Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
OCTOBER 2, 2026
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TABLE OF Contents M E S S A G E F R O M T H E S U P E R I N T E N D E N T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LOVEJOY PRINCIPALS
GROW TOGETHER.......................
LHS CLUB FAIR SHOWCASE....................................... DISTRICT REMINDERS.............................................. DISTRICT CALENDAR............................................... W S M S F I R S T P E P R A L LY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V O L L E Y B A L L D I S T R I C T P L A Y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BAND SHINES AT WYLIE INVITATIONAL......................... GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY WIN JAMBOREE........................ BOYS CROSS COUNTRY SHINES.................................. R O B O T I C S B R I N G S S T E M T O T H E C O M M U N I T Y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LEOPARD FISHING REELS IN STRONG OPENER................ A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B O A R D M E E T I N G S U M M A R Y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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09 12 14 16
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22 23 24 25
26 LEOPARD LIFE.......................................................
30 DISTRICT & CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS.............................
MESSAGE FROM THE Lovejoy Community,
Superintendent
October has arrived, the rain has finally joined us, and there is no better way to welcome fall than with Homecoming and Friday Night Lights in Lovejoy! Tonight, we invite our entire community to fill Leopard Stadium with energy, pride, and plenty of red for “red out”. Let’s cheer loudly for our Lovejoy Leopards and create the kind of atmosphere that makes Homecoming in Lovejoy uniquely special as we celebrate our students and traditions. Principal Appreciation Month: Celebrating Our Principals There are few places as beautiful, complex, and important as a school. Every day, principals lead students, teachers, and staff while balancing relationships, learning, school culture, safety, family engagement, continuous improvement, and so much more. The impact our principals have on students and the people who serve them is profound. We are grateful. To our amazing principals, thank you for carrying so much, caring so deeply, and leading our schools with purpose, heart, and an unwavering commitment to students. Your leadership shapes not only the experience of our students, but also the teachers and staff who serve them each day. Please join me in celebrating and thanking the remarkable leaders who pour themselves into our campuses every day: Jamie Flemmer, Lovejoy Child Development Center; Sara Bagby, Hart Elementary School; Tiffany Leech, Puster Elementary School; Amanda Puckett, Sloan Creek Intermediate School; Sarah Hastings, Willow Springs Middle School; and Justin Wieller, Lovejoy High School. Celebrating Our Custodians Today is also National Custodian Appreciation Day, and I want to recognize the incredible people who help make every Lovejoy campus a safe, healthy, welcoming place to learn and work. Our custodians do far more than keep our schools clean. They prepare spaces, support events, handle the work before and
take great pride in our campus environments. Much of what they do happens behind the scenes, but their impact is everywhere. To our Lovejoy custodians, thank you for taking such good care of our schools and, more importantly, the people in them. Final Call: Leadership Lovejoy Applications Parent and community engagement is important to us. Leadership Lovejoy is an opportunity to learn more about our district, connect with our schools and leaders, and become more engaged in the Lovejoy community. Applications are due today. I encourage you to apply and be part of this experience! Apply HERE. The next edition of Connect with Katie will be a special Homecoming edition, filled with photos, highlights, and plenty of Lovejoy spirit from this week’s festivities. Rumor has it the juniors won the Powder Puff game, perhaps for the first time in Lovejoy history, so we will proceed delicately while the seniors process this unexpected turn of events. We can’t wait to share all the fun, traditions, and joyful moments that make Homecoming week in Lovejoy so special! Thank you for your continued support of Lovejoy ISD, our students, and our staff. Together, we continue to make Lovejoy not just an exceptional school district, but a uniquely special community. There is only ONE Lovejoy, and we are ALL Leopards!
Lovejoy Proud,
Katie Kordel Superintendent
LOVEJOY PRINCIPALS GROW
Together
Each month, Lovejoy ISD principals come together to learn, collaborate, problemsolve, and grow as leaders. These meetings provide intentional time for our campus leaders to learn from one another and strengthen the practices that shape the experiences of our students and staff. “Growing our leaders is essential to delivering on our promise of excellence,” said Dr. Chad Burnett, Chief Leadership and Learning Officer. “When we invest in our principals and give them the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and grow together, we strengthen every classroom and help ensure every student receives the highquality education they deserve.” In Lovejoy, excellence requires continuous learning, strong leadership, and a shared commitment to getting better every day. We are proud of our principals and the leadership they provide across Lovejoy ISD!
LHS CLUB FAIR SHOWCASES
Student Involvement
Lovejoy High School hosted its annual Club Fair on September 23, giving students the opportunity to explore more than 40 student-led clubs available this school year! From shared interests and hobbies to service, leadership, academics, and more, LHS clubs provide meaningful opportunities for students to connect with their peers, get involved, and pursue their passions beyond the classroom. We are proud of our students for the leadership and creativity they bring to our campus community!
DISTRICTReminders October is National Principal Appreciation Month! Join us in celebrating our outstanding principals in Lovejoy ISD! We are deeply grateful for their leadership and commitment to every student and staff member's success.
Our Lovejoy custodians work tirelessly behind the scenes each day to keep our schools clean, safe, welcoming, and ready for learning. Their hard work, dedication, and care for our campuses make a difference for every student and staff member who walks through our doors. Please join us in saying a big THANK YOU to our incredible custodial teams across Lovejoy ISD! We appreciate everything you do to take care of our schools and our Leopard community.
DISTRICT Reminders Lovejoy Visual Art invites the community to the 5th Annual AP Summer Assignment Show on October 1 from 5–7 p.m. Throughout the summer, AP Art students explored a variety of prompts, experimented with different media and developed their personal artistic voices. Since returning to school, students have collaborated and refined their pieces in preparation for the show. Join us as we celebrate the creativity, dedication and hard work of our talented Lovejoy artists!
Lovejoy Theatre Company is bringing Shrek the Musical to the Lovejoy High School Fine Arts Center! Join us for a fun-filled adventure featuring everyone’s favorite ogre and a cast of unforgettable characters. Performances are October 8–10 at 7:00 PM and October 11 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Click here to get your tickets.
DISTRICT Calendar
CALENDAR EVENT LINKS
STUDENT CALENDAR
DISTRICT CALENDAR
CAMPUS CALENDARS
ATHLETICS CALENDAR
FINE ARTS CALENDAR
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.
WSMS BROUGHT THE ENERGY
At First Pep Rally
Willow Springs Middle School brought the energy for its first pep rally of the school year! Students and staff filled the gym to celebrate our Leopard football, volleyball, and cross country teams as they take on their fall seasons. The WSMS band, color guard, dance team, and cheerleaders kept the crowd cheering with spirited performances. The fun continued with a student-versusteacher balloon challenge, with Mrs. Vizcaino ultimately taking the win! Thank you to all of our Leopards who performed, participated, and filled the gym with school spirit!
VOLLEYBALL HEATS UP IN
District Play
District play is heating up, and Lovejoy Volleyball is ready for the challenge! The Leopards celebrated Teacher Appreciation Night on Tuesday with a program sweep over Greenville, honoring the teachers who support and encourage our studentathletes every day. Next up, the Leopards travel to Anna on Tuesday, October 6, before returning home to take on Celina on Friday, October 9, for Middle School Night. Be sure to also mark your calendars for Jungle Night on Friday, October 23, as Lovejoy hosts McKinney North. Free Jungle T-shirts will be available while supplies last! These final district matches are big ones, so come out, pack the gym, and bring the Leopard spirit!
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BAND SHINES AT WYLIE
Invitational
The Lovejoy Band had an outstanding showing at the Wylie Marching Invitational, showcasing their talent, hard work, and continued growth throughout a full day of competition. This year’s marching show, “VALOR,” is set in the Roman Empire and tells a story of courage and discovering the hero within. The show features music from Sergei Prokofiev’s Battle on Ice, Hans Zimmer’s The Barbarian Horde from Gladiator, and Tommee Profitt’s There’s a Hero in You. The band is led by drum majors Gavin Wagner, William Swiere, and Anika Kharwar. Despite challenging heat during prelims, the band advanced to finals in 9th place before returning with an even stronger performance to finish 8th overall! Lovejoy Percussion also had an impressive showing, earning 4th place in the percussion caption. The Color Guard received encouraging feedback for their performance as well. Most importantly, the band’s Music and Visual scores both improved from prelims to finals, demonstrating the students’ commitment to learning, adjusting, and growing with every performance. We are equally proud of how our students represented Lovejoy throughout the day through their kindness, respect, and support for one another. We are proud of the performers they are becoming and the young people they are becoming. Congratulations, Lovejoy Band!
CONNECTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE LOVEJOY COMMUNITY WHILE SUPPORTING LOVEJOY ISD THROUGH REVENUE GENERATION The Lovejoy ISD Community Partner program is a new way for local businesses to support Lovejoy ISD and connect with the Lovejoy Community! Community Partner advertisements are featured in our weekly District newsletter, Connect with Katie, Living Lovejoy videos, and District Social Media. Interested in becoming a Community Partner? Click HERE to learn more!
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY WINS
OSU Jamboree Team Title
The Lovejoy Girls Varsity Cross Country team traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma, last Saturday to compete in the OSU Jamboree. Facing strong competition on an incredibly challenging course, the Lady Leopards delivered an outstanding performance and brought home the OSU Jamboree team title! Leading the way and earning Jamboree medals were Emily Armstrong (3rd), Bronwyn Vaughan (12th), and Leila Thomas (14th). Congratulations to our Girls Cross Country team on an incredible race and championship performance.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY SHINES
At OSU Jamboree
The Lovejoy Boys Cross Country team continued its strong season with a 3rd-place team finish at the 2026 OSU Jamboree on Saturday, September 26. Leading the Leopards was senior Tristan Arceneaux, who captured the individual championship with an impressive time of 15:35! The Leopards showed strong pack racing against tough competition and continue to build momentum as they head into the championship portion of the season. Congratulations to Tristan and the entire team on another outstanding performance!
ROBOTICS BRINGS STEM
To the Community
Lovejoy Robotics students spent Saturday at the Lucas Farmers Market sharing their passion for robotics and STEM with the community! Visitors of all ages had the opportunity to get hands-on with robotics by driving robots built during Lovejoy Robotics’ summer camps, which are led by Lovejoy students who teach younger learners the basics of robot building, engineering, and programming. Throughout the morning, students demonstrated robots, answered questions, and introduced visitors to competitive robotics at Lovejoy. Outreach opportunities like this allow our students to strengthen their leadership and communication skills while inspiring the next generation of STEM learners. Thank you to the Lucas Farmers Market and everyone who stopped by to support Lovejoy Robotics!
LEOPARD FISHING REELS IN
Strong Opener
Lovejoy Leopard Fishing opened its season with an impressive showing at Lake Ray Roberts, earning a 2nd-place team finish! Of the team’s 16 boats, 11 brought fish to the scales and two finished in the top 10. Teddy Taylor landed the tournament’s Big Bass with an impressive 7.12-pound catch. Taylor and partner Tanner Wammack also finished 2nd overall with a 15.12pound bag, earning $1,500 in scholarship money. Team captains Andy Turnbow and Evan Wyatt added a 9th-place finish with five fish weighing 12.04 pounds. Congratulations to all of our Leopard anglers on a fantastic start to the season! The team returns to the water on October 24 at Lake Lewisville. Tight lines, Leopards!
FROM LOVEJOY ROBOTICS TO
Real-World Innovation
Former Lovejoy Robotics Team 1082M member Josh Arnett returned to campus during Leopard Friday to share how the skills he developed through robotics are making an impact in his career at McKinney National Airport. Josh, who works in airport maintenance and holds his private pilot license, recently used his robotics and engineering background to solve a unique challenge involving new equipment at the airport. Using sensors, GPS technology, a Raspberry Pi, and custom software, Josh developed a system that allows the maintenance team to more accurately monitor where treatments have been applied and how the equipment is performing. Josh credits his time in Lovejoy Robotics with teaching him how to approach unfamiliar challenges, break complex problems into manageable pieces, and work through the engineering design process to find a solution. We love seeing the skills our students develop at Lovejoy extend far beyond the classroom. Congratulations to Josh for continuing to innovate, problem-solve, and put his Lovejoy Robotics experience into action!
BOARD MEETING Summary
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. Click the image on the left to open the summary in Google Docs.
Regular Board Meetings and Workshops are now recorded and archived on the Lovejoy ISD website. You can access Regular Board Meeting and Workshop recordings by clicking the image on the right.
The full Regular Board Meeting agenda with supporting documents may be viewed by clicking the image on the left.
LEOPARD LIFE Website Lovejoy ISD has an unparalleled sense of community and connection centered on student opportunity. In support of this collective commitment, the Leopard Life website showcases a wide range of events, activities, and fundraisers organized by booster clubs, PTOs, athletics, fine arts, individual campuses, and more! Leopard Life is prominently featured across campus and district websites, highlighted in all newsletters, and easily accessible through the Lovejoy ISD mobile app. This week's featured flyers are: Leopard Classic Golf Tournament (Nov. 2) Future Leopard Association Community News Please note: the information featured in the "Community News" section is submitted by local community members. Lovejoy ISD is not affiliated with the organizations and does not claim to endorse them.
DISTRICT & CAMPUS Newsletters Lovejoy ISD is committed to creating strong connections and providing clear communication with our Lovejoy parents and families. Below you will find links to the most recent newsletters from each campus. Sign up for weekly Principal Newsletters here to stay informed!
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
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Connect with Katie October 2, 2026. Issue 10