Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
OCTOBER 30, 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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LCDC ANNUAL CANDY PARADE.................................... LOVEJOY LIFE SKILLS
MEET LOCAL HEROES..................
PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION MONTH.............................. ANNUAL LOVEJOY LETTER CAMPAIGN........................... DISTRICT REMINDERS.............................................. ATTENDANCE UPDATES............................................ DISTRICT CALENDAR............................................... WE LOVE LUCY AT LCDC........................................... WSMS & SCIS ORCHESTRAS....................................... LOVEJOY BAND CELEBRATES SEASON.......................... C R O S S C O U N T R Y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FRESHMAN & JV VOLLEYBALL.................................... LOVEJOY FISHING..................................................
04 06
08 10
12 14
22 23 24 25 26
27 29 30
31 S T U D E N T S P O T L I G H T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32 HEART OF TEACHER................................................ 35 LEOPARD LIFE....................................................... 38 DISTRICT & CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS.............................
MESSAGE FROM THE Lovejoy Community,
Superintendent
There is nothing quite like fall in Lovejoy ISD! From spreading smiles and celebrating the people who make our district special to cheering on our student-athletes, there is so much to celebrate in our Lovejoy Community. Spreading Joy (and a Little Too Much Candy!) at LCDC Our Lovejoy Child Development Center brought plenty of spirit to campus this morning! Dressed as “Characters in the Woods,” our administrative team welcomed our little Leopards for a morning of trickor-treating, smiles, and a little extra fun. The joy our LCDC students bring is contagious. A special thank you to our wonderful PTO for helping turn the space into a memorable morning for our youngest students and teachers. Heart of the Teacher and Support Some familiar Toy Story characters made their way across our campuses this morning to celebrate this month’s Heart of the Teacher and Support recipients! Each honoree reflects the very best of our five Culture Commitments: Relationships, Learning, Collaboration, Results, and Fun. We are grateful for the people who make Lovejoy such a special place and for community partners like My Community Credit Union who help make this beloved tradition possible. Lovejoy Cross Country Is State Bound! Leopards are FAST! Congratulations to our boys’ and girls’ cross country teams for earning their spots at the UIL Class 5A Division II State Championships. The girls finished second and the boys third at the regional meet, with Tristan Arceneaux leading the boys’ field with an outstanding first-place finish. What an accomplishment! We are so proud of these student-athletes and their coaches. We will be cheering them on in Round Rock on Saturday, November 7!
Lovejoy High School Volleyball Playoffs Lovejoy High School varsity volleyball won a playoff game against Whitehouse High School last night in three sets. They play Colleyville Heritage High School at Prosper Rock Hill High School next Tuesday, November 3, at 6:30 p.m. Let’s Go Leopards! Robotics Competition: For the LORE of Bots Wishing our Lovejoy Robotics Teams the best of luck at their For the LORE of Bots competition tomorrow which will be hosted at Lovejoy High School from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event is open to spectators. Come cheer on our Leopards and their bots! I hope you and your family enjoy a safe, fun-filled long weekend. We look forward to welcoming our students back on Tuesday, November 3. There is only ONE Lovejoy, and we are ALL Leopards!
Lovejoy Proud,
Katie Kordel Superintendent
LCDC ANNUAL CANDY Parade The Lovejoy Child Development Center (LCDC) celebrated its annual Candy Parade with a little extra Disney magic this year! Members of the Lovejoy ISD administration team dressed as beloved Disney characters and set up festive trick-or-treat stations in the LCDC library. Students showed off their Halloween costumes as they made their way around the library, collecting candy and enjoying a fun-filled celebration with district leaders. It was a sweet tradition filled with smiles, laughter, and Halloween fun!
LOVEJOY LIFE SKILLS MEET
Local Heroes
Lovejoy High School's Life Skills classrooms enjoyed a special "Meet Our Heroes" interactive learning experience on Wednesday, October 28, designed to help students build positive connections with local law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders. The event provided students with a safe, welcoming environment to explore emergency vehicles, learn about first responder equipment, and practice important safety and communication skills. Through interactive stations, students had the opportunity to learn about the important roles these everyday heroes play in keeping our community safe. This hands-on experience helped students build confidence, familiarity, and meaningful connections with the individuals who serve and protect our community. A special thank-you to our local first responders for taking the time to engage with our students and make this memorable learning experience possible!
PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION
Month
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.
PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION
Month
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
DISTRICTReminders
DISTRICTReminders
DISTRICTReminders
MOO-ving Through the Pages Lovejoy Libraries are excited to announce the 3rd annual Sora Reading Challenge! This November and December, we invite all Lovejoy students and staff to round up some great reads using our district reading app, Sora. This year's theme is Join the HERD: Reading is Legen-DAIRY! The top 20 readers from each campus will earn highland cow-inspired 3D-printed keychains created by your Lovejoy librarians. But that's not all! The campus with the highest total reading minutes will be crowned the Top Winner. Log in to Sora (located in Classlink) to get started Nov. 3rd! To learn more about Sora ---> t.ly/2mXWS. We can't wait to see which campus leads the herd this holiday season!
DISTRICTReminders
DISTRICTReminders Lovejoy ISD students of all ages are invited to showcase their creativity by designing a festive holiday card celebrating what makes the winter holiday season special to them! All ages are encouraged to participate! Students interested in submitting artwork should contact their art teacher for additional details.
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!
ATTENDANCE Updates 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.
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 your campuses "Report an Absence" form which can be found: Campus Website (top right corner) Click Report an Absence Lovejoy ISD Mobile App Click More Select Campus Click Report an Absence Linked in Principal Newsletters
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.
WE LOVE LUCY AT LCDC Students at Lovejoy Child Development Center (LCDC) received a special surprise on Friday, October 30, when they were introduced to a familiar face in a brand-new way! Lucy, LCDC's beloved mascot, officially came to life with the debut of the school's new mascot costume during its annual Halloween Candy Parade. The exciting reveal added an extra touch of fun to the festivities as students celebrated Halloween and welcomed Lucy in her new form. This special moment marks an exciting new chapter for a longtime LCDC favorite!
WSMS & SCIS ORCHESTRAS
Earn Region 25 Honors
Congratulations to the talented orchestra students from Sloan Creek Intermediate School and Willow Springs Middle School who earned recognition in the TMEA Region 25 Orchestra auditions! These students demonstrated exceptional musicianship, dedication, and hard work throughout the audition process. Lovejoy ISD is proud of every student who auditioned and especially excited to recognize the following students for their achievements! Willow Springs Middle School (WSMS) Sloan Creek Intermediate School (SCIS) Brahms Orchestra Olivia Zhang – 8th Chair, 1st Violin Augustus Bolla – 10th Chair, 2nd Violin Bach Orchestra Natsuha Makino – 3rd Chair, 2nd Violin Charlotte He – 7th Chair, Cello
Brahms Orchestra Cara Pipe – 2nd Chair, Viola Angelina Huang – 4th Chair, Viola Adam Xu – 3rd Chair, Cello Franklin Wang – 8th Chair, Cello Ethan Chen – 10th Chair, Cello Charles Dominguez – 5th Chair, Bass Viraj Mazumdar – 6th Chair, Bass Beethoven Orchestra Evelyn Johnson – 12th Chair, 1st Violin Cecily Choi – 14th Chair, 1st Violin Elliot Dykstra – 15th Chair, Viola Emma Hang – 1st Chair, Cello Donovan Abernethy – 9th Chair, Cello Tarana Aliyeva – Violin Alternate Bach Orchestra Theodor Lee – 1st Alternate, Bass Sriyansh Cheruku – 2nd Alternate, Bass
BAND CELEBRATES INCREDIBLE
2026 Marching Season
As the 2026 marching season comes to a close, Lovejoy ISD celebrates the incredible accomplishments of the Lovejoy Band and extends a heartfelt thank-you to the students, families, and volunteers who made this season possible! The Lovejoy Band had an exceptional season, earning Grand Champion at the Celina Marching Invitational, along with Outstanding Visual, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Color Guard, and Class 5A Champion honors. The band also earned straight first division ratings at UIL Region and advanced to the UIL Area Marching Contest! Beyond these impressive achievements, the season reflected the students' dedication, perseverance, teamwork, and commitment to excellence. Countless hours of rehearsals, preparation, and competition showcased the hard work and determination of this talented group. A special thank-you goes to the incredible band parents and volunteers whose time, support, and behind-the-scenes efforts helped make every performance possible. Congratulations to the Lovejoy Band on an outstanding season! Lovejoy ISD is incredibly proud of these students, not only for their accomplishments on the field but also for the character, teamwork, and Leopard pride they demonstrated throughout the season!
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY RACE
To State
Congratulations to the Lovejoy Lady Leopards Cross Country team on earning the title of 2026 Regional Runner-Up! The Lady Leopards delivered an impressive performance on Tuesday, running a smart, strategic, and nearly flawless race to secure their spot at the UIL State Championships. A special congratulations to Emily Armstrong and Leila Thomas for earning AllRegion Team honors! Regional Runner-Up Team: Emily Armstrong – All-Region Leila Thomas – All-Region Talia Orshalick Lily Stabile Lily Fogle Bronwyn Vaughan Morgan Suder The Lady Leopards will head to Round Rock on November 7 at 8:15 a.m., where they will compete for their second consecutive State Championship! Congratulations to these outstanding student-athletes, and best of luck at State!
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY RACE
To State
The Lovejoy Boys Cross Country team earned 3rd place overall at the UIL Region II5A Championship on Tuesday, October 27, securing a spot at the UIL State Championship in Round Rock on November 7! This marks an incredible 19 consecutive years of state meet appearances for the Leopards, continuing a tradition of excellence dating back to 2008. Leading the way was Tristan Arceneau, who claimed the Individual Regional Championship with a school-record time of 14:58 in the 5,000 meters! Three Leopards also earned All-Region honors for their outstanding performances. Regional Championship Results: Tristan Arceneau – 1st Place, Regional Champion, School Record (14:58), AllRegion Will Murphy – 12th Place, All-Region Kipton DuBois – 13th Place, All-Region Reef Revell – 28th Place Haden Snyder – 50th Place Declan Keating – 63rd Place Carter Ewing – 70th Place Congratulations to these outstanding student-athletes and coaches on another incredible season! Best of luck as they represent Lovejoy ISD at State!
FRESHMAN & JV VOLLEYBALL
Undefeated District Champs
What an incredible season for Lovejoy Volleyball! Congratulations to the Freshman and JV Volleyball teams, who were both crowned 2026 District Champions after completing their district schedules with UNDEFEATED records! These outstanding accomplishments are a testament to the hard work, dedication, teamwork, and competitive spirit of Lovejoy's student-athletes and coaches. Both teams demonstrated incredible determination throughout the season, representing Lovejoy with pride and excellence on the court. The future of Lovejoy Volleyball is bright! Congratulations to our Freshman and JV Leopards on an unforgettable season and two well-deserved district championships!
FISHING REELS IN SECOND PLACE
At Lake Lewisville
The Lovejoy Fishing Team made a splash at Lake Lewisville, earning second place overall at its second Texas High School Bass Association (THSBA) series tournament! Three Leopard boats finished in the top 12 out of 205 competing boats! Team captains Andy T. and Evan W. led the way with a 9th-place finish, weighing in five fish totaling 9.84 pounds. Gus C. and Finn M. followed closely in 10th place with five fish weighing 9.82 pounds, while Joel K. secured 12th place with three fish totaling 9.73 pounds. Overall, 10 of Lovejoy's 17 teams brought fish to the scales, contributing to an impressive team performance! Congratulations to all our Leopard anglers! The team will return to the water on December 5 at Lake Fork. Good luck, Leopards!
Lovejoy ISD is proud to celebrate LJVA student Cora Craver, who recently traveled to Nebraska for the premiere of Going For Two, an independent film in which she plays Frankie Fitzpatrick! A six-year member of Lovejoy Visual Arts and second-year AP Art student, Cora attended red carpet premieres in Lincoln and Omaha, participated in television and radio interviews, and joined cast Q&A sessions to promote the film. Following opening weekend, Going For Two ranked as the No. 2 movie in Nebraska, an incredible achievement for an independent film! The movie is currently exclusive to Nebraska, with updates on future viewing opportunities available through social media. Congratulations, Cora! Lovejoy ISD is incredibly proud of your accomplishments and the outstanding way you represent LJVA!
l u f k n a h t o S for our
teachers
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 Silent Auction (Nov. 2) Lovejoy Softball Tournament (Nov. 7-8) Lovejoy Cheer - Hindy House Give Back Event (Nov. 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) 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.
Lovejoy Wrestling Start-Up Lovejoy Wrestling is gearing up for an exciting new season! The Leopards will host their Red/Black Start-Up on Friday, November 6, at 5:30 p.m. in the Lovejoy High School Main Gym. Students, families, and community members are invited to come out and support our hardworking wrestlers as they prepare for the season ahead. Join us for an evening of Leopard pride and help kick off another great year of Lovejoy Wrestling! Go Leopards!
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 30, 2026. Issue 13