Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
OCTOBER 9, 2026
y o j e v o L s d r a p o e L
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H O M E C O M I N G P E P - R A L LY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOMECOMING COURT & FOOTBALL GAME...................... BEST BUDDIES MUM EXCHANGE.................................. LOVEJOY THEATER PRESENTS: SHREK THE MUSICAL........ ANNUAL LOVEJOY LETTER CAMPAIGN........................... DISTRICT REMINDERS.............................................. DISTRICT CALENDAR............................................... READING WITH THE LEOPARDS................................... FAIRVIEW FIRE DEPARTMENT VISITS LCDC.................... GRANDPARENTS DAY AT PUSTER................................. SCIS BEGINNER BAND TAKES THE STAGE......................
04 06
09 12 13 14 16
20
22 24 25 26
27 ORCHESTRA STUDENTS EARN ALL-REGION HONORS......... 28 AP SUMMER ART SHOW SUCCESS................................
30 HEART OF TEACHER................................................
32 A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 LEOPARD LIFE....................................................... 36 DISTRICT & CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS.............................
MESSAGE FROM THE Lovejoy Community,
Superintendent
Lovejoy knows how to celebrate Homecoming! Rain may have changed our parade plans, but it certainly did not dampen our Leopard spirit. From mums and the pep rally, to dress-up days and homecoming court, our students and staff made the week one to remember. Thank you to everyone who helped make Homecoming special, especially our students, teachers, staff, and administrators who worked behind the scenes and throughout the week to create these memorable experiences. National Merit Breakfast This week, Lovejoy High School continued a special tradition by celebrating 34 outstanding Lovejoy High School students at our annual National Merit recognition breakfast. Among those honored were 8 Semifinalists, along with our Commended Students. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication and grateful to the families and teachers who support and encourage them. Congratulations to each of these remarkable students! Mud Pies and A Visit from the Fire Truck at the Lovejoy Child Development Center There is a new restaurant in town serving mud pies, thanks to our generous “investors” at the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools! During my visit to LCDC, our youngest Leopards treated me to some amazing pretend food from their new mud kitchen. They did, however, refuse to serve me dessert, so I may need to speak with management on my next visit. I was especially impressed when our little chefs sorted and put away all their tools and supplies. Students also welcomed the Fairview Fire Department for a chance to explore a fire truck and learn about fire safety. Thank you to the Foundation, our firefighters, and our wonderful LCDC educators for creating such meaningful and fun learning experiences for our youngest Leopards!
Parent and Stakeholder Engagement: Strengthening Lovejoy Together Safe schools and strong learning environments take focused work and community partnership. This week, our District Safety and Security Committee and Bond Implementation Committee met to strengthen school safety and review progress on projects that support our students and staff. Parent and stakeholder engagement is essential to this work, and I am grateful to those who contribute their time, expertise, and perspectives. Their involvement helps us make thoughtful decisions, remain accountable, and turn our community’s investment into lasting improvements for our Leopards. Shrek the Musical I am looking forward to seeing Shrek the Musical this weekend at Lovejoy High School. So much hard work goes into a theater production and I hope you will join me in supporting the students and staff who make them possible. Performances are at the Lovejoy High School Auditorium on October 8–10 at 7:00 p.m. and October 11 at 2:00 p.m. Bring your family and friends for a fun time together. For tickets and additional information, please see page 13 of this newsletter. I hope your fall break is filled with love, joy, beautiful weather, and time with the people who mean the most to you! There is only ONE Lovejoy, and we are ALL Leopards! Lovejoy Proud,
Katie Kordel Superintendent
HOMECOMING Pep-Rally Homecoming spirit was on full display as Lovejoy students, staff, and families packed the gym for this year’s Homecoming Pep Rally! Our band, cheerleaders, Majestics, athletic teams, and teachers brought plenty of energy and excitement, making it a celebration to remember. From incredible performances to the introduction of our Homecoming Court, it was a wonderful reminder of the traditions, school pride, and community that make Lovejoy so special. One Heart. One Lovejoy.
HOMECOMING COURT &
Football Game
BEST BUDDIES MUM Exchange Homecoming is all about tradition, school spirit, and bringing our Lovejoy community together, and this year, our Best Buddies once again helped make the celebration even more meaningful. On Thursday, October 1, students participating in Lovejoy’s Best Buddies program gathered for a special Homecoming mum and garter exchange. With the support of our incredible PTO volunteers, students received mums and garters and shared in one of Texas’ most beloved Homecoming traditions alongside their buddies. The exchange was about much more than mums and garters. It was an opportunity to celebrate friendship, inclusion, and the connections that make Lovejoy such a special community. We are incredibly grateful to our PTO, Best Buddies, students, and volunteers who helped make this experience possible. Moments like these are a beautiful example of what it means to live our core value of One Heart, One Lovejoy ensuring every student feels included, celebrated, and part of the traditions that bring our community together.
LOVEJOY THEATER PRESENTS:
Shrek the Musical
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.
ANNUAL LOVEJOY LETTER
Campaign
Lovejoy Families and Community Members: The Annual Lovejoy Letter Campaign for teachers and staff members is here! Many of you are familiar with this beloved tradition, but for those of you who are not, it is the time of year when we write letters of appreciation for each of our teachers and staff members across the district. The letters do not have to be elaborate or lengthy. The goal is for people to write a note of thanks to show appreciation to their teachers, the staff and our administration. It is the opportunity for us to take the time to let each person who makes a difference for us throughout the school year know how much we see and value them. This year’s campaign will run from Monday, October 19th to Thursday, November 12th. Please place your letter in a clearly labeled envelope including the staff/teacher’s first and last name, and the campus on which they teach/serve. There will be collection boxes available at all campuses in the district. The last day for drop off is Thursday, November 12th. Let’s show our teachers and staff just how much we appreciate them!
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!
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.
DISTRICTReminders In honor of National Coaches Day, Lovejoy ISD recognizes the incredible coaches who dedicate their time, energy, and passion to our student-athletes. Beyond teaching the game, our coaches inspire leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and character both on and off the field. Thank you for the lasting impact you make on our students and for the pride you bring to Lovejoy ISD!
DISTRICT Reminders
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.
READING WITH THE LEOPARDS
Hart Elementary
Hart Elementary students enjoyed a special visit from Lovejoy High School students as part of our Reading with the Leopards program! Members of the Baseball, Softball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Cheer, Ready, Set, Teach, and Band programs spent time connecting with our younger Leopards and sharing their love of reading. Reading with the Leopards is a wonderful opportunity for our high school students to serve as role models while building meaningful connections with our elementary students. We love seeing our Leopards of all ages come together and inspire the next generation!
FAIRVIEW FIRE DEPARTMENT
Visits LCDC
Our littlest Leopards had some very special visitors! The Fairview Fire Department stopped by LCDC to teach students all about fire safety and the important work firefighters do to keep our community safe. Students got an up-close look inside a fire truck and learned about some of the tools firefighters use to help save lives. Our firefighters also reminded students to call 911 in an emergency and encouraged them to remind their families to check and change the batteries in their smoke detectors. The visit ended with a special sticker for each student, and each LCDC class presented the Fairview Fire Department with a thank-you card to show their appreciation. Thank you to the Fairview Fire Department for spending time with our students and for everything you do each day to keep our Lovejoy community safe!
GRANDPARENTS DAY AT Puster Puster Elementary celebrated its Grandparent/Special Person Lunches throughout the week, welcoming families and special guests to campus! Our Leopards were all smiles as they enjoyed lunch with their loved ones before visiting the Fall Book Fair to shop for new books. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the special people in our students' lives and create lasting memories!
SCIS BEGINNER BAND TAKES
The Stage
The SCIS Beginner Band celebrated an exciting milestone with their first concert on Thursday, October 1! Students put their hard work and training into action while enjoying the opportunity to make music with their friends. We are so proud of these young musicians and their wonderful first performance!
ORCHESTRA STUDENTS EARN
All-Region Honors
Congratulations to six Lovejoy High School Orchestra students who earned recognition at the 2026 TMEA Region 25 High School Orchestra Auditions! Region 25 is one of the largest and most competitive music regions in Texas, making this an outstanding accomplishment for our talented musicians. Camilla Cubas Sanchez, Violin: Philharmonic Orchestra, 2nd Violin, 6th Chair Evan Zhang, Viola: Symphony Orchestra, 10th Chair Christian Fiorello, Cello: Philharmonic Orchestra, 10th Chair Nina Lin, Cello: Philharmonic Orchestra, 12th Chair Sophia Wang, Cello: Alternate Jacob Wang, Bass: Symphony Orchestra, 4th Chair A special congratulations to Evan Zhang and Jacob Wang, who advanced to the Area level and will compete for an opportunity to earn a place in a Texas All-State Orchestra! These students dedicated months to preparing for a highly competitive audition process. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, musical excellence, and dedication to representing Lovejoy!
AP SUMMER ART SHOW Success The 2026 AP Summer Assignment Show was a wonderful success, showcasing the creativity, craftsmanship, and dedication of our talented Lovejoy Visual Art students! Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our student artists. A special thank you to our gallery team for their hard work in celebrating and highlighting the accomplishments of the Lovejoy Visual Art program. We look forward to welcoming our community back for the K-12 Exhibition on December 3!
Congratulations to Lovejoy alumni Ben Burns and Grant Pursifull, who represent Stephen F. Austin University, on earning overall Team of the Year honors! The duo capped off an impressive season with a ninth-place finish at Leech Lake, securing the title with 978 points, 18 points ahead of their closest competitors. Burns and Pursifull also earned Team of the Year honors on the Legends Trail with 736 points, securing two qualifications for the Cup. This marks their second consecutive year competing in the event. We are proud to see these former Leopards continuing to achieve great things beyond Lovejoy!
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: PTO parent Program with Miki Johnston (Nov. 12) LHS Cheer Holiday Greenery Sale (Nov. 14) Majestics Holiday Dance Clinic (Dec. 4) 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
y o j e v o L s d r a p o e L
Connect with Katie October 9, 2026. Issue 11