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SEPTEMBER 19, 2025
Lovejoy Leopards Lovejoy Leopards
LOVEJOY ORCHESTRA HONORING 9/11 THROUGH MUSIC
LOVEJOY VOLLEYBALL UPDATE
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY DOMINATE
LEOPARD TENNIS DEFEATS MELISSA!
LEOPARD FISHING UPDATE
BOARD WORKSHOP SUMMARY
LEOPARD LIFE WEBSITE
DISTRICT & CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
LovejoyCommunity,
InLovejoyISD,wearebucketfillers.Webelievethat teaching kindness, encouragement, and care for others begins with our very youngest learners, becausetheseearlylessonsgrowintothequalities we want to see in every Lovejoy ISD graduate. Our graduate profile reminds us that, “Ultimately, the Lovejoy graduate has learned to respond in love and service to those in need and now strives to move beyond self-interest in relationships with others.”
This week, Mrs. Patino’s class at the Lovejoy Child Development Center brought this belief to life as theyreadabookaboutbeinga“bucketfiller.”Inspiredbythestory,ourstudents
createdbeautifulcardsfortheirgrandparents,fillingtheirbucketswithjoythrough tinyhandprints,colorfuldrawings,andheartfeltwords.
LovejoyHighSchoolRecognizesNationalMeritScholarshipProgram
Twenty-four Lovejoy High School students have been recognized in the 2026 NationalMeritScholarshipProgram.Over1.3millionhighschooljuniorstookthe 2024 PSAT/NMSQT, and from that group, the top 50,000 scorers nationwide qualified for the National Merit Program. Additionally, 16,000 students were honored as Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. seniors. Lovejoy ISD is proud to announce that 7 of our students have achieved this prestigiousdistinction.Iencourageyoutoreadpages6and7ofthenewsletterfor thelistofoutstandingstudentswhoearnedthisprestigiousrecognition.
LovejoyChildDevelopmentCenterGrandparentsDayLuncheon
Today,IhadtheabsolutepleasureofattendingtheLCDCGrandparentsLuncheon, and the room was filled with inter-generational love, laughter, and connection. Familyandrelationshipsarecriticaltoearlychildhooddevelopmentandthisevent reflected this beautifully. Students proudly shared their handmade cards, grandparents arrived with special lunches (I was even offered a french fry!), and onesweetchildtoldmeherspeciallunchguestwas“Chick-fil-A.”
We loved getting to meet so many grandparents. I am grateful to Mrs. Flemmer, LCDC Coordinator, and the LCDC Team for the time and effort they put into this specialfamilyengagementevent.
I am thrilled to report that we achieved a 95.23% “did not cry” rate when it was timetoheadbacktoclass.We’llcallthatahugesuccess!
As we head into the long weekend, I wish all of our Leopards a joyful and restful break. While our students enjoy an extra day off on Monday, our incredible teachers and staff will be hard at work planning engaging lessons to welcome everyonebackonTuesday.
Tonight is Friday Night Lights! I hope you will join us tonight in Anna where our LovejoyLeopardswilltakeonAnnaHighSchool.GoLeopards! WishingyouaweekendfilledwithLoveandJoy!
ThereisonlyONELOVEJOYandweareALLLEOPARDS!
LovejoyProud, KatieKordel Superintendent
NATIONAL MERIT PROGRAM RECOGNIZES 24 LHS STUDENTS
Lovejoy ISD is proud to announce 24 students have been recognized in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, an annual academic competition for recognitionandcollegescholarshipsconductedbytheNationalMeritScholarship Corporation(NMSC).
Over1.3millionhighschooljuniorstookthe2024PreliminarySAT/NationalMerit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and met requirements to enter the 2026NationalMerit®ScholarshipProgram.WithaSelectionIndexscoreof210or above,thesehighperformershaveshownoutstandingacademicpotential.
From the 50,000 highest scorers nationwide, approximately 34,000 students are beingcommendedfortheirperformanceonthePSAT/NMSQT.Congratulationsto theseLovejoyHighSchoolCommendedStudents:
ZayanAlam
JamesBognot
BryceBrezette
AliceChi
LucasHersley
GraceHu
HarperJaynes
MaddoxJohnson
PragnyaKotra
EthanLiao
NoelleMcGill
JordanPaulus
MorganPowell
ManasRai
MaxRattleff
ColtWhitfill
CarolineWilkins
Additionally, approximately 16,000 of the 50,000 highest scoring students have been designated as Semifinalists in the 71st National Merit Scholarship Program, representinglessthanonepercentofU.S.highschoolseniorsandthetopscorers ineachstate.Semifinalistswillhaveanopportunitytocontinueinthecompetition forabout6,930NationalMeritScholarshipsworthnearly$26milliontobeoffered inspring2026.
WearepleasedtoannouncethesesevenstudentsfromLovejoyHighSchoolhave beennamedNationalMeritScholarshipProgramSemifinalists:
CarsonDykstra
NolanFinnigan
AndrewLamping
ShilohkNavaneethakrishnan
PranavPamadurthi KeshavSubash
BenSussman
Being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program is an extraordinary accomplishment. This prestigious honor is a testament to the exceptional academic abilities, dedication, and hard work demonstrated by our Semifinalist andCommendedStudents.Welookforwardtowatchingthemcontinuetoexcelin theiracademicpursuits.
CongratulationstoallofourLovejoyHighSchoolrecognizedstudents!
LOVEJOY HIGH SCHOOL GLOW PEP RALLY
This morning, the Leopard spirit was shining brighter than ever at the LHS Glow PepRally!Withthegymglowingunderblacklights,studentsandstaffdeckedout inneoncreatedanunforgettableatmosphereofenergyandexcitement.
We came together to celebrate our amazing fall sports programs—football, volleyball, cross country, tennis, and golf recognizing the hard work and dedicationofourathletes.Thecrowdwasalsotreatedtoincredibleperformances byCheer,Majestics,Band,ColorGuard,andourAcapellagroup,eachaddingtothe vibrantspiritofthemorning.
The pep rally was a perfect reminder of what makes Lovejoy special: tradition, pride, and unity. We are #LovejoyProud to stand behind our students as they continuetoshineonthefield,thecourt,andthestage!
STUDENT LIBRARY ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Lovejoy ISD Board of Trustees approved establishing a School Library Advisory Council (SLAC) during the August 25, 2025 board meeting. Texas Education Code 33.025 allows a District to establish a School Library Advisory Council(SLAC)toassisttheDistrictinensuringthatlocalcommunityvaluesare reflectedineachschoollibrarycatalogintheDistrict.
ThedutiesoftheSLACincluderecommendingtotheBoardofTrustees:policies and procedures for the acquisition of library materials; recommending library materials appropriate at each grade level and campus; joint agreements for partnershipswithlocalpubliclibrariesandcommunityorganizations;removalof library materials the SLAC determines to be harmful or materials containing indecentcontentorprofanecontentthatisinconsistentwithcommunityvalues or age appropriateness; processes and procedures for library materials challenges;andactiontakenbytheBoardinresponsetothechallenge.
TheSLACmustconsistofatleastfivemembers,witheachmemberappointedby the Board of Trustees, and each Trustee appointing an equal number of members. A majority of the voting members of the SLAC must be persons who areparentsofstudentsenrolledintheDistrictandwhoarenotemployedbythe District.OneofthosemembersoftheSLACshallserveaschairofthecouncil.The BoardofTrusteesmayalsoappointoneormorepersonstoserveasnonvoting membersoftheSLACfromthefollowinggroups:classroomteachersemployed bytheDistrict;librariansemployedbytheDistrict;schoolcounselorsemployed by the District; school administrators employed by the District; business community;andclergy.
TheSLACshallmeetatleasttwotimesperyearandatothertimesasnecessary tofulfillthecouncil’sduties.
Pleasecompletetheattachedformtoexpressinterestinbeingconsideredasa member of the Lovejoy iSD School Library Advisory Council. Please contact Dr. LaurieTinsleylaurie_tinsley@lovejoyisd.netforquestions.
DISTRICT REMINDERS
Save the date for Lovejoy ISD’s Inaugural Homecoming Parade, a celebration of school spirit and community!
EventDetails:
Date:Monday,October6th
Time:6:00p.m.
Location:HeritageRanch
The parade will feature colorful floats, fine arts performances, athleticteams,andschool-sponsored student groups. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to cheer on our students and show your support forourschoolcommunity.Theevent will be fun for all ages! Additional details will be shared as the event approaches. Let’s make Lovejoy’s first homecoming parade a tradition toremember!
Community Coffee Talk DISTRICT REMINDERS
Community Coffee talks are 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.
September30,2025@5:00p.m. LovejoyChildDevelopmentCenter Library
February11,2025@8:00a.m. LovejoyHighSchool Library
LOVEJOY ISD MOBILE APP
DELCOM DONATES LAPTOP TO LOVEJOY PARENT!
We’re excited to share that Lindsay Hutson, a parent in our district, is the winner of a brand-new Lenovo laptop generouslydonatedtoLindsaybyDelcom. Lindsaywasenteredintothedrawingafter signing her children up for device insurance an important step in keeping studenttechnologyprotected.
Carlos Figueroa of Delcom presented the new Lenovo laptop to Lindsay. We are grateful for Delcom’s continued partnership and support of Lovejoy ISD congratulations again to Lindsay on winningthisexcitingprize!
ATTENDANCE UPDATE
Strong school attendance is correlated with higher academic performance. Additionally,averageDailyAttendance(ADA)isametricthattheStateofTexas usestodeterminefundingforpublicschools.Eachweek,thisattendancedata willbeupdatedsoourcommunityisawareofourmostrecentADA.
Report an Absence
The District has implemented a new process to streamline absence reporting. To notify your campus attendance office about your student’s absence, complete yourcampuses"ReportanAbsence"form whichcanbefound:
CampusWebsite(toprightcorner)
DISTRICT CALENDAR
LOVEJOY CDC GRANDPARENT’S DAY
The Lovejoy Child Development Center was overflowing with love and laughter during Grandparents Day! Students proudly welcomed their grandparents and special friends to campus, where they enjoyed sharing lunch together and spendingqualitytime.Thecafeteriawasfilledwithsmiles,hugs,andmeaningful conversations as our youngest Leopards showed just how much these special peoplemeantothem.
HART 4 GRADERS UNLOCK TH THE CONSTITUTION
During Celebrate Freedom Week, fourth grade students at Hart Elementary dove into an exciting Social Studies breakout room challenge! Collaborating in teams, they solved clues to "unlock" the Constitution while deepening their understandingofkeycivicconcepts,includingfreedom,theConstitution,theBill of Rights, the branches of government, and the Amendments. In the classroom, students also worked hard to learn and recite the Preamble. This hands-on, immersive experience brought history to life and celebrated the core values that shapeournation
THE POWER OF SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION
During our literacy block, teachers are making powerful use of targeted small group instruction to elevate student learning. These groups are intentionally formed using real-time data, allowing teachers to tailor instruction to meet specificstudentneeds.
In these focused groups, students are not only more engaged, they’re actively participating in meaningful discourse around texts and targeted reading skills. Whether they’re analyzing character motivations or working on beginning and ending sounds in a word, the small group format encourages every voice to be heard and every idea to be explored. This data driven approach ensures every student receives timely and responsive instruction that impacts their overall growthasareaderoverthecourseoftheschoolyearandbeyond.
Let’s celebrate the intentionality and energy happening in these small groups; they’reatestamenttohowstrategicteachingcantransformlearning.
LOVEJOY PERCUSSION WINS GRAND CHAMPIONS
Lovejoy High School percussionists achieved outstanding success at the HEB DrumlineContestheldonSaturday,September13th.Theensemblewasnamed5A NoviceDivisionGrandChampion,arecognitionoftheirexcellenceinperformance andmusicianship.
Inadditiontotheoverallchampionship,theLovejoyfrontensemblewashonored withtheawardforOutstandingFrontEnsembleinthedivision.
Thisachievementreflectsthededicationandtalentofthestudents,aswellasthe leadership of their director, Mr. Matt Joslin, whose commitment to teaching continuestoinspireandelevatetheprogram.
Lovejoy ISD congratulates the percussion section on this accomplishment and extendsappreciationtoMr.Joslinforhisexceptionalguidance.
LOVEJOY ORCHESTRA HONORING 9/11 THROUGH MUSIC
On the morning of September 13th, the Lovejoy High School Orchestra Ambassadors had the honor of performing at the Lucas Farmers Market in partnership with the Lucas Fire Department for their 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony.
Lovejoy Orchestra stated, “It was a privilege to be invited to take part in such a meaningful event that remembered and honored the lives lost 24 years ago. We weregratefulfortheopportunitytouseourmusictobringreflectionandunityto the community, and we deeply valued the service of the Lucas Fire Department andallfirstresponderswhodedicatedthemselvestoprotectingothers.”
LOVEJOY VOLLEYBALL UPDATE
Lovejoy Volleyball has been hard at work with district play and sub-varsity tournamentsthesepastfewweeks.Thispastweekend,boththe9thGradeandJV teamscompetedintheFriscoISDTournament.The9thGradeteamfinished11th, while the JV team earned an impressive 3rd place. Their hard work and determinationhavemadeeveryoneproud.TheJVteamwillcompeteintheirfinal tournamentthisweekend.
District play is officially underway, and all Lovejoy teams remain undefeated in district competition. Tonight, the Leopards will take on a talented Walnut Grove squadinProsper.Varsitywillbeginat5:00p.m.,followedbysub-varsitymatches at6:00p.m.Everyoneisencouragedtocomeoutandcheerontheteams.
In addition, Lovejoy Volleyball loves to celebrate its alumni! Over the weekend, graduates Bethanie Wu (Yale University) and McKenna Brand (University of Connecticut) reunited on the court as competitors. Also joining them was Coach Young,abelovedguesteducator,whotraveledtosupportthematch.CoachYoung has been an incredible champion of the Lovejoy Volleyball program both inside andoutsidetheclassroom,andtheprogramisgratefulforhiscontinuedsupport oftheathletes,nearandfar!
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
DOMINATE AT HOME MEET
The Lovejoy Girls Cross Country team delivered a stellar performance at their homemeetlastSaturday.TheLeopardsclaimedvictoryintheEliteVarsitydivision withacommandingrace,showcasingtheirstrengthonhometurf.
In addition, the Open Varsity and JV teams each earned an impressive 2nd-place finish,competingagainstpowerhouseprograms,includingTheWoodlands,atop 6Ateam.
We are proud of our Leopards for their determination, teamwork, and excellence ondisplay!
LEOPARD TENNIS DEFEATS MELISSA!
The Lovejoy Leopard Tennis Team defeated Melissa this past Tuesday 18-1 to improveto4-1indistrictand7-4overall.Thisputsusin2ndplaceinthedistrict. Two more weeks of regular season action followed by the playoffs. Go Leopard Tennis!
LEOPARD FISHING UPDATE
LeopardFishingisbackonthewaterparticipatingintheTexasHighSchoolBass Association (THSBA) Tournaments. Our first tournament of the season was held this past weekend and Leopard Fishing showed up! There were 215 boats participating in the North Texas Division and Leopard Fishing brought home the TeamoftheTournamentTrophyforfirstplaceweighing-in41.72lbs.collectively.
All17ofourteamswereonthewater.ItwasagreatdayforLeopardFishing!Our top3finisherssecuredtheLeopardFishingTeamoftheTournamentwin!
Wyatt/Turnbow-5fishfor16.9lbs-2ndplace
Rowe/Quinlan-5fishfor16.72lbs-3rdplace
M.Curry/C.Monda-2fishfor8.10lbs-15thplace
Knight/Wheeler-2fishfor5.57lbs-25 place th
Riggins/Griffin-1fishfor5.24lbs
Langford-1fishfor2.45lbs
Taylor/Wammack-1fishfor2.06lbs
Nguyen/Davis-1fishfor1.84lbs
BOARD WORKSHOP SUMMARY
Lovejoy ISD is committed to providing consistent, transparent communication with ourcommunityandemployees.Wehopethis meeting summary will support you in staying connected and informed. Click the image on thelefttoopenthesummaryandpictures.
Regular Board Meetings and Workshops are nowrecordedandarchivedontheLovejoyISD website. You can access Regular Board Meeting and Workshop recordings by clicking theimageontheright.
The full Regular Board Meeting agenda with supporting documents may be viewedbyclickingtheimageontheleft.
Trustee
Barrett Owens
JeffWood VicePresident
MarkWheelis Trustee
MarvinBobo Secretary
JasonJaynes Trustee
AubreyStock Trustee
JulieMcLaughlin President
LEOPARD LIFE WEBSITE
LovejoyISDhasanunparalleledsenseofcommunityandconnectioncenteredon student opportunity. In support of this collective commitment, the Leopard Life websiteshowcasesawiderangeofevents,activities,andfundraisersorganizedby boosterclubs,PTOs,athletics,finearts,individualcampuses,andmore! Leopard Lifeisprominentlyfeaturedacrosscampusanddistrictwebsites,highlightedinall newsletters,andeasilyaccessiblethroughtheLovejoyISDmobileapp. Thisweek'sfeaturedflyersare:
Please note: the information featured in the "Community News" section is submitted by local community members. Lovejoy ISD is not affiliated with the organizationsanddoesnotclaimtoendorsethem.
LJVA SUMMER ART SHOW INVITATION
LovejoyVisualArtwouldliketoinviteyoutoour4thAnnualAPStudioArtSummer AssignmentShowonOctober2nd,from5-7!Everysummer,LJVAAPStudioArtists exploreavarietyofpromptstostayinconstantpractice,experimentation,andto grow their personal voice in preparation for the creation of their body of work during the year. These Summer Assignments serve as prompts to guide problemsolving in design and creation through personal voice, media exploration, and sharpening of our artistic knowledge, technique, and skill. Please join us as we celebratetheseartists’practice,commitment,andfollow-throughinthisfantastic collectionofworkandideasfromthissummer.
LovejoyRoboticsUpdates
Will be at the Lucas Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 27 stop by and visitwiththeLISDRoboticsteam.
Save the Date: On Nov. 1, Lovejoy HighSchoolwillhostitsfirstrobotics tournament in the main gym. Admission is free. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. and runs until late afternoon.
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
LOVEJOY CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Campus Newsletter
HART ELEMENTARY
Principal Newsletter
PUSTER ELEMENTARY
Principal Newsletter
SLOAN CREEK INTERMEDIATE
Principal Newsletter
WILLOW SPRINGS MIDDLE
Principal Newsletter
LOVEJOY HIGH SCHOOL
Principal Newsletter
