Connect with Katie.09.30.2022.Issue9

Photo Credit:

Lovejoy High School Yearbook Staff

Table of Contents

Lovejoy Community,

The safety of your children in our schools is and will continue to be a top priority in Lovejoy ISD. We apply a safety and security approach that prioritizes proactive mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Lovejoy ISD is fortunate to have a school marshal program with an armed school marshal on each campus for grades K 12. We have six school

SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE marshals with one of the six serving as Head of Security. Additionally, we continue to work in close partnership with local police and fire agencies.

Lovejoy ISD has a Safety and Security Committee that includes parents, school board members, local law enforcement and emergency responders. This committee comes together to support development and implemention of emergency plans, consistent with the district multi hazard emergency operations plan, to address specific campus, facility, and support service needs.

While a portion of the security plans and strategies employed by the school district are confidential, we also believe it is extremely important to share with you the programs and guidance we use to implement a comprehensive safety and security plan. More information about district safety and security can be accessed here.

Superintendent's Message Continued

Generous donations from the community through the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools have supported Lovejoy ISD in maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for our children and staff. When you donate to the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools, you have the option of steering your dollars directly to safety and security. Foundation donations for safety and security go toward the costs associated with employing and supporting our school marshal program. We are deeply grateful for our school marshals and the important work they do each day as well as to the parents and community members that have made donations toward our safety and security program.

There is only ONE LOVEJOY and we are ALL LEOPARDS!

Katie Kordel Superintendent

VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION

VATRE Weekly Fast Fact: Ballot Language, Part 2

Last week, we provided an introduction to the VATRE ballot language in our weekly Fast Fact. Ballot language is not determined by Lovejoy ISD and must meet legally determined requirements. We received great feedback from community members highlighting the need for further clarification.

1.

Due to state requirements, the amount listed on the ballot ($3,158,032) is calculated using the No New Revenue (NNR) Tax Rate of $1.301269. This will not be the tax rate if the VATRE does or does not pass. The Tax Rate will be $1.4746 if the VATRE passes and $1.4429 if the VATRE does not pass.

2.

3.

If Lovejoy ISD adopted the NNR Tax Rate used in the ballot calculation, the District would lose approximately $2,000,000 in revenue annually.

If the VATRE passes, we estimate gross tax collections for Lovejoy ISD will increase by $775,000 and Lovejoy will net $640,000 of that.

4.

The ballot does not share that the current LISD tax rate is $1.5050; therefore, the proposed rate of $1.4746 will be a decrease from last year's tax rate (due to tax rate compression).

It is important to Lovejoy ISD that community members feel confident in their understanding of the ballot. Please feel free to reach out to us HERE with any additional questions.

DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

Parent and Community Engagement

Applications for Leadership Lovejoy are now open and due by 8:00 am on Monday, October 3rd.

Lovejoy ISD is proud to offer senior citizens the opportunity to be a part of our school district. The Silver Leopard Club engages senior community members through school district events, performances, and district updates!

Applications for our 2022 2023 Silver Leopard program are now open and close at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 8th.

Heart of a Teacher

Our Superintendent, Board of Trustees, Cabinet Members, Principals, Counselors, and Sponsor were honored to present this month’s Heart of a Teacher Staff awards on Thursday. This monthly award celebrates one teacher from each campus that has truly exemplified Lovejoy's Core Values. Their contributions to student success both in and out of the classroom are what make Lovejoy a uniquely special place to live and learn!

Shelley Lander - PES

Shelley does whatever it takes to ensure her students are making progress. She partners with parents to form a strong team for her students. Shelley is also an amazing mentor for her new teammates and gives

Erin Goff - HES

Erin is a bright spot on our team She is always helpful and kind in her direction towards students. She engages in a very healthy lifestyle, boosts morale within our team, and helps take on roles that can better our school.

Heart of a Teacher Continue Chelsea Chadwick - SCIS

James Small - LHS

James has come into the high school and done a fantastic job He has implemented many structures to partner with stakeholders and build relationships with families. He is very hard working and goes above and beyond for his team.

ourtney Claborn - WSMS

ourtney has stepped up to lead her eam in an absolutely amazing way She has multiple new faces on her eam and goes above and beyond to

Heart of Support

Our Superintendent, Board of Trustees, Cabinet Members, Principals, Counselors, and Sponsor were also honored to present this month’s Heart of Support staff awards!

This monthly award celebrates one non teaching staff member from each campus that has truly exemplified Lovejoy's Core Values. These individuals may directly or indirectly contribute to students' success, and each of them is a highly valued member of #TeamLovejoy.

Manny Gonzalez- PES

Manny goes above and beyond with his smile, attitude and amazing customer service. He never takes short cuts when it comes to safety and security in the front office. He takes his job seriously with a happy heart.

Rena Gore - HES

"Rena is always showing a positive attitude no matter the circumstance! Rena is always checking in with students and staff members to ensure they are taken care of and if they have any needs that need to be met. Rena is an encourager, helper, and a positive light each day!"

Heart of a Support Continued

Julie Boardman - SCIS

Julie goes above and beyond the role of her position as a PEIMS clerk. She made an effort to email every new family to ask how their start to school was going. She also helps empty the trash and clean the office bathrooms every afternoon to help our custodial staff out. She is also seen greeting the students in the front drop off every morning She makes Sloan Creek a

Carey Miller - WSMS

Carey has taken on an expanded role this year in her role of counselor She is taking on 504 duties, as well as helping to implement many other changes that we have going on at Willow Springs She has had the best positive attitude this year and is really going above

Emmit Payne - LHS

Emmit always has a good attitude and is able to problem solve multiple situations. We appreciate all he does for our school, staff, and students. The building always looks great and he works hard to ensure areas are clean, safe, and look up to standard.

Heart of a Support Continued

Annie Hedgcoxe - LCDC

Annie has been such a great asset to the LCDC program. Her positive attitude and smile brighten everyone’s day Annie is always willing to help in any capacity and offers help without hesitation She is a team player and puts other’s needs before her own She is a hard worker and truly has a servant’s heart. We are so lucky to have Annie as an assistant teacher here at LCDC

Stephani is willing to pitch in wherever and whenever there is work to be done She does a tremendous job supporting the counselors and ensures campuses throughout the district are prepared for testing throughout the year.

Hart Elementary Summary Reading: Pie in the Face

Hart Summer Reading Goals Met = Pies in the Face for Mrs. Craft and Mrs. Dawson!!! #TeamLovejoy #KidsComeFirst

PTO Birthday Celebrations

We'd like to give a BIG shout out to our amazing PTO's for all they do to support our campuses and teachers! They go above and beyond to make sure every person in Lovejoy ISD feels loved and supported, including our administration. Thank you for providing beautiful decorations and special treats!

Vertical Teams

LISD Curriculum and Instruction Department recently launched District Vertical Teams. Vertical teams are composed of PreK through 12th grade teachers from the core content areas (Reading Language Arts, Math, Science and Science). Each vertical team also includes teacher representatives who support special education and gifted and talented education.

The teams are scheduled to meet a minimum of three times per year. The overarching goals and objectives of the vertical teams are to:

Foster teacher leadership and encourage a culture of professional collaboration and shared responsibility; Understand how each grade level contributes to the overall growth of students;

Determine transitions for students from one level in order to make it smoother and improve learning outcomes;

Identify and implement common academic language and instructional strategies that are fostered through vertical teamwork and discussions; and

Value the voice and expertise of the educators both at the campus and district level.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The w k f th LISD ti l t s w and suppo ric ISD greatl rs ving stude

Month

October

October 2

October 5

October 6 October 7-10 October 11

CALENDAR

12

National Principals Month

School Custodian Appreciation Day

VATRE Community Presentation LCDC Library at 8:00AM

Ladies Night: Foundation for Lovejoy

End of First Quarter

Fall Break - No School

Board of Trustees Workshop - LCDC Library

(Tuesday Due to Holiday) Closed Session @ 5:30PM in D100

Open Session is expected to begin at approximately 6:00PM

Texas Education Human Resources Day

VATRE Community Presentation - Zoom

National Boss's Day

Student Calendar Link

Athletics Calendar Link

District & Campus Calendars Link

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

District Calendar

Approved

On Monday, September 26, the Lovejoy ISD Board of Trustees approved a district calendar for the 2023 2024 school year. Calendars are also posted on the LISD website for easy future reference HERE.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & RECOGNITIONS

Golden Triangle Grand Champions

The Lovejoy Band Particpated in the Golden Triangle Marching Contest in Denton this past Saturday. The band won their class and placed second overall in prelims and moved up to win the finals competition and the overall music caption.

This is the second time The Lovejoy Band has been named grand champion at the Golden Triangle Marching Contest since 2019. Go band!

All Region Jazz Ensemble

Congrats to the following LHS Band members that earned spots in the All Region Jazz Ensemble this past Wednesday night! They competed with 5A and 6A schools from the entire north texas region and LHS had more qualify for a spot than all but one large 6A program...Go band!

Talon Seidel Bass (first chair!!)

Aliyah Book Alto Sax

John Hanchey Drums

Reid Robinson Trumpet

Jonah Vuong Trumpet

Jacob Sleeper Vibes (first chair!!)

Davis Miller Bari Sax (first chair!!)

Justin Poteet Bass Trombone

Lovejoy Visual Arts:

AP Studio Art Summer Assignment Show

Every summer our AP Studio Artists take on a variety of prompts to stay in practice, experiment, and grow their personal voice in preparation for the creation of their body of work during the year. These "Summer Assignments" serve as a diverse and expansive catalyst for our artists to solve visual problems with their personal voice and artistic language. Lovejoy Visual Arts (LJVA) hosted a show on September 26 to celebrate the intention, practice, process, and commitment behind every piece displayed in the gallery. This body of work is a wonderful testament to the legacy of rigor and culture of dedication and follow through that is at the core of all of our studio experiences in LJVA.

First Grade STEM Activities

1st Grade students have been participating in STEM challenges for the past two weeks during Science. Some of their challenges included building a bridge to hold the 3 Billy Goats Gruff, constructing a ladder that would reach the top of Rapunzel's tower, and making a basket to hold apples for Little Red Riding Hood's grandma. Students also listened to the book Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty. After noticing the character using everyday items to build a variety of structures, students were challenged to do the same. Students used cups, popsicle sticks, and even boxes to build a structure. Lots of fun and learning were happening during science.

Tennis Earns District 13-5A Team Tennis Title

The Leopard Tennis Team collided with the McKinney North Bulldogs on Tuesday afternoon for the District 13 5A Title. The Bulldogs struck the early blow in doubles and took a commanding 5 2 lead. The Leopards regrouped to take 9 of the 12 singles matches to roll over the Bulldogs 11 8 and take the District 13 5A Team Tennis Title.

Boys Golf

The Lovejoy Red Team took 3rd place in the Lovejoy Invitational held at Watters Creek Golf Club on September 21st. The team total score was 320.

Girls Golf

Girls golf finished 3rd last week shooting 337 and improving 14 shots from their last tournament!

The Leopard Black team competed in the Rockwall I30 Classic this weekend. It was a solid start for the Leopards. We are looking forward to a great season.

Volleyball

Last Friday, Lovejoy Volleyball honored their six seniors prior to the home game vs. the Princeton Panthers. We are so thankful for all the hard work and dedication these seniors have poured into this program, and are eager to continue making memories with them this season. Lovejoy Volleyball ended their night with yet another program sweep against the Panthers, and will continue district play against McKinney North on Tuesday.

Over the weekend the Junior Varsity teams competed in the Texas Classic Tournament, it was an exciting match as both teams competed against each other in the finals. We want to congratulate both teams on a successful weekend and express how proud we are to bring home both 1st and 2nd place!

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team traveled to Broken Bow, Oklahoma for their annual Father Son retreat.

The team had an amazing time kayaking the five mile scenic lower Mountain Fork River, playing games, and building upon their culture while spending time with their dads.

Breaking News: 2023 Niche

Lovejoy ISD is proud to announce that Niche's 2023 ratings have been released and Lovejoy ISD continues to be recognized as a top district in the metroplex, receiving the following distinctions:

#1 District with the Best Teachers in the Dallas Fort Worth Area #1 Best School District in Collin County

Best School District in Texas A+ Overall Rating

To

more Click

These recognitions are a true testament to our incredible teachers and staff! Their passion and dedication to our students' success is unrivaled!

you" simply cannot convey our full appreciation and admiration.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Heather Fisher Special Education Coordinator

Professional Background

During my 15 years in education, I have had the privilege to serve as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, dyslexia therapist, and special education coordinator.

This is my 10th year supporting students, families, and staff in Lovejoy ISD!

Bachelor’s Degree Dallas Baptist University

Master’s of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

University of Texas at Arlington Certified Academic Language Therapist ALTA

Qualified Instructor Certificate Scottish Rite for Children

Personal Highlights:

My husband, John, and I celebrated our 25th anniversary this year!

We are incredibly proud of our 4 children ( Evan 22, Ava 21, Liam 19, & Juliet 17).

In my free time, I enjoy long walks, live music, and spending time with the people I love

Roles and Responsibilities

In my current role, I have the opportunity to:

Support the implementation of special education and dyslexia services within the district

Develop and facilitate professional learning with campus teams

Support and develop specially designed instructional coaches, special education staff, and dyslexia therapists

Collaborate with content coordinators regarding curriculum resources, instruction, and intervention

Collaboration, Connection, Community

Daily, I support Lovejoy ISD’s mission to propel every person to personal excellence through collaboration, connection, and community. It is truly an honor to partner with staff and families to support students’ success!

Contact Information

Email: heather fisher@lovejoyisd.net Work Phone: 469.742.8082

BOARD OF BTRUSTEES OARD OF TRUSTEES

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.

September 26, 2022 Board Meeting Summary

Additionally, Regular Board

Meetings and Workshops are now recorded and archived on the Lovejoy ISD website. You can access recordings by clicking the picture to the right. Passwords are noted below the recording links.

Board Meeting Continued

The September Board meeting pledges were led by Hart Elementary 4th grader, Quinn Collins.

Lovejoy ISD and the Board of Trustees honored our ten National Merit Commended Students and nine Semifinalists.

Lovejoy ISD also presented certificates to recipients of College Board's national recognition programs awards National African American Recognition Program, National Hispanic Recognition Program, and National Indigenous Recognition Program.

Leopard

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. Check out the new Community News format!

HEALTH AND SAFETY

TheTexasDepartmentofStateHealthServicesreleasednewguidance forthe2022 2023schoolyearregardingCovid 19andschools.

Key Take Aways

Students and/or staff who have tested positive for COVID 19 may return in 5 days if they have been fever and symptom free for 24 hours. (Change from 10 days for students) Students with a COVID-19 household member who has tested positive are no longer required to quarantine. The district will not maintain a local “dashboard”, reporting positive cases. The district is required to report positive cases to the state. A link will be provided on the website that reflects this information for the district.

The health screener QR code will remain in place at each campus for volunteers and visitors to complete.