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SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
Lovejoy Leopards Lovejoy Leopards
LJVA
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
LovejoyCommunity,
Thismorning,wehadtheprivilegeofhonoringour campusHeartoftheTeacherandHeartofSupport recipients. These outstanding educators and team members embody our Culture Commitments of Relationships,Learning,Collaboration,Results,and Fun, while carrying forward Lovejoy’s proud tradition.Theirdedicationandimpactinspireusall and remind us of the incredible people who make our district such a special place for students to learnandgrow.
We are grateful to Tonya Walker with The Walker Group
forsponsoringthisspecialtraditionandtoBoardPresident,JulieMcLaughlin,
forjoiningusincelebratingthededicationandimpactofouramazingstaff.
LovejoyHighSchoolStudent-SuperintendentConnectionCouncil
Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting with the Lovejoy High School StudentSuperintendent Connection Council. This outstanding group of student leaders shares their voices, ideas, and perspectives directly with campus and district leadership. The council reflects our ongoing commitment to student voice and nurturingleadershipateverylevel.Theirinsightnotonlyshapesourpresentbutalso helpscarryforwardLovejoy’sproudlegacyofexcellence.
DistrictImprovementTeam
This week, our District Improvement Team (DIT) held its first meeting of the school year. The DIT brings together parents, teachers, community members, business leaders,andadministratorstocollaborateonthesuccessofLovejoyISD.
Duringthemeeting,theteamreviewedadraftoftheDistrictImprovementPlanand offered valuable feedback for refinement. We are grateful for their thoughtful input and partnership as we work to continually grow and strengthen our district and ensurethebesteducationalexperienceforeverystudent.
AShoutouttoOurFutureLeaders:theHartElementarySchoolAmbassadors! Bigcheerstoouramazing4thgradeHartElementarySchoolAmbassadors!These student leaders applied, wrote essays on leadership, and impressed the AmbassadorCommitteewiththeircharacter,workethic,andheart.
The Hart Ambassadors lead community service projects, pump up the crowd at monthlyHARTBEATpeprallies,andshineasleadersallyearlong.We’resoproud oftheseawesomestudents!
LeadershipLovejoy
ThereisstilltimetoapplyforLeadershipLovejoy!Thisprogramoffersparentsand community members a behind-the-scenes, deep dive into our district. The applicationwindowclosesOctober1st,andIencourageyoutoconsiderapplying tojointheClassof2026.Clickheretoapplytoday.
Aswemoveintothefallseason,Ihopeyoutaketimetoenjoythecoolerweather andthemanyamazingthingshappeningacrossourschooldistrict.
WishingyouaweekendfilledwithLoveandJoy!
LovejoyProud,
KatieKordel Superintendent
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
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!
LJVA SUMMER ART SHOW INVITATION
LovejoyVisualArtwouldliketoinviteyoutoour4thAnnualAPStudioArtSummer Assignment Show on October 2nd, from 5-7 pm! Every summer, LJVA AP Studio Artists explore a variety of prompts to stay in constant practice, experimentation, and to 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 problem-solvingindesignandcreationthroughpersonalvoice,mediaexploration, andsharpeningofourartisticknowledge,technique,andskill.Pleasejoinusaswe celebratetheseartists’practice,commitment,andfollow-throughinthisfantastic collectionofworkandideasfromthissummer.
LOVEJOY THEATRE PRESENTS: DIVINERS
Get your tickets!! Lovejoy Theatre Company invites you to their upcoming performance,TheDiviners! Recommendedforages14+duetomaturethemes.
SetinsouthernIndianaduringtheearly1930s,thestoryfollowsyoungBuddyand his unlikely friendship with C.C. Showers, a disenchanted traveling preacher who takes a job with the boy’s father. The town has been without a church for more thanadecade,andhispresencestirsbothhopeandsuspicionamongitspeople.As Showers bonds with Buddy, a young boy longing for guidance, the community learns he has abandoned preaching, shattering their expectations and setting the stageforthetragiceventsthatfollow.GetTicketshere!
THANK YOU LOVEJOY TECH!
Lovejoy ISD recognized its hardworkingTechnologystafffortheir dedication and expertise. Their technical knowledge, troubleshooting skills, and customer service keep campuses and the district running smoothly. Because of their efforts, students and staff are able to access innovative digital tools and resources that enhance teaching, learning, and collaboration.
A big thank-you goes out to these behind-the-scenes problem solvers who make such a difference every singleday!
SCHOOL 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.
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) ClickReportanAbsence
DISTRICT CALENDAR
PUSTER APPLES
The Kindergarten teachers cooked up the perfect recipe for learning this week in the Learning Lab! Students embarked on an exciting exploration of apples, from tiny seeds all the way to delicious applesauce. They learned about how apples grow,examinedthepartsofanapple,anddiscoveredthemanydifferentvarieties. To top it all off, students rolled up their sleeves and made their very own applesauce. The hands-on experience combined science, discovery, and fun, all whilereinforcingthejoyoflearning.Whatasweetwaytobringlessonstolife!
WILLOW SPRINGS FINE ARTS SOCIAL
TheWillowSpringsMSOrchestra,Band,andChoirhadagreattimeatthePinstack Fine Arts Social on Tuesday, September 16th. Students enjoyed bowling, arcade games, and pizza, along with unlimited access to all of the attractions including lasertag,therockclimbingwall,bumpercars,andthehighropescourse.Thefine arts community in Lovejoy is so special, and events like this bring everyone togetherforfunandconnection!
ALL REGION JAZZ BAND
Congratulations to Ian Marshall and Max Rattleff on earning positions in the AllRegionJazzBand:
IanMarshall–BariSax,All-RegionJazz2
MaxRattleff–Drumset,All-RegionJazz1,1stchair,AreaJazz
RattleffhasadvancedandwillrecordtocompeteformembershipintheAll-State JazzBand.
TheJazzEnsemblememberswhoauditionedlastweekdemonstratedimpressive dedication and preparation in these highly competitive auditions, which include improvisation:
AnsonPhan–AltoSax
AdamKent–Trumpet
AndrewLamping–Trumpet
WilliamSwiere–Trumpet
AvaIbarolla–Trombone
LandonMatacale–Trombone
JohannesEbersohl–Piano
The Lovejoy community is proud of the hard work and achievements of these talentedmusicians.
CROSS COUNTRY GOES ABOVE & BEYOND
TheLovejoyCrossCountryprogramhostedoneofthelargestmeetsinthestateat MyersParkinMcKinney,drawingapproximately3,000attendeesonSeptember13.
Organizinganeventofthisscalerequiresatremendousteameffort,whichwasled byMeetDirector,CoachLoganKelly. TheLovejoyCrossCountryandTrack&Field BoosterClubdedicatedcountlesshourstoensurethemeet'ssuccesshelpingwith hospitality,concessions,parking,coursesetup,andrace-dayoperations.
Lovejoy athletes also played a critical role, after competing in their races, they spentoveranhourtearingdownthecourse.Theirhardworkextendedbeyondthe highschoolmeet,astheyreturnedonMonday,September22,toassistinhosting theMiddleSchoolCrossCountrymeetatLovejoyHighSchool.
Theprogramtakesgreatprideinthededicationandteamworkdemonstratedby its athletes and volunteers, who continue to go above and beyond to deliver exceptionalCrossCountryandTrackevents.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY STAYS UNDEFEATED
TheLadyLeopardCrossCountryteamcontinuestodominateeveryrace!Theyare currentlyundefeatedinclass5Athisseasonandareranked#1intheCCCATpolls.
The JV team ran at the Denton Invitational this week and won the meet! The Varsity teams traveled to Round Rock to face off with some top competition and wonboththeSilverandGolddivisionsbylargemargins.Theywillcompeteinthe DistrictChampionshiponOctober7thhereatLovejoy!Comeoutandwatchyour Leopardsdominateonthecourse!
BOARD MEETING INVITATION
DearLovejoyCommunity,
As a Board, we are committed to strong and proactive communication with our community. Part of this commitment is sending an email invitation to our community prior to Board Meetings with a sincere desire for you to be involved andfullyaware,sowecancometogetherasacommunityforourchildren.
September29,2025PublicNoticeWebsite
(Public notice will be posted a minimum of 3 business days in advance)
You may find the full agenda with supporting documentation on our district's BoardBookPremierwebsiteHERE.
Sincerely,
Julie McLaughlin, President
Jeff Wood, Vice President
Marvin Bobo, Secretary
Aubrey Stock, Trustee
Mark Wheelis, Trustee
Jason Jaynes, Trustee
Barrett Owens, Trustee
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.
Please note: the information featured in the "Community News" section is submitted by local community members. Lovejoy ISD is not affiliated with the organizationsanddoesnotclaimtoendorsethem.
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
