Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
NOVEMBER 6, 2026
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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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F I R S T R E S P O N D E R S N I G H T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S E N I O R N I G H T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CELEBRATING COACH DODGE..................................... MARSHALS STRENGETH PARTNERSHIPS........................ DISTRICT REMINDERS.............................................. ATTENDANCE UPDATES............................................ DISTRICT CALENDAR............................................... PUSTER TEACHERS LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.............. READING WITH THE LEOPARDS AT LCDC....................... READING WITH THE LEOPARDS AT PUSTER.................... SCIS ADVENTURES AT ALLASO RANCH..........................
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09 10
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28 WSMS COLOR RUN BRINGS THE FUN............................ LOVEJOY ROBOTICS SWEEPS LORE OF THE BOTS.............
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32 MAJESTICS BRING HOME BRONZE............................... 33 SWIM & DIVE SWEEPS MCKINNEY NORTH....................... 34 AEROSPACE STUDENTS EXPLORE AVIATION INNOVATION... 35 LEOPARD LIFE....................................................... 38 DISTRICT & CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS.............................
MESSAGE FROM THE Lovejoy Community,
Superintendent
Some of my favorite moments in Lovejoy are the ones that bring us together, celebrating our students, connecting with families, and thanking those who serve. This week offered so many reasons to be grateful for our community. Last night in Leopard Stadium, our Leopards took on The Colony, and we celebrated Senior Night. We are grateful for the time, talent, and dedication these students have shared with Lovejoy. We also recognized our first responders with appreciation for their service and commitment to keeping our community safe. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of celebration, gratitude, and Lovejoy pride! Lovejoy Robotics Sweeps Top Honors! Our robotics teams brought home top honors from the For the Lore of Bots Tournament, hosted at Lovejoy High School on October 31. Team 1082M: Excellence Award, the tournament’s highest honor, and Robot Skills Champion Award. The team is also currently ranked #52 in the world in Robot Skills Standings! Teams 1082P and 1082V: Tournament Champions! Team 1082G: Design Award for outstanding engineering and documentation! Congratulations to our Robotics students for their innovation, perseverance, and teamwork. Thank you to the coaches, parents, volunteers, and community supporters who made this tournament a success! PTO: Connection and Appreciation I enjoyed connecting with our PTO representatives at this week’s PTO Roundtable. I am grateful for their partnership and the countless hours our parent volunteers give to support our students, staff, and schools.
Our PTOs are also collecting notes for the Lovejoy Letter Writing Campaign through Thursday, November 12. This beloved tradition invites families to thank the teachers, staff, and administrators who make a difference throughout the year. A simple, heartfelt note can mean so much. You can drop your letter in a collection box at any Lovejoy school by November 12. Celebrating Our Varsity Volleyball Team While our Lady Leopards’ volleyball playoff run ended this week, we are proud of the hard work, dedication, and heart they demonstrated all season. Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches on the season. One of my favorite moments from Tuesday’s playoff game was watching a sweet group of our Little Leopards cheer on the varsity team. I get such a kick out of seeing our youngest Leopards having the best time together at our athletic events. Their enthusiasm and big smiles brought us all joy, a wonderful reminder of what makes Lovejoy a special place to grow up. Honoring Our Veterans The Lovejoy High School Student Council will host their annual Veterans Day Dinner on November 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Lovejoy High School. This student-led tradition gives our students a meaningful opportunity to honor the service and selfless sacrifice of veterans in our community. Veterans and their families: Please register using the sign-up information later in this edition and join us for this special evening. We look forward to celebrating you! Thank you for the many ways you support our students and care for one another. It is a privilege to share these moments with you. There is only ONE Lovejoy, and we are ALL Leopards!
Lovejoy Proud,
Katie Kordel Superintendent
FIRST RESPONDERS Night Last night, we were proud to celebrate First Responders Night during our Lovejoy football game against The Colony! We were honored to recognize representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texas Department of Public Safety, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, City of Lucas, Lucas Police and Fire Departments, Town of Fairview, Fairview Police and Fire Departments, North Texas Fusion Center, and Texas Education Agency. We are incredibly grateful for their service, dedication, and continued partnership in keeping our students, staff, and community safe. Thank you for all you do to protect and serve our community!
SENIOR Night Last night was also Senior Night at Lovejoy Stadium! Seniors from across our athletics, fine arts, and student activities programs came together with their loved ones to celebrate this special milestone during the final regular-season football game of the year. It was a wonderful evening honoring the hard work, dedication, and memories these students have made throughout their time at Lovejoy. We are so proud of our seniors and can't wait to see all they accomplish in their next chapter! Once a Leopard, Always a Leopard!
CELEBRATING Coach Dodge Lovejoy ISD proudly celebrated a remarkable milestone for Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Todd Dodge, who earned his 250th career victory on August 28, 2026, when the Lovejoy Leopards defeated Frisco Reedy 56–17. With nearly 40 years of coaching experience, Coach Dodge has built a legendary career defined by more than wins on the field. His dedication to developing studentathletes of character, inspiring excellence, and establishing winning traditions has made a lasting impact on countless athletes and communities. Congratulations to Coach Dodge on this incredible achievement and thank you for your continued leadership and dedication to Lovejoy ISD!
MARSHALS STRENGTHEN Partnerships
Lovejoy ISD School Marshals joined local law enforcement partners on November 2 for a collaborative training day focused on strengthening skills, building relationships, and enhancing school safety. The training provided an opportunity to build on skills learned during the summer's Protective Mindset course, led by Blue Bearing Solutions. Participants worked together to reinforce safety strategies, share knowledge, and strengthen partnerships dedicated to protecting our students, staff, and community. A special thank you to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Lucas Police Department, Collin County Sheriff's Office, and Fairview Police Department for their continued partnership and commitment to keeping Lovejoy ISD safe!
NATIONAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
Week
Lovejoy ISD is proud to celebrate National School Psychology Week and honor the vital work of our School Psychologists. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and youth succeed. Thank you, Lovejoy School Psychologists!
2026-2027
DATES TO KNOW REFERRAL WINDOW November 2-27, 2026 2026-2027 Elementary/IntermediateReferral for GT Program 2026-2027 Secondary ReferralforGT Program
TESTING Kindergarten(duringschool day) Hart-January 19-21, 2027 Puster-January 25-27, 2027 th
1st – 8 Grade February 20 and February 27 at 8:00am Sloan Creek Intermediate th
9th - 11 Grade February 22-March 5 (during the school day) For more information visit https://www.lovejoyisd.net/o/lisd/page/gifted-andtalented
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!
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!
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
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DISTRICTReminders Excellence has no boundaries. Welcoming students beyond Lovejoy ISD boundaries – tuition-free.
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.
PUSTER TEACHERS LEARN
From One Another
It was a great day of professional learning at Puster Elementary! Teacher leaders developed and led mini-sessions focused on classroom management, student engagement, and meeting the needs of high-achieving learners. Staff members selected sessions based on their interests, providing an opportunity to collaborate, share strategies, and learn from the expertise within their own campus. What a wonderful example of our educators learning and growing together!
READING WITH THE LEOPARDS At LCDC Lovejoy High School baseball players recently visited the Lovejoy Child Development Center (LCDC) as part of the district's Reading with the Leopards initiative! Our youngest Leopards enjoyed spending time with the student-athletes as they shared stories and encouraged a love of reading. This special visit provided an opportunity for our high school students to serve as positive role models while building meaningful connections with the next generation of Leopards. Thank you to the Lovejoy Baseball team for stepping up to the plate and inspiring our little readers!
READING WITH THE LEOPARDS At Puster Puster Elementary welcomed Lovejoy High School student-athletes and Student Council members for another wonderful morning of Reading with the Leopards! Students representing boys and girls soccer, tennis, golf, wrestling, softball, and Student Council spent time reading with our youngest Leopards, sharing stories and encouraging a lifelong love of literacy. This special tradition brings students of all ages together, giving our high school Leopards the opportunity to serve as positive role models while building meaningful connections across the district. Thank you to our student-athletes and student leaders for sharing their time and making reading extra special for our Puster students!
SCIS ADVENTURES AT
Allaso Ranch
Sloan Creek Intermediate School fifth graders enjoyed two days of adventure, learning, and teamwork at Allaso Ranch! Students participated in exciting activities, including zip-lining, canoeing, horseback riding experiences, science lessons, skit performances, and team-building challenges. Throughout the trip, campers competed for the title of Camp Champions by earning points for teamwork, participation, creative skits, and even finding a hidden gnome! The experience was filled with laughter, friendship, and lasting memories, including an evening of s’mores with classmates. What a wonderful opportunity for our Leopards to learn, grow, and make memories together!
WSMS COLOR RUN BRINGS The Fun
Willow Springs Middle School was bursting with color and school spirit at its annual Color Run! Hosted by the WSMS PTO, students took on a mile-long course filled with colorful surprises as teachers, staff, and parent volunteers showered runners with every color of the rainbow. After crossing the finish line, students celebrated with snacks, music, and dancing to a live DJ! A huge thank you to the WSMS PTO, teachers, staff, and volunteers who made this fun-filled tradition such a success!
LOVEJOY ROBOTICS SWEEPS Lore of the Bots Lovejoy Robotics delivered an impressive performance at the For the Lore of Bots tournament on October 31 at Lovejoy High School, earning several of the competition's highest honors. Team 1082M earned the prestigious Excellence Award and Robot Skills Champion Award and currently ranks 52nd in the world in Robot Skills Standings. Teams 1082V and 1082P joined forces to claim the Tournament Championship, while Team 1082G received the Design Award for its outstanding engineering process and documentation. Teams 1082T, 1082N, and 1082U also advanced to the elimination rounds, demonstrating determination and continued growth throughout the season. Hosted by Lovejoy Robotics, the tournament brought together talented competitors for a day of innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving. Special thanks to the coaches, parents, volunteers, and community supporters who helped make the event possible. Congratulations to all our 1082 teams! Six teams will continue competing on November 7, with two traveling to Southlake and four competing in Wylie. Best of luck, Leopards!
MAJESTICS BRING HOME Bronze
The Lovejoy Majestics Dance Team delivered an outstanding performance at the North Texas TDEA Fall Field Assessment on Monday, November 2! The Majestics earned a Division I rating and were one of only seven teams out of 18 in Class 5A to advance to the finals. The team went on to secure an impressive 3rdplace finish, earning the bronze medal! Congratulations to these talented dancers on their incredible achievement! Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence continue to make Lovejoy proud!
SWIM & DIVE SWEEPS
McKinney North
Lovejoy Swim & Dive closed out its dual meet season with an impressive sweep of McKinney North, one of its toughest district competitors, despite several key swimmers being sidelined by injuries! The girls' team won by 34 points, highlighted by freshman Landry Beal's first-place finish in the 100 Freestyle and first-, second-, and third-place sweeps in both the 100 Butterfly and 100 Breaststroke. Freshman Tina Vo came within eight seconds of a regional qualifying time, sophomore Helen Caldwell earned a personal best, and senior Emily James secured a thrilling first-place finish in the 500 Freestyle. The boys' team earned a 15-point victory, with standout performances from junior Conor Vermie and sophomore Jacob Wang, who each achieved two qualifying time standards for the upcoming championship meet. Sophomore Kieran D'Arcy also recorded his first time in the 100 Breaststroke. Lovejoy Swim & Dive is off to a strong start, with both teams demonstrating impressive growth and consistent improvement as they prepare for an exciting championship season in November and December! Congratulations to our Leopard swimmers and divers on a fantastic finish to the dual meet season!
AEROSPACE STUDENTS EXPLORE
Aviation Innovation
Students in Lovejoy's Introduction to Aerospace and Aviation class recently stepped into the roles of aerospace engineers and aviation historians, presenting research projects exploring the innovations and engineering advancements behind historically significant aircraft. The projects featured aircraft spanning nearly a century of aviation history, including the 1917 Fokker Triplane, 1935 Douglas DC-3, 1954 Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, 1974 Grumman F-14 Tomcat, 1970 Cessna 404, and Russian-made Su-33. Following four days of research and preparation, students presented their findings on October 29. Each team developed a formal written report and professional presentation examining how aircraft design, engineering modifications, and technological innovations influenced performance and capabilities. Throughout the project, students demonstrated their ability to understand complex engineering concepts and communicate technical information effectively. The experience strengthened their research, critical-thinking, public-speaking, and technical communication skills while providing valuable insight into the evolution of aerospace engineering. Congratulations to these future engineers and aviation professionals on their hard work and outstanding presentations!
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: Girl Bowlers Wanted! 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
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Connect with Katie November 6, 2026. Issue 14