Connect with Katie.11.04.2022.Issue14

Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

NOVEMBER 04, 2022

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The Lovejoy ISD Community Partner Program offers local businesses the opportunity to connect directly with the Lovejoy Community through advertisements in Lovejoy's weekly district newsletter, Connect with Katie.

Community Partner Advertising Advantage Connect with Katie Digital Newsletter is emailed to 7000+ local Lovejoy parents, community members, employees, and alumni every week 2022-2023 Prorated Advertising Rates Full, half, and quarter page color advertisements Your business logo displayed on the Lovejoy ISD Community Partner website Community Partner Digital Badge for your business website and social media For Community Partner program details, examples, and pricing information email: Kim Steiner, Coordinator of Communications, at kimberly_steiner@lovejoyisd.net.

Table of Contents 04

Superintendent's Message

06

Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election

07

District Highlights

12

District Calendar

13

Student Activities & Recognitions

25

Staff Recognitions

26

Staff Spotlight

27

Leopard Life: Lovejoy Links

29

Leopard Life: Community News

30

Featured Job Openings

31

Health and Safety

SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE Lovejoy Community, We have much to celebrate! Our students are competing and performing at top levels in athletics and fine arts.

Cross Country is headed to the State Championship Meet! I look forward to cheering on our Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country Teams as they run in the State Meet tomorrow morning in Round Rock.

Last weekend, the Lovejoy High School Marching Band competed in their first Bands of America Regional in Waco and scored 7th place out of 28 bands from around Texas. This earned them a coveted spot in the Bands of America night show.

The Lovejoy Varsity Volleyball Team earned the title of Bi-District Champions on Tuesday night when they swept Crandall in round one.

Next up will be Whitehouse at Eustace High School in the area round playoff.

Honoring Lovejoy traditions and building upon our legacy of excellence is a priority. Our fall Senior pep-rally and Senior night at the football game are important traditions that celebrate the milestone of Senior year. These Senior recognitions honor four years of dedication, perseverance, and sacrifice as part of a team or program. It is a privilege to be part of these precious moments. I love seeing the pride on parents’ faces as they escort their child across the field.

Superintendent's Message Continued A part of our commitment to culture is providing a continuing legacy for the future. One of the ways we live this commitment is by creating new traditions that honor our values and beliefs. We have a new Lovejoy tradition this year that was initiated by the Lovejoy High School Football Team. Each home game, several teachers are recognized as teachers of the week. These well-deserving teachers are celebrated on center field in front of our community. Prior to the game that week, the football captains visit the classroom of each teacher being recognized to invite them to the game and give them a game day jersey. Strong organizations celebrate what they value. We value our students, teachers, and the precious partnership we have with our parents.

There is only ONE LOVEJOY and we are ALL LEOPARDS! Katie Kordel

Superintendent

VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION Fast Fact: Proposition A and Election Day Today, Friday, November 4th was the last day for early voting and Tuesday, November 8th is Election Day. It is important to Lovejoy ISD that community members feel confident in their understanding of Proposition A. Voters can find Comprehensive 3+Step Guide on our informational VATRE website HERE including: Step 1 - Explore School Budget and Finance Concepts Step 2 - Learn about Lovejoy's Current Budget Outlook Step 3 - Review Voting & Election Details We encourage you to explore these links and resources for more specific questions: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) HERE. Review Ballot Language HERE. Voting locations, dates, and times HERE. Feel free to reach out to us HERE with any questions.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT

Website!

WWW.LOVEJOYISDVATRE.NET

DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS Senior Pep Rally

Senior Night 2022

Red Ribbon Week - Hart Caring Coins Last week Lovejoy celebrated Red Ribbon Week, the largest and longest running drug-use prevention campaign. Our campuses are incredible at finding creative and fun ways to celebrate making happy, healthy choices. Red Ribbon week is a student favorite with themed dress-up days and a focus on positive decision making.

This year, Hart Elementary students experienced the satisfaction of giving, by holding a "Caring Coins" drive to benefit All Community Outreach (ACO) in Allen. Students (and their families) raised $1,815.06 to help fight hunger and homelessness! Great Job, Hart Elementary! #LovejoyProud

Red Ribbon Week - Puster Book Character Day

DISTRICT CALENDAR November 2022 Month of November Native American Heritage Month

November 6

November 7

November 8 November 11 Veterans Day November 18 Substitute Professional Day November 21-25 Thanksgiving Break November 28 Board of Trustees Meeting - LCDC Library Closed Session @ 6:00PM in D100 Open Session is expected to begin at approximately 7:00PM

Student Calendar Link

Athletics Calendar Link

District & Campus Calendars Link 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.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & RECOGNITIONS LHS Volleyball Bi-District Champions!

Our Leopards took on the Crandall Panthers in the Bi-District Round and finished with a 3 set sweep! We are so proud of our girls, and are ready to take on our next opponent. We will play the Whitehouse Wildcats tomorrow, Saturday, November 5th at Eustace High School.

Game time is 1:00PM.

LHS Band The Lovejoy Band competed in their first Bands of America Regional in Waco this past weekend. This contest featured some of the best 28 bands in Texas all looking for a spot in finals for the evening show.

The Lovejoy band placed 10th in prelims locking in a spot in finals and moved up to 7th in the finals presentation.

It takes many groups years if at all to make it into the prestigious "night show" at a BOA Regional and The Lovejoy Band was right in the mix with the best, their first time out. This triumph marks the end of the 2022 Competitive Marching season. We will see you all next year with a whole new production! Go band!!

LHS Football Update Our Freshman and Junior Varsity football seasons concluded on Wednesday November 2nd. The Freshman team defeated Melissa 4114 and the JV team won in a hard fought battle with a score of 21-20.

With victories from both teams, Our sub-varsity teams were both on Friday, October 14 the Willow Springs Middle School crowned as the undefeated District Champions! We are extremely announcements featured a story about the true meaning of proud of our athletes and the hard work they put in to achieve their #TeamLovejoy and #OneHeartOneLovejoy.

Congratulations on your goal.

TOUCHDOWN, Seth!

Our Varsity football team came up short in a hard fought battle against Melissa High School on Thursday night, with a final score of 36-35. The Leopards finished second in district standings and secured a home game for the first round of playoffs. Lovejoy will host Whitehouse next week at Leopard Stadium.

LHS Robotics Lovejoy HS Robotics competed this past weekend in Wolfe City and did a phenomenal job! 1082V was chosen by the top #1 ranked team to move into the elimination rounds and they ended as Finalists! We are super proud of their huge growth over the past few weeks. 1082K also did amazing ending the day ranked 3rd in Qualifications and as overall Semi-Finalists! Amazing job to all the teams representing our community!

1082V

1082K

1082S

1082S can be seen here offering help to an alliance partner from another high school whose robot broke. Great job lending a helping hand 1082S! #LovejoyProud

SCIS/WSMS Orchestra News On Saturday, October 29th, our region hosted the Middle School All Region Orchestra Auditions at Allen HS. All Region is an individual competition where students learn a packet of music that includes an etude and excerpts. This music is difficult and stretches them as musicians. They competed against other musicians from 6th-8th grade in our region (Lovejoy, Allen, Plano, Wylie and Sherman). There were over 500 students who auditioned to make this elite orchestra.

Please congratulate the following WSMS and SCIS students for earning a spot or alternate spot in the TMEA Region 25 All Region Orchestra!!

Justen Mao Mathew Sun Naoise Wheeler Yuri Park Kevin Zhang

Autry Moayed Madeleine Chi Mia Zhang Sneha Varri Victoria Wong

Ruby Spinney Lily Sanders Campbell Finnigan Jonathan Brunson Gia Thakkar

Rylan Bratz Christian Fiorello Jonas Whittington Sofia Jauregui

WSMS Volleyball Willow Springs volleyball teams finished strong in the district tournaments. 8th grade A team was undefeated in district going into the tournament but took 2nd in a hard fought match. The 7th grade A team was undefeated in district and won the district tournament. We are proud of these girls and cannot wait to see their growth in the off season.

WSMS Theatre Presents Willy Wonka Willow Springs Middle School Theatre presented Ronald Dahl's Willy Wonka JR at the Lovejoy High School Auditorium last weekend. The talented student cast portrayed enigmatic Willy Wonka, dancing Oompa Loompas, and a range of lovable characters!

The cast found golden tickets, swam down a chocolate river, and shared an important message that nothing is truly impossible.

Students time and dedication to the play was apparent in the phenomenal performance!

Well done!

Fall Family Fun Nights!

Puster

Hart

Elementary Fine Arts Field Trip 3rd graders from Hart Elementary and Puster Elementary traveled to the Allen ISD Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, November 2nd to enjoy a performance by our community Allen Philharmonic Orchestra. The program was set around the music selections from the UIL Music Memory List. A favorite piece was The Remarkable Farkle McBride. This song includes a narrated monologue of the story set to the music and helps identify the instruments that make up the symphony orchestra. Our students were excellent audience members and enjoyed the concert.

Puster Kinders Explore Arboretum on Field Trip

Card and Board Game Academy Lovejoy's Card and Board Game Academy is off to an excellent start!

Students are learning to play 10 new games that spark curiosity, promote critical thinking skills and foster collaboration. This is an extended day opportunity for kiddos in 3rd - 6th grade and enrollment is now open for Spring Semester.

For more information and to enroll click HERE!

Lovejoy Child Development Center Trick or Treat The Lovejoy Child Development Center trick-or-treated through Central Administration on Monday! Lovejoy Child Development Center students were greeted our amazing staff members dressed for the occasion!

Toy Story characters including Buzz Light Year (Anna Koenig), Forky (Sandi Petty), Bullseye (Sancy Fuller), Woody (Kevin Parker), The Claw Alien (Jennifer DuPlessis, Ph.D), and Little Bo Peep (Dr. Laurie Tinsley).

STAFF RECOGNITIONS Football Teachers of the Week At Thursday night's football game, we celebrated Hart Elementary school teachers, Sarah Moody and Nicole Mills and Lovejoy High School teachers, Natalie Coonrod and Crystal Gaddie!

!

Ms. Moody and Ms. Mills with their classes when LHS football players surprised them with jerseys earlier this week!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Leslee Cox Administrative Assistant to the Principal at WSMS Professional Background 25 years of clerical experience with the past 6 years in the school setting.

Began working at WSMS in August of 2018 as the receptionist, and transitioned to Administrative Assistant to the Principal in October of the same year.

Personal Highlights: I’m a Texan through and through - born and raised!

My high school sweetheart and I just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.

We have two children Raegan - a Freshman at Tarleton State University and Grayson - a Sophomore at Lovejoy High School.

We have 3 dogs and 8 chickens!

Roles and Responsibilities Support the principal in achieving their goals and vision for the campus Prepare the principal newsletter and campus correspondences Plan meetings and agendas for campus administration and office staff Coordinate the campus budget, purchase orders, and payment authorizations Work closely with the PTO and other campus organizations Collaboration, Connection, Community These are all very important to me and I feel like I strive to fulfill each of these every day. I have an open door policy with any staff, students and community members. I strive to be a compassionate listener doing all that I can to make sure that concerns are addressed, changes are made and successes are celebrated!

Contact Information Email: leslee_cox@lovejoyisd.net

Work Phone: 469.742.8416

Leopard Life

LOVEJOY LINKS

NEW! CELEBRATION OF SERVICE

NEW! LOVEJOY CHILDREN'S CHOIR

NEW! LOVEJOY GIFTED ASSOCIATION

Leopard Life

LOVEJOY LINKS

UPDATE! LOVEJOY LETTER CAMPAIGN

LHS CHEER HOLIDAY WREATHS

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. Check out the new Community News format!

BECOME A TEACHER

FEATURED JOB OPENING

LOVEJOY ISD - LOVEJOY ISD - LOVEJOY ISD - LOVEJOY ISD - LOVEJ

APPLY HERE

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Texas Department of State Health Services released new guidance for the 2022-2023 school year regarding Covid-19 and schools.

Key Take Aways Students and/or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 may return in 5 days if they have been fever and symptom free for 24 hours. (Change from 10 days for students) Students with a COVID-19 household member who has tested positive are no longer required to quarantine.

The district will not maintain a local “dashboard”, reporting positive cases. The district is required to report positive cases to the state. A link will be provided on the website that reflects this information for the district.

The health screener QR code will remain in place at each campus for volunteers and visitors to complete.

Current Covid-19 Illness/Exclusion Protocols

Connect with Katie . November 04, 2022 . Issue 14