Connect with Katie.1.23.2026.Issue23 by Lovejoy ISD

Connect with Katie

JANUARY 23, 2026

Lovejoy Leopards Lovejoy Leopards

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

LovejoyCommunity,

It has been an energizing week across Lovejoy ISD. From impressive student accomplishments at the state level to meaningful conversations aboutourfuture,thereissomuchtocelebrate.

UILCheerStateCompetition

Congratulations to our Lovejoy High School CheerTeamforearninganoutstanding6thplace finish at the UIL State Spirit Championship! Their dedication, teamwork, and school spirit wereonfulldisplayandwearesoproudofhow theyrepresentedLovejoyatthestatelevel.

RoboticsCompetitionHighlights

For the first time in Lovejoy Robotics history, two teams qualified for the VEX RoboticsWorldChampionshipatasinglesignatureevent!Congratulations,Lovejoy Robotics!

StudentLeadership&BoardofTrusteesEngagement

In celebration of School Board Appreciation Month, the Lovejoy High School Student–SuperintendentConnectionCouncilhostedastudent-ledpaneldiscussion withmembersoftheLovejoyISDBoardofTrustees.Wearesincerelygratefultoour Trustees for their dedicated service and incredibly proud of the students who representedLovejoywithconfidenceandpoise.

MatildatheMusical

If you have already purchased tickets, they will remain valid for the rescheduled performancesandnoactionisneededatthistime.Updatedperformancedateswill besharedassoonastheyareconfirmed.Thankyouforyourunderstandingaswe prioritizethesafetyofourstudents,staff,andfamilies.

LOVEJOY2030StrategicPlanningCommittee

Overthelasttwodays,LovejoyISDtookanimportantstepforwardinshapingour future through the work of the LOVEJOY 2030 Strategic Planning Committee. United by a shared purpose, this dedicated group of stakeholders provided meaningfulinsight,thoughtfulfeedback,andguidanceinsupportofourstrategic planningefforts.Theirthoughtfulengagementreflectsthedeepcommitmentour communityhastothefutureofLovejoyISD.

WeatherUpdates

As we move into the weekend, we will continue to closely monitor weather forecasts, road conditions, and facility conditions. Any updates will be shared through our standard communication channels: Website, Mobile App, Email/Text/Phone,andSocialMedia.

If no announcement is made through these channels, school will proceed as normal on Monday. Our Inclement Weather Procedures can be found on the LovejoyISDwebsite.

Pleaseknowthatanydecisiontocancelschooloradjustschedulesismadewith greatcareandwiththesafetyandwell-beingofourstudents,families,andstaffas ourhighestpriority.Weappreciateyourpatience,partnership,andunderstanding. Staysafeandwarm,Lovejoy!

ThereisonlyONELovejoy,andweareALLLeopards!

LovejoyProud,

KatieKordel Superintendent

LOVEJOY CHEER TAKES

STRATEGIC PLANNING DAYS 1 & 2

Overthecourseoftwofulldays,LovejoyISDtookanimportantstepforwardin shaping our future through the work of the LOVEJOY 2030 Strategic Planning Committee. The stakeholder committee provided insight, feedback, and guidanceaswecontinuedevelopingthedistrict’slong-rangestrategicplan.

Day 1 focused on setting the foundation for our work. Committee members reviewed the purpose of LOVEJOY 2030, reflected on our current state, and examined progress toward existing strategic priorities. Through small-group rotations, participants engaged in focused conversations aligned to our core valuesincludingKidsComeFirst,BestToday,BetterTomorrow,andOneHeart, One Lovejoy. A highlight of the day was lunch with Lovejoy High School students, providing an authentic student perspective that helped ground our discussionsinwhatmattersmost,ourlearners.

Day2builtonthismomentumwithdeepervisioningandfuture-focusedwork. The committee engaged in conversations around our graduate profile and spent focused time on a SWOT analysis and structured input protocols that allowed participants to brainstorm ideas and provide feedback to serve as building blocks for our strategic plan update. The two days concluded with clear next steps to inform continued development of the LOVEJOY 2030 StrategicPlan.

Lovejoy ISD is grateful for the time, thoughtfulness, and commitment demonstrated by every committee member. Their voices play a vital role in helping our strategic plan reflect the shared aspirations of the Lovejoy ISD community. The District looks forward to continuing this important work duringourupcomingcommitteemeetinginFebruary.

A BIG thank you to RBFCU for sponsoringlunchforthecommittee!

BOARD APPRECIATION DINNER

Each year, Lovejoy ISD Visual Arts students share a special evening with the Board of Trustees, combining dinner and conversation with the creation of a meaningful, student-designed work of art to honor our board’s service and leadership. This year’s School Board Appreciation project was inspired by the intertwining personal rhythms and daily habits that support the excellence of ourstudentsintheclassroom,lab,field,andstudio.

Theprojectexploresthepatternsandtexturesthatconnectourcampusesand thepeoplewithinthem.Justassmall,dailyhabitsandthoughtfulinteractions shapeourlearningcommunity,themarksandimpressionsleftbyeachstudent contributetothelargermosaicofLovejoyISD.

Students from each Lovejoy campus, kindergarten through 12th grade, collaborated to create ceramic tile mosaics using pattern and texture impressions drawn from their unique school environments and everyday experiences.Fromthesolesofathleticshoestosymbolsoffaith,empowering words, abstractions of favorite moments, and representations of family, each tileservesasapersonalreflectionandanessentialpieceofamuchlargerstory ofintentionallearningandleadershipthatdefinesLovejoy.

Once the tiles were created and fired, Lovejoy Visual Arts Gallery managers curated the work into 20 compositions, carefully installing and grouting the tilesintohandmadeframes.InrecognitionofLovejoyISD’s20thanniversaryas a K–12 district, each completed piece is composed of 20 tiles representing contributionsfromacrossourK-12campuses.

Thesemosaicsserveasvisualmetaphorsforhowourcollectivedailypatterns acts of learning, leadership, service, care, and compassion come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts. Each work stands as a reminder of our gratitude for the Board of Trustees’ steadfast commitment to ourstudentsandtointentionallyservingtogethertostrengthenthepatternof excellencewoventhroughoutLovejoyISD.

CONNECTION COUNCIL STUDENT-LED PANEL

In recognition of January as School Board Appreciation Month, the Lovejoy High School Student-Superintendent Connection Council recently hosted a special student-led panel discussion between members of the Lovejoy ISD BoardofTrusteesandourStudent-SuperintendentConnectionCouncil.

Thepanelprovidedanopportunityforstudentstoengagedirectlywithtrustees through thoughtful questions and open dialogue. Students asked about leadership, decision-making, priorities for the district, and what it means to serve the Lovejoy community as a trustee. The discussion highlighted the importantroleschoolboardsplayinshapingthevision,policies,andfutureof ourdistrict.

Following the moderated discussion, trustees and students had the opportunity to continue conversations over lunch, allowing for deeper connection and relationship-building. This time together reinforced the value ourBoardofTrusteesplacesonstronggovernanceandstudentleadership.

We are grateful to our Board of Trustees for their time, dedication, and voluntary service to Lovejoy ISD. We are equally proud of our students who representedLovejoyHighSchoolwithpose,confidence,andpride.

Experiences like this exemplify what makes Lovejoy ISD special: a shared commitmenttoleadership,learning,andmeaningfulengagement.

WEATHER WEATHER WATCH WATCH

Due to anticipated winter weather, Lovejoy ISD proactively adjusted our weekend events and extracurricular activities for the safety of our students, staff,andfamilies.Allafter-schooleventsonFridayandalleventsSaturday and Sunday have been rescheduled or canceled. Fine Art and Athletic programs will continue communicating additional information as it becomes available.

LovejoyISDwillcontinuetocloselymonitorweatherforecasts,roadconditions, and facility conditions over the weekend and will provide updates if needed throughourregularcommunicationchannels,including: �� Website| �� Mobile App| �� Email/Text/Phone| �� SocialMedia.

It is important to note that if no announcement is made through the District’s standard communication channels, then classes will proceed as normalonMonday.LovejoyISDInclementWeatherProcedureswebpagecan be found here: https://www.lovejoyisd.net/page/inclement-weatherprocedures.

Anydecisiontocancelschooloradjusttheschoolscheduleismadewithgreat care.Pleaseknowthatthesafetyandwell-beingofourstudents,families,and staffarealwaysourhighestpriority.Weappreciateyourpatience,partnership, andunderstandingasweworktomakethebestdecisionsforourstudents.

READING WITH THE LEOPARDS

Baseball,volleyball,golf,band,andthefishingteamjoinedstudentsatPuster ElementarythismorningforReadingwiththeLeopards.Thesestudent-athletes and leaders shared their love of reading while connecting with younger learners, reinforcing the importance of literacy, mentorship, and positive role modelsacrossLovejoyISD.

GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS

MATILDA: POSTPONED

Due to the potential for winter weather, all four performances of Matilda scheduled for this weekend are being d. Communication regarding d tickets will be sent through townticketingapp.

e on the lookout for updated nce dates, which will be shared stheyareconfirmed.Thankyou understanding as we prioritize y of our students, staff, and

STEM FEST: POSTPONED

Due to the potential for winter weather, STEM Fest 2026, originally scheduledforthisweekend,hasbeen postponed. Updated event details andanewdatewillbesharedassoon as they are confirmed. Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize the safety of our students, staff, and families.

ANNUAL LOVEJOY BUMP UP DAY

SloanCreekIntermediate,WillowSpringsMiddle School, and Lovejoy High School will host 4th 6th,and8thgradersonFriday,February6,2026 forLovejoyISD’sAnnualBumpUpDay.

Bump Up Day was created to assist students with transitioning to a new campus and to help generate

generateexcitementforthenewexperiencestheywillhave.Studentswilltravel to the campus they will be attending for the 2026-2027 school year and have theopportunitytotourthecampus,askquestions,andeatlunch.

Campuses will be sharing additional information with parents, guardians, and studentsthroughemailandnewslettersastheeventgetscloser.

ATTENDANCE UPDATE

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

DISTRICT CALENDAR

PRE-K 3 LEARNERS EXPLORE THE NIGHT SKY

Through integrated, play‑based activities aligned with the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, Pre K3 learners spent the week joyfully exploring the stars and moon. This thematic study supported growth across language, cognitive, physical, and social domains while nurturing each child’s natural curiosity.

Studentsengagedinhands‑onobservationandexplorationtoidentifythestars andmoonasobjectsinthenightsky,strengtheningearlyscientificinquiryskills throughmeaningful,real worldexperiences.

Youngastronomersalsobuiltlistening,speaking,andvocabularyskillsasthey participated in conversations, songs, and read alouds connected to our celestialtheme.Journalingofferedadditionalopportunitiestopracticewriting andfine motordevelopmentinapurposeful,age appropriateway.

Purposefulplayandcross‑disciplinarylearningareattheheartofPre‑K3,laying astrongfoundationforfutureacademicsuccess,whileensuringthateveryday isfilledwithdiscoveryandjoy.

LOJO READERS SOAR

The Lovejoy Reads: Sora Challenge has ended, and it's time to announce the results!Overthe65-daychallenge,LovejoyISDreaderslogged5,042hourson Sora, our district digital reading platform! This is a 34% increase from last year’sreadingcompetition.

Weare#LovejoyProudofourstudents'loveforreadingandlearning.Drumroll, please. The campus that read the most hours is Sloan Creek Intermediate! CongratulationstoSCISforearningtheoverallcampuswin!Thetop20readers at each campusreceiveda3D-printeddragonkeychaindesignedbyourLovejoy Librarians.

In addition, the top reader at each campus also received an exclusive 3Dprinteddragonfortheiramazingaccomplishment.Thankyouforparticipating, andrememberthatSoraisavailable24/7foryournextgreatread!

PUSTER STUDENTS LEARN WITH MARTY

Fourth graders at Puster Elementary are strengthening their computational thinkingskillswithMartytheRobot,engaginginhands-onlearningthatbrings coding concepts to life. This opportunity was made possible through a generous grant from the Lovejoy Foundation, helping support innovative learningexperiencesacrossourclassrooms.

ALL-REGION BAND CLINIC

On January 15th and 16th, Lovejoy ISD band students participated in the AllRegion Band clinic and concerts, delivering outstanding performances of challenging and exceptional musical works. The level of musicianship across theregionwasremarkablyhigh,andLovejoystudentsrosetotheoccasionwith skill,confidence,andartistry.

The district is proud of the dedication and hard work these students demonstratedastheyprepareddemandingrepertoireandperformedatsucha highlevel.Theircommitmenttoexcellencecontinuestoshineandreflectsthe strength of the Lovejoy Band program. Congratulations to all students who representedLovejoyISDsowell

LOVEJOY VOLLEYBALL BUILDS THE VISION

TheLovejoyVolleyballprogramhashadanintentionalandproductivestartto the off-season, driven by the dedication and commitment of its athletes. Players have embraced early mornings, beginning 6:30 a.m. workouts before the school day with Performance Course. These sessions challenge athletes physicallywhilereinforcingdiscipline,consistency,andaccountability.

Beyond the weight room, athletes are investing in personal and team growth throughaprogram-widebookstudyofThe17IndisputableLawsofTeamwork by John C. Maxwell. The study has sparked meaningful conversations around leadership, responsibility, and the importance of working together toward a sharedgoal.

Thisoff-seasonisaboutmorethanpreparation,itisaboutgrowth.Athletesare learning to show up for one another, push beyond their comfort zones, and committothevisionofwhatLovejoyVolleyballcanbecome.Astheycontinue to #BTV Build The Vision for next season, excitement continues to build around how their hard work unity and character development will carry

BOARD MEETING SUMMARY

BOARDOFTRUSTEES

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 thelefttoopenthesummaryinGoogleDocs.

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 viewed by clickingtheimageontheleft.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

ELECTION - MAY 2, 2026

BoardofTrusteesFilingPeriod

ThefilingperiodfortheMay2,2026schoolboardelectionisJanuary14,2026February13,2026.

BoardofTrusteeApplicationPacketswillbeavailableforpick-upfromRodricka Taylor,CoordinatorfortheSuperintendentandBoardServices,attheLovejoy ISD Administration Building (259 Country Club Rd., Allen, TX 75002) beginning Monday,January12,2026at8:00AM.AnElectronicApplicationPacketcanbe downloadedHERE.

ThefollowingpositionswillbeontheMay2,2026ballot

Place4-MarkWheelis

Place5-MarvinBobo

May2,2026ElectionImportantDates

First day to file for a place on the General Election Ballot - Wednesday, January14,2026

LastdaytofileforaPlaceontheGeneralElectionBallot-Friday,February 13,2026

LastDaytoRegistertoVote-Thursday,April2,2026

Earlyvoting-Monday,April20,2026-Tuesday,April28,2026

ElectionDay-Saturday,May2,2026

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.

BASEBALL SCRIMMAGES COMING UP

Baseballseasonisofficiallyunderway,bringingwithitthecrackofthebat,the energyofthecrowd,andtheexcitementofanewseason.TheLovejoyLeopards will open the season next Saturday, January 31, with scrimmages against Prosper.

Thisisagreatopportunityforthecommunitytogetanearlylookattheteams and see the athletes’ hard work in action. Scrimmages provide a fun, relaxed environment to enjoy some baseball before official competition begins, while alsoconnectingwithfellowfansandshowingsupportfortheplayers.

Fans are encouraged to come out and cheer on the Leopards as they prepare forwhatpromisestobeanexcitingbaseballseason.

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!