Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
OCTOBER 27, 2023
y o j e v o L s d r a p o e L
CONTENTS 04 MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT 06 ONE PILL KILLS: FENTANYL FACTS 07 RED RIBBON WEEK ACTIVITIES 15 ORCHESTRA ALL REGION 08 COURAGEOUS PRINCIPALS 16 XC REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!
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FOR THE LOVE OF BOTS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
11 ATTENDANCE UPDATE 12 DISTRICT CALENDAR EVENTS
13 UNDEFEATED CHAMPIONS!!!
18 SLOAN CREEK BAND CONCERT 19 FAIRVIEW FIRE VISITS LCDC 19 DONUTS WITH DADS 20 “A” IS FOR APPLESAUCE 20 KINDER SERVICE PROJECT 21 STUFFY SLEEPOVER 22 ROAR MENTOR PROGRAM 23 WIN VS. MESQUITE POTEET 24 BOARD OF TRUSTEES INVITATION 25 LOVEJOY LINKS 30 COMMUNITY NEWS 30 DISTRICT AND CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS
MESSAGE from the Superintendent Lovejoy Community, The weather is providing us practice modeling the importance of flexibility for our students. We had to reschedule Leopard Friday due to extreme heat and now, once again, for anticipated inclement weather. Fortunately, our Varsity Football Team has already earned another home game in Leopard Stadium providing the opportunity to reschedule this cherished community event. Senior Night is also being moved to the home playoff game the week of November 6th. As soon as we know the date and time of the playoff game we will be sure to share share it with you. Like many of the high school football games in our area, our football game tonight has been moved to an earlier time. We believe that moving the game time to 6:00 p.m. this evening prioritizes the safety of our students, staff, and families. We hope you will be able to join us in supporting our Leopards as they take on Greenville High School. Earlier this week, Ms. Wendy Craft, principal at Hart Elementary School, shared news of her resignation to accept an Executive Director position with Houston ISD. We are grateful for Ms. Craft’s 14 years of dedicated service to Lovejoy ISD and appreciate the significant impact she has had on our District. We wish her the very best in her new role. Ms. Shannon Acosta has been assigned as Interim Principal for Hart Elementary. Ms. Acosta is a veteran educator of 23 years with 14 years of experience serving as an elementary principal. Ms. Acosta has already begun working alongside Ms. Craft to support the transition. We understand the important work ahead of us in hiring the next Principal of Hart Elementary School. Hart Elementary staff and parent input will be an important part of the process. We have invited parents to attend a principal selection input session on Monday, November 13th at either 8:00 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. at Hart Elementary School in the Leopard’s Lair.
Last week, I met with Sheriff Skinner at the Collin County Sheriff's Office. I asked him what we should be most concerned with to keep our students safe. Sheriff Skinner was clear that Fentanyl is a serious and growing problem. Fentanyl is being put into fake pills on such a high level that 7 out of 10 pills seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) are laced with Fentanyl. The One Pill Can Kill Campaign by the DEA contains resources to assist you in learning more and to support conversations that you can have with your child(ren). Please take a moment to review the One Pill Can Kill Fentanyl information on page 7. Based on the dramatic drop in temperature in Monday’s forecast, it looks like I will be spending some time this weekend locating Claire and Jacob’s winter coats. I hope your family has a wonderful weekend. Your continued partnership and engagement is a strong asset to Lovejoy ISD. There is only ONE LOVEJOY and we are ALL LEOPARDS! Lovejoy Proud,
Katie Kordel Superintendent
MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL | RED OUT | 6:30 PM
Thank you to everyone who supported our Lovejoy Transition Program Ribbon Sales!
RED RIBBON WEEK ACTIVITIES
COURAGEOUS PRINCIPALS Strong leadership requires ongoing learning. Earlier this month, Lovejoy Campus and District Leaders spent their weekend at Deloitte University in Southlake, Texas for a professional development program called Courageous Principals Institute. Deloitte leadership created and sponsors this program. Deloitte’s Courageous Principals training programs are award-winning school leadership development programs that equip K-12 superintendents, principals, and assistant principals, with the necessary skills to be highly effective school leaders that positively impact student outcomes.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Stakeholder engagement is a priority in Lovejoy ISD. Recently, the District made connections at the following events: Leadership Lovejoy Class of 2024 Teacher-Superintendent Connection Council PTO Council WSMS Student -Superintendent Connection Council Team huddles at all campuses/LCDC and Administration Leadership Allen-Fairview We value the time and commitment made by our staff, parents, and community members as well as the opportunities and insights that are gained when we prioritize connection and community.
ATTENDANCE UPDATE Strong school attendance is correlated with higher academic performance. Additionally, average Daily Attendance (ADA) is a metric that the State of Texas uses to determine funding for public schools. Each week, this attendance data will be updated so our community is aware of our most recent ADA.
DISTRICT CALENDAR EVENTS
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.
UNDEFEATED CHAMPIONS!!! Congratulations to ALL THREE of our LHS Volleyball Teams on becoming UNDEFEATED District Champions! We are #LovejoyProud of our student athletes and coaches and their remarkable teamwork, dedication, and pursuit of excellence! “We are very proud of the JV & Freshman girls on their incredible season, and we are very excited to see the Varsity girls compete over the next month in the playoffs” said Head Volleyball Coach, Natalie Puckett. Follow our Lady Leopards on social media for the most up to date playoff information. You can follow both social media accounts by searching @lovejoy_vb on Twitter and Instagram.
ORCHESTRA ALL REGION
Left to right, David Wang, Justen Mao, Jackson Perry.
This past Saturday, October 21st, 10 LHS Orchestra students auditioned for All-Region Orchestra. These students auditioned individually against students from Plano, Allen, Wylie and Sherman. This is a highly competitive competition. The following students received a spot in this year's Region 25 Orchestra. Jackson Perry (Grade 10), Symphony Orchestra, Viola. Justen Mao (Grade 9) and David Wang (Grade 11) Philharmonic Orchestra, Violins.
They will perform on December 16th at Allen High School. Please congratulate these students on their hard work!
XC REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!!! Introducing your 2023 Girls and Boys Cross Country Regional Champions!! Congratulations to our incredible student athletes and coaches! This is the boys eighth straight team title and the girls fourth year in a row! Girls Team Sara Morefield Camryn Benson Bridget Bernal Peyton Benson Kailey Littlefield Campbell Lester Kaylee Martin
Boys Team Caden Gary Nick Yarad Joey Reid Aaron Wimbish Will Carlson Henry Bennion Devin Muaina
FOR THE LOVE OF BOTS Lovejoy Robotics competed at LHS this past Saturday and did amazing! LHS Teams all begin with the number 1082 and the letter designates the individual team. 1082X ended as Tournament Finalists and won the Innovate Award and 1082R won the Design Award, which is one of the highest engineering design awards offered! 1082E ended in the Top 5 for Qualification Rankings and 1082F achieved the highest skills score of all Lovejoy teams with a score of 217 (6th out of the entire tournament). We had a strong showing from many of our teams, especially our younger teams, and it was a great day where all the students worked hard to overcome many obstacles. This tournament was hosted by our Lovejoy Robotics program, and 34 teams from all over North Texas came to compete alongside our 10 Lovejoy teams. Several dozen robotics parents and community members volunteered to make the tournament happen. We are #LovejoyProud of our Lovejoy Robotics Community! Lovejoy Robotics wants to give a special thank you to i2i, our Excellence Sponsor, and to Mrs. Forte', Mrs. Whitfill, Mr. Bobo, Mr. Jasina, Mr. David Baldwin and Mr. Schnurr for taking such a large role in making this tournament a big success.
1082X
1082R
1082E
1082F
SLOAN CREEK BAND CONCERT The Sloan Creek Beginning Band presented their very first concert on Thursday October 5th, just before Fall Break. The students did an amazing job, presenting their best playing and concert etiquette. Their directors are so proud of the musicianship they are already demonstrating, and are excited to see their growth at the Fine Arts Festival in December!
FAIRVIEW FIRE VISITS LCDC October is Fire Prevention Safety Month! The Fairview Fire Department visited the Lovejoy Child Development Center (LCDC) to teach the students about fire safety. The students had a great time exploring the fire truck. LISD is thankful for the local community support from our local fire fighters!
DONUTS WITH DADS LCDC hosted their annual Donuts with Dad with a breakfast full of donuts, laughter and a special time spent with Dads. We are so thankful for our ALL STARS Dads!
“A” IS FOR APPLESAUCE Kindergarten students at Puster Elementary spent an afternoon making homemade applesauce. Students are learning about using their 5 senses to explore properties of matter. What better way to demonstrate texture than turning apples to applesauce when heat energy is added? Even better that students got to celebrate their learning by eating the special treat!
KINDER SERVICE PROJECT Puster Elementary Kindergarten students collected and donated an overflowing cart full of dog food, leashes, blankets, toys, and treats for the Collin Country Animal Shelter, as part of their service project. Experiencing “the satisfaction of giving and service” as early as kindergarten is part of what makes Lovejoy uniquely special. A BIG thank you to our families and staff members that donated and supported this project!
STUFFIE SLEEPOVER Kindergarteners at Hart brought a favorite stuffie friend to spend the night in the library on Thursday, October 19. The stuffies had such a good time learning how to listen and learn in the library. Choosing good books, reading with a friend and being creative are good skills to learn. All stuffies behaved very well and were reunited with their owner the next morning. Thank you Kindergarteners for letting one of your friends spend the night! Mrs. Dawson, Hart Librarian.
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!
ROAR MENTOR PROGRAM One Monday a month Willow Springs Middle School had a school wide segment on Respect, Ownership, Attitude and Resiliency (ROAR) during Leopard Time. Mr. Lewis, WSMS Assistant Principal, and Mrs. Lynch, LHS CTE Department Lead, saw this as an opportunity to build relationships between WSMS and LHS students. They developed the ROAR Mentor Program and invited LHS school students to become role models and share their experiences from the student perspective. This week LHS Leopards helped our WSMS Leopards by mentoring students during their Leopard Time Red Ribbon Week discussions. This is a great opportunity for our Leopards to Lead and Grow together! Thank you to all the staff and students that participated in this impactful monthly visit. ONE HEART, ONE LOVEJOY!
WIN VS. MESQUITE POTEET The Leopards won 48-7 on Friday night in Mesquite vs. the Poteet Pirates to advance to 7-1 on the season. They are now 5-0 in district and tied for first place! Leopard Football returns home tonight against Greenville HS with an earlier start time of 6:00 p.m. to hopefully avoid forecasted inclement weather. LET’S GO LEOPARDS!!! #OneStandard #RollPards
BOARD OF TRUSTEES INVITATION
Dear Lovejoy Community, 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 and fully aware, so we can come together as a community for our children. October 30, 2023 Public Notice Website (Public ntoice will be posted a minimum of 72 hours in advance) You may find the full agenda with supporting documentation on our district's BoardBook Premier website HERE. Sincerely, Barrett Owens, President Amy Smith, Vice-President Jeff Wood, Secretary The Lovejoy ISD Board of Trustees
Marvin Bobo, Trustee Jason Jaynes, Trustee Julie McLaughlin, Trustee Mark Wheelis, Trustee
Leopard Life
LOVEJOY LINKS
NEW! LOVEJOY LETTER CAMPAIGN
FOUNDATION FOR LOVEJOY SCHOOLS TOUR OF HOMES
Leopard Life
LOVEJOY LINKS
THIS WEEK! CHOIR & COFFEE
NEW! GREEN TEAM
LIVING FOR ZACHARY HEART SCREENING
Leopard Life
LOVEJOY LINKS
SWIM & DIVE CALENDAR CHEER HOLIDAY GREENERY
HOME RUN HEROS
Leopard Life
LOVEJOY LINKS
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Calling all Lovejoy Alumni! The Lovejoy Independent School District is excited to engage former LISD students and our community through Alumni spotlights in the district newsletter, as well as LISD social media. Alumni spotlights are a fun way for the district to celebrate our students' educational, professional, and personal journeys after graduation. If you wish to participate, please complete this form for our LISD Communications Department.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT INTEREST FORM
Lovejoy ISD is proud to continue facilitating student opportunities through the Professional-to-Student Engagement Portal. Sign-up and share your talents! Lovejoy Community Professionals: Who are Lovejoy Community Professionals? Engage with students by sharing their Industry & Business Leaders expertise and knowledge Parents Mentor students through various Lovejoy Alumni career and college ready experiences Lovejoy Neighbors Strengthen students skills in the areas Senior Community Members of communication, collaboration, Heritage Ranch Community Members critical thinking and problem solving Family Members of Lovejoy Students Build leadership skills, develop self confidence
Leopard Life
LOVEJOY LINKS
BOARD ACADEMY The Lovejoy ISD Board Academy is designed for anyone considering public service on the Board of Trustees as well those that would like to learn more about local school district governance. School Board members will explain the roles and responsibilities of serving on the Board, review the state-required training requirements, and discuss the difference between Board oversight and day-to-day operations of the district. Information will also be shared on the guidelines, logistics, and timelines to run for a Board seat. The Board Academy will be on Wednesday, December 6 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY COFFEE TALKS This is 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 engages in open dialogue/discussion with our community. August 29, 2023 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sloan Creek Intermediate
February 28, 2024 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Lovejoy High School
November 30, 2023 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Hart Elementary School
April 30, 2024 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Willow Springs Middle School
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
SLOAN CREEK INTERMEDIATE Principal Newsletter
HART ELEMENTARY Principal Newsletter
WILLOW SPRINGS MIDDLE Principal Newsletter
PUSTER ELEMENTARY Principal Newsletter
LOVEJOY HIGH SCHOOL Principal Newsletter
Leopard Life
COMMUNITY NEWS
The Lovejoy ISD Community News website is intended to facilitate connections and raise awareness of local events, activities, fundraisers and organizations that might interest Lovejoy families. The information featured on the Community News website is submitted by community members. Lovejoy ISD is not affiliated with the organizations and does not claim to endorse them.
CLICK HERE
Connect with Katie . October 27, 2023 . Issue 13