannotwaittowatch himcontinuehisjourneywiththeSeattleMarinersOrganization.”

TMEA HONOR

Congratulations to the WSMS Symphony Orchestra, a group comprised of Willow Springs Orchestra and Band students, for winning 3rd place in the Texas State Honor Full Orchestra Competition this summer! We are #LovejoyProud of our students and their teachers for the impressive accomplishment of placing 3rd in the StateofTexas!

REGION 10 TEACHER

FULL ORCHESTRA CELEBRATION

In July Lovejoy ISD celebrated our EXCEPTIONAL Teachers of the Year at the Region 10 Teacher of the Year Luncheon.

We are grateful and proud to haveJaredGlazeandKathyHale inLovejoyISD!

Leopard Life

LOVEJOY LINKS

NEW! LACROSSE CLINIC

BLACK-OUT TSHIRTS SHIRTS NEW! ORCHESTRA FUNDRAISER NEW! HOMECOMING MUMS

Leopard Life

LOVEJOY LINKS

FOUNDATION

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!

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

COMMUNITY 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.

DISTRICT NEWSLETTER