OCTOBER 31, 2025
Connect with Katie girls cross country
state champions
Lovejoy Leopards Lovejoy Leopards
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
LovejoyCommunity,
Be part of shaping Lovejoy ISD’s future! Parents and community members are encouraged to apply for the Lovejoy 2030 Strategic Planning CommitteetohelpshapetheDistrict’scontinued success. The purpose of the committee is to provide feedback, guidance, and community perspective as we update the district’s longrange strategic plan. The application window hasbeenextendedtoNovember7.Clickhereto applytoday.
CongratulationstoourGirlsandBoysCrossCountryTeamsontheiroutstanding performancesatthestatemeetinRoundRockthismorning!
OurGirlsCrossCountryTeamcapturedthe5AUILStateChampionship,andour Boys Team delivered a solid performance in a highly competitive field. We are incrediblyproudofourdedicatedstudent-athletesandtheirexceptionalcoaches fortheirhardwork,perseverance,andcommitmenttoexcellence.Youcontinueto representLovejoywithprideandheart!
This Saturday will be filled with competitions in academics, fine arts, and athletics. Lovejoy Robotics is hosting the VEX Tournament at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday in the Lovejoy High School Gym. The Band performs at noon on SaturdayinMelissaandourVolleyballTeamcompetesat3:00p.m.onSaturdayin Athens.GoLovejoy!
AnnualVeteransDayProgram
The Lovejoy High School Student Council is hosting their Annual Veterans Day Program on Tuesday, November 4th 5:30 p.m. This special event honors our veterans through gratitude and fellowship, a powerful evening that connects generations.Parentsandcommunitymembersarewelcometoattend.Youdonot needtohaveastudentatLovejoyHighSchooltoattend.(Seepage16toRSVP.)
Student-SuperintendentConnectionCouncil
IrecentlyhadtheprivilegeofmeetingwithourmiddleandhighschoolStudentSuperintendent Connection Councils for meaningful conversations about students’ educational experiences. Hearing directly from our students is truly powerful, and their insights help shape our planning and decision-making. Students shared heartfelt reflections about their schools, celebrated caring teachers,discussedthelearningexperiencesthathavebeenmostimpactful,and expressed the value they place on both their classroom and extracurricular opportunities.
Wishing all of our Leopards a restful long weekend while our teachers and staff engage in professional learning on Monday. We look forward to welcoming our studentsbacktoschoolonTuesday.
ThereisonlyoneLovejoy,andweareallLeopards!
LovejoyProud,
KatieKordel Superintendent
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY WINS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!
TheLovejoygirlscrosscountryteamhas“takintheirtitleback!”Aftera3year winningstreakandarunner-upfinishin2024,thegirlshadaclearmissiontobe backontopofthepodium.Itwasatotalteameffortaseachgirlhadtobuckle downinthelast800meterstoovercomeSmithsonValleywhowasinthelead at the 2 mile mark. In the end, the depth of the Leopards was what it took to solidifytheStateChampionship!
CamrynBenson-8th
EmilyArmstrong-15th
BridgetBernal-22nd
SofiaDominguez-24th
TaliaOrshalick-41st
LilyFogle-59th
CaileeHorinek-60th
Congratulations to the Girls Cross Country team and Coach CarlyLittlefield!
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 Justin Wieller, Principal of Lovejoy High School! Hisleadership,passion,anddedicationtostudentsuccesshelpcreatestrong, supportivelearningenvironmentswherestudentsandstaffthriveeachday.
STUDENT-SUPERINTENDENT CONNECTION COUNCIL
Superintendent Kordel proudly welcomed back our middle and high school Student - Superintendent Connection Councils to kick off the year with meaningful conversations about students’ educational experiences. Hearing directlyfromstudentsispowerful,andtheirperspectiveshelpuslisten,learn, andshapethefutureofLovejoyISDtogether.DuringtherecentWillowSprings Middle School Student-Superintendent Connection Council, students shared heartfelt reflections about their school experiences, celebrating caring teachers,engaginglessons,andacommunitythatsupportstheirgrowthboth academicallyandpersonally.
NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY
ANNUAL LOVEJOY LETTER CAMPAIGN
LovejoyFamiliesandCommunityMembers:
WeareinthesecondweekoftheAnnualLovejoyLetterCampaignforteachersandstaff members!Manyofyouarefamiliarwiththisbelovedtradition,butforthoseofyouwho are not, it is the time of year when we write letters of appreciation for each of our teachersandstaffmembersacrosstheDistrict.
Wedon'thavetoomanylettersturnedinyet,soweneedyourhelptofilleachteacher and staff member’s envelope. The letters do not have to be elaborate or lengthy. The goalisforpeopletowriteanoteofthankstoshowappreciationtotheirteachers,the staff and our administration. It is the opportunity for us to take the time to let each personwhomakesadifferenceforusthroughouttheschoolyearknowhowmuchwe seeandvaluethem.Pleasetakethetimetowriteafewlettersforsomeofyourfavorite membersofstaffonourupcoming3-dayweekend.Thisyear’scampaignwillrununtil MondayNovember10th.
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!
JIM BOB PUCKETT
SPIRIT OF A LEOPARD AWARD
LovejoyISDproudlycontinuesacherishedtraditionthatcelebratestheheartof ourcommunity-TheJimBobPuckettSpiritofaLeopardAward.
This award honors one Leopard fan each year who exemplifies the passion, dedication, and unwavering spirit of Coach Jim Bob Puckett. A retired head coach and athletic director, Coach Puckett’s remarkable 41-year coaching career, 17 of which were spent at Lovejoy, helped shape the foundation of Leopard Athletics. From establishing the iconic Double L logo to leading the Leopard football program through multiple playoff runs, including a state semifinal appearance, Coach Puckett’s legacy is one of excellence, relationships,andcommunity.
Lovejoy ISD is honored to continue this meaningful tradition with the announcementofthe2025recipientoftheJimBobPuckettSpiritofaLeopard Award during Friday Night Lights on October 23rd, recognizing parent and community member Becky Hand for her enduring commitment and Lovejoy spirit.
Spotlight:LovejoyCommunityMember,BeckyHand
Since joining the Lovejoy community in 2016, Becky Hand has been a tireless supporter of our students and programs. She began by capturing the heart of Lovejoythroughherphotography,documentingsidelinemomentsforboththe girls’ and boys’ basketball teams, first and last days of school, and countless milestonemomentsforourgraduatingseniors.
In2017,BeckytookoverleadershipoftheReadingwiththeLeopardsprogram, coordinatingwithourelementarycampusestosupportitscontinuedsuccess. Through her dedication, the program has flourished, fostering mentorship, schoolspirit,andasharedloveofreadingacrossgradelevels.Thatsameyear, Beckydemonstratedherdeepcompassionandcreativityinanotherway.After her son noticed that some classmates had been left out of receiving mums at Homecoming,Beckytookaction.
PartneringwithPALSstudents,shebegancollectingandrepurposingmumsso everystudentfeltincludedandcelebrated.Whatbeganasasimplegestureof kindnesshassincegrownintoacherishedLovejoytradition,enrichingLeopard classrooms that focus on building everyday life skills, vocational skills and independence.
BeckyHandexemplifiesthetrueSpiritofaLeopard-service,compassion,and community. We are deeply grateful for her lasting impact and are proud to celebrateherasthe2025JimBobPuckettSpiritofaLeopardAwardrecipient.
ADMIN DRESS-UP WEEK!
Thisweek,theLovejoyISDAdministrativeTeamgotintothespiritoftheseason withaseriesoffestivethemedays!Fromclevercostumestocoordinatedteam outfits, administrators brought creativity, laughter, and community pride to each day’s theme. The week concluded with a Storybook Parade, where each department chose a beloved book series to represent and helped promote literacybyhandingoutcandyduringtheLCDCTrick-or-TreatingCandyParade.
This week was a fun reminder that at Lovejoy, administrators work hard but alsoknowhowtohavefuntogether!
SCARE AWAY BREAST CANCER touchdown of terror
BRINGING BOOKS TO LIFE!
During the month of October, students at Hart and Puster Elementary transformed ordinary tissue boxes into beloved book characters from their favorite stories. The Book Character Tissue Box program, hosted by Lovejoy Libraries,providedanopportunityforeverystudenttobringbookstolifeina fun, hands-on way while celebrating both reading and creativity across the district. As seen in these photos, the imagination of our Lovejoy Leopards shines brightly in their campus libraries. Thank you to all the families who participated,andwecan’twaittoseethecreativecharactersthatappearnext year!
LHS STUDENT COUNCIL
VETERANS DAY EVENT
November
November 3-28
DISTRICT REMINDERS
The Lovejoy Visual Arts program invites thecommunitytoattendthe9thAnnual Lovejoy High School Campus Exhibit on November4thfrom5–7p.m. Pleaseuse thebackgalleryentranceatLHS.
This showcase features a diverse collection of artwork from each of the LHS studio courses, highlighting students’commitmenttocraftsmanship, exploration, innovation, and artistic voicethroughtechnicalexperimentation and mastery. The exhibition celebrates the growth, creativity, and pursuit of excellencethatdefinetheLovejoyVisual Arts program and honors the intention, maturity, and skill of each emerging artist.
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:
DISTRICT CALENDAR
LCDC TRICK-OR-TREAT
Each year, students from the Lovejoy Child Development Center bring HalloweenjoytotheRedBuildingduringtheirannualtrick-or-treatevent.This cherished tradition is a highlight for both our youngest Leopards and the Administration staff. Childcare and pre-K students showed off their creativity with adorable costumes, spreading smiles and excitement throughout the halls!
WILLOW SPRINGS THEATER AGES GRACEFULLY!
Aginggracefuly...withmakeup!WillowSpringstheatrestudentsexploredtheartof stage makeup this week, learning how to use highlights and shadows to create realistic “old age” effects on themselves. Their transformations were both impressiveandhilariousasmanylaughsweresharedinclass.
WILLOW SPRINGS ORCHESTRA ALL REGION SUCCESS
This past Saturday, October 25, Region 25 hosted the TMEA Middle School AllRegion Orchestra Auditions at Plano East Senior High School. All-Region is an individual competition where students perform challenging etudes and excerpts, competing against peers from Lovejoy, Allen, Plano, Wylie, and Sherman,one of themostcompetitiveregionsinTexas.Outof491students,19Lovejoymusicians earned a spot or alternate position in this elite orchestra, the highest individual honoramiddleschoolorchestrastudentcanachieve.
Students will perform with the All-Region Orchestra on November 15 at Lowery FreshmanCenterinAllen.
A special congratulations to Cara Pipe and Viraj Mazumdar for earning 1st chair violaandbass!
Violin
ViolettaZhukovskiy
SharonYin
CecilyChoi
AllisonPhan
Viola
AubreyWu
BrynnCaudell
CaraPipe
AngelinaHuang
NithikshaNavaneethakrishnan
Cello
SophiaWang
AdamXu
DonovanAbernethy
FranklinWang
Bass
HughHawkins
SydneyMcCall
EmmaPierson
VirajMazumdar
CharlieDominguez
MitchellSmith
MIDDLE SCHOOL FISHING TOURNAMENT WINNERS
Lovejoy ISD is proud to announce the winners of the Middle School Leopard FishingClubFallVirtualTournament.
The Leopard Fishing Club, open to all 6th–8th graders, runs from September through April, with registration opening in August. Each fall and spring, club members participate in a virtual tournament where they submit a photo of their largestbasscaughtduringatwototwo-and-a-halfweekperiod.
Thisfall,eightanglerscompeted,castingtheirlinesfromponds,lakes,banks,and boats.Together,theycaughtatotalof30.14poundsoffish.
Congratulations to the top three anglers. Each winner received fishing products fromtheLeopardFishingTeamsponsors.
1stPlace:NolanDale,6.34lbs
2ndPlace:BradenChanney,5.93lbs
3rdPlace:JacksonSeely,4.17lbs
LOVEJOY ORCHESTRA HOSTS MONSTER MASH PRACTICE BASH
OnOctober28th,theLovejoyOrchestrahosteditsfirst-everMonsterMashPractice Bash, a fundraising social for sixth-grade beginning orchestra students that blendedmusic,fun,andcommunityspirit.
The event united Sloan Creek’s youngest musicians with high school orchestra studentsforaneveningofpractice,games,glow-in-the-darkfun,andmentorship. Toendthenight,thedirectorsandLHSOrchestraPresidentwerepiedintheface by the top fundraisers, a hilarious finale to a celebration of teamwork and dedication.
Highschoolstudentsdemonstratedleadershipbypracticingalongsidebeginners, offering encouragement, and sharing advice with patience and enthusiasm. For many,itwasafullcirclemoment,returningtothesamebeginnerchairstheyonce occupiedandgivingbacktothenextgeneration.
Beyondthemusic,studentsbuiltconnectionsthatwillstrengthentheprogramfor years to come. The night was filled with laughter, creativity, and inspiration as sixthgraderslefteagertofollowintheirmentors’footsteps.
The Monster Mash Practice Bash showcased what leadership looks like in the LovejoyOrchestra:liftingothersup,buildingcommunity,andpassingonalegacy ofjoy,kindness,andmusicalexcellence.
LEOPARD FISHING REELS IN BIG WINS AT LAKE TAWAKONI
TheLeopardFishingTeamcompetedintheirthirdTHSBADivisionalTournament of the season this past weekend on Lake Tawakoni. After a weather-related reschedule,Sundayfishingprovedtobeasuccessfuldayonthewater.
Fourteen Leopard Fishing teams competed among 198 high school teams, with twelve of the fourteen teams weighing in fish. Congratulations to all of Lovejoy’s talentedanglersonanoutstandingshowing!
TeamResults:
NicholasRowe&OwenQuinlan–5fish,12.83lbs
GusCurry&FinnMonda–5fish,12.55lbs
PriceRiggins&SuttonGriffin–5fish,9.98lbs
EvanWyatt&AndyTurnbow–4fish,8.55lbs
DiegoNguyen&LandonDavis–4fish,7.83lbs
CadeLangford&SuttonWehking–3fish,7.04lbs
CarsonDaniels&PatrickAhearn–3fish,6.69lbs
JoelKnight&EvanWheeler–2fish,3.62lbs
LOVEJOY BAND SHOWCASES TALENT & COMMUNITY SPIRIT
TheLovejoyBandhadanincredibleweekendcelebratingmusic,community,and schoolspirit!
OnFridaynight,thebandhosteditsannualMiddleSchoolNight,welcomingfuture LeopardstoperformalongsidethehighschoolbandundertheFridaynightlights. The energy, excitement, and musicianship from the middle school guests were outstanding.
On Saturday, the band performed for parents and community members at the Parent & Community Performance, showcasing their 2025 marching show. The event was a huge success and a perfect opportunity to share the hard work and dedicationofthesetalentedstudents.
A big thank-you to the amazing students, directors, parents, and volunteers who make these moments possible. The Lovejoy Band family continues to make the communityproud!
BOARD MEETING SUMMARY
BOARDOFTRUSTEES
Lovejoy ISD is committed to providing consistent, transparent communication with ourcommunityandemployees.Wehopethis meeting summary will support you in staying connected and informed. Click the image on thelefttoopenthesummaryinGoogleDocs.
Regular Board Meetings and Workshops are nowrecordedandarchivedontheLovejoyISD website. You can access Regular Board Meeting and Workshop recordings by clicking theimageontheright.
The full Regular Board Meeting agenda with supporting documents may be viewed by clickingtheimageontheleft.
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. Thisweek'sfeaturedflyersare:
Please note: the information featured in the "Community News" section is submitted by local community members. Lovejoy ISD is not affiliated with the organizationsanddoesnotclaimtoendorsethem.
Lovejoy ISD is excited to launch the Lovejoy x ALL SZNS Spirit Wear Collection! Orderswillbeavailableforpick-upat the Lovejoy Administration building when filled. Lovejoy customers will not have to drive to Southlake for orderpick-up.
ClickHeretoOrder
Thiscollaborationnotonlyshowsoff your Leopard pride, but also generates revenue to support teachers, classrooms, and programs acrossLovejoyISD.
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
