with Katie.12.12.2025.Issue19

Connect with Katie WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

DECEMBER 12, 2025

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

16 ENGLISH II EXPLORES 18 WRESTLING PLACES TOP 10 19 HOLE-IN-ONE 20 CELEBRATING LHS ALL-REGION BAND MEMBERS

06

FOUNDATION FOR LOVEJOY SCHOOLS

10 LOVEJOY COUNSELING CREST AWARDS 11 ATTENDANCE UPDATE 12 DISTRICT CALENDAR

14 GINGERBREAD MAN VISITS PRE-K 3

22 ROBOTICS DOMINATES AT TOURNEY

24 ORCHESTRA SHARES THE JOY 25 BOARD MEETING INVITATION 26 LEOPARD LIFE WEBSITE 29 DISTRICT & CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT Lovejoy Community, As we enter this season of gratitude and celebration, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our extraordinarily generous community and to the outstanding Foundation for Lovejoy Schools. This morning, Lovejoy ISD teachers and staff members received a handdelivered cash holiday bonus from the Foundation. This remarkable gesture speaks volumes about the unwavering support and the deep appreciation our community has for the people who serve our students each day. The joy on the faces of Lovejoy ISD teachers and staff was priceless, and your generosity has made this holiday season even brighter for our entire District. Thank you for continuing to champion our teachers and staff in such meaningful ways.

Fine Arts Festival This year’s Fine Arts festival has been nothing short of extraordinary, filled with toptier performances, stunning showcases, and countless moments that highlight the creativity, skill, and dedication of our fine arts programs. Thank you to our students, directors, and families for making this beloved tradition so memorable.

Teacher-Superintendent Connection Council This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with my Teacher-Superintendent Connection Council for a Listening Circle. These conversations are an important part of our ongoing commitment to having educator voice at the table as we gather input and perspectives for our update to the LOVEJOY 2030 Strategic Plan. We are grateful for the campus representatives that dedicate their time for our continued growth.

Heritage Ranch Holiday Parade I also encourage you to join us in supporting our friends and neighbors at Heritage Ranch for their annual Holiday Parade tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. It is always a joyful community celebration, and we are proud to participate in their festivities each year.

This time of year is filled with giving, gratitude, and coming together as a community, and nowhere is that more evident than in Lovejoy ISD. From our families, to our partners, to our Foundation, your ongoing support strengthens our mission and fuels our work. We are deeply grateful.

There is only one Lovejoy, and we are all Leopards!

Lovejoy Proud,

Katie Kordel Superintendent

FOUNDATION FOR

LOVEJOY SCHOOLS

A flurry of holiday magic swept through Lovejoy today as the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools sent joyful snowmen to brighten each campus! These frosty friends delivered surprise gifts to our teachers and staff, bringing laughter, warm hearts, and a touch of winter wonder to every hallway.

We are so thankful for the Foundation and our generous Lovejoy community for continuing to support those who uplift, guide, and care for our students each day. Your kindness makes all the difference!

LOVEJOY COUNSELING

CREST AWARDS

Lovejoy ISD is proud to announce that the Counseling Departments at Puster Elementary and Lovejoy High School have been awarded the prestigious Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) award sponsored by Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) for excellence in comprehensive school counseling programs.

Puster Elementary and Lovejoy High School are the first campuses in Lovejoy to have pursued this statewide recognition. They submitted their first-ever applications for the CREST Award this year, and both schools were honored with the prestigious award on their initial submission. The CREST Award includes an extensive application process with artifact submission of the 2024-2025 counseling programs in five categories: Introduction to the School and the Role of the Professional School Counselor Program Implementation Cycle Foundational Components Four Service Delivery Components Program Curriculum At the 21st Annual Professional School Counselor Conference, February 1-3, the following counselors will be recognized with the CREST Award: Susan Delarosa, Puster Elementary Natalie Coonrod, Lovejoy High School Curtis McCarthy, Lovejoy High School Carrie Robbins, Lovejoy High School Stacey Thomas, Lovejoy High School Lovejoy ISD is grateful for the Foundation for Lovejoy School’s support for this area of growth, which included a grant for TSCA membership and conference attendance for our counselors.

Please join us in congratulating our outstanding CREST award winners for demonstrating exceptional commitment to student support, success, and program improvement!

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.

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.

THE GINGERBREAD MAN VISITS PRE-K 3 The three-year-old classes enjoyed an exciting week of learning centered around the classic Gingerbread Man story. As part of their literacy unit, students practiced important early reading skills while engaging with this favorite tale.

To begin, the children explored the book’s cover and illustrations, making predictions about what might happen next, an essential early comprehension skill that nurtures curiosity and engagement. After reading the story together, students stepped into character and acted out key moments from the Gingerbread Man’s adventure, demonstrating their understanding by reenacting events from the read-aloud.

Throughout the week, students also strengthened their phonological awareness by exploring rhyming words through songs, chants, and playful movement activities connected to the story.

Adding to the fun, the Gingerbread Man made special “visits” to the PreK-4 and 2-year-old classrooms, spreading smiles throughout the building before “running away” once again!

This joyful, hands-on literacy experience helped young learners build foundational reading skills while experiencing the magic of storytelling.

ENGLISH II EXPLORES

REAL-WORLD INFORMATIONAL TEXT Lovejoy High School English II students participated in a real-world reading experience while exploring text structure through the Texas Driver’s Handbook.

Using an authentic informational text, students analyzed elements such as headings, charts, graphs, and organizational patterns to better understand how structure supports meaning. The lesson was especially relevant for sophomores preparing to earn their driver’s licenses and apply the material beyond the classroom.

Classroom discussions were active as students asked questions, compared observations, and connected their findings to the overall purpose of the text.

This lesson highlighted purposeful literacy instruction grounded in real-life application, helping students strengthen critical reading skills that support both academic success and everyday learning.

WRESTLING PLACES TOP 10

AT RUMBLE AT THE ROCK

Lovejoy Wrestling competed in the Rumble at the Rock Tournament this past weekend at Rockwall High School, facing strong competition from across the region. The Leopards earned a 9th-place team finish out of 33 teams.

Congratulations to the following wrestlers for earning podium finishes: Aro Ogle-Garza — Champion Landon Davis — 3rd Place Alex Reed — 5th Place Great work to all of our athletes for their dedication and continued effort. Keep pushing forward!

HOLE-IN-ONE FOR

SENIOR JORDAN WHEELIS

Senior Jordan Wheelis competed at the top of the pack in the Leopard Fall Class golf tournament, scoring an 84 during round 1. On hole 16, she shot her first ever hole in one and got to claim the flag to take home! Jordan's hole in one helped the Leopards stay on the leaderboard, with the team placing 2nd overall against competitive programs in the area.

CELEBRATING LHS

ALL-REGION BAND MEMBERS The Lovejoy Band is proud to announce their newest All-Region Band members!

These students have spent months preparing their audition music for competition against incredibly talented musicians from across our region, including Wylie, Allen, Melissa, and more.

It takes enormous courage to perform individually for a panel of judges, and our students represented themselves and Lovejoy with tremendous pride. The top performers on each instrument will now advance to Area on January 10, the final step toward earning a place in the prestigious Texas All-State Band. In addition to this achievement, several students have also secured spots in the All-Region Orchestra based on their outstanding All-Region Band performances.

Congratulations to these Lovejoy High School Band All-Region Winners: Piccolo Audrey Oesterling — Concert Band Flute Lily Bednar — Wind Symphony, Area Prateeksha Paulraj — Concert Band, Area Clarinet Marisela Alexander — Concert Band, Area Sarah Gable — Wind Symphony, Area Josh Mulatu — Wind Symphony, Area Neha Somagattu — Concert Band Bass Clarinet Ian Marshall — Wind Ensemble, Area, Region Orchestra Alto Sax Anson Phan — Concert Band, Area

Trumpet Adam Kent — Wind Symphony, Area Jack Burnett — Alternate Andrew Lamping — Alternate Horn Nicolas Kelsey — Wind Symphony, Area Anika Kharwar — Symphonic Band, Area Megan Lyons — Symphonic Band, Area William Jaynes — 9th Grade Band Trombone Rachel Akinfolarin — Symphonic Band Nolan Hummel — Wind Symphony, Area Tuba Liam Tran — Symphonic Band, Area Percussion Devin Goins — Wind Ensemble, Area, Region Orchestra William Murphy — Wind Symphony, Area Max Rattleff — Wind Ensemble, Area, Region Orchestra Caleb Fritzxche — 9th Grade Band Thomas Wu — Alternate

ROBOTICS SHINES AT SOUTHLAKE TOURNAMNET Lovejoy Robotics teams delivered an outstanding performance at the Southlake December Push Back Tournament on December 6. Competing against a strong field of teams from across the region, students brought home multiple awards, advanced deep into the elimination rounds, and continued to solidify Lovejoy’s presence on the national and international stage.

Awards & Achievements Team 1082E earned the Design Award for excellence in engineering documentation and robot development Team 1082M earned the Innovate Award and were also named Skills Champions for their top combined driver and programming skills scores Team 1082J earned the Amaze Award for an impressive overall robot performance Tournament Performance Teams 1082E and 1082M advanced to the Finals, showcasing consistent teamwork and high-level strategy Team 1082J reached the Quarterfinals, continuing their strong competitive season Teams 1082T and 1082V qualified for the Elimination Rounds Team 1082U, one of the newest teams, chose to compete and gained valuable first-event experience World Skills Ranking A special highlight goes to Team 1082M, which is now ranked 17th in the WORLD in Skills out of 3,929 teams across more than 40 countries. This ranking reflects exceptional technical ability and countless hours of preparation.

Lovejoy Robotics is proud of the dedication, sportsmanship, and creativity shown by every student who represented the program at this event. The team looks forward to building on this momentum throughout the season.

LOVEJOY ORCHESTRA

SHARES THE JOY OF GIVING

Led by its Lovejoy High School Orchestra Ambassadors, students and families from the Sloan Creek, Willow Springs, and Lovejoy High School orchestra programs came together to collect toys, household essentials, and holiday treats for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas during the annual Joy of Giving Gift Drive.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-from-home for families whose children are receiving medical treatment at local hospitals. Through housing, meals, and compassionate community support, the organization helps ease the burdens families face during challenging times so they can focus on what matters most, their child’s health.

Pictured below, Lovejoy High School Orchestra Ambassador Captains Audrey Casey and Lucy Crites, stand beside the generous collection of donated items gathered by Lovejoy Orchestra families. The District is incredibly proud of its orchestra students for demonstrating leadership, kindness, and service this holiday season. This meaningful partnership reflects the heart of Lovejoy Orchestra - compassion, leadership, and uplifting others!

BOARD MEETING 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 15, 2025 Public Notice Website You may find the full agenda with supporting documentation on our district's BoardBook Premier website HERE. Sincerely, Julie McLaughlin, President Jeff Wood, Vice President Marvin Bobo, Secretary The Lovejoy ISD Board of Trustees

Aubrey Stock, Trustee Mark Wheelis, Trustee Jason Jaynes, Trustee Barrett Owens, Trustee

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: Junior Leopard Mini Cheer Camp (Jan 31st) 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 Libraries are excited to announce the 2nd Annual Sora Reading Challenge! This November and December, all Lovejoy students and staff are invited to soar into reading using the district’s reading app, Sora.

This year’s theme, “Read like a Dragon: Fuel Your Imagination!”, encourages readers to dive into magical adventures and ignite their creativity. The top 20 readers from each campus will earn dragon-inspired keychains created by the Lovejoy librarians.

This year’s theme, “Read like a Dragon: Fuel Your Imagination!”, encourages readers to dive into magical adventures and ignite their creativity. The top 20 readers from each campus will earn dragon-inspired keychains created by the Lovejoy librarians. But that’s not all! The campus with the highest total reading minutes will be crowned the Top Winner! Standout readers from the winning campus will receive an exclusive 3Dprinted dragon!

To learn more and get started, visit t.ly/2mXWS. Lovejoy Libraries can’t wait to see which campus brings the fire and soars through the pages this holiday season!

Don’t miss your chance to grab your All SZNS gear! Orders will be available for pick-up at the Administration Building before Winter Break. Click Here to Order **After Thanksgiving break, stop by the administration building to grab a pair of our “Double L” or “Sprinkle” shorts! A variety of sizes will be available for purchase.

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

Connect with Katie. December 12, 2025. Issue 19