Connect with Katie
OCTOBER 24, 2025
Lovejoy Leopards Lovejoy Leopards
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
LovejoyCommunity,
Welcome back, Leopards! After a joyful Homecomingandawell-deservedfallbreak,our studentsreturnedrechargedandreadytolearn.
Thisweek’s Connect with Katie newsletterisextra special, featuring photos and highlights from a truly memorable Homecoming week. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Heritage Ranch community for hosting Lovejoy’s Inaugural Homecoming Parade. Our Inaugural Homecoming Parade set the tone for what we hopewillbecomeacherishedannualtradition.
Wearedeeplygratefultoeveryone to everyone who came together to make this event so special. Your enthusiasm, support,andLeopardPridemadeitanunforgettablecelebration!
This year’s Homecoming celebration was especially meaningful, marking the 15year reunion of Lovejoy High School’s inaugural graduating class. We loved welcoming the Class of 2010 back home during the Homecoming game and sharing a special piece of nostalgia, their original class photo in front of the red schoolhouse.OnceaLeopard,alwaysaLeopard!
A special thank you to our PTO for facilitating a beloved tradition, the Mum Project. PTO volunteers brought joy to classrooms that focus on building vocationalskillsandindependence,giftingstudentswithhomecomingmumsand momentsofconnectionthatwillberememberedlongaftertheweek’sfestivities. WeareextremelyproudofthewayourPTOandPALScametogethertomakesure wearelivingourcorevalueofOneHeart,OneLovejoy.
We want to express gratitude to our students, staff, parents, and community memberswhoadjustedtheirschedulesandshowedupwithLovejoyPrideforlast night’sfootballgame.Whiletheweathercanbeunpredictable,onethingremains constant,ourcommunityshowsupforoneanother.
CongratulationstoourGirlsandBoysCrossCountryTeamsforearningtheirway totheUILStateCompetition!Theseincrediblestudent-athletesruninRoundRock next Friday morning. Let’s make sure Coach Littlefield, Coach Kelly, and our runnersknowweareallcheeringthemon.GoLovejoy!
ThereisonlyoneLovejoy,andweareallLeopards!
LovejoyProud,
KatieKordel Superintendent
LOVEJOY’S INAUGURAL HOMECOMING PARADE
The first-ever Lovejoy Homecoming Parade was a truly special evening! The energy,thesmiles,andtheseaofredandblackmadeitanighttoremember. From the creative floats to the proud families lining the streets, the event perfectly captured what makes Lovejoy so unique, its incredible community spirit.
Lovejoy extends a heartfelt thank you to Heritage Ranch for welcoming the community and allowing the inaugural parade to be hosted there. Their hospitalityhelpedmakethisnewtraditiontrulyunforgettable!
HOMECOMING PEP- RALLY
Lovejoy spirit filled the gym as students, staff, and families came together for our Homecoming Pep Rally! The band, cheerleaders, Majestics, A Capella, athleticteamsandteachersbroughtexcitement,energyandentertainmentto the whole crowd! From spirited performances to the introduction of the Homecoming Court, it was the perfect celebration of pride, tradition, and community,OneHeart.OneLovejoy.
HOMECOMING COURT & FOOTBALL GAME
2025 MUM EXCHANGE
TheLovejoyLeopardscelebratedHomecomingthisweekintrueTexasstyle filled with pride, tradition, and community spirit! What began as a heartfelt tradition led by students and parents has grown into a cherished part of LovejoyHighSchool.
With the help of our PTO, this year’s mums were repurposed from generously donated mums and supplies within the Lovejoy community. PTO is deeply grateful to all who donated gently used mums, materials, and time to help customizeeachmumforstudents.
A special thank you also went to the Best Buddies organization for bringing extrajoyandenergytothefestivities.Theweekservedasabeautifulreminder ofwhatmakesLovejoysospecial,unity,tradition,andthepowerofinclusion!
NATIONAL PRINCIPALS APPRECIATION MONTH
October is National Principal Appreciation Month! Join us in celebrating our outstanding principals in Lovejoy ISD! We are deeply grateful for their leadershipandcommitmenttoeverystudentandstaffmember'ssuccess.
This week we are celebrating Amanda Puckett, Principal of Sloan Creek Intermediate School, and Caitlin Eldredge, Principal of Willow Springs Middle School! Their leadership, passion, and dedication to student success help create strong, supportive learning environments where students and staff thriveeachday.
NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK
This week we celebrated National School Bus Safety Week, a time to recognize the importanceofkeepingourstudentssafeonandaroundschoolbuses.
Wewanttogiveahugethank-youtoourLovejoyISDTransportationTeamforthecare andcommitmenttheyshoweachday.Ourdriversandstaffmakesurestudentsarrive atschoolandhomesafely,nomattertheweatherortraffic.
Thisyear’stheme,“YourStopisOurPriority,”remindsusthateveryoneplaysarolein schoolbussafety.Pleasehelpkeepourstudentssafebystoppingforflashingredlights andstayingalertinschoolzones.
OurLovejoycommunitycanhelpkeepourkidssafe,pleaseremember: Stayalertinschoolzones. Alwaysstop(andneverpass)aschoolbuswithflashingredlightsandanextended stoparm.
Obeytrafficsignsandspeedlimits.
Weappreciateyourpartnershipinhelpingmakeeveryrideasafeone!
ANNUAL LOVEJOY LETTER CAMPAIGN
LovejoyFamiliesandCommunityMembers:
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 membersacrosstheDistrict.
Thelettersdonothavetobeelaborateorlengthy.Thegoalisforpeopletowriteanote ofthankstoshowappreciationtotheirteachers,thestaffandouradministration.Itis theopportunityforustotakethetimetoleteachpersonwhomakesadifferenceforus throughout the school year know how much we see and value them. This year’s campaignhasbegunandwillrununtilMondayNovember10th.
Please place your letter in a clearly labeled envelope including the staff/teacher’s first andlastname,thecampusandLLC(LovejoyLetterCampaign).Therewillbecollection boxes available at all campuses in the District. The last day for drop off is Monday November10th.
Let’sshowourteachersandstaffjusthowmuchweappreciatethem!
LHS STUDENT COUNCIL
VETERANS DAY EVENT
2026 COCA-COLA SCHOLARS
SEMIFINALIST
LovejoyHighSchool’sNoelleMcGillhasbeen named a 2026 Coca-Cola Scholars Semifinalist,anexceptionalnationalhonor.
Out of 107,000+ applicants across the country, only 1,238 students (1.12%) were selected for their academic excellence, leadership, and service in school and communityactivities.
Noellewillcontinueintheselectionprocess, and Lovejoy ISD celebrates this outstanding achievementandtheprideshebringstoour community.
ATTENDANCE UPDATE
Strong school attendance is correlated with higher academic performance. Additionally,averageDailyAttendance(ADA)isametricthattheStateofTexas usestodeterminefundingforpublicschools.Eachweek,thisattendancedata willbeupdatedsoourcommunityisawareofourmostrecentADA.
Report an Absence
The District has implemented a new process to streamline absence reporting. To notify your campus attendance office about your student’s absence, complete yourcampuses"ReportanAbsence"form whichcanbefound:
CampusWebsite(toprightcorner)
ClickReportanAbsence
2025-2026 REFERRALS & TESTING Gifted
PARENT INFORMATION MEETING
November 6 at 6:00pm LCDC Library
ONLINE REFERRAL WINDOW
November 3-28
Click here for additional information
DISTRICT REMINDERS
This October, all Lovejoy ISD libraries are excited to host a creative new project: Book Character or Nonfiction Tissue Boxes!
Students are invited to transform a new, unopened tissue box into eitherafavoritebookcharacterora fascinating nonfiction subject completewithfunfacts.
This project is designed to be imaginative, family-friendly, and a funwayforstudentstobringbooks tolifewhilecelebratingreadingand creativity across the district. We can’twaittoseewhattheycreate!
Lovejoy ISD parents and community members, your voice matters in shaping the future of ourdistrict.
Weareseekingvolunteerstoserve on the Lovejoy 2030 Strategic Planning Committee. This group will review progress on goals, provide feedback, and help guide ourlong-rangevision.
The deadline to apply is October 31.ApplyHere!
DISTRICT CALENDAR
READING WITH THE LEOPARDS AT PUSTER ELEMENTARY
Lovejoy Volleyball, Baseball, Wrestling, and Cross Country athletes visited Puster Elementary for Reading with the Leopards! Lovejoy student-athletes shared stories, smiles, and lessons on teamwork, inspiring our youngest Leopards and celebratingtheLovejoyspiritthatconnectsusall!
WSMS BAND PERFORMS
TH
AT 8 GRADE GAME
Willow Springs Middle School Band students enjoyed an exciting evening performingatthe8thGradeFootballGameonTuesday,October7th.Thestudents had the opportunity to play alongside their friends in a new environment, showcasing the pep band music they’ve been practicing since the start of the school year. Their spirited performance helped cheer both the A and B Teams to victory!
MUSIC MEETS MATH IN STATISTICS CLASS
Canstatisticshelpsolveapopculturemystery?StudentsinMr.Rasca’shighschool statistics course took on the challenge with flair, diving into the question: Does Beyoncé write her own lyrics? Using the hit song Crazy in Love as their dataset, students randomly sampled words and calculated average word lengths. They thenbuiltdotplotstovisualizethedataandcomparedittoaDestiny’sChildtrack, searching for statistical clues that might link Beyoncé’s lyrical style across both songs. The result? A lively blend of data analysis, critical thinking, and musical curiosity. It’s just one example of how Mr. Rasca’s class is turning numbers into narrativesandmakingmathfeelrelevant,creative,andfun.
LOVEJOY VOLLEYBALL WRAPS UP DISTRICT
Lovejoy Volleyball is wrapping up district play this Friday against the Greenville Lions! Congratulations to the freshman team for securing co-district champions, ourjuniorvarsityteamforcurrentlysittingat2ndindistrictandthevarsityteamis currently 3rd in district. Varsity will begin their playoff run next week, be sure to followthemonInstagram(@lovejoy vb)forgameupdates!
LADY LEOPARDS XC WIN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
CongratulationstotheLadyLeopardsCrossCountryteamforwinningtheRegional Championship!
For the 6th consecutive year, the Lady Leopards have won the Region 2 Championship! This group of young women have worked hard and sacrificed so much to achieve this goal. The team will compete for a State Title next Friday, October31stinRoundRock. Pleasewishthemluck!
EmilyArmstrong-RegionalChampion-AllRegionTeam
CamrynBenson-RegionalRunner-Up-AllRegionTeam
SofiaDominguez-7th-AllRegionTeam
BridgetBernal-8th-AllRegionTeam
CaileeHorinek-16th
TaliaOrshalick-20th
LilyFogle-29th
LOVEJOY BOYS XC
SECURES A SPOT AT STATE
Congratulations to the Lovejoy Boys Cross Country team on an outstanding performanceattheRegionII5AChampionshipheldonMonday,October20th.The teamfinished2ndoverall,earningthetitleofRegionalRunner-Upforthe5thtime in program history and securing a trip to the UIL State Championship for an incredible18thconsecutiveyear!!
Individually,threeLeopardsearnedAll-RegionTeamhonors:
TristanArceneaux–2ndplace
JoeyReid–3rdplace
ArjunSharma–9thplace
CompletingthestrongteamperformancewereKiptonDuBois(48th),CarterEwing (58th),AdamRogers(60th),andReefRevell(63rd).
Best of luck to the team as they prepare for the State Championship on Friday, October31st.
LOVEJOY BAND ADVANCES
TO AREA MARCHING CONTEST
Thispastweekend,theLovejoyBandearnedFirstDivisionratingsfromalljudges at the UIL Region 25 Marching Contest and has advanced to the Area Marching Contest!
The Lovejoy Band invites you to their Parent and Community Performance this Saturday,October25that11aminLeopardStadium.
Thebandwillperformintheprelimsofthe5AAreaBMarchingContestat12:00PM onSaturday,November1,atKennyDeelStadiuminMelissa.Comecheeronthese incrediblestudentsastheyrepresentLovejoywithpassion,precision,andpride!
BOARD MEETING INVITATION
DearLovejoyCommunity,
As a Board, we are committed to strong and proactive communication with our community. Part of this commitment is sending an email invitation to our community prior to Board Meetings with a sincere desire for you to be involved andfullyaware,sowecancometogetherasacommunityforourchildren.
October27,2025PublicNoticeWebsite
You may find the full agenda with supporting documentation on our district's BoardBookPremierwebsiteHERE.
Sincerely,
Julie McLaughlin, President
Jeff
Wood, Vice President
Marvin Bobo, Secretary
TheLovejoyISDBoardofTrustees
Aubrey Stock, Trustee
Mark
Wheelis, Trustee
Jason Jaynes, Trustee
Barrett Owens, Trustee
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.
Community Coffee Talk
Community Coffee talks are an opportunity for parents and community members to connect with Lovejoy ISD Trustees and Superintendent Katie Kordel in an informal setting. During Community Coffee Talks, Lovejoy ISD leadership listens, shares and engagesin opendialogue/discussionwithourcommunity.
February11,2025@8:00a.m.
LovejoyHighSchool Library
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!
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
Connect with Katie . October 24, 2025. Issue 13