Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
OCTOBER 23, 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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L E A D E R S H I P L O V E J O Y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WSMS CONNECTION COUNCIL.................................... LOVEJOY BAND GRAND CHAMPS.................................. ANNUAL LOVEJOY LETTER CAMPAIGN........................... DISTRICT REMINDERS.............................................. DISTRICT CALENDAR............................................... L C D C P U M P K I N P A T C H F I E L D T R I P. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P U M P K I N D E C O R A T I N G C O N T E S T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PUSTER PRIDE GETS ITS GLOW ON.............................. F I R E F I G H T E R S V I S I T H A R T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WSMS CROSS COUNTRY CLAIMS DISTRICT TITLE.............
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09 10 11
12 19
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22 24 25 26
27 SLOAN CREEK ORCHESTRAS TAKE THE STAGE................. GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY ARE DISTRICT CHAMPIONS.......... BOYS CROSS COUNTRY ARE DISTRICT CHAMPIONS..........
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32 LOVEJOY ROBOTICS SHINES...................................... 34 MAJESTIC CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF TRADITION.............. 36 B O A R D M E E T I N G S U M M A R Y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37 LEOPARD LIFE....................................................... 40 DISTRICT & CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS.............................
MESSAGE FROM THE Lovejoy Community,
Superintendent
What a wonderful week in Lovejoy ISD! Our students and staff returned from Fall Break refreshed, reenergized, and ready for learning and growth. Welcoming Leadership Lovejoy: Class of 2027 Today we had a phenomenal kickoff with our Leadership Lovejoy Class of 2027 cohort! This special program brings together parents and community members who are eager to learn more about our district, connect with one another, and deepen their understanding of the people, programs, and opportunities that make Lovejoy ISD exceptional. I am excited to welcome this new cohort and look forward to the conversations, connections, and shared learning ahead. Strong schools and strong communities grow together, and Leadership Lovejoy is a wonderful reflection of that partnership. We are grateful for the time, enthusiasm, and commitment these community members bring to our Lovejoy family! A Little Pumpkin Patch Magic at Lovejoy Child Development Center One of the sweetest highlights of the week was the visit our youngest learners made to the Pumpkin Patch! There is something truly special about seeing the world through the eyes of our youngest Leopards. Their excitement, curiosity, bright smiles, and joyful laughter remind us that some of the most meaningful moments in education are found in the simplest experiences. Student Voice in Action at Willow Springs Middle School The Willow Springs Middle School Student-Superintendent Connection Council met this week. Principal Hastings and I enjoyed our time with the students having meaningful conversations about school-year highlights, student leadership opportunities, and ways to support continuous improvement at Willow Springs and across Lovejoy ISD.
I am always grateful for the opportunity to listen directly to our students. Their perspectives, thoughtful questions, and fresh ideas help us better understand their experiences and how we can continue to make our schools even stronger. Thank you to these student leaders for sharing their voices with confidence, purpose, and pride. October Board Meeting Highlights Monday evening’s Board of Trustees meeting was filled with celebrations and important updates. The Board recognized our outstanding campus principals in honor of National Principals Month, and celebrated Lovejoy High School students recognized through the National Merit Scholarship Program. We also honored our Board of Trustees for being named a 2026 Texas Honor School Board. Updates highlighted continued growth in Advanced Placement participation and student achievement, progress in implementing the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) to recognize instructional excellence through additional teacher compensation, and the presentation of draft 2026–2027 District and Campus Improvement Plan goals. We are grateful for the partnership of our families, staff, and community as we continue building on Lovejoy’s Legacy of Excellence. As we look back on this week, I am reminded that the heart of Lovejoy is found in our people. In our dedicated educators and staff, our students, and the dedication of parents and community members who invest in our schools. Thank you for being part of a community that continues to learn, lead, and grow together.
There is only ONE Lovejoy, and we are ALL Leopards! Lovejoy Proud,
Katie Kordel Superintendent
Lovejoy LEADERSHIP Today was full of excitement as we welcomed our newest Leadership Lovejoy cohort with a special appearance by the Lovejoy High School Majestics. Participants spent the day taking a deeper dive into the people, programs and priorities that make Lovejoy ISD uniquely special, and had some fun along the way with a historical scavenger hunt! Leadership Lovejoy brings parents and community members together to learn more about our schools, build relationships and gain a firsthand look at the work happening across Lovejoy ISD. We are excited for all that this group will learn, experience and contribute throughout the year!
WILLOW SPRINGS CONNECTION
Council
Student voice and leadership were at the forefront this week as the Willow Springs Student-Superintendent Connection Council met with Superintendent Kordel and Principal Hastings. Students engaged in thoughtful discussions about highlights from the school year, opportunities to strengthen middle school leadership, and ideas to support continuous improvement at Willow Springs and throughout Lovejoy ISD. The council provides a valuable opportunity for student leaders to share their experiences, offer fresh perspectives, and help shape the future of their school community. Thank you to our Willow Springs student leaders for their engagement, confidence, and commitment to making a positive impact. Their leadership exemplifies what it means to be a Lovejoy Leopard!
LOVEJOY BAND Grand Champs!
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!
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 This week, Lovejoy ISD celebrated National School Bus Safety Week! A special thank you to our dedicated Transportation Team for their commitment to keeping our students safe each day. We encourage our community to stay alert in school zones, obey speed limits, and always stop for school buses with flashing red lights and extended stop arms. Thank you for helping keep our Leopards safe!
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
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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.
LCDC PUMPKIN PATCH Field Trip Fall fun was in full swing at the Lovejoy Child Development Center (LCDC) today! Students from our Twos through Pre-K 4 classes enjoyed a special trip to the Creekwood United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch. Our littlest Leopards had the opportunity to pick out a pumpkin for their classrooms, enjoy storytime, and make sweet fall memories with their friends and families. What a wonderful way to celebrate the season, build friendships, and enjoy time together as an LCDC community!
PUMPKIN DECORATINGContest Creativity and a love of reading are coming together at Hart and Puster Elementary Schools for their annual Book Character Pumpkin Decorating Contests! Students and families are bringing their favorite literary characters to life through creatively decorated pumpkins! From beloved storybook classics to colorful new favorites, this fun tradition celebrates imagination, creativity, and the joy of reading. What a wonderful way to bring books to life and celebrate literacy across our campuses!
PUSTER PRIDE GETS ITS Glow On! Puster Elementary wrapped up the first nine weeks with an exciting GLOW Puster Pride Pep Rally! Students enjoyed a surprise dance performance by their teachers, participated in a spooky Minute to Win It challenge, and celebrated classmates recognized for demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities. The celebration was a fun way to close out the first quarter and kick off the second! A special thank you to Puster PTO for transforming the cafeteria with glowing decorations and helping make the event so memorable!
LUCAS FIREFIGHTERS VISIT
Hart Kindergarteners
Hart Elementary kindergarten students enjoyed a special visit from the Lucas Fire Department! Firefighters shared how they serve our community as both firefighters and paramedics, teaching students about emergency response, safety, and helping others. A special thank you to the Lucas Fire Department for inspiring our young learners and for all they do to keep our community safe!
WSMS CROSS COUNTRY Claims District Titles The Willow Springs Middle School Girls Cross Country teams are 2026 District Champions! Both the 7th and 8th grade girls finished the season undefeated, while the 8th grade boys earned an impressive 5th-place finish at District! 7th Grade Girls Highlights: Hannah Beers – 2nd Place Kennedy Grosholz – 7th Place Addie Widtfeldt – 11th Place 8th Grade Girls Highlights: Jaqueline Garnic – District Champion! Anna Johnson – 4th Place Camille Pettit – 6th Place Hannah Roberts – 8th Place 8th Grade Boys Highlights: Porter Hooper – 9th Place William Kaufman – 10th Place Luke DaSilva – 11th Place Congratulations to all our WSMS runners and coaches on an outstanding season! We are proud of your hard work, determination, and Leopard pride!
SLOAN CREEK ORCHESTRAS
Take the Stage!
The Sloan Creek Beginner and Advanced Orchestras took the stage this week for their first concert of the school year! For our beginner musicians, this performance marked an exciting milestone! Just a few short weeks ago, these students were learning how to take their instruments out of their cases. Now, they are making music together and proudly sharing their new skills with family and friends! Our Advanced Orchestra, featuring students with 2–8 years of playing experience, showcased their continued growth as they focused on strengthening their ensemble skills and playing together as one cohesive group. We are incredibly proud of these talented young musicians and their hard work! We can't wait to see all they accomplish throughout the year!
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY ARE
District Champions!
The Lady Leopard Cross Country team continued its incredible tradition of excellence over Fall Break, capturing its 9th consecutive District Championship! Both the Varsity and JV teams delivered dominant performances on a challenging course. The Varsity Lady Leopards will advance to the Regional Championship on October 27! Varsity Results: Emily Armstrong – District Champion, District MVP, All-District Leila Thomas – District Runner-Up, All-District Talia Orshalick – 5th Place, All-District Lily Stabile – 7th Place, All-District Lily Fogle – 8th Place, All-District Bronwyn Vaughan – 10th Place, All-District Morgan Suder – 12th Place In an outstanding display of teamwork and talent, the JV Lady Leopards swept the top 12 individual spots! Congratulations to Paige Spencer, Dani Sassine, Kate Roberts, Harper Dixon, Natalia Martinez, Brynn Caudell, Payton Jurist, Kennedy Johns, Taylor Ewing, Lily Sanders, Michaela Martin, and Alexa Thomas! Congratulations to all our Lady Leopard runners and coaches on this remarkable accomplishment! Best of luck at Regionals!
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY ARE
District Champions!
The Lovejoy Boys Cross Country teams captured both the Varsity and JV titles at the UIL District 9-5A Championships! This marks the 19th District Championship for both programs and the Varsity team's 20th consecutive regional qualification! Varsity Highlights: Tristan Arceneau – District Champion, MVP, All-District Will Murphy – Newcomer of the Year, All-District Kipton DuBois, Reef Revell, Haden Snyder, and Carter Ewing – All-District Haden Snyder – 5th Man of the Year JV Highlights: The JV Leopards earned a perfect team score of 15 points, led by District Champion Declan Keating! Jackson Sheek, Andrew Herrera, Sam Roberts, Max Reinhard, Bryan Schmidt, and Charles Tatum also finished in the top 10. The Leopards advance to the Regional Championships on October 27 in Fort Worth. Congratulations to our runners and coaches! Best of luck at Regionals!
LOVEJOY ROBOTICS SHINES AT
Tournament
Lovejoy Robotics delivered an impressive performance at the October 10 tournament, showcasing teamwork, determination, and talent! Team 1082P led the way, earning the prestigious Excellence Award, the tournament's highest honor, along with the Robot Skills Award! The team went undefeated (6-0) in qualifications, finished as the No. 1 seed, and advanced to the Finals. They are now ranked among the top 100 teams worldwide in skills! Other team highlights included: 1082V: Advanced to the semifinals. 1082G: Finished 5-1 and reached the quarterfinals. 1082N: Qualified for elimination rounds. 1082T & 1082U: Gained valuable competition experience. Up Next: Home Opener on October 31! Come cheer on our Leopards! Volunteers are also needed to help make the tournament a success. Interested in helping? Contact Coach Sparrow or Coach Gaddie. Congratulations to all our talented robotics teams!
MAJESTICS CELEBRATE 20 YEARS
Of Tradition
The Lovejoy Majestics Dance Team welcomed generations of dancers back to Leopard Stadium on Friday, October 16, for a special Evermore Reunion celebrating 20 Years of Being Majestic! The evening brought together current Majestics and alumni, affectionately known as Evermores, to celebrate two decades of tradition, friendship, and sisterhood. One of the evening's most memorable moments was seeing former Majestics return to the field to participate in the pregame Victory Lines alongside the current team, honoring the traditions and memories that continue to connect generations of dancers. The celebration was a beautiful reminder that the bonds formed through the Majestics program extend far beyond the dance floor. One Heart, One Crown. Once a Majestic, Always a Majestic!
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) Lovejoy Softball Tournament (Nov. 7-8) Lacrosse Club Pickleball Tournament (Nov. 8) PTO Parent Program with Miki Johnston (Nov. 12) LHS Cheer Holiday Greenery Sale (Nov. 14) Majestics Holiday Dance Clinic (Dec. 4) 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 23, 2026. Issue 12