Lovejoy Independent School District

 
Email Express
September 7, 2016
A Message from the Superintendent


Dear Lovejoy Community:
 

I hope you enjoyed a long Labor Day weekend and found your kids excited about returning to school on Tuesday.
 
In response to the 2016 Louisiana floods, community members are joining together to help spread Lovejoy across state lines.  Learn how you may help:


 

Be sure to read the Upcoming Events section for information regarding the Running Over Depression 5K & 1K Fun Run on October 29th.  This event is an Eagle Scout project for Bradley Davis, a Junior at Lovejoy High School.  The Dallas Morning News published a great article regarding this project.  Please click here to read the article.
 
 
Matthew Cinquepalmi is a Senior at Lovejoy High School and the Executive Producer of the Lovejoy News Network.  He put together a great video which I am pleased to share with you:



Please join me in congratulating the following students for their outstanding performance at the Midway High School Speech and Debate Tournament this past weekend:
 
LHS Speech & Debate Team - 1st Place Sweepstakes Award
 
PROSE:
Grant Dennis 1st, Kaeli Wilburn 2nd
 
DUO:
Joe Cross & Clay Parker 1st, Connor Redding & Daniel Keywork 2nd, Zach Brown & Kaeli Wilburn 3rd, Pierce Richardson & Collins Morgan 4th, Rithik Tangella & Dayton Thompson 5th, Ellie Hager & Ariel Jacobs 6th
 
DUET:
Grant Dennis & Clay Parker 1st, Zach Brown & Joe Cross 2nd, Collins Morgan & Pierce Richardson 3rd, Rithik Tangella & Dayton Thompson 4th, Daniel Keywork & Connor Redding 5th, Ellie Hager & Ariel Jacobs 6th
 
DI:
Grant Dennis 1st, Kaeli Wilburn 2nd, Connor Redding 5th, Joe Cross 6th
 
HI:
Joe Cross 1st, Clay Parker 2nd, Grant Dennis 3rd, Collins Morgan 4th, Pierce Richardson 5th, Kaeli Wilburn 6th
 
LD Debate:
Ellie Hager 1st, Connor Redding 4th
 
PF Debate:
Collins Morgan & Pierce Richardson 1st, Rithik Tangella & Dayton Thompson 2 nd

 

A Message from the
Deputy Superintendent



Dear Lovejoy Community:
 
I hope your family enjoyed the Labor Day weekend, and your students have experienced a great start to the school year. 

Questions regarding our policy for calculating GPA and class rank at the high school are asked from time to time, and I think our practices should be transparent to allow all high school parents and students the opportunity to understand our district policy and the rationale.  Earlier this week, I was asked a great question:

Q:  Can the second, third, and fourth year of Choir be placed on a higher tier and receive more weighted points in the GPA calculation?

A:  There is no doubt Choir is an excellent program and involves the application of many academic skills, as well as hours of time practicing, attending rehearsals, and performing at concerts.  However, in order to maintain equity within our class ranking system, we have purposefully designed our three course weighting system in the following categories described in Policy EIC (Local):
 
For purposes of class rank, courses shall be divided into the following three categories:
 
1.Tier 1-Advanced Placement courses.

2.Tier 2-Core subject courses (mathematics, science, English/language arts, and social  studies) taken in grades 9-12, Pre-Advanced Placement courses taken in   other districts, and senior project courses.

3.Tier 3-All other courses.
 
The weighted scale system is designed to decrease the opportunities for inequity to achieve a higher class rank.  All of the extra-curricular and co-curricular programs are extremely beneficial to the school experiences of our students, and to place one above another would create a disparate system which would be nearly impossible to defend legally.  Furthermore, ethically as a district, we value all of the programs available to our students because any one of them may be the spark which ignites their potential and/or the doorway to the future after high school.
 
Ultimately, it is accurate that a student's GPA could decrease as they take Tier 3 courses. This is true, regardless of which Tier 3 extra-curricular and co-curricular programs they choose to pursue, and is the intended outcome of the equitable ranking policy of the district.
 
The vast majority of the time, Lovejoy students who have a high class rank achieve this as a result of taking as many Tier 1 courses as possible, and earning the highest grade possible in those courses and all other courses taken.

We hope you love where you have chosen for your child to learn.  If you have feedback to help us improve, please do not hesitate to contact me on my cell at 214.385.1967. 

Respectfully,
Dennis Muizers
Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
 
Foundation for Lovejoy Schools Launches
Annual Appeal Campaign

The Foundation for Lovejoy School's Annual Appeal, #WeLoveLovejoy, is underway. Our goal is to receive donations from 650 donors totaling $200,000. This year's campaign slogan "#addaHamilton" is inspired by the popular musical Hamilton.  We are asking our donors to consider increasing their giving by adding an extra $10. Every gift is valuable to the mission of enhancing education in Lovejoy. The Foundation board of directors asks you to join them in giving to the Foundation on North Texas Giving day, Thursday, September 22nd from 6:00 AM to midnight. You may visit www.northtexasgivingday.org to donate.




There are a few tickets remaining for one of the auction items from the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools Denim and Diamonds Auction and Gala: The Leadership Council BBQ. This event is hosted by Ted Moore, Superintendent of Lovejoy ISD, and the leadership team. The event will be held on September 30th at Noah's in Fairview, from 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM. The BBQ will be catered by Prairie House Restaurant and includes an open bar with beer and wine. The entertainment for the evening will be provided by Kent Messer (Principal of Willow Springs Middle School) and Ray Winkler (Principal of Sloan Creek Intermediate School).  The cost of the tickets is $100 per person.
 
If you are interested in attending, you may purchase your tickets on the Foundation for Lovejoy School's website by clicking here .  Be sure to add "BBQ Tickets" in the comments field
 
Should you require any assistance, please contact the Foundation's President, Stephanie McCaffity, at: [email protected] .

In Case You Missed It

This new section of Email Express will highlight news reports/articles in which Lovejoy has been featured over the previous week.
 
 
 
 
 

 
News

Referrals for Gifted and Talented Services
 
The online referral window for gifted and talented services for grades K-12 is now open. All referrals are processed online through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, located at:  https://powerschool.lovejoyisd.net/public/ .

The referral window for grades 1-12 will close Friday, September 16, 2016. Testing for grades 1-12 will be Saturday, October 15, and Saturday, October 22, 2016.
 
Kindergarten referrals will be accepted through October 14, 2016. Kindergarten testing will begin in November.

For questions regarding services in grades K-4, please contact Caroline Garcia at [email protected] or via phone: 469.742.8310 .
 
For questions about services in grades 5-12, please contact Brie Smith at [email protected] or via phone: 469.742.8032
 

Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse:  Registration Now Open
Join the most exciting, fastest growing sport in the country. Registration is now open for the fall season of Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse, grades 1 - 12, boys only.  Click here to view additional information regarding registration.  Rosters are filling fast.  The registration deadline is September 15, 2016.
 
For additional information regarding the Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse program, visit their website at:  www.leopardlacrosse.com .


Majestics Offer Homecoming Mums for Sale
Homecoming is just a few short weeks away.  The Majestics, the Lovejoy High School dance team, will be selling mums for Homecoming.  The Mum team has been working diligently for the past several months, and with hundreds of items completed, they are ready to sell.  The sale dates and times are as follows:
 
For Senior Garters/Mums and Underclassmen Garters/Mums:
 
Lovejoy High School Cafeteria
September 1 - September 21 (Mon-Fri)  11AM-1PM
September 6 - September 20 , every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6-8:30PM
 
Junior Mums, Mini Mums, and Mum Rings will be for sale at the elementary, intermediate, and middle schools the week of Homecoming (September 19-23) during lunch time.

 
Volunteer Application Process Now Open for 2016-2017
The volunteer application process for the 2016-2017 school year is now open.  Please click here to begin the process.  Should you have any questions, please contact:
 
Volunteer Coordinator
469.742.8000
 

2016-2017 School Calendar
The 2016-2017 school calendar has been updated with early release dates and a professional development day on January 2nd, which will not be a school day for students.  Please click here to view the 2016-2017 calendar.


 

Lovejoy ISD App
The Lovejoy ISD App is available for download on both Apple and Android devices.  To download the app for Apple devices, please  click here .  To download the app for Android devices, please  click here .  



Twitter and Facebook
Are you following the district on Twitter ?  Have you liked us on Facebook ?  Join us on social media for news and announcements.
 
 
Upcoming Events  

 
Support Lovejoy Volleyball:  September 8, 9 and 13
Show your team spirit, Thursday September 8th, between 5 PM and 7:30 PM at Chipotle, 103 Central Expressway North, Allen. 50% of the proceeds will be donated to the Lovejoy High School Volleyball Booster Club. You will need to show this flyer when ordering.  Thank you for supporting Lovejoy Volleyball.
 
Lovejoy Volleyball Opening Night is September 9th. Come out and support the teams as district play begins against Mesquite Poteet at home.  Varsity will play at 5:30 PM, and the Freshman/JV games will begin at 6:30 PM.
 
The Lovejoy Varsity Volleyball Team is hosting an Elementary Night on Tuesday, September 13th. Freshman and JV play at 5:30 PM, and Varsity plays at 6:30 PM against Forney High School at Home.
 
There will also be a demonstration on September 13th from Ruth Nelson of BYOP (Bring Your Own Parent). Ruth has over 40 years of volleyball experience and has designed a successful volleyball training program for ages 5-10 years old.  BYOP® Program Overview: This training program is designed for any player, no matter what skill or ability level, as long as their goal is to become the best they can be! Parents must be fully dedicated to be actively involved in this program. BYOP® will provide excellent volleyball fundamental skills training as well as life lessons to both player and parent. For additional information, please visit:  www.bringyourownparent.com


 
Lovejoy vs Frisco Lone Star Tickets on Sale:  September 9
Friday, September 9, 2016, the Lovejoy varsity football game will take place at the Ford Center at The Star.  Fans may purchase tickets for the September 9th game at the pre-sale price until the day of the game.  Click here to purchase tickets.

Please be aware of the Purse and Bag Policy at the Ford Center at The Star.  For directions, please click here.  
 
For additional information regarding varsity football tickets, please click here




Gus M acker Basketball Tournament:
September 10 - 11

The 2nd Annual Gus Macker Basketball Tournament will be held September 10-11, 2016 at The Village at Fairview.  For general tournament information, click here .  You may register a team at:  www.macker.com
 





Gifted and Talented Meet & Greet
The Lovejoy Gifted Association will host an informal Meet and Greet on Tuesday, September 20 from 8:30-10:30 AM in the Board Room of the Lovejoy ISD Administration Building, 259 Country Club Road, Allen, TX 75002.  Please join us to learn more about the Gifted and Talented program at LISD, as well as The Lovejoy Gifted Association.  This is an opportunity to meet Brie Smith (LISD Director of Advanced Academics), Caroline Garcia (LISD Elementary GT Coordinator), and other GT parents. For additional information please visit the LGA website at www.lovejoygifted.org .

 
An Evening with the Majestics:  September 23
The Majestic Dance Team is inviting girls K-6 to join them for an Evening with the Majestics on Homecoming night, Friday, September 23rd. Join the Majestics in performing the pre-game fight song in the victory lines on the field, then sit with the Majestics and participate in "stand routines" in the bleachers. During half time, the Majestics will dedicate a special routine to you and your new "Mini Majestic" friends. Click here for additional information, or visit the Majestics website at:  www.majesticsdance.org .
 

Lovejoy High School Bowling: Join the Team + Parent Meeting on   September 26
It is time for another amazing year for our bowling team, and we want you to join us.  Regardless of your skill level, if you are in 9th-12th grade and like to bowl, we invite you to join the team.  Click here to complete an interest form. 
 
A meeting for parents will be held on Monday, Sept 26th at 6:00 PM in the Lecture Hall at Lovejoy High School.  

 
Junior Leopard Mini Cheer Camp:  October 8
The LHS Cheerleaders are hosting their annual Junior Leopard Mini Cheer Camp for kids 4 years through 4th grade.  Join the LHS cheerleaders on October 8th to learn cheers, chants, and jumps.  Cheer with the cheerleaders during the first quarter of the Varsity game on Leopard Friday, October 14th. A cheer t-shirt is included in the cost.  Click here to view additional information.  Click here for the registration form. 


Running Over Depression 5K & 1K Fun Run:  October 29
Register now for the first ever Running Over Depression 5K/1K at Lovejoy High School. The run follows a certified course, and awards will be given out to top 3 overall and age group finishers. Bibs purchased by all 5K runners contain chips which will accurately time your race and provide immediate results. You may either sign up online, at packet pickup, or on race day. Entry fee is $30 for 5K and $20 for 1K. All preregistered runners are guaranteed a t-shirt.  By registering online, you have the opportunity of receiving a group discount of $5 dollars per entry when signing up with 5 or more people. To sign up click here .  Money raised from entry fees will be donated to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) after costs have been covered. AFSP representatives will be attending to answer any questions or to take additional donations. Lovejoy High School is located at 2350 Estates Parkway. If you have any questions or are interested in other ways to help the cause, contact us at:  [email protected]


 
Where Are They Now?

If you would like to provide us with accomplishments of a Lovejoy graduate, please click here .   We will share this information in the "Where Are They Now?" section of Email Express.  It is a pleasure to report the successes of Lovejoy graduates during their college years and beyond.

Aaron Fuller - Class of 2016
Aaron Fuller is attending the University of Washington as a Freshman.  He started in his first game as a Husky with a reception.  



 
High School Academic Competitions

Students are invited to join one or more of the Lovejoy High School academic competitions.  Academic competitions are an excellent way for students to put their education to use, and become more proficient in their area of study.  These competitions often give students the motivation needed to learn, and also supplement their classroom experience.  Additionally, students may earn scholarship money through their participation.  For additional information regarding the competitions listed below, please contact Jason Taylor:  [email protected]
 
Academic Decathlon
The Academic Decathlon is a prestigious team competition which encourages students to dive deeply into an annual topic.  This year's overall theme is "World War II".  The decathlon consists of 10 events including: Mathematics (Algebra I and Trigonometry), Music of WWII era, Art of WWII era, Language and Literature (Transit by Anna Segher), Economics, Science (Nuclear Chemistry and Physics), Speech, Interview, Social Studies, and Essay.  The Academic Decathlon encourages students of all achievement levels to participate.  Each team is made up of 9 students: 3 students each from the Honors (3.75-4.00 unweighted GPA), Scholastic (3.00 - 3.74 GPA), and Varsity (0.00 - 2.99 GPA) levels.  Grade point averages are determined only by core classes, plus foreign languages and AP Computer Science, and no extra weight is given for PAP or AP classes.
 
The Academic Decathlon competition will be January 20-21 at Coppell High School, and the State competition will be held in El Paso February 24-26.  Top performers at the State meet (top 6 per division) can earn scholarship money, and the winning team can advance to the National meet in Madison, Wisconsin. 
 
 
UIL Academics
The University Interscholastic League offers contests in several academic areas.  These contests give students a chance to explore academic topics which are designed to complement the high school curriculum.  Most of the competitions consist of 4-person teams, so students have a chance to advance as either a team member or an individual competitor.  Contests offered include:  Accounting, Current Events, Science, Social Studies, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Literary Criticism, Spelling and Vocabulary, Journalism, Ready Writing, Number Sense, Calculator Applications, and Mathematics.  Some events have different topics each year.  Those contests this year are:
 
  • Literary Criticism:  Novel, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan; Poetry, Poems by Rudyard Kipling; and Twelfth Night by Shakespeare
  • Social Studies:  The US Constitution
 
Practices for each contest will begin after Labor Day.  Students are expected to attend 1 of 2 invitational meets in January and February, respectively.  The District meet this year will be held at Highland Park High School on March 23-25, and the Regional meet will be held April 7-8. 
 
Students advancing to the UIL State meet just once during their high school career have the opportunity to apply for TILF scholarships.  A complete list and eligibility requirements can be found here .   
 
 
Quiz Bowl
Quiz Bowl is a trivia competition which serves as an outlet for students to apply what they have learned in school.  All topics are covered in Quiz Bowl including sports, entertainment, mythology, music, art, and all other school-related topics.  Quiz Bowl tournaments are team competitions held in a game-show style format.  Each school has 4 players compete per team, but each team member contributes independently to buzz in and win toss-up questions which allow the team to work together for bonus points.  The tournament format varies between 20-question NAQT style, and the 4-quarter format, which includes a bonus round and lightning rounds.  Schools may enter multiple teams, and there is usually a junior varsity division for new players. Students typically attend one tournament per month from September through February.  Teams can earn bids to the Texas State Championship, as well as to the National tournament. 
 
Practices for Quiz Bowl began on Monday, August 29, 2016, in room D222, and the first tournament will be September 24 at the Greenhill School in Dallas.
 
 
TACS Academic Challenge
The Texas Association of Community Schools offers a scholarship competition to member school districts.  The TACS is in a format similar to the Academic Decathlon.  Instead of a 9-person team, however, schools are allowed to enter up to three teams of 3 students each.  Each team consists of one Honors student, one Scholastic student, and one Varsity student.  The TACS competition questions are based on the state TEKS which students learn throughout high school.  Scholarships can be earned at both the regional and state level competitions, which take place in the Spring.

 
Love Where You Learn

As always, please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. 
 
With Respect,
 
Ted Moore
Superintendent
Lovejoy ISD
972.415.8129 (mobile)
469.742.8011 (office)