Connect with Katie.12.08.2023.Issue18

Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

DECEMBER 08, 2023

y o j e v o L s d r a p o e L

CONTENTS 04 MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

05 FINE ARTS WINTER FESTIVAL

14

GOOD MORNING TEXAS!

15 WSMS TV NEWS PACEMAKER WINNERS! 07 SAVE THE DATE: 24-25 PRE-K MEETING 16 PAYTON PIERCE 2024 ALL AMERICAN 07 SAVE THE DATE: STEM FESTIVAL ROBOTICS 1082E TOURNAMENT 17 CHAMPS 08 ATTENDANCE UPDATE NATIVE AMERICAN INTEGRATED 08 LOJO HOLIDAY GIFTS & MERCH 18 STUDIES 10 DISTRICT CALENDAR 20 BAND & ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY CHEER

12 YOUNGARTS NAMES 2 LOVEJOY WINNERS

13 GIRLS GOLF ANGEL TREE

21 WINTER COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES 22 GIRLS BASKETBALL HOLDS STRONG 23 BEST TODAY. BETTER TOMORROW. 24 HEART OF A LOVEJOY 27 BOARD MEETING SUMMARY 28 LOVEJOY LINKS 31 DISTRICT AND CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS 31 COMMUNITY NEWS

MESSAGE from the Superintendent Lovejoy Community, Our schools have been filled with reminders of the many blessings of this special season. This morning, Lovejoy High School started the day off by spreading love and joy to the study body. As students entered the school, the counseling team gave out fist bumps and candy canes and the PTO served hot cocoa. There is nothing like watching a high school student try and resist the temptation to smile.

Our Annual Fine Arts Festival concluded this week with impressive performances by our elementary choirs, band, and color guard. Our 6th – 12th grade band students impressed and delighted us with their holiday concert performances. The growth and development of our student musicians as they progress through the grade levels is truly remarkable. I was amazed with what our 6th grade band students have achieved in only four months.

We have four important full days of school next week for our Pre-K to 8th grade students while our high school students will have four half-days as part of their semester exam schedule. I met with both the middle and high student connection councils this week and preparing for semester exams was very much on their minds. I have no doubt that our secondary students will rise to this challenge and experience relief on Thursday evening as they head into their winter break.

As our students, staff, and families eagerly look forward to the start of winter break on Friday of next week, it is also an opportunity to reflect back in gratitude on the many successes and blessings we have experienced this first half of the school year.

Thank you for being one of those blessings. We look forward to finishing the semester strong next week with another important tradition, elementary classroom parties. It is impossible to not embrace the excitement of the holiday season when you visit an elementary school this time of year.

There is only ONE LOVEJOY and we are ALL LEOPARDS! Lovejoy Proud,

Katie Kordel Superintendent

FINE ARTS

WINTER FESTIVAL

SAVE THE DATE: 24-25 PRE-K MEETING Do you have a little leopard turning four years old by September 1, 2024? The Lovejoy Child Development Center is hosting an informational 2024-2025 Pre-K meeting on January 10, 2024.

The event will include a program overview, curriculum, tuition, registration process, Pre-K eligibility, Q&A, and tour of the school!

SAVE THE DATE: STEM FESTIVAL

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.

LOJO HOLIDAY GIFTS & MERCH Find a gift for everyone on your list -- The Lovejoy High School store will be open Monday through Thursday next week from 8:30am - 12:30pm for your shopping convenience. Check in at the LHS front reception desk. The store is located in the LHS Commons Area.

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!

DISTRICT CALENDAR LOVEJOY ISD

HOLIDAY

Break

BEGINNING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 RETURNING THURSDAY, JANUARY 4 *Campus and District offices will be closed during break

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.

YOUNGARTS NAMES 2 LOVEJOY WINNERS! Kaylee Christiansen (’24) and Bec Wang (’23) were recognized among 700 of the nation’s most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary and performing arts as YoungArts Award Winners with Distinction. Selected from approximately 9,000 applications and representing artists from across the United States, these YoungArts award winners will have opportunities for financial, creative and professional development support throughout their entire careers.

YoungArts award winners are chosen for their caliber of artistic achievement by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process. As recipients of the YoungArts Award with Distinction, both Bec and Kaylee’s work is recognized as demonstrating exceptional technique; a strong, sophisticated, nuanced, and clear artistic point of view; and a depth of thinking/performance that far exceeds the level of peers at this career stage.

Both Kaylee and Bec will be traveling to Miami for an all-inclusive week-long intensive known as National YoungArts Week, where they will participate in classes and interdisciplinary workshops with acclaimed artists.

YoungArts Winners with Distinction are further eligible for exclusive opportunities including nomination as U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school artists.

Lovejoy Visual Arts could not be more proud of Bec and Kaylee’s vision, commitment to their goals, personal drive, and work ethic that fostered such thoughtful and standard-setting work! Congratulations to these talented artists!

GIRLS GOLF ANGEL TREE The girls golf team hopes to help make a little girl's holiday wishes come true this year through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Each player collected funds and together, fulfilled every need and wish listed on their 8 year old Angel's wish list during their Angel Tree shopping spree on Monday.

The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps families that are struggling financially provide Christmas gifts for children. Gifts are distributed to the family to place under their family tree, making Christmas brighter for all those in need.

GOOD MORNING TEXAS! Lovejoy ISD students Makenna Adamson, Madeline Smith, and Kiera Watson represented LHS StuCo on Good Morning Texas yesterday! They were recognized for their creative efforts to help raise funds and awareness for Wipe Out Kids' Cancer. We are #LovejoyProud of their leadership and commitment to serving our community!

WSMS TV NEWS PACEMAKER WINNERS! Honoring the nation’s best, the National Scholastic Press Association has named 20 scholastic news broadcasts as finalists in its prestigious Pacemaker competition. Lovejoy ISD is proud to announce WSMS TV News Program as one of the 2023 winners.

“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” Executive Director Laura Widmer said. “NSPA is honored to recognize the best of the best.” The awards are generally considered to be the highest national honors in their field, and are unofficially known as the "Pulitzer Prizes of student journalism.”

Media advisor, Barb Smith, entered three broadcasts from the spring of 2023, and all three were recognized. Please congratulate the Producers and Editors: Reid Boardman, Cora Craver, Chayse Hunkhe, Cade Lynch, and Madison Mehia.

Smith’s team is the only middle school in America to win!

Click here for the NSPA Press Release and Results In addition to the Pacemaker award, several students received fifth place in the NSPA Clips and Clicks sweepstakes recognition. The competition consisted of 892 submissions in the spring competition of work from December 8, 2023 to May 1, 2023.

Just 124 entries were recognized in all aspects of journalism, that’s 14%.

Furthermore, only 5 teams were awarded a place in the Broadcast News category, with WSMS reporters, the only middle school in America!

Congratulations to Cora Craver, Chayse Huhnke, Madison Mehia, and Natalia Vizcaino.

Congratulations to our students and Ms. Smith on these significant accomplishments!

PAYTON PIERCE 2024 ALL AMERICAN LHS Linebacker Payton Pierce, Ohio State University commit, was officially honored today as a 2024 All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the sixth week of the Road to the Dome digital series.

Having been selected to play in the twenty-fourth edition of the All-American Bowl, Pierce will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The 2024 All-American Bowl on January 6, 2024, from inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, will be presented live on NBC and Peacock. #RollPards!

The Road to the Dome tour will continue to honor all 100 All-Americans with virtual jersey presentations during an 8-week series that is released through various digital and social platforms across NBC Sports.

ROBOTICS 1082E TOURNAMENT CHAMPS Four of our LHS Robotics Teams competed in Fort Worth this past Saturday and we're proud to say that team 1082E [ Carbonated Potato ] won the Tournament Championship after a day full of hard-fought matches! They are now statequalified! We are excited to celebrate this team, and also team 1082S who won the Judges Award for doing several things to impress the judges. Overall, all four of our teams did a fantastic job! Also competing that day and making improvements were teams 1082H and 1082T. #LovejoyProud

1082E

1082S

NATIVE AMERICAN INTEGRATED STUDIES Students in Mrs. Dahl’s fourth grade Integrated Studies class recently presented their research of Native American tribes. Students studied geographic locations, movement patterns, cultural traditions, food, housing, and much more. The study included many cross-curricular connections: math, science, art, music, writing, a multiple perspectives journal, and even technology!

Parents and classmates were invited to view the banner presentations and ask questions. Parent, Kim Ewing, attended the project presentations. In a follow up email she wrote, “Thank you for inviting us to see the projects! … I absolutely love how this was a research project, a writing project, creating presentations, posters and materials, and presenting for varied audiences in addition to making connections to other areas of study. Their hard work was really amazing and I’m so very proud of all of them. I truly cannot thank you enough for your amazing investment in the kids and their education and want you to know how appreciated you are!”

Holly Haynes, principal of Puster Elementary noted, “This was a great project and a phenomenal opportunity for students to share their work. Amazing student learning taking place!”

Brie Smith, Director of Advanced Academics, asked a group of students, “What was the most interesting thing you learned?” The resounding answer was that their tribe captured and ate alligators! Fascinating facts!

Photo Credit: Diane Dahl

Photo Credit: Diane Dahl

BAND & ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY CHEER Our Band and Orchestra students have been spreading holiday cheer across the district this week. Students were greeted with Christmas Carols by the Band at both Hart and Puster Elementary, and Orchestra Ambassadors performed for students at Sloan Creek Intermediate.

In this festive season our students were excited and happy to spread Holiday cheer for all to hear!

Jonah Vuong, Brady Kofahl, Justin Poteet, Jordan Giles, and Reagan Wagner

Sofia Rodas, Cole Hibberd, Lucy Crites, Sofia Zinn, Emilia Rodas and Nolan Novotny

Ethan Jia, Sharon Yin, Amira Kuriakose, Emma Sun, Brynn Caudell, Kate Wilkins, Aubrey Wu, Sophia Wang, Elliot Westfall, and Emma Pierson

WINTER COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES Puster and Hart Elementary 4th grade choirs performed at NorthPark Centre in Dallas last week. The combined choirs performed "Night of Silence" led by music teachers Wendy Hebert and Brooke Grall.

The WSMS Orchestra students performed at the Stonebriar Centre "Sounds of the Season" on Tuesday, December 5th. Many parents came to the performance and holiday mall shoppers gathered to listen to the students. The students performed beautifully and represented our school, program and district well!

GIRLS BASKETBALL HOLDS STRONG Lovejoy Girls Basketball start the season off with a well earned 11-5 record, which ties the best start in the last six years!

The girls recently competed in the Battle on the Bay Tournament in Corpus Christis at Calallen High School. The girls went 4-1 finishing 5th place. They kicked off a 2-0 start with a tough Friday loss. They ended the weekend with a 68-40 win Saturday morning, and a 53-39 win over 5A #16 ranked Montgomery before heading home.

Sophomore Peyton Novicke earned an All-Tournament team recognition.

The Leopards broke a record with 16 three-pointers made in a game by the team. Tatum Novicke sets her eyes on breaking the player 3-pt made in a game as she tied the record with 8 against Mesquite Poteet.

The Leopards are currently ranked #16 in 5A! The team has just two more non-district games against Godley and Rock Hill and travel to Waco for the MT Rice tournament December 27-29. District kicks off December 12 at Melissa.

BEST TODAY. BETTER TOMORROW. Lovejoy’s Legacy of Excellence is achieved through our collective committment to continuous improvement. This is best exemplified through our Core Value “Best Today. Better Tomorrow.”

This week Hart Kindergarten teachers participated in Professional Development that deepend their understanding of writing conferences, in partnership with campus MTSS Lead, Whitney Hicks. Teachers watched as Ms. Hicks modeled several conferences with first grade students in Ms. Dodd's class, and then kinder teachers practiced their learning with students right in the moment. This structure of professional learning is called a Labsite. Teachers learn and have the opportunity to try out their learning immediately with students.

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.

December 11, 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

DESIGN CONTEST Card Size: 2-1/8 by 3-3/8

KINDER G/T REFERRALS

Scan the QR Code for Official Rules and additional details, or visit mccu.coop/lovejoy.

Lovejoy ISD recently entered into a partnership with My Community Credit Union. This partnership is intended to enhance student opportunities in the areas of financial literacy and provide hands-on learning experiences for future careers related to finance. An MCCU branch is scheduled to open at Lovejoy High School in the fall of 2024.

On Friday, October 27th, MCCU kicked off their Debit Card Design Contest. The contest is open to all Lovejoy ISD students. Three debit card design winners will be selected representing grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The winners will have their designs on our Lovejoy Leopard MCCU Debit Cards and will receive a $100 gift card!

Contest Rules: Must be an original image/design/artwork.

Participants may submit up to 2 designs.

Parent consent is required.

Submissions are due to marketing@mccu.coop by midnight on January 26.

Winners will be announced on March 1.

EXTENDED DAY LEOPARD ACADEMY Leopard Academy is an opportunity for your child to participate in enrichment activities on his or her campus before and after school. Our goal is that these enrichment opportunities will allow our Lovejoy Leopards to develop creativity and critical thinking skills through activities related to their personal interests.

Registration is open for the following academies for students in first through 6th grade. Choose from one of the links below for more information.

Board and Card Game Academy Yo Yo Academy

Leopard Life

LOVEJOY LINKS

MINI CHEER CAMP

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

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

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 . December 08. Issue 18